Jump to content

M Camera made by Zenit

Leon_B.

By Leon_B.
in Digital Forum

 Share

Recommended Posts

  • Replies 139
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Top Posters In This Topic

Popular Posts

Leon_B.
Leon_B.

In cooperation with Leica, Krasnogorsky Zavod from Zenit designed a new digital rangefinder camera technically based on the Leica M (Typ 240). The camera is equipped with Zenitar 35 mm f/1.0 lens and

ynp
ynp

Mostly for nostalgic reasons. I am Russian, born in the USSR.  I live and work in Russia. My first camera was Zenit 3m. The second camera was FED-5V and since 1974 I have been shooting the rangefinder

Robert M Poole
Robert M Poole

I find this story much more interesting than the L-Mount story released yesterday. I don't really know why but I really fancy getting one of these! 

Posted Images

Mute-on

Mute-on

Posted
Posted

I like it. I don’t have a Leica digital as they are just too steep for my budget, but this could be a viable substitute for the Q.

 

As much as I like a 28 (currently a 28 Elmarit Asph) I could easily live with a fixed 35. The extra mp could also assist with cropping.

 

The technology is certainly very interesting...

  • Like 2
Link to post
Share on other sites
Lax Jought

Lax Jought

Posted
Posted

Mostly for nostalgic reasons. I am Russian, born in the USSR.  I live and work in Russia. My first camera was Zenit 3m. The second camera was FED-5V and since 1974 I have been shooting the rangefinders. I bought my first Leica in 1995-96 and still have several film Ms and one digital Leica M, the M9. 

 

I have been resisting the temptation to upgrade my M9 for several years and the Zenit-M looks nice enough to own. I do not need it, my m9 works well for me and I am happy with it, but I thought Why not and pressed the preorder button. The unique lens makes it a nice limited edition. I understand that it is outdated, but I am happy with my s2-P and it is ancient as well. 

 

Yevgeny

 

It may not be based on the M10 but I don't see the Zenit as outdated.  It would still be a very good camera if they're basing it off the M240.

 

I would have been tempted to give the Zenit a go (mainly for that lens) if it was cheaper.  But I already have both the M240 and M10. 

  • Like 2
Link to post
Share on other sites
dkCambridgeshire

dkCambridgeshire

Posted
Posted

Are you sure its meant to be used? Rather for Russian 'oligarchs' to put in their glass cases.

Its like Porsche bringing out a Lada badge engineered model.

I suggest its only importance is to the marketing and accounts depts, none photographically whatsoever.

 

Gerry

 

 

Ye of little faith might be unaware of the fact that some Russian optics are the world's finest of their type … and should not be dismissed out of hand … and without e.g. reading reviews. 

 

I'd suggest that your rather too dogmatic "I suggest its only importance is to the marketing and accounts depts, none photographically whatsoever" … .is wishful thinking, and totally biased.

 

dunk  

  • Like 2
Link to post
Share on other sites
willeica

willeica

Posted
Posted

Yup, who's going to buy a Zenit and pretend it's a Leica?

 

...

 

Why would anyone want to do that? When I use a Jupiter 3 lens on my M10, I would never pretend that it is a Leica lens. Likewise when I use a Zorki or a Leotax camera rather than any of my many Leica LTM models, I would never pretend that they are anything other than what they are. Adults don't buy cameras as status symbols, but rather as tools to use or items to collect.

 

 

Ye of little faith might be unaware of the fact that some Russian optics are the world's finest of their type … and should not be dismissed out of hand … and without e.g. reading reviews. 

 

I'd suggest that your rather too dogmatic "I suggest its only importance is to the marketing and accounts depts, none photographically whatsoever" … .is wishful thinking, and totally biased.

 

dunk  

 

 I agree 100%. This JV could lead to many interesting lens products. The FSU produced many fine lenses which are still very good to use, even on the latest Leicas.

 

William

  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites
otto.f

otto.f

Posted
Posted (edited)

"The lens creates an image that doesn't require processing" (a feature unique in the market… :p… expecially considering that the camera is "made for shooting under various conditions".)

I don’t think that’s ironic at all. I do have spent lots of time with M10 files to get the colors the way they were in reality. We do know also that jpeg’s out of camera have been quite bad compared to the competition in that price range from M8 to M10. If Zenith lives up to this promise is another question.

‘Various conditions’ may refer to an AWB that gives neutral and realistic colors in several types of light.

Edited by otto.f
Link to post
Share on other sites
ynp

ynp

Posted
Posted (edited)

It may not be based on the M10 but I don't see the Zenit as outdated.  It would still be a very good camera if they're basing it off the M240.

 

I would have been tempted to give the Zenit a go (mainly for that lens) if it was cheaper.  But I already have both the M240 and M10. 

 

I heard that the lens is a totally new computation and it has some expensive elements made of Lytkarino/ LZOS glass. I hope it has a character and it is not as sterile as the modern lenses have been for a while.

I do not expect the Leica quality from this lens.

Edited by ynp
Link to post
Share on other sites
250swb

250swb

Posted
Posted (edited)

Yup, who's going to buy a Zenit and pretend it's a Leica?

 

...

 

At a guess people who want to take photographs and not those who worry if their half-case is 'demode'. 

 

Seems like a great idea to me, even leaving out the coding, maybe people will learn to look at their images and know what lens they used instead of Lightroom giving them their only clue.

Edited by 250swb
  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites
gyoung

gyoung

Posted
Posted

That is quite good. A Leica M10 plus Summicron 35 weighs over 900g.

And an Xpro2 with 23/2 weighs almost 700gms

And a Nikon ff body alone more like 850gms minimum.

So not bad really. Shame it doesn't have interchangeable lenses.

 

Gerry

Link to post
Share on other sites
jaeger

jaeger

Posted
Posted

I don't see this body designed where-ever in Russia.  It's kinda sad because it's more like "Copy" from...Wetzlar + M10 ISO dial deleted.   

 

 

I note it says "DESIGNED in Krasnogorsk, Russia."  Does that mean it's actually built in the far east?

Link to post
Share on other sites
adan

adan

Posted
Posted (edited)

 

I'm confident it will take brilliant photos, and it's good to see another manufacturer moving along the game in the fixed lens, reasonably compact, no compromise of image quality space.

-------------------

As much as I like a 28 (currently a 28 Elmarit Asph) I could easily live with a fixed 35. The extra mp could also assist with cropping.

-------------------

So not bad really. Shame it doesn't have interchangeable lenses.

 

Where are people getting the screwball (one might say - ignorant and uninformed) idea that the lens on the Zenit is "fixed" and not interchangeable?

 

The lens comes off and can be interchanged with other lenses, just like the M240.

 

See? - Zenit with lens removed. Standard interchangeable Leica M-mount: https://www.dpreview.com/news/9034303849/photokina-2018-hands-on-with-zenit-m?slide=5

 

It will be sold as a kit or set with the 35mm f/1.0 - so what? So is Leica's own Zagato edition - paired camera and lens - but still interchangeable with other lenses. Leica also offers "sets" at a discount with other cameras/lenses. But still not "fixed" lenses.

 

http://us.leica-camera.com/Photography/Leica-M/Leica-M-Special-Editions

 

http://us.leica-camera.com/Photography/Leica-M/LEICA-M-SETS/The-perfect-moment

_________________________________________

 

While we're on the subject of confused ideas, the thread headline is backwards - should read "Zenit camera made by Leica."

 

Outer shell designed by Zenit in Kransnogorsk

 

Outer shell likely made by the same folks who make Leica's machined parts - Uwe Weller Feintechnick, right next to Leica in Leitz-Park, Wetzlar.

 

Outer shell assembled, along with Leica M240 parts, by Leica in Wetzlar.

 

The 35 f/1.0 lens itself is manufactured in Krasnogorsk, where it will be combined with the camera body for the kit.

____________________

 

As for why anyone would buy the Zenit instead of an "actual Leica" - fair question. Probably for the same reason(s) they bought hundreds of thousands of these over the past 80 years:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canon_7

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canon_II

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canon_P

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canon_VT

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zorki

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FED_(camera)

 

And those didn't have any Leica "content" at all, whereas the Zenit is a Leica in everything except the external cosmetics. The ultimate "Leica copy" - actually made by Leica! ;)

Edited by adan
  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites
Alberti

Alberti

Posted
Posted

why don't KMZ make a LTM version with their own Russian register distance so all e.g. Jupiter LTM owners (which [mostly] do not focus sorrectly on a Leica LTM/M-mount with an adapter) , can at last use their lenses natively again.

Or trow in one verion on the market too with a German register distance

 

Come on, the biggest hurdle is the marketing, not the making.

And an LTM camera is completely free of license rights if I am well informed.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...