ZENIT E family: production
I call "Zenit E family" the Zenit E and all it's descendants, that is to say the evolutions based on the same frame (and same shutter). The production figures cited here come from KMZ and do not include cameras made by BeLomo. You can find details by year, on http://www.zenitcamera.com/catalog/cameraproduction.html. This site distinguishes two families: the Zenit E family and Zenit 12 family (from the TTL), these statistics stop in 2005, last year of production of photographic cameras by KMZ.
Zenit E:Production: 3334740 between 1965 and 1982 (1ex in 82). The first models were in M39, with no automatic return of the mirror. M42 mount and automatic mirror from 1967. FS3 (Zenit ES):97,938 copies produced between 1965 and 1982. ES = E with through-the-sole shutter-release. Zenit B:889617 ex. produced between 1968 and 1973, and 1977. Zenit E without selenium light meter. Zenit EM:979140ex, between 1972 and 1988. Diaphragm preselection. New location of the shutter release button. Zenit BM:1239ex in 1972-73. Zenit B with diaphragm preselection or Zenit EM without selenium light meter... Zenit TTL:1632212ex between 1977 and 1985. CDS lightmeter, flash shoe with sync contact, new shutter mechanism, the shutter speed knob no more turns while cocking or shooting. The project name was already Zenit 12. Zenit 10:19865ex in 1981-82. The mechanics of the TTL, the meter of the Zenit E (or no lightmeter?). Without diaphragm preselection? Zenit 11:1481022ex between 1981 and 1992. The same (with diaphragm preselection), the successor to the EM. Zenit ET:61099ex in 1981-82, mainly produced by Belomo. Like Zenit 10. FS-12 (Zenit 12s):118486ex between 1982 and 1990 Zenit 12:94489ex from 1983 to 1994. Improved version of TTL wider body around the mirror, larger mirror. From the models 10,11, 12, the back opens by pulling the rewind button, no more external lock. Zenit 12sd:468956ex between 1983 and 1994 Zenit 12XP:1550240ex between 1983 and 2000. Two identical cameras, the SD name recalled the name of the secret service of Nazi Germany, XP has been selected for export, but was also used for the internal market ... The galvanometer of TTL & 12 is replaced by diodes. Zenit 122:1971745ex between 1989 and 2005. = Zenit 12-2, Zenit 12XP covered with a plastic shell, "true" exposure meter. No separate stats for production of the "122K" FS12-2 (Zenit 12sds):33354ex between 1990 and 1995 FS12-3: "MC" version of Tair 3FS FS122-3:7236ex between 1992 and 1996 Multicoated version of Tair3FS Zenit 122-50:6541ex from 1992 to 1994. Special series for the 50th anniversary of KMZ, painted gray, with gold markings, serial numbers begin with 50. Boring for collectors, the gray paint goes off easily , we rarely see beautiful ones, or at an indecent price. FS122-2:4743ex from 1994 to 2005 Zenit 212K:32149ex between 1994 and 2003. The first of the "very ugly" series, computer-aided design (!). Redesigned Zenit 122. In K mount, with two slow speeds, 1/8s and 1/15s. Zenit 312m:84004ex between 1999 and 2005. Again a "redesign" of 122, M42 Mount. Zenit 412DX:21257ex between 2000 and 2003. DX coding (automatic selection of the sensitivity of the film via electrical contacts of the cartridge) Zenit 412LS:25197ex between 2002 and 2005. Increasing the range of sensitivity of the DX coding. FS412:430EX from 2003 to 2005I note that the 122 has continued to be built alongside the 212, 312, 412, there may be people who share my aesthetic opinion...