Finding a Zorki-3M

[Jeff Clark]

I've done a lot of homework on the matter, from right here on my couch of course, and am starting to hunt around for a Zorki-3m body I'll get to puting an Ultron 28mm on soon. Oleg, Fedka, eBay are my regular places but am located in San Francisco. See, I'm just not certain of the $75-90 camera/lens combo's for 3's or $90+ for a 3M from another country. Any suggestions from those of you a little longer in the tooth?
Thanks,
Jeff
SF, Ca.

 

[reagan]

Hey Jeff ~ I gave $60 or $70 (can't remember) from Oleg, 3M body only, and got a smooth operating camera. No regrets. Oleg has a good rep, and IMHO, can be dealt with confidently. You'll like the 3M, big VF and easy to operate; no fitzing with an extra dial for slow speeds. But despite the bad press concerning their faulty slow shutter speeds, my 3 has become my favorite. (Not sure why, maybe it's just looks 😎 )

Good luck!

Oh yeah, P.S. Welcome to RFF!!

 

[didotcicero]

There is a 3M for sale @ Fedka.com, you can find it here

Not cheap though...

Ooops I see you allready noticed that one. Sorry about that....

 

[reagan]

When my 3M was purchased from Oleg in the spring(?) I had emailed him and told him I was interested in a 3M and what did he have? He emailed me back quite promptly with brief descriptions of three bodies. So you might just email him what you're looking for. Also there's the link below to a page at his sight ~ "Recent Arrivals" ~ it has both a 3 & 3M listed under "List #3"

Recent Arrivals: http://www.okvintagecamera.com/unsorted.html

Question for Oleg: http://www.okvintagecamera.com/contact.html

 

[reagan]

My Zorki 4 is a '56 model and seems to me to be as smooth as my 3M, though as mentioned, the 4 feels heavier. The different shaped "cut away" top on the 3 and 3M is just a little more comfortable to me... my opinion. Shutter speed dial and wind knob are shaped different on the 4 and so both seem slightly easier to operate on the 3 and 3M.

I've never used a 4K. From what I've read, the mechanical differences in the 3M and 4 are mainly the self-timer and flash sync. Shutter / film advance are very similar. But apparently the 4's quality control began to get somewhat sloppy in later years. (Thus my reason for searching out a pre-60's model.) Having the slow shutter speed dial makes the mechanics on the 3 a whole different animal.

Jorge's Zorki 4 specs here: http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=162

Jorge's Zorki 3M specs here: http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=154

 

[grifon]

I have a Zorki 4 ('68 build) and it is very smooth, and very rarely misbehaves. As for the difference between the 4 and 3M... Zorki 4 has flash synch., as opposed to 3M, which i'm not sure even has a PC port.

 

[grifon]

Another thing 🙂

Zorki 3M does not have a self timer!
In my opinion, you should go with Zorki 4, and preferably an earlier version (prior to '65, engraved lettering) which is mechanicaly almost identical to 3M, with the addition of a PC port, flash sync, and a self timer.

Good luck.

 

[tedwhite]

I have a Zorki 4K, and while its viewfinder/rangefinder is no match for a Bessa R or Leica M3 - in my opinion Russian RF's in general can't compare with those two - I really like its ease of use with the film advance lever and the back opening ala Pentax Spotmatic or, for that matter, the Bessa R. I think the 3M, while it is probably better built and has a more 'solid' feel, would be a bit more difficult to use, mainly due to the film loading issue (in terms of time).