Hello Zorki 3M-- Goodbye Leica M3!

D

drec

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Greetings!

I just got a Zorki 3m in the mail. WHOA!! Exudes quality! The finish isn't quite up to the Leica M3's (what is?), but it is close! And the shutter is right on... it sounds like my old iiif in all aspects. I gotta say, I paid $75 for that and a J-8 and I think I got a great deal. I'm strapped for cash, so the M3's up for sale on Ebay. After seeing how good these old FSU cams are (I had a 4k, but it was nowhere near the quality of this one), I really have to question the 'mystique' that attracts people to Leica (at least to the bodies-- sure they're nice, but $700-$900 nice?). It turns me off, now.

I'm usually not the testimonial sort, but I just had to put a plug in for this 3m. Best!
 
I have a Zorki 3 and a 3M. Man, you are going to miss that M3 you put up for sale. If the exact same camera had the Brand X name instead of Leica it still would be $500 worth of nice.
 
Congrats on your buy, drec. But are you sure you wanna give up the M3? I don't use my M2 as often as my Bessa R or Leitz Minolta CL but I'm not gonna sell it. I know I'll regret it later.
 
Drec-
sell some blood, shovel your neighbors walks, take a night job stocking shelves....

Do anything but sell the M3. You won't always be strapped for cash. But, you WILL regret having sold the Leica.

If you find yourself feeling weak.. just send it to me and I will care for it until you feel strong again ;)
 
I have had several Zorki 3s and 3Ms. Although a Zorki 3M in top condition is a nice handling camera capable of producing good photos, it in no way compares to a Leica M -- especially in build quality. The Z3M is a steal at the going price but if authorities told me I could only own one rangefinder, I would sell my 30 plus FSU cameras, come up with some additional cash and find a clean M2 or M3. But if I didn't have the coins for an M, I could live happily with the Z3M.
 
cameras are here to take pictures. Whatever it is written on. All other considerations, like showing them, collecting, being proud of them, take us away from their original purpose.
If the speeds are relatively accurate, and also the focusing is working, the aperture ring is moving, then you got a machine that will produce images with the help of your mind.
Changing is good, go trough the fields with your New Zorki, enjoy, don't regret your Leica, go on and feel the excitement of composing, running, taking the instant !
 
Nicely said, Marcel. In the end, one camera is much like another. It's the one in hand while you're out that lets you take the picture.

Gene
 
Hi all,

Thanks for the advice! The M3 is up for auction. I was going to pontificate on savings, but I won't. The 3M is my third FSU camera, and by far the best I've had.

Question: with the savings from the M3 sale, I really would like to get another FSU camera... because I never know when this camera'll bite the dust! Can you recommend another FSU camera with similar/better fit'n'finish? Slow speeds would be great; M3-like film loading is not essential.

Best,
Dre
 
Kiev II, Kiev IIa, Kiev III, Kiev IIIa, Kiev IV early models...
 
Check out the FED 3- You might like the feel. It's bulkier than a FED 2, yes. But the wind lever is nice at times when you want a little more speed in capturing an image. The prices are reasonable too.

And Yeah, the Kievs are cool. Having one with a Helios 103 could be very satisfying.
 
Last edited:
einolu said:
Save your money and get a nice viewfinder for the zorki 3, it will make your photography better.
Click to expand...
I agree with einolu word. Because it need a lot of time to prastice your eyes be a viewfinder.
 
I have an M3, Fed2, Fed 3a, and a early Zorki4(not 4k) sitting together on my desk as I write this. The Zorki 4 is not as pretty IMHO as your zorki3 but the finish is better than my feds. I like the Z4 better than the fed 3a in terms of viewfinder size. Both have slow speeds. If I could only have one FSU rangefinder and didn't need slow speeds, I would get a later FED2 with a J8 lens.
 
My Leica is a little later - an M4-2 that I bought brand-spanking new in 1983. I have no intention of sellinf or otherwise parting with it.

I have three Kievs - 3, 4, and 4a, all with the J-8 lens. I bought the 4a from Fedka in NYC, and because the J-8 had some "minor cleaning marks", Yuri threw in a Helios-103.

As for Zorkis, I have a 1, a 3 with another on the way as I write this, two 4s, a 5, and a 6. I am looking for a 2, but they are scarcer and usually more expensive.

Generally, the spin on FSU cameras is that the Kievs offer the best quality. Zorkis seem to out-rank the FEDs as far as quality is concerned. But all this is from reading a lot of websites, and as usual, there are varying opinions on things.

But I plan to keep that Leica around!!
 
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