I have four Zorki Cameras

Raid, nice set, I have four as well. I love these cameras, they were my introduction to rangefinders. My dad gave me an SLR when I was young, but I never was able to focus it very well, I still have problems with focus on an SLR even with a focusing aid in the VF, I don't know why. So, I shot only P&S/AF cameras for a long time. A friend suggested a Leica M to me as a possible solution, but I had never tried a rangefinder and was put off by the price. So I did some searching and found FSU cameras, took an eBay gamble ($35), and discovered that I could focus the thing. Since then, I have made the step to Leica M, but after a good period of learning with my Zorki cameras. The only "shelf queen" camera of any kind I own is the boxed one on the right. It came with a light meter, too! I love that my shelf queen camera cost me $50 :)

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raid said:
Brian,
The Zorki 5 had about 125,000 made in Version 1 and about 12,000 in Version 2.
Still, the "rare" version sells for $50.
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raid said:
I just checked online to see which Zorki 5 model I have.
It is a Zorki 5b, and it is "rare". My copy is vey clean.
Only 11500 of the Zorki-5b were prodused (1959).
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This was discussed recently in another thread, I have a feeling that the figure in Princelle for the '59 production is a misprint and ought to read 115,000 not 11,500. After all, why would they produce only 1/10th as many in the second year and why does the "a" version appear so infrequently on Ebay? Also, Princelle is wrong to state that the "b" version was produced in '59 (only) - I have a '58 example and so does at least one other RFF-er.
 
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This is quite a possibility. I really don't know which number is correct and which is not.
 
gdmcclintock said:
I really like how it looks and works. I just feel guilty that I do not use it enough.
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Mine's heading for a rather delicate repair (a worn bearing) and new curtains, so I'm not using it much and postponing the work! Not much of an excuse though, I love the handling and simplicity.
 
paulfish4570 said:
i like that zorki of yours, Raid, with the pebble-grain skin and i-50. it is a handsome kit.
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Hi Paul,
I will use these cameras more often.
They are matched perfectly for focusing with FSU lenses, and I wonder by how much focus is off wide open when using a Zeiss Jena lens on them.
 
It is quite unclear what the correct production numbers were for the second version of the Zorki 5. Several online sources put it at 11,500, while some individuals state that since there more version 2 models for sale than version 1 models, it is unlikely that the production was limited in numbers.

Fedka states: "The camera was made in 1958 by the Krasnogorsk plant (KMZ). This is an early, less common version of the Zorki-5 with a rectangular RF window and the Zorki-5 engraving on the front. The later, more common model has a name plate screwed on the front of the top cower and a round VF window (same as the Zorki-6)."
 
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My Zorki 5 goes only up to 1/250 sec. I am unable to get it to use 1/500.
It may need a CLA.
 
wolves3012 said:
This was discussed recently in another thread, I have a feeling that the figure in Princelle for the '59 production is a misprint and ought to read 115,000 not 11,500. After all, why would they produce only 1/10th as many in the second year and why does the "a" version appear so infrequently on Ebay? Also, Princelle is wrong to state that the "b" version was produced in '59 (only) - I have a '58 example and so does at least one other RFF-er.
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Just as a matter of interest, the serial number of my 59 Zorki5b is a little over 26,000 higher than Raid's. I wonder if the part of the serial number following the year is a simple counter? Anyone know?

Dave..
 
Raid,

Thank you for this thread about Zorki cameras. For the first time in several months I loaded mine with Tri-X and wandered out into the slushy streets. The Zorki is a joy to use!

George
 
gdmcclintock said:
Raid,

Thank you for this thread about Zorki cameras. For the first time in several months I loaded mine with Tri-X and wandered out into the slushy streets. The Zorki is a joy to use!

George
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Hello George,
I am looking forward to use a Zorki soon.
 
shadowfox said:
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I got this Zorki 1 (not sure which model) after I got a Leica IIIc.
I find that the Zorki to be very smooth and works just as well.

The Leica feels a bit better built, but not earth-shatteringly so.

So my M4-P is back to become my only Leica camera and the Zorki 1 stays :)
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It is very likely to be a Zorki 1 E
Zorki 1 E is the last model produced, and is the only one with B (bulb) instead of Z
 
zorki.JPG

Zorki 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D
Zorki 2, C, 2C
Zorki 3, 3M, 3C
Zorki 4, 4K
Mir
Zorki 5A, 5B
Jupiter 3, 8, 9, 11, 12
Orion 15
Industar 22......

Zorki my small collection.
All work fine except the Zorki3 C who failed him slow speeds, the rest, just need a little adjustment for non-use.
The Zorki 3, Zorki 3M, Zorki Zorki 4K and 1D, working perfectly, why are you normally use.
All cameras, bought for $ 40 each one, except the 3 and 3M that cost me $ 60, and 1A Zorki reached 100

The picture was taken with my EOS and optics 58 / 2 Helios 44M ...
 
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WOW! I am very impressed, sovietleica. Your name says it all. The collection looks awesome.
 
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