Zorki 4

[MXP]

I have one of the older Zorki 4's.....from 1958. I observed looking at my film strips that frames are not 100% symetrical. I have about 1mm from the top of the sprocket holes and at the bottom the frame goes a tiny bit into the sprocket holes. I did an investigation and found out that the film canister was correct in place. But I also observed that there is a 0.5 - 1mm thick spacer placed where you insert the film canister. I could look like if I was able to remove the spacer everything would be ok. Do you have this spacer in your vintage Zorki's 4? ....and do you have same "troubles" like me? 🙂

 

[blazejs]

Yep. I have a Zorki 4 from 1966 and my frames also are not straight along the film - every frame is a little bit bend.

 

[MXP]

Yep. I have a Zorki 4 from 1966 and my frames also are not straight along the film - every frame is a little bit bend.

OK!
It is easy to see if you play with a film with open back that the film strip is not 100% symetrical. But have you observed the metal spacer disc where you insert the film canister? .....I have thought about if it is possible to remove the disc....to correct the problem.

 

[Spyderman]

You would probably have to add a similar spacer on the bottom (the lock on the back).

 

[blazejs]

Well, there's film inside my Zorki now so I can't check it out. I've just learned how to live with it ;-)

 

[MartinP]

Mine was also "not straight", but I think one of the original re-loadable metal rotating cassettes would make the thing straight. The standard that is in place for the single-use 135 cassettes came from Kodak, and was some time after the original Leicas, and copies thereof, were designed.

 

[MXP]

You would probably have to add a similar spacer on the bottom (the lock on the back).

You are probably right. The canister has to be locked into place. It is just a bit strange it has been designed this way. Could it be that a self loading canister using bulk film would fit better?

Think I just have to be happy that the images just with this camera with its J8 are very sharp. I would say images looks at least as sharp as images taken with my M3+DR Summicron. This is also a bit strange.

 

[Spider67]

Could be a problem with the film developed in a 1 hour phozo shop or simlar places

 

[MXP]

I have attached an image which shows what I am talking about. And just for fun a 100% crop (400 dpi) of a couple of the bricks in the brick wall to show that images are relative sharp (hand hold image).

 

[santino]

well, I had the same problem and have solved it by really really carefully loading the film. it's kinda hard, but give it a try or ten 🙂

 

[MXP]

You can't solve it completely by hard trainging? ......but I will give it a try 🙂

Additional technical information on the 100% crop the film are is 1mm x 0.7mm so J8 is sharp I think. A 8000 dpi scan may pull more information out........

 

[blazejs]

Mine is similar to your example MXP. But it does not go to perforation though.

 

[MXP]

I have attached an image which shows what I am talking about. And just for fun a 100% crop (400 dpi) of a couple of the bricks in the brick wall to show that images are relative sharp (hand hold image).

The 100% crop was of course from a 4000 dpi scan and not 400 as written.....