Krasnogorsk Zenit 12 XP

Photos by Sylvain Halgand text by Sylvain Halgand. From the collection of Sylvain Halgand. Last update 2024-03-02 par Sylvain Halgand.

Manufactured or assembled in Former USSR from 1983 to (After) 1991.
Index of rarity in France: Infrequent (among non-specialized garage sales)
Inventory number: 11377

See the complete technical specifications

Chronology of cameras Krasnogorsk

The successive models of Fotosniper (FS for FotoSniper) or PhotoSniper impress with their weapon-like shape and size.

They are composed of a reflex camera body (or reflex chamber), a telephoto lens, a stock, and a trigger system on the stock. However, they lack an automatic recocking mechanism to be ready for wildlife photography... and to be quieter.

The sets are usually delivered in a metal case, which also contains the essential tools for assembly and a set of filters, or in a more conventional bag.

The FS-2, with its wooden stock and reflex chamber, is rare because it was produced in very small numbers at the end of the Second World War. One can imagine that its use was not for leisure purposes.

FS-3 (1965-1982)

The camera body is the Zenit ES. The lens is a Taïr-3AS 4.5/300 mm.

FS-12 (1982-1990)

The lens remains a Taïr-3AS 4.5/300 mm. The camera body changes and can be a Zenit 12 S, a Zenit 12 XPS, a Zenit 12 SD, or a Zenit 12 XP.

	Years	Misc.

Zenit 12 S	1982-87	Like the Zenit 12, but with the shutter release on the bottom as well.
Zenit 12 SD	1983-88	CLike the Zenit-TTL, but exposure control is done by 2 diodes.
Zenit 12 XP	1983-92 (c.)	Export Version for 12 SD
Zenit 12 XPS	c. 1990	Like the Zenit 12 XP, but with the shutter release on the bottom as well.

There is also an FS-4 and an FS-5 with a mirror lens, and some derivatives of the FS-12 built after the fall of the USSR.

__________

Traduction de Pierre Yves Petit.

First issued in 1982, the Zenit 12 replaces the Zenit TTL, upon which it is based. Unlike the TTL, which required a PX 625 mercury battery, the 12 uses two 1.5 Volts alkaline batteries (type 186).

The built-in exposure meter is now provided with two small Cds cells located behind the prism, whereas the Zenit TTL had only one Cds cell located in front of the prism, through a semi-transparent mirror.

The benefit of this new system is that the cell is more precise while taking pictures in dimmed light. The second benefit of this system is the replacement of the traditional galvanometer by two red LEDs, one indicating under-exposure, the other one over-exposure. When the two LEDs are blinking at the same time, the exposure is correct.

The disappearance of the semi-transparent mirror in front of the prism combined with a better Fresnel lens and a better focusing screen (with micro prisms) allows a more precise focusing, done in a slightly brighter finder.

The Zenit 12 XPwas the camera of amateur photographers during the 80s and the 90s. Its low selling price, its Helios 44M (perfect for black & white), its M42 mount allowing the use of a wide range of lenses (many different brands & qualities !) and its soviet-tank-like sturdiness made it unrivalled as far as value-for-money is concerned.

Interesting links or bibliography :

Folding-Camera.fr, suggested by Jean Pierre Philippe

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