The ‘Krasnogorsk Cutlet’: Solving the mirror mystery of early Zenit-Es

By Roman Yarovitsyn

It is widely considered that the most famous Soviet 35 mm SLR, the Zenit-E, was initially equipped with an old fashioned mirror, which does not return until the shutter is cocked.

The modern “wink mirror’ in this camera appeared only after the first year of production. There are different versions of this story: after first 50,000 examples, after the first batch etc. But the newest research questions this myth.

I can now definitely say that at least the first 3,000 units were equipped as standard with an instant return mirror. Recently I purchased an early Zenit-E with the serial 66002905 with a silver Helios-44 and usual instant return mirror. Considering that in 1965 the total output was only 350 units, we can come to the conclusion that most likely first 3,200 has the same design.

I suggest that the old-style mirror in the Zenit-E is just a myth. And I have my own version about how this myth originated. Those who disassembled and repaired different Zenits, knows well, that all of them (except the exotic Zenit-19, Zenit-16 and moreover Zenit-4 family), are very similar cameras.

All “classic” Zenits with cloth shutter just a further development of Zenit-3M/Kristall. These were the first SLRs with a one-piece body, made by high-pressure die-casting. The model E was the second generation of this family, right the next after 3M. No wonder, that internal structure in both cameras is almost identical. I know the design of Zenit-E very well, because 30 years ago I was forced to fix all any issues with the camera myself. So, when I disassembled a Zenit-3M for the first time I had deja vu.

The same pentaprism, the same modules and practically identical shutters lay before me. Any serious collector knows well the “silver” shutter speed dials in early Zenit-E, which was identical to Zenit-3M. The black anodised dial appeared on the E only later and was absolutely interchangeable with the old one. The only difference is a slightly changed cock and mirror mechanism layout. The uncoupled light meter just filled an empty space and didn’t change the layout of any neighbouring elements.

But the landing place for mirror box? Absolutely identical. The same three screws in the same places. Let’s look at the pictures. Here I installed, one after the other, the mirror modules of the E and 3M into the Zenit-3M body. As you can see, they both sit perfectly.

Here we notice the progress of pentaprism production. In the Zenit-3M unit the pentaprism is attached by two little claws, while in the same block of the E model we discover a large bracket over glass detail. The reason is a production period: early Es were equipped with the same little paws, which can’t damage the pentaprism’s reflecting layer. I used here a unit from one of the last Belorussian Zenit-Es with a similar crude pentaprism mounting by bracket. As I said in my previous articles, the design of Soviet cameras constantly simplified as years progressed.

The similarity of the mirror boxes gave me an idea about the possibility of Zenit-Es being repaired with the Zenit-3M’s old mirror. Note there was a strong shortage of spare parts in the USSR, especially for a just-released camera. Let’s imagine a quite usual situation: a photographer brings to a service centre one of these brand new Zenit-Es with a broken shutter, but the master repairer has spare parts only for Zenit-3M or Kristall.

The shutter of all three SLRs are identical, but there is the only problem: the mirror drive in the new camera is different. It attaches to the bottom plate of shutter and has different landing place and screw holes. So, the serviceman decides to replace the shutter together with the mirror box. As we already know, the attaching of a mirror unit from Zenit-3M into the body of the Zenit-E does not encounter any obstacles. The only serious problem is to install a double-arm lever, which cocks the mirror.

There is a screw in the Zenit-3M, which serves as a shaft for this lever, but on the body of Zenit-E there is no hole for that screw. However, to drill such a hole and cut a thread in it is a piece of cake for any self-respecting Soviet repairmen. All that remains is to replace the cocking mechanism gear with the one with a cam.

As a result, the photographer receives a working camera, useful for shooting and earning money. It‘s pretty possible, that such “cutlets” (this is a nickname of cameras, combined from parts of different models in Russia) were quite usual in early years of Zenit-E production. Later one of those oddities catches the eye of Western collector, who the concludes that the early Zenit-Es have a non-returning mirror.

A character from a science fiction novel by the famous Strugatsky brothers said in a similar situation: “This is how unhealthy sensations are born”.

Everyday logic suggests to us, that from developer’s point of view, it would be absolutely unjustifiable to make even a prototype without instant return mirror. In such case all the other improvements were just cosmetic, including light meter. Such a theory is confirmed by Zenit-E №65000007 from the collection of Ilya Stolyar, the owner of the Sovietcams.com website. He checked that camera at our request and discovered, that its mirror drive is the same as usual: with instant return.

I can admit that some batches were equipped with the mirror box of the Zenit-3M only because of the shortage of the original E’s parts under the conditions of a last-minute monthly plan. But even in this case, the old-style mirror in the Zenit-E can be declared only the result of such repairs. Therefore, it is most likely a myth.

• Many thanks to Ilya Stolyar for help with this article