1956 Zorki 4 v 1965 Zorki 4

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Chillibones

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Hi, I have just recieved a 1956 Z4 with '56 J8, both of which are in fantastic condition. I notice that the speeds are different on the '56 model to those on the 60s' version. Has anyone found this to be an issue?

I must say that the '56 seems to be of a higher quality than the 60s one, very happy for $23 Aussie.

Thanks in advance.
 
It won't be if you use a meter of the same vintage. The problems only arise (and are trivial) when using a modern meter with the standardised shutter speeds on it. yet another good reason to find an old Weston and get it restored...

Still we all have to cope with it when using (say) f/3·5 and so on.

Regards, David
 
Well, if you have a wonder Zorki with consistent long-term third stop shutter precision, you might worry. In real life, that is below the tolerances ...

Sevo
 
If you use a modern meter, just take the nearest speed (1/25 as 1/30, 1/50 as 1/60 etc). The error is small enough and who knows if the speeds are accurate anyway! It's not a problem in 99.9% of situations. On older meters, they are often marked at 1/3-stop intervals so you can take a more accurate figure.

Out of curiosity, are the speeds 1, 1/2, 1/5, 1/10, 1/25, 1/50, 1/100, 1/250, 1/500, 1/1000, B? That would be the same as a 3M if so.
 
Chillibones said:
Hi, I have just recieved a 1956 Z4 with '56 J8, both of which are in fantastic condition. I notice that the speeds are different on the '56 model to those on the 60s' version. Has anyone found this to be an issue?
I must say that the '56 seems to be of a higher quality than the 60s one, very happy for $23 Aussie.
Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Forget it. Can you guarantee your exposures/film development etc etc are so concise? :)
Just have fun.
Murray
 
I have a 1956 and a 1965 Zorki 4 and they are both good usable cameras.
Like others have said, the speed dial numbering scheme between the two makes no difference.
 
David Hughes said:
It won't be if you use a meter of the same vintage. The problems only arise (and are trivial) when using a modern meter with the standardised shutter speeds on it. yet another good reason to find an old Weston and get it restored...

Hi David, thanks for the reply, I recently bought fully working Weston Master V that should do the trick?
Click to expand...
 
wolves3012 said:
If you use a modern meter, just take the nearest speed (1/25 as 1/30, 1/50 as 1/60 etc). The error is small enough and who knows if the speeds are accurate anyway! It's not a problem in 99.9% of situations. On older meters, they are often marked at 1/3-stop intervals so you can take a more accurate figure.

Out of curiosity, are the speeds 1, 1/2, 1/5, 1/10, 1/25, 1/50, 1/100, 1/250, 1/500, 1/1000, B? That would be the same as a 3M if so.
Click to expand...

Yes they are the same speeds, I'm waiting for my 3M to arrive, but being that the Z4 is 1956 I thought they might have the same internals etc..
 
Chillibones said:
I recently bought fully working Weston Master V that should do the trick?
Click to expand...
The Westons are marked with corresponding speeds so you're fine with one of those.

My favourite companion for the FSUs is the Sverdlovsk 4 but that is marked at the modern speeds only.
 
Chillibones said:
Hi David, thanks for the reply, I recently bought fully working Weston Master V that should do the trick?
Click to expand...

As the others have said, perfect for the job. BTW, you can still get cells for them but both of mine are still running on the originals, after an overhaul.

I hope you got an instruction book with it. That's where the costs start mounting up. Oddly enough the Invercones are cheap as people often have no idea what they are and you get them with a Leica camera cradle and lens hoods etc for 99p on ebay (well, now and then).

Regards, David
 
Hi David, I received an invercone with it, I have a Sekonic studio deluxe also so I had a good idea what the invercone was for.

Can you forward the details of where I can get a new cell for the Weston from?

The one I have works very well but it would be nice to have a new cell fitted....be good for another few decades then!!
 
Chillibones said:
Hi David, I received an invercone with it, I have a Sekonic studio deluxe also so I had a good idea what the invercone was for.

Can you forward the details of where I can get a new cell for the Weston from?

The one I have works very well but it would be nice to have a new cell fitted....be good for another few decades then!!
Click to expand...

Well, I can tell you where I got mine done but it was in Liverpool and so more than halfway round the world from you. You're bound to have someone who specialises in old cameras in your part of the world. They'll get you on to the circuit...

For the record I had four of various vintages but only one needed a new cell and it had to be made for it. But it was from the 1930's. The 40's and 50's ones just needed a tweak or two.

Regards, David
 
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