Buying a Zorki-6

[gman1253]

Quick question to the forum.. do you have to cut the film leader (ala Leica style) to load the Zorki 6? I know that's needed on the 5 own down but not sure with the 6.

Thanks,

Manny

 

[RichardS]

I don't know about the Zorki 6 but you are not correct about the 5 on down. They seemed to change the loading for no particular reason with the different series. The Zorki 4 was a back loader but I believe you are correct about the Zorki 5 being a bottom loader. Here http://www.fortunecity.com/marina/marine/569/rusrngfdrs/zorki6/zorki6.html is the URL for a site showing the manuals for the Zorki 5 and 6 and it shows the 6 as being a back loader, but I have never actually seen one.

Dick

 

[kiev4a]

The Zorki 6 has a hinged back (the only Leica-type Zorki that does). No cutting necessary. It can use film with conventional tongues. They are a nice camera -- very compact.

 

[Laika]

Quick question to the forum.. do you have to cut the film leader (ala Leica style) to load the Zorki 6? I know that's needed on the 5 own down but not sure with the 6.

Thanks,

Manny

No the Zorki 6 doesn't need the leader cut as it has a hinged back for easy loading. Only the bottom loaders (Z1, Z2, Z5) need the leaders cut. The Zorki 3, 3M, 4, 4k & MIR all have removable backs so no leader cutting for them either.

The Zorki 6 is a very nice shooter 😎

 

[pshinkaw]

The Soviets believed in incremental improvements. Each model of whatever had only a few improvements or new features over the previous model. That way they could reduce the chances of a total failure in design or manufacturing.

There were two series or product development lines for the Zorki, one was the Zorki-1, Zorki-2, Zorki-3 and Zorki-4 and Zorki-4K. Removeable backs started with the Zorki-3.

The other was the Zorki-1, Zorki-2, Zorki-S (C), Zorki-2S (2C), Zorki-5 and Zorki-6. This was a bottom-loading design until the last improved version, which was the Zorki-6. The two product lines had a common ancestry, but they diverged after the Zorki-2.

-Paul

 

[gman1253]

Thanks for the info

Thanks for the info

Appreciate all your info - thanks!

Manny

 

[kiev4a]

I've never had a Z-6 apart but the Z5 is interesting. The body shell is exactly the same size as the Z-1--pressure plate in the same place, too. The shell appears to be made of steel and seems to be stronger than the earlier zorki bottom loader shells. But the Z5 shell has ears on the inside that provide a place to anchor the top of the camera. I ground off the ears and Z1 guts dropped right in. Voila! A Z1 with strap lugs! The only problem was I needed to drill and tap five very small holes for the Z1 top screws. Didn't seem worth the cost of the taps (plus I didn't know the size and pitch of the screws).