An appraisal of a Zorki

[PeterL]

Hi guys,

I'm back !

I left to the LTM forum for some time because I got myself a Leica iiic with a Summitar. Then, I got stuck reading the bitter comments on the M8 by people who don't own one. Then I thought, what the hell, put the Summitar on my Zorki and started shooting. Woh ! No complaints about the quality of the leatherette/vulcanite/wossname body cover (it's a feature) ! No slow speed dial to confuse me (everything should be feasible with f2.0 1/500s... otherwise, it's time to head for a pub) ! Best of all, the range finder mirrors seem to be in a better condition: despite the much more squinty window of the Zorki, I never had problems focussing that camera. I guess I have been *really* lucky to find one in that state last year in Poland.

Still lusting for an upgrade with slow shutter speeds and a decent RF window, though. And I don't like the look of some later Zorkis, though the 3 looks like the extra functionality compensates for the worse look. I've also no experience with a Kiev, but that involves buying new lenses (oh no ! another €30 !). Anyway, no plans for the short term: first: a new job !


Peter.

 

[Xmas]

Peter

Welcpme back

Which Zorki you got? I've not trouble with squint.

Noel

 

[PeterL]

Hi Noel (nice nick 😀),

It's a regular Zorki (1), I don't know about subtypes. It has a rather narrow tunnel to look through for the rangefinder. On the other hand, the Leica allows for a bit wider angle to look into but to correctly see the rangefinder patch I need to get my eye into the right position, too. So in practice it's nearly the same. Actually, the Zorki is slightly less tricky because if I see an image, my eye's correctly aligned for focussing.

I just found the site of the Leica-Luton repair man, but it seems rather expensive to overhaul the RF mirrors of my Leica now that I've already had it CLA'd. I should've known about Luton, I would've sent it there immediately.


Peter.

 

[reagan]

Peter,

I like the Zorki.1s too, and when I occasionally want to take a break from the squinting, I've got 2 or 3 cheapy accessory VFs I can clip on. They aren't high quality so I don't mind dropping them in my pocket and all have [approx.] 35mm & 75mm brightlines. Petri tele-wides or something similar can be found in the Bay for around $10. Cheers...

 

[SCOTFORTHLAD]

Hi Zorki Fans,
What exactly is the VF/RF arrangement on the Zorki 1 and other early Zorki models?I have recently handled a Leica 111c,which had seperate VF/RF windows but which were adjacent to one another,how are the Zorkis set up?

Brian.

 

[ZorkiKat]

Hi Zorki Fans,
What exactly is the VF/RF arrangement on the Zorki 1 and other early Zorki models?I have recently handled a Leica 111c,which had seperate VF/RF windows but which were adjacent to one another,how are the Zorkis set up?

Brian.

Brian

The Zorki-1/FED-1 VF/RF setup is similar to the one found in the Leica II, III, IIIa cameras. Two round eyepieces about 2 cm apart (their bezels are spaced about 1 cm from each other), unlike the half-oval eyepieces found in the IIIc.

The VF is a straight reversed galilean telescope type, unlike the 'bent' arrangement found in the Leica IIIc which uses a prism which allowed the VF eyepiece to be placed to the side, instead of directly lined behind the front VF window.

Having the eyepieces set farther apart doesn't seem to be less efficient than having them placed closer together as in the IIIc.

Jay

 

[SCOTFORTHLAD]

Brian

The Zorki-1/FED-1 VF/RF setup is similar to the one found in the Leica II, III, IIIa cameras. Two round eyepieces about 2 cm apart (their bezels are spaced about 1 cm from each other), unlike the half-oval eyepieces found in the IIIc.

The VF is a straight reversed galilean telescope type, unlike the 'bent' arrangement found in the Leica IIIc which uses a prism which allowed the VF eyepiece to be placed to the side, instead of directly lined behind the front VF window.

Having the eyepieces set farther apart doesn't seem to be less efficient than having them placed closer together as in the IIIc.

Jay

Jay,
Many thanks,neat and petite little cameras by the look of things!,
Brian.

 

[Ash]

Brian, I think I just heard one calling to you, "buy ME buy ME BUY ME!" 😀

 

[SCOTFORTHLAD]

Brian, I think I just heard one calling to you, "buy ME buy ME BUY ME!" 😀

Ash,
That is what Kim recently referred to as 'the slippery slope'.🙁
But you may be right!🙂

Brian.

 

[Ash]

Slippery slope? pah! get yourself one of those rugs from a fun-fare and take a running jump, enjoy the slide!

 

[SCOTFORTHLAD]

In the absence of strap lugs,and the appropriate case,is it possible to obtain a wrist- type strap, to attach to the tripod mount of the early Zorki's?

 

[jobo]

Gordy's

Gordy's

In the absence of strap lugs,and the appropriate case,is it possible to obtain a wrist- type strap, to attach to the tripod mount of the early Zorki's?

Check out the Gordy's ad on the left 😉

I got mine from there; Very handy, although it sticks out more than I would like...


2c, /Jobo

 

[Kim Coxon]

Brian,
If the camera has the "large" bush, it is fairly easy to get a screw in adapter which converts it the the more usual small one and then you can use any strap you want. If you need one, I have a couple of spares around.

Kim

In the absence of strap lugs,and the appropriate case,is it possible to obtain a wrist- type strap, to attach to the tripod mount of the early Zorki's?

 

[SCOTFORTHLAD]

Slippery slope? pah! get yourself one of those rugs from a fun-fare and take a running jump, enjoy the slide!

Ok!Ok! I give in--on the rug,waiting for Oleg to put it in the Post!
Brian.

BTW--I'm enjoying the ride!

 

[SCOTFORTHLAD]

Brian,
If the camera has the "large" bush, it is fairly easy to get a screw in adapter which converts it the the more usual small one and then you can use any strap you want. If you need one, I have a couple of spares around.

Kim

Many thanks Kim,
I'll get back to you when the parcel arrives from Oleg,
Cheers,🙂
Brian.

 

[Ash]

Brian, I've been picking them up for about £3 a piece. And then £1-£2 for secondhand wrist straps.

Been fine with my cams so far (including your old Fed2 and IIIc), but I'm only using them until I manage to have a job for more than 2 days a week ( :bang: temping) and can get on the case to Leicatime

 

[Xmas]

Ash

Jessops have them for about 2 for 2 £ in a plastic pack, I think, until this discovery I being paying 3£ each!

Noel

 

[Ash]

The local jessops HATE me, it's a mutual thing. I'll try em anyways, I need more film sleeves

 

[SCOTFORTHLAD]

Ash

Jessops have them for about 2 for 2 £ in a plastic pack, I think, until this discovery I being paying 3£ each!

Noel

Noel,
Thanks for the tip!!

Ash---ditto!!

Brian.

 

[raid]

Originally Posted by Xmas
Ash

Jessops have them for about 2 for 2 £ in a plastic pack, I think, until this discovery I being paying 3£ each!

Noel
==============================

Is this a feasible buy for US RFF members?


Raid