The Best Soviet SLR Cameras
A huge number of SLR cameras were created in the USSR, and in this article we will look at the best Soviet SLR cameras.
Here we will not consider rare or collectible models. We will tell you only about those models that you can buy nowadays and get decent pictures with them.
The Best Soviet SLR Camera: Introduction
Despite numerous limitations and difficulties, a very large number of different SLR cameras were produced in the Soviet Union, both for 35mm film and for 120 format film.
The vast majority of Soviet SLR cameras were designed for amateur photographers and did not offer particularly advanced features for their time.
However, there were also fairly sophisticated models intended for professional use, capable of competing with foreign counterparts.
SLR cameras in the USSR were produced at several major factories, including KMZ, Arsenal, and, to a lesser extent, LOMO. Among this wide range of cameras, there were also many experimental models.
We will not cover them in this selection, as they are difficult to find at reasonable prices and even more difficult to use today due to their condition.
Since a lot of Single Lens Reflex Cameras were produced in the USSR, in this article we will first look at 3mm SLR cameras, then medium format models, then we will decide which option might suit you best.
The Best Soviet 35mm SLR cameras
Zenit-3M
The Zenit-3M is a Soviet SLR that sits precisely at the intersection of simplicity, usability, style, and practical functionality.
This film camera was produced during what we consider to be some of the best years of the Soviet photographic industry, a period when equipment was already being manufactured in fairly large numbers but quality control had not yet declined significantly.
The camera can be described as an advanced amateur model. It does not offer the wide range of sophisticated features found in many German or Japanese film cameras of the same era, but the functionality it does provide comfortably covers almost all photographic needs. The camera is fully mechanical and does not require any batteries to operate.
Build quality is quite high and, in many respects, better than that of many later Zenit models, which is one of the main reasons we included it in this selection.
In addition, although it uses the somewhat unusual M39 screw mount, it was compatible with a range of lenses that are among the best in terms of optical quality produced for the system.
Features: Manually adjustable shutter speed and aperture, compatible with lenses with M39 threaded mount. Lack of built-in light meter.
Advantages: Ease of use, reliability and robust design. Ideal for beginner photographers who want to learn the basics of film photography.
Start
This camera can confidently be called one of the true gems of the Soviet photographic industry. Stylish, comfortable to use, functional, and well built.
The Start camera was positioned by its manufacturers as a professional camera, and it truly lived up to that claim.
A solid range of shutter speeds, interchangeable viewfinders, automatic diaphragm operation, a convenient bayonet mount, and many other features make this camera pleasant to use even today.
Like the previous model, it is fully mechanical and completely independent of batteries. Unlike simpler cameras, it is built in a genuinely robust way, and this is clearly felt when shooting with it.
Advantages: A solid and stylish body, a good range of shutter speeds, interchangeable viewfinders, a strong standard lens, and a comfortable viewfinder.
Who this camera is for: This is a camera we can recommend to those who want to experience a truly high-level and fully manual Soviet SLR.
Zenit-122
Zenit-122 is a Soviet single-lens reflex camera produced by the Krasnogorsk plant in the early 1990s. This model is a development of previous cameras in the Zenit series and is aimed at the amateur segment.
This camera can be described as a true workhorse for the amateur photographer and the classic Zenit in its most complete form. It offers everything found in earlier Zenit models, but in a more refined and modern execution.
A comfortable and lightweight body, a bright and user-friendly viewfinder with focusing aids, an LED light meter, the M42 screw mount with access to a wide range of Soviet lenses, and many other features are all present here.
Another major advantage is that this camera was produced in fairly large numbers and remained in production until the very end of the Soviet Union, and even into the 1990s and early 2000s.
This means that finding a Zenit-122 today in good or even excellent condition – sometimes still boxed – is relatively easy.
Advantages: Low price, ease of operation and ease of use. Bright viewfinder, built-in metering, M42 compatibility, and wide availability in good condition.
Who this camera is for: An excellent choice for beginners and even professional photographers looking for a reliable workhorse with a solid set of essential features, often available in very good condition.
Zenit-AM and AM-2
Zenit-AM is a modernized version of the classic Zenit camera, released in the 1980s. This model was an improvement on previous designs.
This Soviet SLR can arguably be considered the peak of photographic equipment production in the Soviet Union.
The only significant drawback, in our view, is the complete lack of manual shutter speed selection, as all exposure control on this camera is fully automatic.
However, for those who are specifically looking for this kind of operation, this actually makes the camera an ideal choice.
In addition, this camera addressed nearly all the shortcomings of earlier Zenit models. For example, the cloth shutter was replaced with a metal one, the range of available shutter speeds was significantly expanded, and the viewfinder gained full frame coverage while becoming much brighter.
Advantages: Automatic exposure control, built-in exposure meter, compatible with K and M42 mount lenses. Quite high build quality, ease of use and reliability. Suitable for more advanced photography enthusiasts.
Who this camera is for: Ideal for those who want almost the maximum number of features available in a classic film camera, operating entirely in automatic mode.
Kiev-19
Kyiv-19 is a Soviet camera developed in the 1980s at the Arsenal plant. This model is aimed at more professional photographers than most Zenit cameras.
When it comes to lenses, both build quality and overall image quality were noticeably higher than those of many other counterparts produced in the Soviet Union and were fairly close to Western equivalents.
Build quality and operational reliability were also at a high level, and the metal shutter had a clear advantage over the cloth shutters used in Zenit cameras.
In addition, the camera was equipped with the Nikon F bayonet mount, which naturally made it much easier to share and interchange lenses between these cameras.
Advantages: Excellent image quality, high reliability and accuracy of settings, light meter.
Who this camera is for: It is an excellent choice for those who want a reliable, rugged camera that produces very good images and offers almost all the essential features.
Almaz-103
Almaz-103 is a Soviet film camera developed in the 1980s. It is one of the most advanced models among Soviet cameras, combining innovative technologies and functionality.
Almaz-103 has a modern design for its time with improved ergonomics and body is made of high-quality materials.
This camera is arguably one of the few from the late Soviet period to offer a fully professional feature set, with complete manual control over every aspect of operation.
In addition, it was equipped with a very good lens and offered many features that were absent from the vast majority of other Soviet cameras of the time.
The only real drawback today is that, although it was produced in series, total production amounted to just over 9,000 units, which makes finding a well-preserved example more difficult than for other cameras on this list.
Advantages: The main advantage of Almaz-103 is its automatic exposure system, an excellent set of shutter speeds, as well as a pleasant and convenient viewfinder.
Who this camera is for: This camera is suitable for those who are willing to invest the time to find a truly interesting and unusual film camera that offers a full set of professional features.
The Best Soviet Medium Format SLR cameras
Kiev-60
Kiev-60 is a medium format SLR camera released in the 1980s. Designed for professional and semi-professional photography.
In many ways, this Soviet medium-format SLR resembles a 35mm SLR camera, both in its external design and in its handling.
As a clone of the Pentacon Six, it successfully replicated many of the original’s design solutions and, in terms of image quality, is hardly inferior to its German counterpart.
The bulky construction is fully offset by the excellent image quality this camera delivers when paired with some of the finest lenses produced in the USSR, such as the Volna-3, Kaleinar-3B, and others.
Advantages: Excellent image quality, the ability to shoot in medium format at an affordable price.
Who this camera is for: Ideal for professional and studio photography.
Kiev-88
The Kiev-88, often referred to as the “Soviet Hasselblad”, is a medium format SLR camera developed in the 1960s.
We cannot say that the Kiev 88 fully matches or comes close to the quality of Hasselblad, but nevertheless, its build quality – and especially the image quality it produces – is at a very high level.
Modular design with the ability to change backs and viewfinders, which makes this camera one of the few professional medium format cameras made in the USSR.
Advantages: High quality of assembly and image, modularity and flexibility of use.
Who this camera is for: An excellent choice for professional medium format photography.
Other Notable Soviet SLR Cameras
This is certainly not a complete list of good Soviet SLR cameras that can be found on the market today. In our main list, we included those that we personally use and that have proven themselves to perform exceptionally well in practice.
That said, there are other cameras that we have also used, which are very capable in real shooting conditions and allow you to create excellent images with a high level of convenience.
Here are some of them:
- Zenit-C – one of the earliest representatives of the Zenit line and, at the same time, the smallest Zenit – a Zorki camera adapted with an SLR mechanism.
- Zenit-E – the most popular Zenit ever produced – simple, reliable, and equipped with all the basic features needed for fully functional film photography.
- Zenit-TTL – The first Zenit equipped with TTL metering and one of the earliest Soviet cameras to feature this function in mass production.
The Best Soviet SLR Cameras: Conclusion
So, what is the best Soviet SLR camera?
It all depends on your goals and on the type of photography for which you need a Soviet SLR camera. If you are looking for a stylish, fully mechanical camera, then the Zenit-3M is the right choice, the Start if you need something more advanced.
If you want a Soviet single-lens reflex camera that handles almost everything for you, then the Zenit-AM and AM-2 are better options. And if you are looking for something in between, the Zenit-122 and the Kiev-19 fit that role well.
All of the Soviet cameras presented in this overview have stood the test of time and have been used extensively by both professional and amateur photographers.
They have also been tested by us on multiple occasions, which is why we consider them among the best Soviet SLR cameras produced over several decades.
There are many other Soviet SLR cameras that are only slightly inferior to those included in this selection, and we regularly cover them on the pages of Soviet Cameras.
In summary, Soviet single-lens reflex cameras are not merely historical artifacts, but tools that remain capable of inspiring photographers today.
Their combination of simplicity, reliability, and solid image quality makes them valuable not only for collectors, but also as working cameras for modern photographic practice.
