ZENIT 122K
Zenit 122K, Helios 44K-4, bought by Christophe on eBay on march 10th, 2009, for 4,19£ (+sending)
It is a Zenit 122 on which was mounted a K bayonet, that's all. It means that no linking has been provided for the full-aperture light-metering, the diaphragm closes when you press the shutter button like with a 122 in M42. The bayonet therefore doesn't give anything more, which explains why the K versions of the 122 and followings are so uncommon!
The bayonet mount. Right side, no coupling has been planned for the aperture values.
The belt rings have worn the plastic of the top cover, there are traces of oxidation, in short, this camera has a living ... But it also has an history:This Zenit Camera belonged to the seller's grandfather. He was Ukrainian, and fought for the German army during the war, mainly to fight the Russians, but surrendered in Italy to the British and was a prisoner of war. He married a British and stayed in England.Because of him fighting against the Russians, he was not allowed back to the Ukraine as he would have been prosecuted by the former USSR government. He thought all his family had died, and his family in Ukraine also thought he had been killed. When the fall of Communism came, the Red Cross contacted him to say they had found his family, and it would be safe for him to go back. As a welcoming gift to him he was presented with this Zenit Camera so he could take pictures of his return to the Ukraine. The camera was presented to him at his own memorial grave!