Hey hill ~ I'm really quite happy with Zorkis and Leicas living under the same roof. (There's a few other no-name stragglers around too, but their just passers.through... the Zorkis and Leicas are here to stay.)
1/1000 shutter speed. Do we need it? The truth is, on a Zorki, (3, 3M, 4 or 4K) the odds of the 50+ year old shutters being actually 1/1000 are probably slim. They might be closer to - 1/700+ - 1/800? maybe? (Just a guess.) As far as adequate exposure goes, the difference in 1/500 and 1/1000 is 1 EV... one more f.stop will buy me the same as one more shutter speed.
The cameras I shoot the most are Zorki.1s and Leica.III(F)s all of which top out at 1/500. And like you, I shoot ISO.400 most of the time. I have in the past liked having 1/1000 for splashing water or stop action for bikers/runners/granddaughters running through sprinkers, whatever. But for the most part, 1/500 works fine on those rare occasions I want to stop something. (I'm getting less and less concerned with tack.sharp anyway.) But truth be known, I shot at 1/500 today because I was shooting snowy landscape with a Summar that only stops down to f.12.5, and it's the first time I've shot that high in a long time.
I like the Leicas. I've got two in hand and another in transit (come to papa!
😀 ) all model III(F)s, two black, one white. They are just a leeedle smoother operating and a leeedle nicer finish than the Zorkis, if that's important. But I like the Zorkis too and I have no complaint about their look, feel and ability to operate comfortably and produce satisfying photos. I have one other Zorki.1b not listed with those in my sig.
You said,
"...I love that camera! It feels right in my hands. We bond perfectly."
Ol' bud, that's the main thing. IMHO, once it feels right, i.e. you can comfortably operate the controls easily.automatically without piddling, then you can concentrate on looking for and framing shots and forget controls, f.stops and shutter speeds. No matter what marque is stamped on the top, the best camera for you is the one that disappears when you pick it up. For me that's Zorki.1s and Leica.IIIs. And honestly, they're similar enough, I can grab either one and go out the door happy...
Zorki.3, 3M & 4. They've got all the speeds and bigger VF, single eyepiece. But in my hands, they're just a little bigger feel than the 1s and Barnacks. So I sacrifice 1/1000 and big VF for compact size. Otherwise, they too function/feel/look just fine.
My preference of my cameras - Leica.III > Zorki.1 > Z.3 > Z.3M > Z.5 > Z.4. (I just haven't had a desire for the 4K.)
You're looking at the III.c & f Leicas. They're, as you know, a step up from my Leicas and I can't imagine you being the least disappointed should you opt for one of those. But, if acquired at a decent price, in the off chance you weren't happy, I'm confident you could easily pass it on to some GAScious chap right here at RFF without loss of much.if.any $$ ... nobody here has a new camera. We just keep passin' 'em around.
😉 Pricewise, 1 Leica = 2,3 or 4 Zorkis.
My advice, just sit down and list the features that are priorities for you, including price, and go for it. And remember, after giving it some time, if the newsky doesn't "do.it.for.ya" like your present Zorki, you'll still have it and you can always claim do-overs and try another avenue.
Lawdy Lolita,
😱 it's almost 2AM and I've written a book. G'nite mate!
