Zenith TTL User Manual

ZENIT-TTL User manual, 1965 year

Zenit TTL

This text is identical to the one in the User manual, English version, 1965 year.

1. Purpose and Advantages

ZENIT-TTL camera is intended for taking amateur pictures on black-and-white color films.

The camera is provided with a semi-automatic exposure meter operating through the lens (TTL) a
self-timer and is synchronized for flash lamp operation. It accepts interchangeable lenses provided,
with mounting thread of M42x1 and back focal distance of 45.5 mm.

ZENIT-TTL can be used for special kinds of photography such as reproduction works with the help
of extension tubes, taking close-up pictures of small subjects at close distance (macrophotography),
taking pictures with the help of a microscope (microphotography) and so on.

ZENIT-TTL camera has the following advantages:

•

semi-automatic TTL exposure meter provides for correct exposure setting when taking pictures

with the standard lens as well as with interchangeable lenses and extension tubes;

•

instant return mirror ensures continuous viewing of a subject before and after exposure;

•

high speed lens is provided with a pre-set diaphragm mechanism which automatically closes
the diaphragm at the moment of the shutter operation (“A” mode); manual operation of the diaphragm
is provided as well (“M” mode);

•

fully open diaphragm ensures maximum brightness of the image seen in the viewfinder; this
fact is very important at the moment of viewing and focusing;

•

focusing can be done both by a microraster or a ground glass;

•

speedy exposure setting, the system of simplified film loading, rewinding of exposed film with
the shutter disengaging bush in locked position — all these features cut down the time necessary for
preparing the camera for operation.

2. Specifications

Frame size — 24x36 mm
Film used — 35 mm, perforated
Length of film in cassette — 1,65 m
Number of frames — 36
Shutter speeds — from 1/30 to 1/500 s, “B” (by hand) and long exposure time
Standard lens — HELIOS-44M:

focal length — 58 mm
maximum relative aperture — f/2
diaphragm scale — from 2 to 16

distance scale — from 0,55 to “∞”
Exposure meter supply — from one battery of Mallory “PX-13” type
Film speed range — from 16 to 500 GOST units
Lens mounting thread — M42x1
Light filter thread — M52x0,75
Tripod socket thread — 1/4
Viewfinder linear field of view — 20x28 mm
Overall dimentions without case — 138x100x93 mm
Mass — 1,01 kg

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ZENIT-TTL User manual, 1965 year

Certificates of Authorship:
No 366447 of 14 June 1972; No 150360 of 18 December 1961; No 153652 of 26 February 1952; No
102683 of 7 February 1951.

Attention!

The present Description contains the basic characteristics and essential operating principles of the
camera and should not be regarded as a hand-book on photography in general.

Before using the camera, make thorough study of the operating procedure given in the present
Description.

Due to ever-advancing development in camera construction minor differences may occur between
the text and your camera. Load and unload the camera in faint diffused light avoiding direct sun rays.

Do not rotate the shutter speed dial within the interval between “500” and “B” and the film speed
setting dial within the figureless interval.

Do not turn the shutter release button if not necessary to avoid disengagement of the shutter cocking
mechanism.

Always wind the shutter (by two or three strokes of the lever) as far as it will go to avoid blank
exposures.

Do not keep the camera with the shutter cocked for a long period of time, since it is likely to affect
the shutter operation When taking pictures in frosty weather (below -10°C), keep the camera under
your street-clothes but not in the open air and take it out only for the moment of photographing.

3. Main Assemblies and Details

6 — film rewind crank
7 — film speed dial
8 — shutter speed dial
9 — shutter disengaging bush
10 — exposure counter dial
11 — shutter cocking and film advance lever
12 — protective strip

1 — self-timer lever
2 — self-timer release button
3 — release button threaded for cable release
4 — flash unit connector socket
5 — eyelets for strap securing

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ZENIT-TTL User manual, 1965 year

13 — cassette chamber 18 — lock latch
14 — cassette spool guide 19 — folding back door
15 — cap of compartment for battery of Mallory PX-13 type 20 — take-up spool
16 — viewfinder eyepiece 21 — sprocket
17 — accessory shoe for mounting flash lamp and other accessories

22 — lens mounting ring
23 — diaphragm scale
24 — depth-of-field scale
25 — distance scale
26 — focusing ring
27 — diaphragm setting ring
28 — diaphragm mode selector switch
29 — diaphragm mechanism pusher

HELIOS-44M

4. Preparing for picture taking

4.1. Loading the camera

Put a battery of Mallory PX-13 type into the compartment in the way
indicated in Section “Changing the Power Source of Exposure Meter
Electric Circuit“.

Load the camera in faint diffused light in the following way:

a) pull lock latch 18 upwards and open back door 19;

b) lift crank 6 and pull out the rewind knob;

c) put a loaded cassette into chamber 13;

d) return the rewind knob to its initial position and fold crank 6;

e) pull out the film leader as long as to reach the camera edge and insert
it into the take-up spool 20 slot; in so doing be sure to engage a perforation
hole with a tooth of sprocket 21;

f) close the back door;

g) cock the shutter by turning lever 11 as far as it will go. Press release
button 3. As the shutter is cocked, the film is advanced by one frame. To
transport a nonexposed portion of film to the film gate, cock the shutter
two times pressing the release button after each cocking.

Should the film be wound tightly in the cassette, the film rewind knob
will rotate when the shutter is being cocked. If the film is loose in the
cassette, the rewind knob will fail to rotate at the first frames;

h) bring figure “0” of exposure counter dial 10 to the index mark. Set
the exposure counter only with the shutter cocked;

i) set the film speed value by turning dial 7 till it aligns with the index
mark on the camera shield; in so doing you will feel the dial is locked.

Note: Dashes engraved between figures on the film speed dial enable to set intermediate values of
film speed in accordance with the Reference Table.

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