Another Zorki 4K owner. Hi!

[AK66]

First of all, Hello! This is my 1st post in the FSU forum, so here's a little intro.
I'm originally from Ukraine, live in the US for 17 yrs. and I haven't used a Russian camera since then. But lately I developed a severe case of film camera syndrome and today I came into possession of a nice Zorki 4K. Oh, that undescribable smell of Russian leather! It gave me flashbacks of my first days in Soviet Army when I was issued a new belt and boots. After all these years it's still pretty strong.
Anyhow, the camera is in the surprisingly good condition. Shutter works good and seems to be accurate from the first look (yes, I remember to set the shutter AFTER I wind the film), curtains look pretty good. The rangefinder works and looks accurate, but a bit cloudy. (I didn't clean it yet). The lens is clear and I don't see any scratches or fungus. The only problem I can see in the lens is the aperture blades have a lot of oil on them. And by "a lot" I mean A LOT! I can even see how this oil is running along the blade edges when I open and close the aperture. So my question is: should I go ahead and clean it, or let it be, because the aperture and focus work smoothly and nothing sticks?
Here is my Zorki right out of shipping box. I'm gonna clean it up over weekend and test it with the film ASAP.

 

[po-stit]

Ih, this is my first post too. I have bought the exact same set as you. It's coming on it's way from the uk. Keep us updated about your experience. Btw, you can see the rangefinder patch easily under dim light?

 

[bobby_novatron]

I have a Jupiter lens that has lots of oil on the blades, but that doesn't seem to affect the performance of the lens. I say just go try it out and see how it works. It will probably be fine.

If you want a weekend project and feel like disassembling the lens, then I say 'go for it!' -- but personally I am not very patient with jobs like that.

I have a Fed 2, Fed 5, Zorki 4K, and a Kiev 4A. They are all really fun cameras to use.

Good luck with your Zorki! Now that you have the Soviet camera bug, you may never be cured! 🙂

 

[Kapa]

A Z4K and J* is a great combo.... Welcome and get shooting... ;-)

 

[AK66]

Po-stit - Yes, I can see the yellow patch, but it's kind of, I would say, "semi-imaginary". I can see the split image but the border between the yellow and the rest is somewhat washed-out. It became a little better after I cleaned the outer windows, though. I've read from other posters here that it is a common thing in Zorki's. Also, I wear -4 glasses and with other cameras I shoot with the glasses on. Here on Zorki, however, I see better without glasses, which makes me think that it's somehow diopter-adjusted or something.

Bobby - Thanks! I am most likely not gonna touch the lens. It doesn't seem to do any affect on picture-taking and I don't like fixing that is "ain't broken", but i have no problem to take it apart and clean if I see the problem worsens. Lol, if I really get that bug, I'll ask my friends in Ukraine to hit the local flea-market and send me a dozen or two 🙂

Kapa - thanks for welcoming! I wiped the outer glass and it looks very clean. I'll definitely shoot some pictures this weekend!

 

[Coldkennels]

AK66 - if you look at the rewind knob, there's a little lever arm sticking out. That's the diopter control. You should be able to move it to change the diopter setup so that you have the viewfinder perfectly in focus with your glasses on (or without, whichever you prefer).

Unfortunately, I'm so short-sighted that I can't adjust the diopter on any FSU rangefinder enough to compensate for my eyesight...

 

[stevebrot]

... Also, I wear -4 glasses and with other cameras I shoot with the glasses on. Here on Zorki, however, I see better without glasses, which makes me think that it's somehow diopter-adjusted or something.

There is a small lever to the side of the rewind knob (barely visible in your photo). That controls the diopter adjustment for the viewfinder. With the diopter adjusted properly using the rangefinder patch may be somewhat easier.


Steve

 

[AK66]

Oh,boy! Thanks a lot, Coldkennels and Steve! And I was wondering what's that little lever for. Never in my life I would've guessed that this is a diopter adjuster in such unusual place. Those Russians!! 😉

 

[Coldkennels]

They did have a knack for hiding things. The Zorki 5 lever is particularly missable - it's in the same place, but it's tiny - and the Fed 5's diopter adjustment is even less obvious. If you didn't know it existed, you'd never think to look for it.

 

[john341]

Welcome to RFF

Welcome to RFF

Your choice of a 4K is good..I think it it a great camera (nice to see you have a Praktika in the collection). I used my 4K last weekend and the pictures are very sharp and contrasty. Jupiter is a great little lens. You may think of downloading a camera manual from the internet..many are available. privyet! John

 

[po-stit]

Po-stit - Yes, I can see the yellow patch, but it's kind of, I would say, "semi-imaginary". I can see the split image but the border between the yellow and the rest is somewhat washed-out. It became a little better after I cleaned the outer windows, though. I've read from other posters here that it is a common thing in Zorki's. Also, I wear -4 glasses and with other cameras I shoot with the glasses on. Here on Zorki, however, I see better without glasses, which makes me think that it's somehow diopter-adjusted or something.

Thank you for your input. I'm anxious for my zorki to arrive. I hope i can get used to rangefinder photography. =)

 

[Zorkiiglaza]

Welcome to the club. I must warn you though, its hard to have just one FSU camera and only one lens.
A FSU collection starts with 1 camera (a long journey starts with the first step)
I just got a roll of film back that I shot with one of my 4K's and a I-O 8. For the most part the photos are very sharp and have great contrast.[I wasn't so pleased with my roll from my 1950 Kiev 2]
good luck and happy shooting

 

[wolves3012]

The only problem I can see in the lens is the aperture blades have a lot of oil on them. And by "a lot" I mean A LOT! I can even see how this oil is running along the blade edges when I open and close the aperture. So my question is: should I go ahead and clean it, or let it be, because the aperture and focus work smoothly and nothing sticks?

First off, welcome to RFF and the slippery slope of FSU cameras!

I'd try the lens first. It's quite easy to remove the front and rear elements to get at the aperture blades but unless you're a glutton for punishment I would advise against dismantling the blades and mechanism. If the oil is really bad you could just soak up the surplus, very carefully. A little oil on aperture blades of an RF lens does not matter at all. A lot may find its way onto the glass, however.

 

[wolves3012]

Unfortunately, I'm so short-sighted that I can't adjust the diopter on any FSU rangefinder enough to compensate for my eyesight...

Take my word for it, when you're older and want to "fiddle" with the internals of cameras and the like, you'll be glad you're short-sighted. It's a constant frustration to me, I used to have excellent short-distance vision and now need glasses for anything much nearer than arms-length. What I used to see clearly a few inches away now needs an eye-glass!

 

[Coldkennels]

Take my word for it, when you're older and want to "fiddle" with the internals of cameras and the like, you'll be glad you're short-sighted. It's a constant frustration to me, I used to have excellent short-distance vision and now need glasses for anything much nearer than arms-length. What I used to see clearly a few inches away now needs an eye-glass!

I know what you mean, but I've kind of got the opposite problem. Whenever I'm working on anything like a camera, I start looking over the top of my glasses, and eventually just take them off. On such occasions, the short-sightedness is really useful. Loupe? What for?

But because of this, I don't think I'd ever be able to wear contacts. I can't imagine just popping them out for close-range work.

 

[Zorkiiglaza]

Back to the Zorki.
Dare I mention- don't change shutter speeds until after you wind.
You will want to run a roll of film through it before you start taking the lens apart.
check out the speeds and see if the shutter curtains are operating correctly.
All that oil- maybe it came from Baku or Kazakhstan! Maybe you have discovered a new oil reserve!
So try the camera out before taking it apart- I know about the tinkering tradition.
I have learned to tinker from my Russian friends!
In a few days I will be tinkering with an UAZ 2206 which has been garaged since last August!

 

[AK66]

First off, welcome to RFF and the slippery slope of FSU cameras!

I'd try the lens first. It's quite easy to remove the front and rear elements to get at the aperture blades but unless you're a glutton for punishment I would advise against dismantling the blades and mechanism. If the oil is really bad you could just soak up the surplus, very carefully. A little oil on aperture blades of an RF lens does not matter at all. A lot may find its way onto the glass, however.

Thank you, wolves! I've read your amazing work on CLA of the Zorki. And this inspired me to take a risk and buy my 4K (from "know nothing" seller). If something happens, I have a great source for repair. But looks like I got lucky.
I have no problem to take off the front and rear elements and soak off the oil, but there's no way I will touch the blades assembly. I ran a test-roll of CVS 200 today and tomorrow I'm gonna take it to Costco to develop and scan. I have a feeling that this camera will be a keeper, and if so, I'll most likely send it to Fedka to do a real professional job on it.

 

[AK66]

Back to the Zorki.
Dare I mention- don't change shutter speeds until after you wind.
You will want to run a roll of film through it before you start taking the lens apart.
check out the speeds and see if the shutter curtains are operating correctly.
All that oil- maybe it came from Baku or Kazakhstan! Maybe you have discovered a new oil reserve!
So try the camera out before taking it apart- I know about the tinkering tradition.
I have learned to tinker from my Russian friends!
In a few days I will be tinkering with an UAZ 2206 which has been garaged since last August!

LOL! If it came from Baku, I'd prefer it to be filled up with black caviar!
Wow, UAZ here in the US?? I drove one back in the military. It's a workhorse!

 

[AK66]

Your choice of a 4K is good..I think it it a great camera (nice to see you have a Praktika in the collection). I used my 4K last weekend and the pictures are very sharp and contrasty. Jupiter is a great little lens. You may think of downloading a camera manual from the internet..many are available. privyet! John

Thanks, John, for checking out my collection! These are cameras that were film-tested. There are about two dozen that didn't get their chance yet. (yeah, my case is pretty severe 😕)
Privyet.

 

[AK66]

First pictures

First pictures

Got my scans from Costco today. I think it is not bad at all. The cheap and fast processing comes with the price, though. There is a scratch line going across the top of the frame all over the entire film. First, I thought I have to check inside the camera for some "roughness", but than I realized that the other film that I gave to Costco at the same time from the different camera (Nikon EL2), has exactly the same line along the whole film. Well...you get what you pay for.

More pictures are here

Oh, the film was a cheap CVS 200 color print. Not sure who does it for them. The only "ID" I could find on the package is "Product of Japan"