CCC Forum

Back in the day, Zenit cameras were the last word in, well, cheapness and crudity. They were what you bought when you could not afford anything else and were the first experience of photography for many youngsters. The cameras were basic and heavy, and stories of inaccurate metering, light leaks and even a strange smell are legend. Now the cameras are being brought back as an upmarket brand to rival Leica. Seriously?

http://petapixel.com/2016/02/12/russian ... ca-luxury/

Back in 1972 when I was just a poor student doing my PhD, my first SLR was the sturdy, secondhand Zenith camera with a 50mm f2 lens that was amazing (to me in any case)! I bought a set of extension tubes that took me into macro photograph. Its screw fit could take Pentax lenses. It was a big step up from the small rangefinder camera that I had then.
It will be interesting to see how the new Zenith measures up to the modern SLR. Perhaps they will go straight into mirrorless cameras.
Iggy

Iggy wrote:It will be interesting to see how the new Zenith measures up to the modern SLR. Perhaps they will go straight into mirrorless cameras.
Iggy

What is intriguing is the dichtomy between a luxury good and the tank like Zenit built cheaply by a country desperate for foreign currency but lacking the manufacturing capacity to produce a quality product. What next, the Trabant limousine? Perhaps wealthy socialists will buy the camera to make a statement.

Perhaps you underestimate the power of a rose-tinted filter? If it was the first camera for a lot of new photographers, that may count for a lot (despite any flaws).

If there is a potential market, there's no point in Rostec positioning it as anything other than a luxury/retro item.

Peter Boughton wrote:Perhaps you underestimate the power of a rose-tinted filter? If it was the first camera for a lot of new photographers, that may count for a lot (despite any flaws).

Maybe. It was a camera which introduced a lot of people to photography, either because it was all they could afford or they did not want to spend too much initially when trying the hobby. My guess is that those who carried on recognised it for what it was and moved on to something better when they could.

Peter Boughton wrote:If there is a potential market, there's no point in Rostec positioning it as anything other than a luxury/retro item.

I agree with that, but would it not be better to start with a new brand rather than try to resurrect a name from the Soviet era which many people will equate with cheap and cheerful? It is not even as if the Zenit was that handsome a camera to start with. "I could have had a Leica, but bought a Zenit instead". Sorry, I just do not see it. At that level, it is as much about reputation and Rostec seems to be giving itself an unnecessary handicap.