Russian Zenit 35mm SLR Spy Camera FS

Russian Zenit12C single lens reflex (SLR) 35 mm spy camera. My mom bought this in Moscow for my late brother while on an organized tour of Russia and Ukraine in April, 1986. The tour stopped at one of the USSR’s special stores for foreign tourists from Western countries that had hard currency to spend. This camera was for sale there, and marked in English as made in USSR. (By 1986, Perestroika was making tours and tourist goods for sale more widely available.) $250 plus shipping or local pickup in Phoenix AZ vicinity. More images available on request. My guess on shipping in the USA is $50 or less.

It’s the complete set, including the camera, a “normal” lens for regular photography, a super long lens typically for telephoto work or document copying, a lens filter set, a lens body cover, and two reloadable film cassettes. Regular 35 mm film in the preloaded cassettes that we are used to wasn’t always available in the USSR, so it was sometimes necessary to preload the included cassettes from loose strips of 35 mm film.

There are some unique parts of this set. It comes with a shoulder stock and a pistol grip! In the absence of a tripod, the shoulder stock and pistol grip allow the user to take photographs that are rock steady. The trigger on the pistol grip plugs into the camera and operates the shutter. The camera and accessories come in a hand-made, lightweight steel attache case. Every piece of the set fastens securely within the case so it won’t come loose or even rattle.

The camera is in like new condition. I have not tried it out. It worked very well when my late brother last used it, circa 2000. He found it to be a real attention-getter. But the controls all operate smoothly. The inside is clean and the shutter cloth is in pristine condition. The camera and accessories show some very small scratches that derive from removing the camera from the case and then putting it back.

I urge you to look around at other Zenit 12C camera sets for sale. I doubt that you will find one in the same condition as this one at any price close to the $250 (plus shipping) I am asking. The proceeds will go to my brother’s widow.

 

This is so delightfully Soviet I got depressed just looking at it. Literal pistol grip camera is pretty dope though

 

Oh, yeah. I really understand that! I thought about keeping it, but my brother's widow can use the funds. While he was still using it, my brother told me that it produced some really sharp images.

 

Brings new meaning to "photo shoot"