Soviet and Russian Cameras - Modern Zenits from Belarus



Zenit-15M (group)


The very first versions of Zenit-15M were unsuccessful belorussian's attempt to issue an "Elite" type camera. Though cameras under name "Zenit-15M" are quite common to find nowadays, these conceptional versions had great sequence of shutter speeds 1s - 1/1000s + B and slightly different body design.

Produced: 1988-1996 by BeLomo Name: „Зенит-15M“ Frame size: 24x36. Lens: MC Helios-44-M-4 2/58. Shutter: 1s-1/1000s + B on prototypes; Shutter: 1/30s - 1/500s + B (common); Shutter: 1/30s - 1/1000s + B (rare); Quantity: Unknown. Camera #8991405 opposite from private collection in China.
	Zenit-15M prototype camera #8991405.





PB4605. Seems to be an earliest so far known prototype version of Zenit-15M camera. Very few pilot cameras released by BeLomo in 1988. Shutter speeds: 1/30s - 1/100s +B. Shutter advance knob with frame counter's disk. Shutter release knob in the center of the top plate. Fitted with Helios-44M-4 2/58 lens. PB4610. Camera identical to PB4605, but under name "ALBAR" in Roman characters. Very few pilot cameras released by BeLomo in 1988. The picture opposite was kindly provided by the authors of SSK book “1200 Cameras from the USSR”, 2009.
	PB4605 - Zenit-15M prototype camera.

PB4615. Another prototype version with new shutter speed's sequence: 1s - 1/1000s + B. New construction of shutter advance knob and frame counter (see picture below). Changed design of the film rewind knob. Very few pilot cameras released by BeLomo in 1988. The picture opposite was kindly provided by the authors of SSK book “1200 Cameras from the USSR”, 2009.
	PB4615 - Zenit-15M prototype camera.

PB4620. New construction of the shutter release knob, old design of the film rewind knob (as on PB4605 camera, see above). Nameplate in raised Cyrillic characters already. Up to 30 pilot cameras released by BeLomo in 1988-1989 (together with Visit camera). The ultra rare manual guide is known to exist (see picture below). Camera #8991405 opposite from private collection in China.
	PB4620 - Zenit-15M prototype #8991405.

PB4625. Prototype camera identical to PB4620, but under name "VISIT" in Cyrillic characters. Very few pilot cameras released by BeLomo in 1989. Camera opposite from Viktor Suglob (Belarus) collection.
	PB4625 - Zenit-15M prototype camera.

PB4630. An extremely rare transitional prototype camera, released in late 1991 - early 1992. "Zenit" nameplate was cutted-off and replaced with new "Vizit" markings due to KMZ factory's prohibition to use "Zenit" brand on BeLOMO cameras . No serial numbers on body. An only sample opposite is known to exist in collections. PB4635. Camera identical to PB4630, but with interchangable camera nameplates (Vizit, Albar, etc.), stamped on thin metal plaques and glued on camera body. Never happened to see a real sample alive. No otherwise different from regular type PB4640 (see below). No serial numbers on body.
	PB4630 - Vizit-15M prototype camera.

PB4640. Seems to be the most common version of regular Zenit-15M camera. Released by BeLomo since 1992-1994. Simplified shutter with speeds: 1/30s - 1/500s + B. Nameplate with green "Zenit" markings in Roman characters. Changed design of shutter advance and shutter release knobs (as on prototype PB4605). No more yellow multi-exposition/frame counter knob on the rear plate (see picture below). Camera opposite from private collection in China.
	PB4640 - Zenit-15M #9479045.

PB4645. Camera visually identical to PB4640, but under name "Zenit-12XS" already. At least 60748 units were released in 1993-1997. "Zenit" markings on the frontplate is painted in green colour. PB4650. Very uncommon to find version of Zenit-12XS with 1/1000s shutter speed added. Totally white name markings (instead of green on regular cameras). Camera opposite from private collection in China.
	PB4645 - Zenit-12xs #9301792.

PB4655. Very rare to find version under name "Zenit-122". An additional 1/1000s shutter speed is added on the particular camera (see picture below). Camera opposite from Viktor Suglob (Belarus) collection.
	PB4655 - Zenit-122 #9313298.

PB4660. Very rare to find version under name "Albar-15" in Cyrillic characters. 1/1000s shutter speed added. Less than 1000 cameras released in 1993 (together with PB4665). PB4665. Camera identical to PB4660, but under name "Albar-15" in Roman characters. Investigated camera has s/n #9316069 (I.Stolyar coll.). Camera opposite from Alexey Nikitin (Russia) collection.
	PB4660 - Albar-15 #9314393.

PB4670. Camera identical to PB4665, but with 1/500s shutter speed already. Still very uncommon to find. Camera opposite from private collection in China.
	PB4670 - Albar-15 #9416451.

PB4675. Camera visually identical to PB4640, but under name "Zenit-21XS" already. At least 28885 units were released in 1994-1998. "Zenit" markings on the frontplate is painted in green colour. PB4680. Camera identical to PB4675, but all markings (including selftimer release knob) are totally white already. Very uncommon to find nowadays. Camera opposite from private collection in China.
	PB4675 - Zenit-21xs #9428956.

PB4685. Camera identical to PB4680, but under name "Zenit 12pro" already. At least 19973 units were released in 1996-1997. Quite rare to find nowadays. Camera opposite from private collection in China.
	PB4685 - Zenit-12Pro #96027464.

PB4690. Camera visually identical to PB4640, but under name "Zenit-12XSL" already. At least 18417 units were released in 1995. "Zenit" markings on the frontplate is painted in green colour. Camera opposite from private collection in China.
	PB4690 - Zenit-12xsl #9531354.



Zenit-130


Produced: c.1998 Name: „Zenit-130“ Producer: BeLomo (Made in Byelarus) Frame size: 24x36. Lens: Helios-44M-4 2/58. Shutter: 1/30s-1/500s + B. Quantity: unknown. Camera opposite from Ilya Stolyar (USA) coll.
	Zenit-130 #98002075.

Simplified version of Zenit-130 camera without selftimer on the frontplate. Camera opposite form Viktor Suglob (Belarus) collection.
	Zenit-130 #99042831.