You are here:

Cameras/Zenit cameras 35mm slr film

Advertisement

Expert: - 8/1/2006


Question
Hello,

I have two cameras, the Zenit EM Model, 35mm SLR.
one has the Moshva.80 olympic logo and is in mint condition, the other (much older of the two) also has an olympic logo, but unlike the moscow/80 camera
the logo has a linear tower construction above the olympic rings. What year is the latter camera please, and have either any collectable value, I appreciate that as a norm Zenit cameras of this type
are not valuable, many thanks.

Answer

Hello,

The Olympic Tower logo is also from the 1980 Olympics.  Krasnogorsk was producing at least three different general production models of the Zenit during that Olympics, the E, the EM, and the TTL, and all were available with some variation of the logo.  There was the "MOSCOW-80" over the rings logo, the "MOCHBA-80" over the rings logo, the "MOSKVA-80" over the rings logo, and the Olympic Tower over the rings logo.  Therefore, although the one camera appears to be an "older" model, both of your cameras were made around the same time.  You already know one is the EM, so I would suggest the other must be the E because it does look like a more simple camera compared to the EM.  None of the Olympic versions are uncommon.  There are actually more examples of the Olympic EM than the non-Olympic version!  A truly excellent example of the Olympic Zenit EM would sell for about $70 today, and the Olympic Zenit E brings about $50.

Best wishes,

David Silver

Cameras

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

David Silver

Expertise

I'm an expert on all types of antique, classic, and contemporary cameras, as well as the general history of photography. Everything from ancient box cameras to modern single-lens-reflex; from simple Kodaks to sophisticated Leica and Nikon; from glass plates and roll film to movie and 35mm. I can identify and appraise them, explain how they work, and offer insights on their restoration and care. I can also provide historical background on vintage cameras and equipment, and guidelines on their purchase and sale.

Experience

I've been a professional photographer and a student of the history of photography for nearly 30 years. During that time my collection of vintage cameras and photographic paraphernalia has grown beyond 2000 significant pieces. I've published nearly 70 articles in the field, including 16 in the popular "Buying Classic Cameras" series for PHOTO SHOPPER MAGAZINE from 1995 to 1997, I'm currently a contributing editor for CAMERA SHOPPER MAGAZINE and McKEOWN'S PRICE GUIDE TO ANTIQUE AND CLASSIC CAMERAS, and I've written numerous entries for WORLD BOOK ENCYCLOPEDIA. Portions of my collection have been displayed in museums and special exhibits in the past two decades, and many of the items were photographed as illustrations for books. In 1985 I founded the International Photographic Historical Organization (InPHO), which eventually evolved into its intended purpose as the best first resource for information on the history of photography. I'm also a founding member of several e-mail forums dedicated to specialized areas of photography, and I'm the moderator of the Internet Directory of Camera Collectors (IDCC), which remains the largest and most successful such group in the world. For more information about the International Photographic Historical Organization and its many services, please visit its web pages at:

http://www.photographyhistory.com


©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.