Antique Photographic Camera - Zenit Photosniper for Telephoto. USSR, 1980

Complete antique Zenit Photosniper rifle camera, made in the USSR in 1989 and with all its accessories. This superb camera stands out for its imposing design and excellent condition. It works really fine and still can be used to take photographs of faraway objects or landscapes. The camera comes in its original metal case and a complete accessory set with maintenance tools. The Soviet leader Nikita Kruschev was a real fan of this model. The camera comes with its original gun-shaped stand, designed to turn it into a real rifle. The stand bears the printed model name PHOTOSNIPER. The accessory set includes an additional HELIOS 44M 2/58 objective, five filters of different colors, two screwdrivers for the cameras maintenance and two film reels. The metal case where the camera and accessories can be stored also bears the printed model name; it preserves the original leather handle and the suitcase locks. The outside black enameled finish is slightly worn, but inside the case remains in wonderful condition. For its historic character, good working order and imposing design, this antique Zenit Photosniper rifle camera is a real collectors item.History of KMZ and Zenit cameras The KMZ (Krasnogorski Mekhanicheskii Zavod Fábrica Mecánica de Krasnogord) was founded in 1942 near Moscow. In the beginning the company produced scopes and binoculars, as well as reconnaissance cameras. In 1945 they started manufacturing photographic lenses to the specifications of the Carl Zeiss Co. (the factory had been overrun by the Red Army to perform war reparations). Later they began producing the Zorki camera and became the biggest supplier of photo lenses of the USSR. The Zenit camera was developed from the Zorki camera, which in turn was a copy of the Leica II. During the first years of production and until the Zenit-E appeared in 1967, the development of the Zenit was similar to the Zorkis. Between 1967 and 1969 the KMZ built an automatic line that led to serial production. It was then when the most famous and popular Zenit camera appeared: the Zenit-E, with more than 12 million units produced. During the 70s and the 80s, the company focused its production to the domestic market; after the USSR disappeared, the activity stated to decline because of the strong competition of the western market. Currently the company found its niche in the manufacture of rifle scopes, nocturnal vision scopes, binoculars and other optic material.