ZENIT
Zenit, and the cameras that it produced, is perhaps the best know camera brand in Russia -- and the USSR when it existed. Most of their cameras were made in factories in the USSR, Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. Many were fixed-lens cameras, but many had interchangeable lenses in various mounts such as the 39mm (Leica) screw mount, the 42mm (Universal / Praktica / Pentax) screw mount, and the Pentax K mount. But FIVE "Zenit" labeled cameras were made in China and they all used the Minolta / Rokkor mount. They were, of course, made by Seagull, and apparently their target market was South America, most noticeably Argentina and Brazil -- the largest markets in South America. Unlike Russia however, the Zenit brand was completely unknown in these countries which probably explains why they never sold very well -- and why they are particularly hard to find in the rest of the world.
Zenit DF-2
It's simply a rebadged Seagull DF-2. It is the only known case of the Seagull DF-2 being sold under a different name.
Zenit DF-2ETM
The Zenit-2ETM is the same camera as the Seagull DF-2ETM and the Sakar SL-90MD, except that it is normally seen with a Zenit 50mm f1.8 lens, of course. It has the same unusual location for the battery on the back of the camera as these other two cameras.
All three cameras use the same TTL metered-manual exposure method. Three LEDs in the lower right of the viewfinder indicate over-, under-, and correct exposure. Over-exposure is a RED "+"; under-exposure is a RED "-"; correct exposure is a GREEN dot -- by adjusting the shutter speed or the aperture. Pretty straight-forward. And all have the same straight-forward top with a straight-forward hot shoe -- no PC connection -- and an ON/OFF switch around the rewind knob for the meter (which uses TWO convenient A76 1.5v batteries).
The shutter speed dial has an ISO speed setting window, and high speeds marked in GREEN.
You would think that the green coloring indicates speeds above the synch speed, but the synch speed is actually a special setting between 1/30 and 1/60 -- 1/45.
Like it's brothers, the DF-2ETM did not accept a Motor Drive.
Zenit DF-300
It's simply a rebadged Seagull DF-300, but the Seagull DF-300 appeared in two slightly different body styles. The Zenit DF-300 has only been seen in the original Seagull DF-300 style.
Zenit DF-300X
It's simply a rebadged Seagull DF-300X.
Zenit DF300NT
The most interesting thing about this model -- besides being impossible to find -- is that the "-" is dropped from the "Zenit DF-300" name. And who knows what the "NT" means!?!?!? Perhaps "Not Telling"? After all there is a computer company in Boulder, Colorado named "NBI". It stands for "Nothing But Initials" -- no kidding. The most notable aspect of this camera's appearance is that it is not all black, like all of the other Zenit SLR cameras made by Seagull. That might be the only difference. Perhaps they should have named it the Zenit DF300NTB -- "Not Totally Black".
| Shutter | Shutter speeds |
Flash synch speed |
TTL meter- ing? |
ISO settings |
Auto expo- sure? |
AE lock? |
View- finder info |
Flash shoe |
Sensa- switch? |
PC plug? |
Multi- expo- sure? |
Cable release plug? |
Stop down button? |
Self timer? |
Mirror lock-up? |
Motor drive option? |
Battery used for |
Film indicator |
|
| Zenit DF-2 | cloth, horizontal |
1-1,000 B |
1/45 | N | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Hot | N/A | N | N | Y | N | Y | N | N | N/A | Tab holder |
| Zenit DF-2ETM | cloth, horizontal |
1-1,000 B |
1/45 | Y | 12-3200 | N | N/A | 3 LED's | Hot | N/A | N | N | Y | N | Y | N | N | meter | Tab holder |
| Zenit DF-300 | cloth, horizontal |
4-1,000 B |
1/60 | Y | 25- 3200 |
N | N/A | 3 LED's | Hot | N | Y | N | Y | N | Y | N | Y | meter | Tab holder |
| Zenit DF-300X | cloth, horizontal |
4-1,000 B |
1/60 | Y | 25- 3200 |
N | N/A | 3 LED's | Hot | N | Y | N | Y | N | Y | N | Y | meter | Tab holder |
| Zenit DF300NT | cloth, horizontal |
4-1,000 B |
1/60 | Y | 25- 3200 |
N | N/A | 3 LED's | Hot | N | Y | N | Y | N | Y | N | Y | meter | Tab holder |