Rare Zorki|Zorki ?

Screwy said:
Spotted This ,Could it really be an actual "rare" Zorki ? I've had a quick scout around and can find nothing on the web to deny or confirm the sellers claims , any ideas ?



Paul
Well I'm not going to profess to be an expert but...
Apart from the cyrillic engraving being at an angle I don't see much to support the "prototype" idea. It looks like a Zorki 1b -ish body, but I'm not sure about the stepped release-spring - my FED has that type. The shutter release looks like a later "soup bowl" type, didn't the early ones have the Leica-esque "toilet seat"?

I can't see anything that couldn't be just a camera made from parts, bar that engraving.

If it were really that rare he'd surely be putting a high reserve or starting bid too. No-one is foolish enough to put a rare camera up on a low start of $1.
 
Have to admit the "prototype" claim does seem to be stretching things a bit , I'm thinking an early export Zorki seems more likely , as the Cyrillic script looks to be the same size and angle as your average home market Zorki 1 . And as you say , a supposedly one off prototype with a $1.00 starting bid .




Paul
 
Certainly an attractive camera (per nice photos). Engraving is somewhat different than your average non-export Zorki (the "Z" is smaller?) and more like the Zorki.Zorkis, only the small Z- Zopkuu is, as mentioned, engraved at a 45º angle. The speed dial looks slightly smaller than mine and the avg. Zorki.Zorki in the pics; more the size of my Leica.IIIs. My Zorki.b also has the same shutter spring. The "Made in USSR" on the back and that ser.# are certainly a kicker.

Maybe rare (can't say I've seen one before) maybe a [factory] proto - can't say there either. And I'm really not sure how he knows it's one. Would anyone fake, cobble, or improvise an Export Zorki.1? There are plenty of legits to be had. But a proto? they might? Saying it's "the only one known" and "there's no record in any collector books" makes you wonder..."hmmmm... Soooo, where did you get the camera and where did YOU get YOUR information?"

I read somewhere that there were plenty of [rare] custom cameras out there. "Custom" as in, someone bought a handful of Zorkis and took them to a jeweler/camera tech/neighbor with engraving tools and had them personalized/altered/customized. There are some [rare] Yuri Gagarin comemoritive Zorkis around, but are they State commissioned factory made or ...? They all seem to be slightly different, so no one is quite sure. 😕

Legit proto or not, it's a nice looking camera and Zorki.1s shoot just fine. Need one? Hey, why not?

edit w/chuckle:The other item he has listed is described as, "ZENIT SNIPER GUN - ONLY ONE PIECE KNOW TO EXIST !!!! ULTRA RARE! NO DESCRIPTION OF THIS ITEM CAN BE FOUND..." Gotta admit, this guy is on a roll! 😀
 
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CVBLZ4 said:
Legit proto or not, it's a nice looking camera and Zorki.1s shoot just fine. Need one? Hey, why not?

I would be sorely tempted if there was a little more information handy , Even if it was just a mention or picture in Princelle , That and the fact I've got my eye on a Leningrad 🙂 Just need to convince my wife that I reeeeeeeeally need another camera 🙄



Paul
 
The serials up to 005500 should be Fed-Zorkis the next 2000 Zorki 1a, or so. They are premium cameras but a leica is a better investement. I'd limit a bid to 40% of a leica II in same condition...

The Fed-Zorkis and Zorki 1a have a Fed release collar which unscrews for a cable release.

An origional 1a lens might have had an I22 with an infinity lock like a Fed (smaller push button) and a low serial number, mine says 6xx.

000345 could be a prototype or some one having a blank cover plate, the lens does not seem origional, if it started as a blank cover plate he shoulda have copied a Fed-Zorki but no one wold have believed the shutter release...

either a big lie or prototype.

Zorki 1a are nice cameras never seen a Fed-Zorki

Noel
edit P.S. the normal early serials are 062xx my 1a. A prototype might have extra zeros, but 000345 might be a 1b prototype.
 
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