Beginner - help!

[secretsquare]

Hi all,

I am new to the forum, new to the world of Russian Leica copies, and new to manual film cameras, actually. I need help operating my Zorki C!!

I've been reading various instruction manuals on how to load the film and use the camera, but some spots are still very fuzzy, since the instructions are not tailored specifically to the Zorki C, and there are unfamiliar parts on the camera.
I've been using these sites to guide me through the process: 1 , 2 , 3

So every site warns not to change the shutter speed before cocking the camera. How exactly does one cock the camera? It seems like the film counter and cocking knob are one and the same. Sorry if this sounds all jumbled up, but I'm just feeling around in the dark.

OK, so I cut the Leica film leader, loaded it up, and attempted to tighten the film using the pull-out rewind knob. However, I am confused as to what the rewind selector below the shutter release does. Supposedly, turning it in either direction allows the film to rewind or advance. Turning it seems to do nothing. The dot doesn't even go to each symbol, it only turns halfway, so the only places the dot can be is at the very top or the very bottom. I thought that the knobs on the very left and right of the camera are for rewinding and advancing. They seem to do the same thing regardless of where the rewind selector is pointing. Hm.

On instruction site #1, at the bottom, after loading film, it says advance the film and release the shutter. So, how far do I turn the film advance knob before pressing down on the shutter? I am confused as it why I have to do this multiple times. I assumed that when the camera clicked as I turned the film advance knob, it was cocked. (I had to turn it quite a bit.) Then I pressed down on the shutter release. Er, now is where I am lost. I keep turning the advance knob and the left winding knob is turning in the direction opposite of its arrow, which is supposed to be correct. At the moment, the film counter is not serving its purpose, since the numbers are flying by. The film advance/ film counter/ cocking knob are all the same piece?

And, I don't know what shutter speed f-stop combinations to use at all. They do not correspond to their modern equivalents, right? But besides that, how do I set the shutter speed? I know you lift the shutter speed dial, but I am confused as to what the set of numbers beneath it mean. Do I have to turn the thing that is now resting on 0?
Ack, do you think that after all this fiddling around that I broke the camera?

 

[clarence]

Welcome to the club. I'd help you out, but it's 2AM over here right now and I need to go to bed. The members in America and elsewhere west of Greenwich will render assistance swiftly.

A Leica-copy was also my very first camera, so I know how it feels. It felt great and frustrating.

Clarence

 

[Jason Sprenger]

I don't have a Zorki C but I do have a FED 2 and Zorki 3M so I hope this helps.

You are right, cocking the camera occurs when the next frame is wound with the knob above the frame counter. On these Russian cameras, the frame counter turns with the advance knob. If things are working right, the advance knob will turn 39/40ths of a revolution so as to indicate the proper frame number with each wind.

The film advance knob should be turned until it stops. If it turns freely, check the rewind collar. If it is depressed in the rewind position, turn it counter clockwise so that it lifts and engages the film advancing mechanism.

Pressing and turning the collar around the shutter release to the clockwise disengages the film advance permitting you to rewind the film with the knob on the far left when film is loaded.

Once you have the film advance figured out, advance it to cock the shutter, lift the shutter speed dial and turn it to the desired speed settings.

The shutter and f-stops do correspond to modern values, just not modern sequences. Just use the closest equivalent, in the case of shutter speeds, 25 for 30, 50 for 60, 100 for 125, etc.

Good luck with this beastie!

 

[w3rk5]

Keep in mind I don't own a Zorki C. Any real experts out there feel free to correct me on anything I've mentioned. I hope this will give you enough info to help you on your way.

So every site warns not to change the shutter speed before cocking the camera. How exactly does one cock the camera?

Turn the knob on the right side of the pic (above the film counter dial) clock wise until the amount of force needed to turn the knob can't turn it anymore. When you reached that point, the shutter is cocked (ready to take a picture or to change the shutter speed).

I am confused as to what the rewind selector below the shutter release does. Supposedly, turning it in either direction allows the film to rewind or advance.

Push down on the part around the shutter release and turn clock wise. You do this when you've rewinding your finished roll or just after loading new film to give it a little tension. You'll know that it's seated properly if the shutter release button doesn't depress.

Turn the part around the shutter release counter clock wise after you have given the new roll of film a little tension. Now you're ready to cock the shutter and shoot. You'll know that it's seated properly if the shutter release button can push down again.

On instruction site #1, at the bottom, after loading film, it says advance the film and release the shutter. So, how far do I turn the film advance knob before pressing down on the shutter? I am confused as it why I have to do this multiple times.

After I load new film, I fire off two shots before I start taking pictures. That means cock the shutter fully and hitting the shutter release button...twice. The reason (I think) for this is to remove film that might have been exposed to light while loading your camera.

I keep turning the advance knob and the left winding knob is turning in the direction opposite of its arrow, which is supposed to be correct.

Yup.

At the moment, the film counter is not serving its purpose, since the numbers are flying by. The film advance/ film counter/ cocking knob are all the same piece?

Try this. Turn the film counter counter clock wise to 0. It may be difficult cause the oil may have dried out. Take a shot. Is the film counter at #1 now? If it is, then your film counter is working fine.

The film advance/cocking knob are the same thing. The film counter is a separte piece that's just in the same general location.

I don't know what shutter speed f-stop combinations to use at all. They do not correspond to their modern equivalents, right?

Use the sunny 16 rule. That's all I use and I get great results.

how do I set the shutter speed? I know you lift the shutter speed dial, but I am confused as to what the set of numbers beneath it mean. Do I have to turn the thing that is now resting on 0?

Always cock the shutter before you change shutter speed.....ALWAYS! 😉 After you've cocked the shutter, lift and turn the shutter speed dial to the speed you want. Do not go from 500 to B or B to 500.

I also don't know what the numbers beneath the shutter speed dial mean. 😛

 

[captainslack]

So every site warns not to change the shutter speed before cocking the camera. How exactly does one cock the camera? It seems like the film counter and cocking knob are one and the same. Sorry if this sounds all jumbled up, but I'm just feeling around in the dark.

Never used this model Zorki, but I'll do my best to walk you through this:

The shutter cocks when have turned the knob its full rotation. Yes, the cocking knob & the film counter are on the same knob, but they're not one and the same. If you put your thumbnail on one of the raised bumps on the counter, you should be able to turn it independently of the knob.

OK, so I cut the Leica film leader, loaded it up, and attempted to tighten the film using the pull-out rewind knob. However, I am confused as to what the rewind selector below the shutter release does. Supposedly, turning it in either direction allows the film to rewind or advance. Turning it seems to do nothing. The dot doesn't even go to each symbol, it only turns halfway, so the only places the dot can be is at the very top or the very bottom. I thought that the knobs on the very left and right of the camera are for rewinding and advancing. They seem to do the same thing regardless of where the rewind selector is pointing. Hm.

Again, never used this model of Zorki, so I can't really comment on this. On my old Zorki 4, the rewind collar could be twisted up or down. If it's doing the same thing in either position, that means one of two things: a) you've got the film loaded wrong or b) something is wrong in the mechanism. If it's working properly, you should hear a "thunk" and then be able to rewind the film with the rewind knob.

On instruction site #1, at the bottom, after loading film, it says advance the film and release the shutter. So, how far do I turn the film advance knob before pressing down on the shutter? I am confused as it why I have to do this multiple times. I assumed that when the camera clicked as I turned the film advance knob, it was cocked. (I had to turn it quite a bit.) Then I pressed down on the shutter release. Er, now is where I am lost. I keep turning the advance knob and the left winding knob is turning in the direction opposite of its arrow, which is supposed to be correct. At the moment, the film counter is not serving its purpose, since the numbers are flying by. The film advance/ film counter/ cocking knob are all the same piece?

Turn the film advance knob until it stops. That's when the film has been advanced to the next frame and the shutter has been cocked. Now you can set the shutter speed. If the arrow is turning in the opposite direction, then you've go the film loaded right, which eilmnates option "a" above.

If you've just loaded a fresh roll of film, you need to advance it at least twice to make sure you've advanced past any film that's been exposed to light. Three times wouldn't be a bad idea if you're new to this. Once you're advanced however many times, you can set the film counter to "1" like I mentioned above.

And, I don't know what shutter speed f-stop combinations to use at all. They do not correspond to their modern equivalents, right? But besides that, how do I set the shutter speed? I know you lift the shutter speed dial, but I am confused as to what the set of numbers beneath it mean. Do I have to turn the thing that is now resting on 0?
Ack, do you think that after all this fiddling around that I broke the camera?

You set the shutter speed by lifting the dial, twisting it to the desired speed, and letting drop back into place. Now, I know you know this already, but it can't bear repeating enough: DON'T DO THIS UNTIL YOU'VE COCKED THE SHUTTER!!!! Bad things happen when you do that!!!

No, the f/stops & shutter speeds don't coorespond to modern equivlents. Make your best guess and your film latittude ought to make up the difference.

Hope this helped! 😀

 

[kmack]

Jason outlined it well. In addition, the numbers below the speed selector knob are for the flash sync. Nothing critical there.

Welcome, relax, and have fun. If you got it loaded you are way ahead of the game. Bottom feeders are supposed to be the hardest load.

 

[captainslack]

Do not go from 500 to B or B to 500.

Oops! Forgot to mention that!

 

[reagan]

ss ~ Sounds like these guys have got you in good shape. For help with what to set shutter speeds and f-stop at, check into the Sunny-16 Rule mentioned above. Here's some sites.

http://www.camerareview.com/templates/sunny16.cfm
http://herron.50megs.com/sunny16.htm
http://www.pinkheadedbug.com/techniques/exposure.html

Have fun ~ go shoot!!

 

[grifon]

The cameras of this period are generally the same, controls wise. the 'collar' around the shutter release button has two positions, П and red Д one is for shooting, other is for rewinding film. Also the shutter button can be rotated as well, if you depress it, and twist it clockwise, it will lock in the 'down' position, for bulb operation (very long exposure)

The lever just below the shutter setting dial is for flash synchronisation, unless you are using an old school bulb flash, it should be set to zero (other values are in milliseconds, it is the amount of advance time, to allow the flash to 'warm up' before the shutter is fully open)

so to take the picture, first, make sure the shutter button is not locked, collar is in the shooting position, advance film until film advance knob stops, set appropriate shutter and aperture, aim... and shoot!

 

[secretsquare]

thanks

thanks

OK, thank you all very much. The Sunny-16 Rule sites were also very helpful.
Well, I got a Zorki 6 too and decided to switch over since it's much easier to operate.