Zenit-15M

Zenit-15M is a Belarusian SLR film camera that was produced after the collapse of the USSR at the BelOMO plant in the 1990s.

The Zenit-15M camera was developed on the basis of the Zenit-12XP camera but differs from it in that it has a plastic body and a modified self-timer design.

This camera has much in common with the Zenit-122, which was produced at about the same time at the KMZ plant. But if we compare these two cameras, the Zenit-122 seems to be a more pleasant and comfortable camera due to more pleasant materials and noticeably better build quality.

zenit 15m and zenit 122 soviet film cameras

But despite this fact, the Zenit-15m is a good camera, that has almost everything you need to shoot film in comfort. It is one of the latest soviet cameras, and it accumulated all the time-tested technologies developed in the USSR.

Zenit-15m Specifications

Type: 35mm SLR camera
Manufacturer: BelOMO plant
Production period: 1990s
Format: 24x36cm on 135 film
Lens mount: m42 thread mount
Lens: Helios-44m f2.0/58
Viewfinder image field size: 20×28mm
Shutter: focal-plane shutter with speeds from 1/30 to 1/500 sec.
Viewfinder: SLR with non-removable pentaprism
Lighmeter: built-in TTL light meter
Flash synchronisation: sync socket “X”, sync speeds from 1/30 s and longer.
Selftimer: mechanical
Weight: 780 grams

Zenit-15m Lens

Like all previous models, the Zenit-15M is made for the M42 threaded mount, which means that a huge variety of interesting Soviet lenses can be used with this Soviet SLR.

This versatility allows photographers to experiment with numerous Soviet-era lenses. The M42 mount’s widespread adoption ensures that users have access to a diverse selection of focal lengths and aperture settings, catering to different photographic needs.

Close-up of the Zenit 15M camera’s lens mount with a Mir-1b lens

Typically, the Zenit-15M is paired with the Helios-44M series lenses, such as the Helios-44M-4, Helios-44M-5, or the sharpest Helios-44M-7. These 58mm f/2 lenses are renowned for their interesting image quality and distinctive bokeh.

The camera’s semi-automatic aperture control system requires manual setting of the aperture on the lens. Upon half-pressing the shutter button, the aperture closes to the predetermined value, facilitating accurate exposure. This design ensures that even early M42 lenses without automatic aperture mechanisms can be effectively used with the Zenit-15M.

Zenit-15m Shutter

The Zenit-15M camera features a fully manual focal-plane shutter mechanism, a design lineage tracing back to the Zorki rangefinder cameras, which themselves were influenced by early Leica models. This shutter operates with a limited range of speeds, specifically from 1/30 to 1/500 seconds, plus a Bulb (B) mode for long exposures. Notably, even by the early 1990s, this five-speed shutter system was considered outdated, lacking the versatility found in contemporary cameras of that era.

Close-up of the shutter speed dial on the Zenit 15M camera

Constructed with simplicity and durability in mind, the shutter mechanism of the Zenit-15M is entirely mechanical, requiring no batteries for its operation. This design choice ensures that photographers can rely on the camera in various conditions without concern for power sources. However, this also means that the camera lacks modern conveniences such as electronic timing, which can result in less precise shutter speed accuracy.

Interestingly, early prototypes of the Zenit-15M showcased a more ambitious shutter design, offering speeds ranging from 1 second to 1/1000 seconds. However, these advanced features were not implemented in the mass-produced versions, possibly due to production complexities or cost considerations. As a result, the majority of Zenit-15M cameras retained the more conservative shutter speed range, aligning them with other models like the Zenit-12SD.

Body and Controls

The Zenit-15M has a plastic body, making it lighter than earlier metal Zenit models. The camera includes a grip on the right side, which improves handling. This design makes it easier to hold compared to older Zenit cameras with flat bodies. For many amateur photographers this small grip can help to hold the camera more comfortably. But many other photographers like more classic shape, as in older Zenit cameras.

The camera’s controls are simple. The top plate has a film advance lever, a shutter speed dial, and a hot shoe for an external flash. The shutter release button is positioned for easy access. The camera also includes a mechanical self-timer and a rewind knob for retrieving film.

Detailed view of the film advance lever on the Zenit 15M camera

Close-up of the self-timer lever on the Zenit 15M film camer

The viewfinder has a focusing screen with a microprism and split-image rangefinder to assist with manual focusing. It covers about 65% of the actual frame, which may require adjusting compositions carefully. The built-in TTL light meter provides exposure information in the viewfinder and is powered by batteries.

Conclusion

Despite all its shortcomings, Zenit-15m is quite a good camera for a beginner photographer. The cost of this film SLR is approximately equal to the cost of one roll of film.

The camera has almost everything you need for a comfortable photography. It has a small but sufficient number of shutter speeds, so you can take photos at a wide range of situations. It has a nice body and accurate light meter, which makes the use if this camera very easy.

And of course, the Zenit-15m has an m42 thread mount, so you have almost an unlimited amount of lenses, created in Soviet Union, Germany and Japan, to use with the camera.

But as we said above, we like the products of the KMZ plant more, and we would recommend Zenit-122 to you more. The Zenit-122 feels more feels better quality and the build is clearly nicer.