ZENTH TTL
SECTION TWO
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Using the self timer:
Your Zenith camera has a built-in self timer that trips
the shutter after at least a 7 second delay thus enabling
you to get into the picture yourself. Here is how to use
it...
1.Support the camera on something firm, a tripod is best,
but any stable surface such as a nearby table or shelf
will do.
2.All main controls are set as normal, i.e. Wind Film
Transport Lever (2) then frame and focus on the
general subject area. Select the required shutter speed
and close the lens opening down to the required
aperture (having first set the lens Auto/Manual switch
(23) to the "M" position).
| 3.Turn the Self-Timer Lever (9) downwards in an anticlockwise motion until no further movement is possible. (As you move this Lever on the camera you'll see an "M" sticker beneath it which is there simply to remind you to set the lens to the Manual position as previously mentioned.) |
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4.Now press the Self-Timer Release Button (8) and
move into the picture area as quickly as possible. The Lever (9) will slowly return to its normal
position releasing the shutter automatically during its
travel.
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Changing lenses:
Your Zenith TTL camera is fitted with a Universal
42mm thread mount. A range of 42mm mount auto-diaphragm lenses, designed primarily for the Zenith, is
available from your dealer. You are also able to choose
from literally hundreds of lenses made both by other
camera manufacturers and independent lens makers.4www.butkus.org
| To remove the lens just grip the whole barrel firmly and give it about three turns to the left (anti-clockwise). To attach a lens simply screw it firmly into the cameras mount in a clockwise direction; when it stops, give it a slight extra twist to ensure that it is securely attached. Note -- when refitting lenses with an auto-manual control, such as the standards lens fitted on the Zenith TTL, make certain that the lens is set to the 'A position before taking further photographs. This ensures that you will be able to frame and focus easily. | ![]() |
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Caring for your camera
and accessories
Your Zenith is a ruggedly-built camera designed to provide
many years of dependable performance. If you want the
longest service and best performance, always treat your
camera and accessories as you would any precision
instrument -- with care and respect!
The Zenith TTL camera can be carried outside its case if preferred (your dealer can supply an accessory neck strap which attaches to the body eyelets (6) and (15), but if it is; take extra care to guard it against bumps and jolts. Remember too that on the beach, sand and sea-spray somehow seem to get everywhere; even a closed carrying case needs extra protection.
The lens in particular, which can be quite easily scratched, should be protected at all times an Ultra-Violet filter is very good here since it needs no exposure correction and can therefore be kept on the lens almost permanently as protection against dust and the weather.
NEVER touch the lens or mirror surfaces with the hands. Fingerprints diminish optical efficiency and due to natural skin acidity may in time damage the delicate optical coating of the lens and surface silvering of the mirror--silvering of themirror-only an air blower (bulb type or similar) should be used for removal of dust. Any stubborn traces of dirt or condensation left on the lens after this can be removed by lightly wiping over the surface with a clean soft piece of lint-free fabric or cotton (or a pad of surgical cotton-wool on the end of a matchstick) that has been dampened with absolute alcohol, ether or other spirit mixture; any smears can be removed with a dry soft cloth. NO ATTEMPT should be made to clean the mirror or viewing screen by wet means - air cleaning only is allowed and this is usually best left to a specialist.
Trouble shooting
Your Zenith camera is designed to give you thousands of pleasurable photographs. Like any precision instrument, your cameras controls must be operated correctly for best results. Should you
| If this happens..... | Here is why.... | And how to correct it.... |
| Prior to loading Film Sprockets (24) free-wheel and don not turn when Transport lever (2) is turned. | Rewind Release Ring (4) not turned fully to the right (clockwise). | Turn Rewind Release Ring completely to the right until no further movement is possible. |
| After loading Frame Counter (5) skips two or more numbers after being set to '0' position. | Film Transporter Lever (2) not fully wound before counter is set to '0' position. | Advance Transport Lever fully before setting counter to '0' |
| Frame Counter (5) 'skips" counting incorrectly | See-above-or Counter set before Transport Lever was wound | See above-always wind Transport Lever before setting counter. |
| Shutter Release Button (3) does not trip shutter. | Film Transport Lever (2) not fully wound. | Always operate Transport Lever in two strokes. It will stop mid-way during the second stroke assuring you that shutter is completely wound. |
| Film Transport Lever (2) does not stop after two or more strokes. | Rewind Release (4) not turned fully clockwise so that three dots are lined up. Shutter Release Button (3) not turned fully clockwise (to the right). | Turn Rewind Release Ring and Shutter Release Button completely to the right, until no further movement is possible. |
| Self -Timer does not trip shutter. | Self-Timer Lever (9) not fully wound. Transport Lever (2) not wound. | Wind Self-Timer fully until lever points downwards with no further movement possible Always ensure Transport Lever is fully wound before setting Self-Timer Lever. |
| Lens does not close down to indicated aperture when Self-Timer is used. | Auto/Manual Switch (23) on lens not set on 'M' | Move Auto/Manual Switch to 'M' whenever Self-Timer is used. |
If anything should go wrong with your
Zenith and the preceding chart has not got you
out of trouble, NEVER attempt to mend it yourself--you could turn a minor
adjust men into an expensive repair.
Remember that your Zenith and its accessories are backed up by top-class service facilities where factory-trained
specialists are available to put things right, quickly and inexpensively.
Composition or...Taking better pictures
Composition is concerned with what you put into your picture and where; its final control lies in your hands. A slight amount of extra thought and/or effort on your part can often turn what would have been an otherwise ordinary-looking photograph into one which is stunningly attractive. There are so many factors involved that probably thousands of books have been written on this aspect alone however here are some basic picture-taking tips that will help you take better pictures starting right from your very first roll of film .
· Isolate your subject - Concentrate your viewer's attention on the subject of your photograph, move in as close as possible, filling the viewfinder frame and eliminating all extraneous foreground and background detail. Remember that you can safely compose direct in the viewfinder, you see what the lens sees (in fact there'll be a little more actual film image as previously mentioned due to the viewfinder's built-in safety margin). Another way to eliminate extraneous detail and gain impact for your subject is to use the 'differential focus' technique described on page 20. With some subjects (e.g. sporting events, wildlife, distant objects of all kinds) you're unable, or it's inconvenient, to get in close - here a telephoto lens scores as it "compresses" space making distant objects appear closer. Taking in less of the field of view it also teaches you to be selective in choice of subject and viewpoint.
· Keep it simple - a few bold masses nicely contrasting with each other are more pleasing to the eye than a confusion of small detail. Aim to achieve balance more than symmetry. Have objects of uneven size balancing each other rather than a geometric arrangement of equal sized objects. Choose surroundings and backgrounds carefully those that complement your subject rather than take interest away from it. A person standing in front of a fussy background such as a building (unless it is 'thrown out of focus') is seldom as attractive as a close-up of the same person against a background of trees or clear sky.
·With color - Complementary colors suggest harmony - clashing colors suggest conflict. Pastel shades with a tiny, brightly-colored accent can be more effective than masses of strong color. The camera is not as selective as the eye, which is why a bed of mixed flowers is rarely a good subject or color film.
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Choosing and using accessories
| Illustrated here is the range of Helios quality lenses and optical accessories (for technical
specifications see page 40 ). Such a vast assortment of ancillary equipment is
available for your Zenith TTL (both from the USSR and a multitude of other
sources) that we can only give very brief details hereof the when, why and how of choice and use.
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Wide-Angle Lenses -- are available in focal lengths from 1 6mm to about 35mm, the shorter the focal length the wider the area covered. They are situations they allow you to retain sufficient of more used in any Situation that requires greater-than- normal area coverage, e.g. landscapes, interiors, distant surroundings or background to show relationship to an important close-up subject. Generally a 28mm or 35mm type is found most useful since they're relatively inexpensive, usually have wider maximum apertures, and are less prone to distortion than the shorter focal lengths. |
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Telephoto Lenses are available in focal lengths from 85mm (1 .5 x magnification compared to standard lens) to about 1000mm. A 1 35mm lens is generally found to be most useful, certainly for candid photography (children at play, people strolling, street buskers etc), as in most cases you'll find you get a large enough image on the film, and, because you're further away than normal, more pleasing perspective and some beautifully relaxed and natural expressions. For longer range work (e.g. stadium sports, animals) a 200mm or even a 300mm lens could be a useful addition.

Teleconverters will give you a telephoto effect from any lens
fitted to your camera at far less expense than a
specialist lens and often with much less total weight (a
great boon on a photo-safari). Two Helios Automatic
models (detailed on p. 40) are available, which, when
fitted between camera body and lens, either double or
treble the focal length of that lens. Say for example
you have your standard lens plus a 1 35mm lens -- with
the 2x converter you would convert these to lenses of
11 6mm and 270mm focal length respectively; with the
3x converter they would become 1 74mm and 405mm. Teleconverters give you almost unlimited
scope -- and you gain in focusing range, since the
minimum focusing distance of your prime lens is not
affected by the converter. For example, the Helios
Auto 1 35 has a focusing range of 1 .5m to infinity;
whether the 2x or 3x converter is used, the resultant
combination still focuses from 1 .5m to infinity, giving
you a telephoto lens that allows you to get in really
close.

Click for chart on Helios lenses
Close Up Photography comes easy with your Zenith. Many pictures (say of two or three flowers, book or magazine illustrations) can be taken without any accessory at all --just turn the Focusing Ring (11) of your standard lens to its minimum distance and move your camera towards the subject until the viewfinder image is at its sharpest. . . you'll find you can fill the frame with an object around 6 1/2 x 1 0 in in area. For smaller subjects you need to get closer by using a supplementary close-up lens screwed into the filter mount of your standard lens or extension tubes or bellows unit inserted between camera and lens.
Supplementary lenses, are easiest to use since they do not require any exposure increase -- not that this is a problem with the Zenith TTL, thanks to automatic meter compensation. A slight disadvantage is that because they add another glass-to-air surface they do impair the fine resolving power of the camera lens at the edge of the field unless the aperture is stopped well down. Helios Close-up Supplementaries, being fully-coated optics, reduce this quality loss to the minimum. They are available in the most popular powers of +1, +2 and +3 dioptres (the higher the number. the closer you can approach your subject). Consult your dealer for the best type to suit your needs.
Helios Supplementary Lenses
Approximate Focusing Distances (cm)
Camera Lens set at
Lens Type 1m 2m 00
+1 dioptre 50 67 100
+2dioptre 33.5 40 50
+3dioptre 25 28.5 33
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| Extension Tubes allow photography at even closer range than supplementary lenses. Normally sold in sets of 3 varying lengths, they can be used singly or in any combination to provide a number of fairly definite magnification steps, allowing you to fill the frame with subject sizes from about 2.7in x 4in to as small as 1 din x 1 in (life size).
A bellows unit offers even further advantages since magnification is considerably greater and also continuously variable over a wide range (ideal for really small and even live subjects like insects). Subjects ranging from 0.8in x 1 .2in to 0.4in x 0.6in (2.5 times life size - or even greater depending on lens in use) will fill the viewfinder frame. * Both extension tubes and bellows units, because they make the light rays travel a Greater distance as the lens is moved further from the film, require an increase in exposure over that indicated by a meter reading. This increase varies i n proportion to the amount of extension and the focal length of the lens, and is normally computed from data tables supplied with tubes and bellows. Since the exposure meter in your Zenith TTL automatically compensates for any exposure increase required, this disadvantage is reduced to nil, leaving these plus factors: (a) optical performance is not impaired in any way and (b) a greater and more varied magnification range is obtainable. |
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Photomicrography - yes, you can even take pictures through a microscope with your Zenith! At moderate magnifications no accessory is needed other than a rigid tripod or copy-stand to hold your camera, complete with lens, over the eyepiece of the microscope. For more professional results and and at higher magnifications the camera body should be attached direct to the microscope by means of a 42mm thread mount GA-3 Microscope Adaptor (obtainable through your dealer or direct from Zenith House). |
Lens Hoods help prevent stray light rays (from outside the picture area) from entering the lens and causing flare due to reflections from internal camera and lens surfaces -they generally improve picture contrast and are certainly essential if pictures are to be taken against any strong light source. Both folding rubber and rigid metal types are available from your dealer and these vary in shade and size according to lens focal length.
| (NEVER use a hood intended for long focus lens with a shorter focus lens.) Filters, usually made of colored glass or gelatins, are used to create special effects or improve rendering or contrast with color or black and white films. The present Hellos Filter range, as you will see from the details below, gives very good general-purpose coverage. All are fully-coated and come in individual twist-lock cases. Since a filter absorbs extra light, compensation is normally made by increasing the aperture (f/stop) by the factor engraved on the filter mount. With the Zenith TTL, the CdS meter once again provides automatic compensation. | ![]() |
For flash photography
The Hellos 32 electronic flashgun
This high-quality, battery-operated, flashgun has unique
'ready signal lights operating simultaneously on the
front and back of the unit. The gun is fully transistorized, compact, sturdy and simple to use. You
have the choice of hot-shoe or cable connection, and
three positions: vertical, right horizontal or left
horizontal.
| SPECIFICATION
GN 32: ASA25/ft GN 63: ASA 1 00/ft GN 18: ASA1 00/meter Flash duration: 1/2000th sec
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Make your own enlargements
The Zenith UPA5M Enlarger
embodies the same optical quality as your Zenith camera. It is
supplied complete with the fine Industar 50mm f3.54 -element anastigmatic lens and offers excellent performance with maximum
convenience. Easily assembled, it packs away completely into the
carrying case (which forms a stable baseboard in use), so it is
readily portable and needs little storage space.
| SPECIFICATION
Magnification: 2.5 x up to 8 x, automatic or manual. Larger than baseboard size, manual only. Supplied complete with lens and 75W lamp.
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We are sure you'll find the preceding few brief pointers helpful in improving technique with your Zenith. Remember every time you raise your camera to your eye you have the potential of creating a genuinely great photograph. Subjects? -- the world is full of them --the rest is up to you...