Page 182 - Demo

373 KMZ Zenit 5K Space Camera %u20ac20.000no. 670008, 1967, condition A/B %u20ac 36.000 %u2013 40.000The Zenit-5K camera was developed by KMZ between 1965 and 1966 on the order of the Rocket and Space Corporation Energia. It was designed as part of the photographic equipment carried onboard Soyuz-type spacecraft, which entered operational service in the second half of the 1960s. Created specifically for the demanding conditions of space photography, the Zenit-5K is a semi-automatic camera using standard 35 mm film with the classic 24 %u00d7 36 mmframe format. It features a central shutter and incorporates several advanced elements for its time, including an electric motor for shutter cocking and a rechargeable battery system. A fully charged battery allowed the camera to expose approximately 350%u2013400 frames, providing extensive photographic coverage without frequent battery replacement. The camera is equipped with a targeting viewfinder, enabling the operator to accurately direct the camera toward the photographed area while working inside the spacecraft. The available shutter speeds were limitedto 1/500, 1/250, and 1/125 second, optimized for the highly sensitive films produced specifically for the Soviet space program by the Svema Production Association. This configuration ensured reliable exposures under the unusual lighting conditions encountered in orbit. The present camera is fitted with a Vega-3 2.8/50 lens, no. 23169, and the original handgrip accessory, which is known only in connection with this camera model; to date, no other camera has been documented with this type of handgrip. We have charged the battery and tested the camera, confirming that *the shutter and film transport are working perfectly*. The Zenit-5K represents a highly specialised development in Soviet photographic engineering, combining robust construction with features tailored for use in space missions.