How do you think I did?

[ElliottJM]

Hey guys!

I just got back from a year living in Russia. And it is true, winter is cold!
But while I was there I picked up some cameras (my first FSAs). A Fed 2, a Zenit ET, and a Zorkii 4.

The Zorkii 4 came with its box it was sold in, shutter release cord, Jupiter 8, lens filter with holder, manual/passport, and the leather carrying case. The cool thing is that the Zorkii is in amazing condition and very smooth, and it is numbers matching with with body, lens, and the passport/manual from 1956 (although first sold in 1960 I think). I picked it up for about $50, which I think its a pretty good deal.

I also have a Jupiter 12, but I think I was duped a little because i paid about $40 for it and it is really rough, and makes a grinding sound when i try to mount it and wont screw on all the way 🙁

Cat wasn't included :\

 

[ottluuk]

Well, resolution wise you can expect no less than 25 lp/mm in the center of the frame and 13 lp/mm in the field 😀. As for whether it was a good deal, it's hard to say. On the one hand, you can sometimes find this kind of stuff for free in the former soviet countries. On the other, as long as everything behaves as it should, you have a totally usable camera for very little money. My mom used a very similar Zorkii (3M or 3S, I forget, looks just like the 4) + 50/2 kit for years and I used that same J-8 as the first lens on my Leica. Not spectacular by most standards but gave a pretty nice look when stopped down a bit. It's pretty much a straight copy of the Zeiss 5cm f/2 Sonnar from the 1940s.

 

[ElliottJM]

Thanks!

Yeah my Fed2 gave me some "interesting" results. But this one feels like it is in much better condition, maybe had a CLA. But as for the "free" ones, I saw a few that were almost free but they had so many problems that I didn't want to take the chance. I wish I checked out my J12 before I spent $40 on it :\ I've never seen them all numbers matching before though

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Would be better if you CLA them while still in Russia, but...

Alignment is another good practice. Sometimes it is all what is needed to make the difference between

not spectacular by most standards but gave a pretty nice look when stopped down a bit.

and sharp on wide open copy.

Known issue with J-12, BTW, have the same with my pristine white one. Use your release cable to hold shutter open.
Take off the back of the camera, while it is still open. Look into the lens mount with J-12 on it. You'll see how you would have to bent the RF arm. Up or down.

 

[David Hughes]

Hey guys!

I just got back from a year living in Russia. And it is true, winter is cold!
But while I was there I picked up some cameras (my first FSAs). A Fed 2, a Zenit ET, and a Zorkii 4.

The Zorkii 4 came with its box it was sold in, shutter release cord, Jupiter 8, lens filter with holder, manual/passport, and the leather carrying case. The cool thing is that the Zorkii is in amazing condition and very smooth, and it is numbers matching with with body, lens, and the passport/manual from 1956 (although first sold in 1960 I think). I picked it up for about $50, which I think its a pretty good deal...

Hi,

EDIT (sorry):: welcome aboard.


I think you did well to get the complete outfit. Buying one by one you'd never get the numbers matching and you'd pay through the nose for postage etc a lot of times.

As for the date, could it be that the form had "195..." printed on it but was used in the 60's and over written? that would make sense.

Anyway, a nice outfit and now all you have to do is put some film in it and show us the results.

Regards, David

 

[leicapixie]

It's hard to say till you show photographs.
I think i did better last week.
An acquaintance dropped off a nice camera bag,really nice,
inside an almost mint 35mm SLR and a Film EOS.
Both with lenses!
Free. The half used film used for test.
Test+scan shows it works, the scan though to be redone!

 

[tunalegs]

Seems like a good deal to me. I just paid $40 for a '63 Z4 without the packaging paraphernalia, I'd figure the collector value of such items was worth what you paid for them.

As a user the Zorki has several advantages over screw-mount leicas and their closest clones, and the lens is a wonderful performer at average apertures.

 

[ElliottJM]

thanks for the input guys!

Yeah my Zenit definitely has issues, sometimes it has dark edges and other times it doesnt, and im still having focusing issues.

And my Fed 2 seems strange, I attached pictures if you would like to see (all taken around St. Petersburg, Russia) the color seems off and one of the photos has some strange over exposed part on the edge. And maybe the 26m is just not contrasty? Let me know what you think the issue is. I guess i shouldn't start a new thread for this, right? I'm new here :\ But have been reading a lot.

Also, the quality of scans is really bad. I don't know if they could ever be close to a digital camera, but I got this done at walgreens and I am completely underwhelmed.

Near where I lived in SPb

Frozen gulf of Finland

Kronstadt

Kronstadt

Disappointingly new church in Kronstadt

Naval Base in Kronstadt

 

[tunalegs]

The mostly look over exposed, and some look exposed unevenly. This is result of a slow and sticking shutter curtain.

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

Assuming it's been sitting in its box a long time then a check etc would work wonders. OTOH, a workout, by cocking the shutter and firing it without film in works wonders sometimes. But my main fear is that the lubricants have migrated and need replacing.

FWIW, this happens with Canons, Leicas and Nikons too and costs a lot more to sort out...

Regards, David

PS Agreed slight over exposure but they look tricky subject to meter.

 

[iphoenix]

Looks like slight shutter tapering to me. With the weather apparently being very cold, the lubricant was probably like grease.
Try exercising the shutter in a warm room 10 times at each shutter speed, load a film and try it again, keeping the camera (when being carried) as warm as possible in a pocket or under your coat.
As David says: it "works wonders sometimes"; and if there is no improvement, it is time for a CLA.

 

[ElliottJM]

Thanks for the tips guys!! In a way, I kind of like the strangeness it gives me, because it is something different and if I wanted a perfect photo, then I could just use my dSLR. But yeah I definitely don't want a lot of these surprises I encountered.

And yes, it was around -25 degrees or so, and the knobs did/do feel really heavy :\

 

[gb hill]

I think you paid a good price & the photo's, especially of the Russian Naval ship look good. I believe the more you use the camera it will loosen up. Enjoy!😀

 

[ElliottJM]

Thanks!!

If anyone can help me with the jupiter 12 on the zorki 4 or fed 2 on a jupiter 12, let me know!

I put the 12 on and looked through the back on B, and I can see that the rangefinder cam is rubbing on the top part of the lens. Would I take a screw driver and bend the cam up, or would that destroy it/alignment?

I pushed it up a little but it still didnt really work. Basically, the lens goes on all the way until the last maybe 1/8 of a turn.

 

[Fred2]

Thanks!!

If anyone can help me with the jupiter 12 on the zorki 4 or fed 2 on a jupiter 12, let me know!

I put the 12 on and looked through the back on B, and I can see that the rangefinder cam is rubbing on the top part of the lens. Would I take a screw driver and bend the cam up, or would that destroy it/alignment?

I pushed it up a little but it still didnt really work. Basically, the lens goes on all the way until the last maybe 1/8 of a turn.

I want to help you with your J-12, but I cant really tell the Problem from your description...
Can you show us pictures?
In any Case don't alter the Cameras rangefinder sensor to fit a lens, in case you want to use your other lenses as well!
Regarding the scratching sound it makes when you screw it in: How does the mount look? Dirty? Damaged?

best wishes, Fred