Caring for Zorki 4 shutter

[mike goldberg]

My favorite LTM copies are the Fed-2c and Zorki 4. I'm just getting into the Z4 with it's great finder, along with that little raised, knurled knob [for the speeds], which is "murder" on the fingers 😱 And, a friendship is developing with a fellow Z4 enthusiast in the UK.

Here's what he says about shutter care, aside from always winding on & cocking, before changing speeds:

NEVER leave camera unused with shutter set on low speed, i.e., below 60th (this causes slow speed train to become erratic).

NEVER leave camera unused with shutter cocked (this weakens main shutter spring).

I'm wondering if fellow Z4 users here in RFF have found these precautions to be worthwhile?

Thanks, Mike

 

[fidget]

I've heard similar advice, although, being familiar with the shutter mechanics of similar FSU kit, I can't see why being left at a slow speed uncocked would cause a problem. Leaving any camera cocked for long periods at any speed setting is generally to be avoided. Sounds like fair advice.

 

[fanshaw]

My favorite LTM copies are the Fed-2c and Zorki 4. I'm just getting into the Z4 with it's great finder, along with that little raised, knurled knob [for the speeds], which is "murder" on the fingers 😱 And, a friendship is developing with a fellow Z4 enthusiast in the UK.

Here's what he says about shutter care, aside from always winding on & cocking, before changing speeds:

NEVER leave camera unused with shutter set on low speed, i.e., below 60th (this causes slow speed train to become erratic).

NEVER leave camera unused with shutter cocked (this weakens main shutter spring).

I'm wondering if fellow Z4 users here in RFF have found these precautions to be worthwhile?

Thanks, Mike

I don't know whether these precautions are worthwhile because I have always followed them after reading them in the Zorki-4 instruction booklet. Actually, the advice is not to leave the shutter set at a speed below 1/125.

Fanshaw

 

[wolves3012]

As fidget says, leaving any camera with the shutter cocked for long periods is not sensible, it leaves springs wound up. Speeds of 1/15 or slower also leave the clockwork delay mechanism wound up, IF the shutter is cocked, which is also better avoided.

Although the above is true, modern spring steels actually don't lose much tension from being left wound so the effect is normally not serious, it's simply something that can be avoided and so should be. It's true to say that there is residual tension in the shutter spring rollers in these cameras anyway, even when un-cocked: that cannot be avoided.

 

[mike goldberg]

Thanks guys...
I generally leave mechanical cameras UNcocked, and 1/125 is an oft used speed. So, setting the shutter at 1/125 or even 1/60, is a habit that can be learned; then release the shutter button before putting the camera away.
Cheers...

 

[santino]

Hi all!

The Hasselblad 500 series one should ALWAYS leave cocked. All other mechanical cams I know should be left uncocked.

 

[moretto]

Bottom line: Never leave your cameras unused! 🙂

 

[350D_user]

NEVER leave camera unused with shutter set on low speed, i.e., below 60th (this causes slow speed train to become erratic).

NEVER leave camera unused with shutter cocked (this weakens main shutter spring).

I'm wondering if fellow Z4 users here in RFF have found these precautions to be worthwhile?

Thanks, Mike

I've always left (or tried to leave) mechanical shutters uncocked/fired for the reason you've supplied. However, it never occurred to me about the slow speeds being set whilst the camera's left.

Thanks for the tip.