a not-so-pretty Zorki 1e

[Raskolnikov]

Hello!
Yesterday I received my third russian rangefinder (a Zorki 1e), so I thought the time was ripe to join this forum 🙂
I've put a test roll in the Zorki, but i'm afraid the results won't be very good.... The shutter curtain shows some cracks and the shutter dial isn't aligning with the numbers on it (I hope I'm describing this clearly...). The film winding and focusing is not exactly smooth, and last but not least; the rangefinder is off.... 🙁
This depressing story leads to one question: how easy is it to fix all this? My expierence with camera repairs is limited, but i'd like to learn.
Also, in stead of the original film spool, there is a ugly home-made "thing" inside my Zorki... Should I buy a new one, or is it possible to make a decent spool myself?

 

[Raskolnikov]

Oh, I forgot to mention that the last owner put a piece of folded sticky tape on the pressure plate. Maybe he did this because the lens-flange to film distance isn't correct?? If so, it's not a matter of a few tenths of a mm, but several mm. What can I do about that?

 

[RML]

Welcome, Raskolnikov!

Can't help you with the repairs but others here on RFF can.

BTW, I see you're from Holland. On 18 Feb '06 there's a meeting of fellow RFF'ers from the Benelux in Antwerp. Check the Benelux regional forum for more info if you care to join us there. 🙂

 

[laptoprob]

'the time was ripe', what a beautiful EngliDutch expression! He means 'it was time to...'
Anyway, welcome to the forum. Where are you in Holland?
What ís good about your new Zorki? Sounds like quite a project!
I have no experience with taking these apart but I guess it's easier to get a good one...

Rob

 

[DaveP]

Sounds like the camera needs a trip to Oleg. Those cracked curtains mean a major overhaul................

 

[Raskolnikov]

EngliDutch used to be my favourite subject in school 😀
What ís good about my Zorki?? Well, behind the beat-up appearance lies a very charming russian rangefinder (and it came with an original Leica case! 😎 )

 

[laptoprob]

a very charming russian rangefinder (and it came with an original Leica case! 😎 )

No doubt those early FEDs and Zorkis are charming. Just wondering if this one is the right one as a user for you.
It might be a great learning subject!

I am still looking for a Leica case, my FED1 has no lugs...

Rob

 

[Nickfed]

You may be better off getting another and using this for parts. However, sticky tape on the presser plate probably means nothing. Also the misalignment on the shutter dial is probably nothing more than what it looks. Get the shutter to work on "B", slacken the setscrew and rotate the dial so that it reads right when the shutter is wound. I had the same thing with my FED.

 

[darkkavenger]

Hello and welcome! Did some already said "Oleg" ? 😀

 

[captainslack]

Oleg is your friend in this case. Unless, as Nick suggested, you decide to get another one and use this one has a "learning experience" in camera repair.

Click on "Russian Cameras" in the Cool Links section for his website.

 

[lushd]

There is a book by a russian engineer called Maizenberg that tells you all you need to know about the care and repair of this model. Many things can be done by someone with a methodical mind and a bit of patience to a Zorki but form memory I think he recommends that shutter replacement is done by someone trained for the job as it is not terribly straighforward.

 

[RML]

There is a book by a russian engineer called Maizenberg that tells you all you need to know about the care and repair of this model. Many things can be done by someone with a methodical mind and a bit of patience to a Zorki but form memory I think he recommends that shutter replacement is done by someone trained for the job as it is not terribly straighforward.

The most important thing when you start doing your own repairs (and Maizenberg's book is probably the best source for repair information) is to have the right tools. Nothing sucks more to be disassembling the top of the camera just to find out you can't get it off because you can't turn loose the ring around the vf glass on the front. It's made from brass and you'll ruin it when you use a pair of pliers!

 

[reagan]

Raskolnikov ~ welcome to RFF. Processing the first roll will give you a better idea of how bad the curtain is and if immediate replacement is needed there. Pinholes can be covered if not too substantial. Reset the shutter dial as described above. The lens can be cleaned/lubed for smoother focus, (What kind of lens is it?) the wind on can be cleaned/lubed, the RF can be adjusted, the spool can be replaced and the stupid tape can be torn off and pressure plates cleaned! 😱 I doubt if all is lost.

You've got a project there, but wait til you see the results of the first roll. That will tell you more about your shutter.

Here's a couple of info sites that may help you get an idea of your camera's workings.
http://jay.fedka.com/
http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-101.html

 

[Raskolnikov]

Thanks for the replies!
I processed the first roll today. It looks bad (out of focus and a lot of pinholes), but I guess all is not lost.. The pinholes can probably be repaired, like CVBLZ4 suggested (I already applied some liquid rubber to the shutter curtain. I hope that does the trick). The mayor problem however, is the pressure plate: there is none!! 😱 This explaines the piece of sticky tape... I searched the web for pictures of this plate and I think it's possible to make one out of the lid of an Ilford film canister. I guess it's allright as long as it helps to keep the film flat (and reduce the distance to the lens ofcourse)??

 

[reagan]

Raskolnikov ~

The pressure plate is pretty critical. There are springs behind that bring it to the right pressure, etc. (see at bottom of this pic... ) Probably needs to be original equipment. Oleg can probably send you one farely inexpensively. Here is his email.
support@okvintagecamera.com

 

[reagan]

alex-photo also carries a few parts/accessories. He might be able to help if someone here has his email. Sorry, I don't.

edit: He also carries the take up spools for FSUs.

 

[jonasv]

Well, I certainly feel like a fraud now!

Here's the story... A while ago I inherited some photography equipment from my uncle. I kept most for own use, and sold the things I didn't need (a minolta SLR, some filters in awkward sizes)... After a while I only had one camera left: some googling and deciphering led me to believe it was a Zorki 1 (first I thought it was a Leica, bummer), and after some more googling and comparing the shutter dials etc I found out it was a Zorki 1e. I decided I had no use for it, just had a quick look at it, shutter speeds seemed to work fine, it could focus (I read the manual, I adjusted shutter speeds only after advancing the film..), etc. I thought it was in fine condition (I had no reason to assume otherwise, all the other equipment worked nicely). I did not want to open the camera up because I don't know anything about these things... So I put it on an auction site and advertised it, "as is", and I included that there was a film spool but it was either some DIY repair job or a selfmade one.

Raskolnikov, believe me, I had no clue about these problems. I hope you don't feel ripped off, but the price was not too high and I think the Leica case on it's own is probably worth a bit (and the lens as well).

I am really clueless as what happened to his camera. I have seen hundreds of images taken with it (as recent as a couple of months ago) and I thought nobody touched it before I got it. Perhaps one of the kids played with it, perhaps he tried to adjust something himself, I don't know... As to some of the problems, are you sure the rangefinder is not properly adjusted? I only had a quick look at it but the focus seemed to match the distance on the barrel. The shutter 'problem' is probably easier to solve as I know that it worked (the speeds were perfectly aligning, I could see that..), you need to advance the film first and then set the right shutter speed. Not doing so could destroy the shutter mechanism so says the manual..

After reading this thread a couple of hours ago for the first time, I went rummaging through the boxes all the camera equipment came in. I have found what looks like (from CBVLZ4's link) it's the pressure plate plus two springs. I will send it to you by mail. Apologies I did not include it last time, but I had no clue it was from the Zorki, there is a lot of small things still in the box, screwdrivers, springs, ... I thought the Zorki was complete, at least it looked so and I had no reason to assume otherwise.

I really hope you understand I wasn't trying to fool you... Are you, by any chance, coming to the Antwerp rff meet? As I live in Antwerp I could buy you a beer and donate you a couple of rolls of film - for the good cause of course, I'm sure you can get that camera working smoothly again!

The funny postscript, perhaps, is how I came across this thread. After deciding I had no use for the Zorki and selling it, I already regretted my decision.... Today I bought a FED-3a, and I came to this forum looking for some information on it... Bitten by the fsu rangefinder bug after all, I guess!

 

[reagan]

"Well, I certainly feel like a fraud now!"

Then you should fit in just fine here. Most of us are making a career out of passing our broken gear off on other RFF brethren. The weird part is the amount of effort that goes into keeping up with "who-has-what." A game that best be well-played if you don't want to get your own "junk with a new cover" back! I bet I've heard 15 guys yell, "Hey, I got a broken Zorki!" The truth is, there's only one broken Zorki and they just keep passing it around! Amazing... 😉

jvx, you're obviously a stand up guy, IMHO. Darn good of you to post. Hope you hang around and enjoy RFF. Lots of FED guys here!

(P.S. ~ But kind of take it easy on the "sending the rest of the parts along" stuff. It makes the rest of us carcass-sellers look bad.) 🙄

 

[jonasv]

I will make sure to remember that advice! Well, next time anyway, I'll just proceed as planned for now 😉

Thanks for the welcome. I wanted to register on RFF before, but it felt silly as I used to have only one rangefinder and barely used it. Now in a very short time I acquired a Yashica GS, a FED 3a and an Olympus XA. The only problem is that I'm in the middle of exams and have no time to put them to use - yet!

Although, perhaps I could take a day off tomorrow...

And the day after that...

Hmmm 😀

 

[Raskolnikov]

It's a small world after all, isn't it? 🙂 Please don't feel bad about the Zorki.. I'm having a great time trying to repair it! And if the body really is beyond repair (which I doubt), you sold me a very nice lens and case for a good price.
I really appreciate your post here, btw. I don't think you're a fraud at all. You described the item "as is", so I didn't expect it to be perfect. Also, many thanks for sending me the pressure plate!!! It's the only thing I haven't properly fixed yet. My home-made pressure plate is a nice effort (for a rookie like me... 😉 ), but not nearly as good as the real thing.