First Pix: Zorki-4 & two 50's

[mike goldberg]

This 1962 Zorki-4, CLA'd by Oleg, is my first ever Zorki; the test roll was Tmax 100+ HC110. Here's the data on the 3 Thumbnails, Left to Right:

- Fed 50/3.5 at f5.6, and 1.2 meters from the plant and watering can. This is an FSU copy of the Leica Elmar collapsible lens; it's more than 50 years old.

- The organic cherry orchard was chosen for a good range of tones. Exposure was 1/500, f8, using the J8.

- J8 [mid-1950's] at f5.6, and 1.2 meters from the plant and watering can.

The negs were slightly underdeveloped, and the Tmax exposures looked good using "sunny 16," or even 1 stop down. The Thumbnail images do very well when viewed Large (+) ...

Comments?... welcome ;-)

Cheers, mike

 

[Tom hicks]

Mike , I think these are wonderful result with that little camera, I can only hope mine are as good . I pulled one up in PS and it really very sharp, fed 50/3.5. Post more I can't stand it . I'm trying not to sound to excited about the possibilities.

Tom

 

[wolves3012]

Very nice shots. By the way, from what I've read, the I-50 is not a copy of the Elmar (optically anyway). I don't know enough about lenses to qualify what's different so I'm not going to say categorically this is so!

 

[Valkir1987]

The Fed lens seems to show better contrast and a better texture in the unsharp background. Great pictures! I have a roll of Fuji Black and White film in my Zorki 4 now, shooting with the Jupiter 8,9 and 12. Maybe I should try the Fed lens from my Fed as well, I'm on frame 23 now 🙄.

It is a year ago since I devellopped my last B&W roll, and I'm out of developer. However I still have a small box of powdered Leicanol, can I still use this kind of developer for a modern 400 iso roll?

 

[gb hill]

All three shots look nice, but that first shot with the fed 50/3.5 is stunning. What are your thoughts on the camera itself? How is the vf in the zorki compared to the fed 2? I like the vf of my zorki 2 better than my fed 2, but i've always wondered about the zorki 4 with the large window in front of the camera.

 

[wolves3012]

All three shots look nice, but that first shot with the fed 50/3.5 is stunning. What are your thoughts on the camera itself? How is the vf in the zorki compared to the fed 2? I like the vf of my zorki 2 better than my fed 2, but i've always wondered about the zorki 4 with the large window in front of the camera.

The Zorki 4/4K VF/RF is big, bright, just over life-size and not totally accurate for framing. If you appreciate the Zorki 2 finder for it's brightness, you'd love the 4. For use in poor light it's the best of the FSUs IMO (although the Z-3 should be the same) and knocks spots off the FED 2. On the other hand, the FED 2 should be more accurate and has a higher contrast RF spot, making it better for sunny days. Since the FED 2 only goes down to 1/30 it's fine in light where the camera is usable.

 

[alternatve]

First thought : Wow!

The pictures look like they've been painted on, instead of taken by a camera. There is this creamy, yet sharp look to it. And it has a slight sepia tone to it, done on purpose?

Great pictures taken by a great camera with a great lens. 😉

Samuel

 

[mike goldberg]

Thanks so much for your feedback, guys.

- The V/F is brighter on the Zorki-4, and the R/F is easier to focus, than on the Fed-2. Still and all, a properly CLA'd Fed-2 is a good shooter.

- I'm also amazed at the results with the Fed-50/3.5 collapsible. It came with a Fed-1g, that could not be fully rehabilitated. Tho' I have several other untested FSU 50's, more pix will follow with the 50/3.5.

You can see the Zorki-4 here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikegoldberg/1171652915/

Cheers, Mike

 

[gb hill]

The Zorki 4/4K VF/RF is big, bright, just over life-size and not totally accurate for framing. If you appreciate the Zorki 2 finder for it's brightness, you'd love the 4. For use in poor light it's the best of the FSUs IMO (although the Z-3 should be the same) and knocks spots off the FED 2. On the other hand, the FED 2 should be more accurate and has a higher contrast RF spot, making it better for sunny days. Since the FED 2 only goes down to 1/30 it's fine in light where the camera is usable.

You said just over life-size, so then could you use the cameras finder when mounted with a j-12 or would you still need a external finder for the 35mm.

 

[wolves3012]

You said just over life-size, so then could you use the cameras finder when mounted with a j-12 or would you still need a external finder for the 35mm.

You couldn't really use it unaided with a J-12, no. I've just compared the Z-4 VF to the turret finder, at 50mm and 35mm. The Z-4 VF covers something around a 40-45mm view, if you "look around it" by shifting your eye. If you just look straight through it it doesn't even cover the 50mm view. By just over life size, I meant there's a slight magnification to it compared to normal eyesight - maybe 10% maximum. Hope that helps...