zenit 12xp reviews | Watch This Item.

Picture courtesy of Matt J.

Average Ratings
Photograph Quality9.3/10 Based on 7 ratings
Features6.4/10 Based on 14 ratings
Ease of Use6.3/10 Based on 7 ratings
Value for Money9.9/10
Reviewer Rating8.6/10
Overall Rating8.9/10 Based on 21 ratings
87% Recommended13 out of 15 Reviews
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15- Zenit 12XP Reviews

  • Full review by
    vumpsh
    on 8th Jun 2009


    User Rating : 9
    Respect : 0

    Good Points: Extremely solid construction, very sturdy and hence feels good in the hand. Excellent student camera- good camera for the price, with a fantastic lens for the price. Plastic knobs on top of body, especially the shutter speed knob which doesn't rotate when released and doesn't need to be lifted to be set, are an improvement (in my opinion) over the older Zenit knobs. TTL meter a huge improvement over the external, uncoupled meters of older zenits (although still not perfect, see "Bad Points.") I recommend it.

    Bad Points: Batteries for light meter could be difficult to find. Occasionally, some specific cameras may have a light meter that is hard to operate and/or not very well calibrated; the light meter's range of ISO's is very small, smaller than the range that could effectively be shot. Low range of shutter speeds.

    General comments: I love this camera. I am an amateur, and my first ever SLR was an older zenit-E. Since then, I have used many newer, much more high end pieces, but when I got a Zenit-12XP recently as a present, I fell in love with the Russian SLR again. Some people criticize Zenits for being clunky, but I love how solidly it feels in the hand. Controls are significantly improved over older models by the same brand, and I could consider this to be the best Zenit. Why? It has many technical improvements (ergonomics, TTL metering, auto aperture, etc) over the early models, but still dates to an era before the quality control at KMZ fell to an abysmal low in the 1990s. The shutter speeds on this camera are 500-30, plus B. This is, of course, limited, but in the conditions of off-the-hands, amateur shooting (for which this intro level SLR was intended), it is enough. Shutter speeds slower than thirty usually require something like a tripod to stabilize your shot anyway (this camera is not professional, this wasn't part of the plan). 500 is a bit low for max. speed, but it falls well into the general scheme of this student piece- the shutter speed dial for the light meter will show one that usage of film faster than 400 was never intended. On a sunny day, at noon, at f-16, your shutter speed should equal your ISO. Thus, on the brightest of days, on the narrowest of apertures of the standard HELIOS lens, you can shoot four hundred film at 500 shutter speed. Thus, the camera is obviously pushed to the limit. It is a LIMITED camera. It is, however, a joy to use and really, really fun. As a student camera, it is excellent. I know that personally I am extremely happy to have learned on an even older, completely manual Zenit, because the simplicity of these workhorse cameras is beneficial in building a true understanding of photography's basics, and forces the student to avoid pointing and shooting. Finally, it is forgiving in its durability. An acquaintance did a test by throwing his 12 into water for ONE HOUR! Upon getting it out and letting it dry a bit, it worked fine. If it does break, it is ridiculously easy to fix and extremely cheap and easy to replace.
    vumpsh's review and ratings     | 527 words

  • Review by
    gpower
    on 7th May 2009


    User Rating : 10
    Respect : 0

    Overall a fun manual camera to take snapshots with. For the price it cannot be beaten as it can be had online for as low as £5, I paid just over £10 for mine in near mint condition. And the standard lens, the Helios 44M, is a very nice bit of kit, with a fairly large aperture and silky smooth bokeh. There are a few things to watch out for though, Zenit quality control is legendarily iffy, so it is probably best to buy the camera from a fair where you can check all shutter speeds, t ...
    gpower's full review     | 261 words

  • Review by
    Guest.
    on 10th Dec 2008


    User Rating : 9
    Respect : 0

    I love photography.... I use this camera since I was young... I know it just like the back of my hand... it is perfect... Recently I bought on ebay a soligor 25-55mm.... and it just rocks... I love it! It is a masterpiece for learning photography!
    Guest's full review     | 53 words

  • Review by
    Augy
    on 11th Sep 2008


    User Rating : 10
    Respect : 0

    A few months before I noticed that I have an old camera in my shelf. It was the current zenit. And now I've done a few shots, but haven't looked at them yet, so I can't tell anything about the quality, but I heard it's very good. I really like it. Also, a zoom lens would have been fine also, but unfortunately it didn't even exist at that time....
    Augy's full review     | 97 words

  • Review by
    Guest.
    on 27th Jul 2008


    User Rating : 10
    Respect : 0

    Great collection camera, i bought one which is still working and looks new! Rock Solid, beautiful U.S.S.R. camera!
    Guest's full review     | 26 words

  • Review by
    Guest.
    on 14th Apr 2008


    User Rating : 9
    Respect : 0

    SOLID! Dependable, satisfying, and the helios lens is sharp and contrasty. What a juggernaut.
    Guest's full review     | 14 words

  • Review by
    harlee112833 Rank: Lance Corporal
    expert review Expert Review
    on 8th May 2004


    User Rating : 4
    Respect : +2

    I purchased my Zenit 12XP 35mm SLR Camera, or perhaps it should be referred to as the 12HR, since the Russian cyrillic letters stand for XR, on Ebay for around $25.00. It was being sold under the Cambron label. Apparently the seller had no idea what it was, for he mentioned that there is some sort of battery holder on the back of the camera. The camera was in "like new" condition. I had a Zenit back in the 80's, with an external meter, and this one had the same heft and feel of of that older ...
    harlee112833's full review     | 586 words

  • Review by
    redbaron Rank: 2nd Lieutenant
    on 5th Mar 2004


    User Rating : 9
    Respect : 0

    Ah Soviet engineering! Well, what Carl Zeiss was to the DDR, Zenit was to the USSR. I have a Zenit 12XP which has finally given up the ghost on me and I think I am actually going to have to replace it. That being said they go cheap on ebay so it is tempting to nab another. It was my first 'proper' 35mm camera and I got it with a few lenses to play with. The Zenit is good and chunky, it's a durable bit of kit and can take a knock or two without a problem which compares well with many of the ...
    redbaron's full review     | 290 words | 4 comments added.

  • Review by
    kikhobor
    on 11th Sep 2003


    User Rating : 9
    Respect : 0

    I am a beginner in photography,Zenit12xp is a true master for my development of photographic senses and camera handling. But I am having a problem since I bought the camera from an auction and could not have any manual.Could anyone be kind enough to send me complete Zenit12xp manual at kikhobor@rediffmail.com
    kikhobor's full review     | 77 words

  • Review by
    Enrique.
    on 22nd Jul 2003


    User Rating : 10
    Respect : -2

    I own a Zenit12xp 35 mm camera. I bought it in Cuba. I emigrated to the United States, and after 9 years living in the US, somebody brought it to me from Cuba. I had to clean it, and after 9 years without use, the camera works perfectly, and take better pictures than the Canon cameras. I have it as my favorite collectible toy, and still use it, and the pictures impress everyone.
    Enrique's full review     | 71 words

  • Review by
    Diobonik.
    on 2nd Jul 2003


    User Rating : 10
    Respect : +1

    If you want to own a cheap camera, reliable, that can allows you to do very good pics and understand photography, this is the camera for you. No frills, sovietic style, but will never abandon you. Black and white pics are great with this camera. Works with any time and condition. I am happy with it, because it's "retro" but give you a lot of satisfaction.
    Diobonik's full review     | 80 words | 1 comment added.

  • Review by
    David.
    on 31st May 2003


    User Rating : 6
    Respect : 0

    Have not owned this camera but I owned a Zenit B many years ago. It was heavy and crude but it took good photos through its helios PRESET aperture lens. The Jupiter-9 85mm portrait lens for it was excellent and the lens I used for most of the time. The Zenit 12XP looks considerably more refined than my Zenit B was. Yes, I agree the Praktica cameras were the most unreliable ever made with their shutter problems, plastic top and bottom plates.
    David's full review     | 87 words

  • Review by
    Tom Tiger.
    on 22nd May 2003


    User Rating : 8
    Respect : +3

    The 12xp represents REAL photography. If you truly wish to learn photography then this is the way to go. No programs, no autostuf but a back to basics camera. It's cheap, it's durable and the lenses are excellent. It has a M42 mount which means you can get a lot of good and cheap lenses for it. There are even forums around the world to help you with this camera. So... free support, a good camera, and it even has a TTL meter. Which, imho, is a good meter. The 12xp forces you to think abou ...
    Tom Tiger's full review     | 147 words

  • Review by
    Vaidis OK.
    on 19th Sep 2002


    User Rating : 8
    Respect : +5

    I have had a Zenit 12XP 35mm SLR camera with Helios 44, Mir 1B and Jupiter 37A lenses since 1994. The TTL exposure calculation system works perfectly. The only bad point is that there are no automatic modes for fast shooting - every time you need to set shutter speed and aperture by hand. And no autofocus, of course.
    Vaidis OK's full review     | 73 words | 1 comment added.

  • Review by
    Misiek. Rank: Lance Corporal
    on 8th May 2002


    User Rating : 8
    Respect : +10

    The Zenit 12XP is an excellent 35mm SLR camera for its price. A real workhorse, I have had it for 19 years without any trouble. The helios lens is magnificent. I recommend this camera to anyone that is on a budget or just starting out in photography.
    Misiek's full review     | 54 words | 26 comments added.


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