The Zenit 122 is an SLR camera. It was produced by KMZ and introduced in the 90s. The Zenit was built almost 2 million times. The body of the SLR camera is made of ABS plastic.
The lenses of the Zenit 122 are interchangeable. It comes with the M42 thread. In most cases it was sold with the Helios-44-2 2/58. There are a lot of screw-in lenses available for the M42 lens mount.
The M42 thread was developed as a successor to the M39 thread. Major manufacturers of M42 interchangeable lenses included Pentax, Pentacon, Zenit/KMZ and Zeiss. The lens is focused by hand. The model does not have an autofocus function.
The Zenit 122 has a built-in light meter. The exposure metering is done through the lens (TTL). The camera has a Bulb setting. With the Bulb setting, the remains open as long as the photographer holds the shutter button down. A flash can be used via the hot shoe or PC flash port.
The Zenit 122 has a self-timer and a tripod socket. The film is manually wound to the next photo.
Films for the Zenit 122
35mm films are exposed in the Zenit 122. 35mm films are still offered by various manufacturers. A 35mm film for color photography is the Kodak Portra 400*. A possible black and white film is the Kodak TRI-X 400*. Both photo films make it easy to capture beautiful memories on film.
The color film is processed in the C-41 development process. This is offered by almost every photo lab. Black-and-white film, on the other hand, must be processed in a corresponding developer for black-and-white films. Here one has the choice between different products. In a large laboratory, you have no control over the chemistry and the development time, so it is advisable to develop your films yourself.
Technical datasheet
| Attribute | Specification |
|---|---|
| Type of Camera | Single lens reflex camera |
| Film format | 35mm |
| Film transport | Manual |
| Picture format | 24 mm x 36 mm |
| Lens mount | M42 lens mount |
| Focus | Manual |
| Exposure times | 1/500 second to 1/30 second, Bulb |
| Bulb mode | Yes |
| Light meter | Yes |
| Exposure modes | Manual mode |
| Auto DX (Film sensitivity) | No |
| Date imprinting | No |
| Built-in flash | No |
| Flash Connection | Hot Shoe, PC-Flash |
| Tripod mount | Yes |
| Cable release thread | Yes |
| Self-timer | Yes |
| Estimated value / Used price | 101,41 Euro Estimate based on used prices of 80 offers (possibly with different scope of delivery and/or condition). As of May 18, 2026 |
| Average used price in the year 2023 | 71,36 Euro (76.85 US-Dollar) |
| Average used price in the year 2024 | 68,88 Euro (73.60 US-Dollar) |
| Average used price in the year 2025 | 87,63 Euro (94.17 US-Dollar) |
FAQ about the Zenit 122
What kind of film does this camera use?
The Zenit 122 uses 35mm film, also known as small image film. Many manufacturers still produce this type of film, both color and black and white.
Is it easy to change lenses on this SLR camera?
Yes, the Zenit 122 has interchangeable lenses. It uses the M42 screw mount, which offers a wide variety of lenses from different manufacturers.
How do I focus the camera?
This model doesn't have autofocus. You focus the lens manually by turning the focusing ring on the lens.
Does the camera have a built-in light meter?
Yes, the Zenit 122 has a built-in light meter that measures the light through the lens (TTL). This helps you determine the correct exposure settings.
Can I use a flash with this camera?
Yes, you can attach a flash using either the hot shoe or the PC flash sync connector.