Shoot Film: Zenit TTL

[@Mannikri]

Zenit is a fantastic camera. I have 4 of them. Yes you can break the film if you rewind too fast and dont pay attention to the unlocking of the spools. But they are built like a tank. If someone attacks you, beat them up with the camera, wipe off the blood and continue shooting. Never has a Zenit failed me.

[@Ryne_Kai]

Soviet quality, blyat'!)))

[@sibongiletasilaphiri7521]

I love it! It really is a great tool and weapon...

[@izzybell6735]

I just purchased this exact model from a local used gadget shop a few days ago for photography classes in university and I'm so excited to use it now. I was always interested in using film cameras and I'm so glad to hear that it's so durable.

[@ZapytajFotografa]

It sounds funny for me that it was hard to find. Poland is full of Zenits ;-)

[@ZapytajFotografa]

Flea markets, Allegro (Polish ebay) or from uncle's cabinet ;)

[@ShadyLew]

Do you have one in good condition? I'm looking for a good old camera to start. I live in Warsaw.

[@ZapytajFotografa]

Not for sale, but you can check photography flea market. 15 years ago it was very important for photographers of Warsaw. Today it is tiny and marginal if it exist. But if it existst you can go and touch lots of old cameras. GIEŁDA FOTOGRAFICZNA “STODOŁA”, Batorego 10, Warszawa. You can, for sure, check Allegro.pl, Polish Ebay, and find there lots of Zenits, Kievs, Zorkas and other cool stuff.

[@ZapytajFotografa]

Fell free to ask more :)

[@ShadyLew]

I bought one today from olx. It's in really good condition. Tomorrow i'm going to buy a film and a battery!

[@osaka7616]

I watched this video probably a year ago and yesterday i told my aunt how i wanted to learn how to use film cameras and today she sent me a photo of her old camera and it was this one!! With the helios lens so im SO excited!!

[@BeatPoet67]

I've got a Nikon F3 and a Zenit 11. Everyone always goes on about the build quality of the F3 - and yes, it's great . But honest to God the Zenit is built like a tank. Maybe a bit agricultural but I could imagine it still working in 200 years time.

[@sonkozhenia]

thank you for this video. yeah, I guess this is a problem that most Zenit TTLs have. they cut the film from time to time. I cut one once and stopped shooting on Zenit. don't know whether I did something wrong or it is a camera's bug. but Zenit TTL gives this feeling that you hold a "thing" in your hands. you know, everything is metal and glass. it weighs a lot. I too shoot with already set exposure and just change the aperture. it is not, as you rightly said, very sharp. the film rewinding problem is the major issue that stops from using it as you don't wanna lose the shots. by the way, it is pronounced with the sound [z] as in the last letter of the English alphabet - [zenit] or something like that ;) wish you all the best! :)

[@klaudiawegrzyn224]

Hello there, thank you very much for this one! I got this exact model of Zenit from my grandfather a few years ago and to this day I wasn't quite sure - how and if I could use it. You sir, gave me the knowledge and courage to try and use it! Thank you!

[@obody-sl9np]

One friend of my dad's just gave to me this camera. I freaking love it. I feel so lucky. It looks amazing, sooner or later I'll get the photos back. Totally recommend it.

[@jesseleecable]

Thanks for posting a video featuring the Zenit. I shoot a Zenit 122, which has a one piece plastic body, and a Helios 44M-4. It is a 58mm, great for close up work and a Mir 1V 37mm for wide angle landscape. I've never broken film, knock on wood. And every film stock I've shot with this set-up looks good.

[@kiwipics]

I started my photographic life with the Zenit E and two lenses. That was over 36yrs ago, things seem to going full circle.

[@SproutsForDinner]

I'm really pleased you bought that camera. My first 'proper' camera was a Zenith. I think it was a previous model to yours. Mine didn't have TTL and there was a ring on the outside of the 58mm lens to stop it down to take the shot ( I nearly always forgot!). You had to open the aperture to focus, and then stop down manually. Happy days! Glad you enjoyed using the camera, I certainly enjoyed watching the video.

[@tempest01100]

I learned nearly all I know from having a Zenit B, unlike the EM and E, it had no light metering at all, and can't recall having any problem with the rewind mechanism. The bloody thing was built like a tank and weighed like one but, with that Helios f2 58mm lens, using the sunny sixteen rule, I captured some of the best shots I've ever got.

[@felipemo1179]

I had yesterday the same issue trying to rewind the film with a Zenit ET, not easy but yet I know what I have to do next time. Thank you for this video

[@tolisthekid]

I found my Zenit 12XP in my dad's closet, the film counter showed it had a few more shots in there, so I quickly took them in house then tried to rewind the film to see if there was any; I had researched my camera but probably didn't turn the button to the left quite as well; I encountered resistance, like the film was grinding and stretching in there, which I thought was only a normal thing showing there actually was a roll inside, but before I knew, I heard the film snap in there, opened the camera and saw it cut in the spool; on my part this was quite a painless way to learn the camera's rewind system, no problems ever since, though I still wonder what my dad's old shots looked like...

[@angelusrufus7479]

When I've been first time using my Zenit 12xp, I did that same :-). Looks that is normal thing for people using that camera first time.

[@Raychristofer]

What's up bro? I just wanted to say I really like your work. This is the only video I've seen of you so far and I already became a subscriber because of the way you shoot your reviews especially Doing It Outdoors not rushing and explaining in detail the camera and its operation. Too many channels sit at a table for 15 minutes just talking and never take the camera outside. That's one thing I insist on doing when I review camera gear on my channel as well.I'll definitely check out the rest of your stuff when I have time. Respect

[@EnidAgnusDei]

Having owned and used a hell of a lot of Zenit cameras I can say in the whole time I have used mine only 1 has ever snapped a film, the film was replaced and that too snapped, it was later traced to a faulty batch of film so can't blame the camera for that! I find the Zenit a joy to use, slow, heavy and top speed on shutter not the fastest but you learn to live with it! I have just got a Zenit B and love it no light meter on it but so nice to use, use the Zenith the right way, learn from it and it will reward you very, very well.

[@tobysummers471]

The Zenit although fairly unrefined, is the bare bones for what you need to shoot 35mm film. Also a great camera to start out with if you do not want to spend too much if at all any money. The lens (Helios 44 or 44-2) included is fantastic. Only issues I’ve ever had is one with a slightly dodgy rewind mechanism. At the time when an Olympus or Canon would have been £150/£100 the Zenit would have been £40/£50 and they were popular for this reason. The humble trainspotter loved these and the Praktica cameras for this very reason. The UK examples were rebuilt once imported and are said to be better. Just make sure you wind on before changing the shutter speed.

[@w1nterblind]

Thank you (again!) for the camera. :D Already loaded it with some Tmax. I will take some pictures this week and post them. Did you mean to send me your Skylight filter too? I hope that wasn't a mistake but thank you!

[@edpavez]

awesome! it will be great to see how you pics turn out! no mistake at all. enjoy the camera! :D

[@j_a_lee]

Liked the editing along to the drum track. Also liked the shot at 3:04. You've done well to do street photography with such an inflexible camera - setting to 500s was the smart move. I had one of these as a teenager in the early 1980s. Was relieved to replace it with a Practika MTL3, as many Zenith users probably were!

[@modka613]

this was very helpful for just starting with a Zenit TTL! hopefully I'll get some decent shots from my first roll

[@khalilthelord3400]

Heey wanna ask you

[@FeelinEnglish]

I got the Zenit EM Moshva-80 (Olympic edition). Awesome machine. Even though I lost the shutter speed knob, which makes it realy hard to use, I enjoy every shot. Thanks for the video, bro!

[@sacriste]

My first serious camera was a Zenith, maybe older than this, when I was a teenager. It was an extended loan for about a year from my divorced father, it was uncommon nice from him. I think he liked that little Minolta better. And the other family. LOL. Thanks for the memories.

[@RayenFaundez]

Creo que las últimas fotos que tomaste fueron las mejores. Quizá en la última parte encontraste más inspiración o mejores tomas. Las anteriores me da la sensación que funcionaban más en blanco y negro. Gran trabajo :) También tengo una Zenit, tengo que arreglarla pues tiene un problema con el disparador, pero quiero aprender a usarla y ser super cool :)

[@MyDiesel101]

Great camera & video! Love the background music!

[@gabrielasolis5810]

Hola Eduardo Genial tu vídeo y el review. Quiero decir que me gustaron mucho las fotos que sacaste y que bacán como manejaste eso de dejar la velocidad en 500 y regular la luz solo con la apertura. Porque sucede que yo justo ayer estuve sacando fotos con una Zenit xp12 y era super super complejo porque además andaba en la parte de atrás de un auto sacando fotos en Valparaiso y para complejizar las aún más, no funcionaba el fotómetro, medí la luz con mi cámara digital en ciertos lugares como para tener referencias y me lancé, tratando de regular velocidad y apertura; y como tu dijiste es como super al hueso la experiencia, creo que se puede deber a que ciertas opciones automáticas que las cámaras tienen nos deforman un poco. Además quiero comentar que creo que eres no sé si valiente sea la palabra, pero diré valiente, para acercarte tanto a las personas y sacar retratos, es algo que siempre he querido hacer y me da mucho julepe; y cuando finalmente me atrevo se dan cuenta y hacen el clásico gesto "amor y paz". Felicitaciones por tus 20k suscriptores. Saludos desde Chile.

[@ZisDimitris4444]

Hello Eduardo , i have the same camera from early 80s in my first phptography steps when i was young. I had a lot of fun whith it. Yes once i have a broken film due to pressing button release a lot. Thanks for your upload.

[@filipkantor3444]

Just a guy form future, I have zenit as well, and heard a lot about broken films. Heads up - it happens to a lot of people, it happened to me in a similar way it happened to you. They cutted last two of my shots, but it was my first film the same as you, I am after 6th one and never happened again. You just need to be extra careful at the end of the film.

[@samirahmadov3807]

Eduardo, did you use Helios lens on it? How I see, you don't. the whole beauty in Zenith only in his lens helios. Try it ones, it gives fantastic images ;)

[@ETILHK54]

I have a Zenith-E, and while it doesn't look as sleek, all the controls are super easy to reach, no half turns or something, good stuff.

[@klofisch]

Hello Eduardo. Thanks for this video. I got two Zenit ET (an early and a later model) and both of them have them rewind lock like your. I used them after a couple of year, a struggles also at rewinding. I felt i am doing something wrong or missed something. SO i checked the internet about it and was able to solve this issue without breaking a film. :) Allways think about what you are doing :)

[@macarenaleiva5179]

y que hiciste ??

[@manphoto1972]

48k subscribers now !!!! Very good for analog photography.

[@sibongiletasilaphiri7521]

The cutting of the film is common. Apparently it's just good to get a handle on the number of shots You can take and to unwind once done. I loved Your video, really informative.

[@dukebielak]

Definitely need to try the Zorki 1 with an Industar 22 lens. So much fun

[@IsabelGuzman]

La zenit 122 fue mi primera cámara, me imagino que es similar, han pasado 16 años desde que la tengo y es la única de la que no me he separado en todos estos años, creo que como te dijeron en otro comentario, la experiencia habría sido muucho mejor con un lente helios 44. Lente que uso hasta con mi sony mirrorless, porque es genial, has tenido la oportunidad de usarlo?

[@nightgal5497]

does anyone know which would be the best kind of zenit camera?

[@s4ndwichMakeR]

I’m an owner of a whole bunch of different Zenits models and I don’t have very good experiences with the TTL Zenits. Dunno if it’s because the system is probably unreliable or because of the lack of mercury batteries nowadays. Today I prefer the older ones with a selenium light meter although I miss the split-image rangefinders and micro-prism rings of the newer ones.

[@bwc1976]

Love that shutter sound!

[@stanislavnepochatov8381]

It`s actually Zenit TTL. Zenit EM almost the same but it metering light by external selenium sensor right above lens. And it`s degrading through time. I`ve shooted with Zenit E and it has ripoff two rolls of film. So it`s kind of ussue with Zenit. Also I wouldn`t recomend it for beginners. Not because metering or film advancing but cause Zenit viewfinder sucks. It has only 64% of frame coverage. So it require some skill to compose scene like you want. I preffer to pay a bit more but get Olympus OM or old Pentax.

[@wer2young2die]

вот-вот, как раз хотел написать, что это TTL, а не ЕМ

[@jodhiwirawan7471]

How about zenit 11? Has a same problem?

[@Sebastian_Astudillo]

If I'm not mistaken you didn't move the shutter button correctly while trying to rewind it. Idk if it's the same as in the EM but you have to press the button and then move it to the left, that way it stays down in place, then you have to move the lower part of the shutter button to the R position at the left

[@rgergazas]

This is just so funny, I just bought a Zenit (that's how I found this review) and the beginning of this review is shot "in front" of the building where I lived for 5 years:-)

[@PhotoArtBrussels]

On the ZENIT 11 the unloading is easier. Around the shutter button is a second chrome part, chamfered. Just push down on that 'outside chamfered' part, to unlock the rewinding. The Zenit 11 does not have easy to use light meter. It is a separate device on top of the camera, left side where you set the ISO.

[@kiwipics]

It was my first camera in the late 70s .... along with the standard lens, 135mm and a 28mm.

[@borderlands6606]

Zenit advance mechanisms were always "industrial", and required care and maintenance. A lot were abused but a good one should work as well as any other camera. Recommendations for other cameras to test: Canon AT-1, fully manual but takes modern batteries, and Yashica FR, also manual, professional build, takes great Yashica and Contax lenses, and inexpensive. Note: the Canon A-1 you mentioned offers manual exposure. Turn dial to Tv (shutter speed) and aperture ring off (A)uto lock, then follow the exposure indicated in the viewfinder. Not as easy as a match needle, I agree, but okay for confirmation.

[@edpavez]

yep. I know the A1 can be set to "manual override" (like I say in the video), but is the most uncomfortable way of shooting in the existence of cameras, with blinking numbers and the sort. horrible. it's a great camera for Av or Tv modes, though. :) thanks for the suggestions, I'll see what I find!

[@calebllop]

Man if I was in Europe or you were in the US I would totally loan you my F1-n to give it a whirl! keep it up just found your channel and its awesome!

[@IainHC1]

was thinking that 500 is a bit quick! But then i remembered that you were in Brighton where 500 is a slow speed!

[@MelGibsonSafari]

In the old soviet block countries (in my case in Poland) Zenit is a well known, almost a cult camera. And it is so easy to find and cheap as well. I bouth it today for crazy $20 (Helios-44M-4 lens included). I'm guessing that my polish friends have at least one such camera lying around somewhere at their parents'/grandparents' house

[@ilincabudinca]

I also have a Zenit EM, i think my model is about 10 years older than this one you showed, i really enjoy using it, i've been using it for some years. So far, only a few scratches on some films.

[@Snegovik1000]

I can tell you the year of release of your model. The first two serial numbers are the last digits of the year of issue. For example number 81280608 - year of manufacture 1981.

[@MrYeahXD]

organic drums and nice photos! awesome vid

[@DarksideoftheMoon79]

I think it's pronounced zyenet I have this camera a pass down from my dad with the Helios 44 m42 2/58 it's in pristine condition both the body and Lens are spotless and seals all in tact even the mercury battery was stored in a little pouch and still works after 30 years he stored all his camera gear with silicon bead packs so dry and fungus free I have quite a massive selection of cameras probably too many but I always only ever shoot with the Pentax s1a but I think the zenit deserves a go.

[@paulterl4563]

Ciao Eduardo, (I'm one of your subscribers 😊, my compliments for the 20.000!!! 🎆🎇🎉🎊 )About the slr Zenits. I have 2 of them, one old all metal and sturdy and one more modern and platichish, ...never been able to pull out the exposed film, ...without being in the studio into the black. And destroy it a while!...In general i found there are some very satisfying russian lenses but the cameras are a bit of a chance, if you know what I mean.p.x.: for the 20'000 you can do a little party and do some lomo shots with some coloured gels, etc. etc... and obviously do a vid for us of it. 🎬🎥📷🎦📺)Ciaoo!🙋

[@ersttujuu7513]

I would like to see you trying a FED 2 :)

[@CarlotaBarrios]

I have a FED 4 and I love it :)

[@ersttujuu7513]

+Carlota Barrios Cool :) I mentioned the Fed 2 because it's considered more reliable in general. It also looks a lot sexier in my opinion.

[@friendstype25]

erstt ujuu erstt ujuu One thing to note is that the rangefinder window is really small and scratches my glasses lenses. I can see EduardoPavezGoye running into the same issue.

[@ersttujuu7513]

***** Yea, I didn't think about that.

[@ETILHK54]

I have Fed-2, it's actually from my grand-grand dad, so yes, it's reliable as hell and looks great. But there are three major things that i don't like. First thing is that to get to a next shot you have to turn a dial, and coming from the camera where you just pull the lever this might seem somewhat uncomfortable. Second thing is a small viewfinder, i would imagine using it with glasses would be almost impossible. The last thing, which may or may not be an issue for every fed-2 camera, but at least in my case, to put a lens on you have to be really precise, so if you change lenses frequently, this can be a bit annoying. Although if none of this bother you, it's a decent camera, pretty compact, well built, and not super heavy.

[@ulfjonsson2122]

A very nice video, entertaining and enlightening! Keep up the good work. I do enjoy your images! Regards Ulf

[@theonlylivingboy]

well done ! best way to celebrate a mile stone is to keep on going !

[@brookykimathi3253]

Did you colour grade the video?I like it.

[@edpavez]

yes, all my videos are color graded. I even have a tutorial about it. :)

[@marypalmer00]

Found my mom's old Zenit, and trying to look for videos on how to use it. I have no idea how to use an analog camera at all, I am 19 y.o. I also found a Polaroid 600 from the UK.

[@themikepadua]

This is awesome. That Vespa bag is great, too!

[@GlendaSiagian]

Your vlog always look good. What camere do you use? just curious. Thank you. btw, I missed you Fran ❤

[@krzysztofzwolinski956]

Great Vid 👌 Especially i love drums music on it.

[@andrewshieldsphoto]

Good video. Subscribed after watching, then watched again for that music!!!

[@ZapytajFotografa]

4:55 You pronounce Zenit pretty good.

[@marcosvazquez6775]

Which is your favorite focal length? And probably next shoot film would be nice a pentax k1000 or a medium format pentax ;)

[@SteveKleinheider]

Ed...you do an excellent job on your videos!

[@neilpiper9889]

I use an EM zenith with a Pentax Super Takumar 1.8 50mm lens. The perfect hybrid camera imo

[@bbbbbdddbbbbbdb]

Definitely my favorite roll from you

[@giuseppedivita5238]

grande passione che viene trasmessa felicemente

[@albertkaszas9066]

Wow, one of the best videos I've ever seen.

[@DmytroSlyusar]

I had this camera on my desk while I was watching this video :) And yes, it's zen'I't

[@TudorAlexandru]

rewinding your film is way easier if you press the shutter release button before turning the locking ring into place

[@jnicholls8146]

For rewind you push the shutter button in and twist. Don’t twist to the rewind spot until you’ve held the shutter button down

[@Eliolera]

3:06 good picture, i like it

[@CLeonStudios]

yo también tengo una Zenit EM (que es distinta a la del vídeo) y he roto varios rollos, aún así me encanta

[@tmpablovillarroel7539]

Eduardo, cuál es el medidor del teléfono que usas? Gracias por tu respuesta!

[@mamutspsihus2793]

Hello, did you use a battery for this camera ? I have it at home, but no battery

[@luisalvarez1784]

Hola Eduardo, tengo tres de esas cámaras la zenit 11, 12xp y TTL, son casi iguales, las uso con distintos objetivos de m42, son bien fuertes como tanques, lo unico que no me agrada mucho es su rebobinado, un poco duro a comparación de otras marcas de cámaras.

[@kahkimountain]

Thank you for uploading. I really love your project, and your nice shots. But please, show me closer look of the camera you try every episode.

[@edpavez]

thanks for the feedback! I'll do it next time. :)

[@FranciscoEscobarV]

Eduardo...qué pila usaste para el fotómetro??? me ha sido muy difícil encontrar la 625, saludos

[@winterspear6372]

Ed, if you ever come to Kuala Lumpur, I'll be more than happy to lend you some of my film cameras for you to try.. Hahahh

[@NaNa-ww2xi]

I like eye for street photography. Would love to see more videos of that!

[@edpavez]

I have plenty. haha

[@williamhamblen3808]

About 20 years ago the strip of cloth that closes one of the shutter curtains to came loose on my Zenit 12xp, ruining the shutter. The cloth was just glued to the drum and it came unstuck.

[@pKATastrofa6]

My first Camera ;) Zenith TTL.

[@leocormerais7506]

Man your videos are so freaking nice ! Thanks :)

[@nidhinnidhi5831]

Can photos taken with film be stored digitally?

[@Mauricio-gp5mk]

A mí también se me rompieron los rollos al robinar mi Zenit, desde ahí no la he usado nunca más.

[@gooorylin]

i have just bought a Zenit TTL today

[@Gentemas]

¡Hola Eduardo! ¿Qué micrófono usas para grabar los videos?

[@javilopez1632]

Hey, I've got a Zenit that was a gift from my father. The thing is that the shutter speed dial stops at 60 and I can't keep rotate to get 125 or 500. Is there a reason or it is just broken?? Thanks

[@film.fiasco]

Gracias por el video! Hasta me dieron ganas de tomar mi vieja Zenit-E jaja!

[@1989Goodspeed]

Love that camera!, Have one as well, my nickname for it is: “The Logographer’s System Camera ” ;-) Annyway Cool video!

[@martonmilan1102]

What should I do if my camera's light meter doesn't work? And I am not a professional, this is my first analogue camera… (I use a Zenit 11)

[@albertavila9574]

Despues de ver varios videos tuyos me siento como un gamer viendo un longplay 😊

[@RosyjskiCzogista]

The focusing in Zenit was a pain in the a... for me. I preffer Praktica. The same M42 mount, but built better and with different focusing screens.

[@nickpound6863]

And the Pentacon 50mm f/1.8 was a great lens

[@sintijapiterniece9597]

Great episode. Does anyone know video, where all zenit 11 tool details are explained.?

[@pollsayspaul]

crazy drumming

[@pro707]

The photo at 4:16 looks like something Fred Herzog would take.

[@blackytomi]

Hey Eduardo, how does the light meter work, I mean how do you know the picture you see is over or underexposed?

[@thalesprotazio]

pictures have a green tint on it. ultramax should render much nicer colours. PP on colour film is a pita some times. if the green tint wasnt there because of choice, try using Photoshop curves layer in auto settings, but change the auto mode to find the black and white point in the picture

[@awesomepedrinho]

is this zenit ttl 50mm?

[@spirit.at.aphelion]

una Zenit EM edición 1980 tiene la misma funcionalidad que este modelo? gracias!

[@Napoleon-Blownapart]

Does that film always have a green/yellow cast?

[@edpavez]

no this much, but this was developed at home, so it might have affected the results quite a bit. I'm still experimenting.

[@FlavioCamus]

no te paso que el medidor de luz era lento? yo la probe hace un tiempo y era un poquito insufrible, asi que usaba sunny 16