In praise of the Zorki

[Byuphoto]

I have recently acquired a very excellent 1957 Zorki 4 with a silver J8. The camera was in excellent shape and was sold at a very nice price from a fellow RFF'r. I must admit that I never had much respect for FSU stuff untill then.
I started my LTM affair with a Bessa R and it was a great camera but I never really warmed to it because my love is older metal and leather not plastic and rubber. Then the unimaginable happened. A dear friend sold me a Leica M$-2 and a 35for $500 and a 50 summicron lens for $250. Yes, he knew how much they were worth but, he has terminal cancer, he wanted them to be used by someone who would appreciate them.
Now I love the feel and the experince of using such a fine machine and while not fully adept, have even gotten used to the bottom loading. But I just can't get used to carrying such an expensive camera around everyday.
Enter the Zorki 4, I wanted a cam that would use the FSU glass and not have to worry if it was dropped or something else happened. However after shooting to rolls with it I am hooked. It fits my style of carefree shooting much better. I am more comfortable using it than the Leica and quite frankly the photos are very very good.
I tend to go on long walks and even thought it is very rural here things do happen and I would hate to lose or damage the leica. There are people here that would knock you in the head for a percieved expensive camera. The reason for my other love of metal and wood, a Colt 1911 A1 .45 ACP with Tulip wood grips. 😀I would be more inclined to not make a fuss over the Zorki but qwould raise H*** over the Leica.
So what does the long rant mean. What started as an inexpensive substitute has ended up as tha starting camera

 

[doubs43]

Rick, I give you high marks for your taste in both cameras (the Leica, of course) and pistols.

While the Zorki-4 is no Leica, it's not a bad camera either and I really like the rangefinder/viewfinder on them. One that's been CLA'd should satisfy all but the most particular person. As you've pointed out, they take an excellent picture. What more can you ask for?

Walker

 

[dll927]

Just two days ago my latest arrived - a Zorki 4K I got from Yuri (Fedka) in NYC. It has the usual 50mm J-8. The price was about three times what I see on ebay, but even the case looks barely used. I'm anxious to give it a try. Only one thing sort of bothers me - I'm not a fan of 'never-ready' cases, but the 4K has no strap eyelets, so the case has to go along. This the third camera I've bought from Yuri, and so far I think the extra cost is worth it. He had it listed as "excellent +", and it certainly looks all of that. The only signs of use I can see are slight marks on the pressure plate. Otherwise, it looks almost new. It got here in four days, and my best record from Russia is nine days.

 

[jonasv]

Shhhh - I just sold my Fed 3a - don't make me regret my decision!

 

[reagan]

...and, Rick, with the installation of one of Gordy's good strong shoulder or wrist straps, you can then leave the Colt at home. Any Zorki + strap makes a good enough weapon to pummel even the stinkiest of muggers into a whimpering, sniveling heap of vermin... and you can still take their [battered] portrait afterward! 😀

 

[Austintatious]

I am very much interested in adding a Zorki 4 to my RF collection. A question please, are the older models with the frame around the RF / VF window on the front of the camera the best to look for?
Most that I see are the newer ones that do not have that frame on them. Also, whats the best lens? I read a lot about the J 8, but many seem to have the I50 on them. Is one really better?
Thanks for your advice!
Charles

 

[Kim Coxon]

The raised frame around the RF window makes very little difference. The better ones to look for are the ones with engraved name. The later one with the printed name quite often have the shutter speeds printed as well and these rub off. The early ones which include all the engraved name ones had an engraved shutter speed dial.

As far as the lenses are concerned, the best lens is probably the J8 and this usually came with the Z4. Most of the FSU sellers substitute the I50 because these are almost impossible to sell on their own whereas the J8's are easy! If you can't get a J8, I would go for an Indy 61 although these are more usual on the Fed. Good luck with the search. If you get one from an FSU seller, expect to have to re-lube the lens and fiddle with the body to get it to work well. If you search the FSU threads you will find out why!

Kim

I am very much interested in adding a Zorki 4 to my RF collection. A question please, are the older models with the frame around the RF / VF window on the front of the camera the best to look for?
Most that I see are the newer ones that do not have that frame on them. Also, whats the best lens? I read a lot about the J 8, but many seem to have the I50 on them. Is one really better?
Thanks for your advice!
Charles

 

[xayraa33]

the older Zorki 4 from 1956 to around 1965 seems to be better made than later ones IMHO, but CLAed ones from a reputable seller are the way to go, no matter what the vintage is. you pay more but it is worth it in the long run.
the J-8 is the favoured lens by most members here, it is about a stop and a half faster than the I-50 and the picture quality of this Sonnar copy is very pleasing to the eye.

 

[Kim Coxon]

Another thought about the earlier ones is that they have the strap lugs which were removed from the printed ones. Another good alternative if you don't need the slow speeds is the MIR. If anything, these are probably the most reliable of the range but are not easy to find.

Kim

 

[ZorkiKat]

The early ones which include all the engraved name ones had an engraved shutter speed dial.



Kim

Kim

There were also Zorki 4 from around the mid 1960s which had both engraved and printed markings. It would correct to assume that those found with engraved names would have engraved shutter speeds. Towards the 1960s, many of the markings became printed rather than engraved, as a means perhaps to speed up production or even lower its cost.

I have a 1966 Zorki-4 which had engraved shutter speeds, frame counters, and serial number. All the rest- logo, switch positions, and arrow markers were printed. This camera still retains the strap lugs, a feature which this camera, as well as its contemporary FED models, lost by the time the 1960s ended.

The change over from engraved to printed probably came about in 1968 or 69. Everything on the Zorki was printed by around 1970, and all Zorki-4K had printed shutter speeds and frame counters. Both areas are prone to erasure since their surfaces encounter a lot finger rubbing. 🙂

Jay

 

[reagan]

Charles,
It sounds like you've gotten some great advice here and I'd agree, IMHO, "Older is better" in the Zorki.4 camp. I hope others will correct me on this if I'm wrong, but the embossed or raised frame around RF/VF windows you noted, though merely there for looks, I believe is a possible indicator of an older model. While I'm not sure when they halted that extra step of running the tops through the little press that added these frames, I believe it to be quite early. Mine is a first year model and has them, but I've even seen '57 models that were without these frames. Were they only there one year? or hit and miss over several years? (Maybe others would share their year models and "frames/no frames" info to get a better perspective. Sort of curious.)

Anyway, back to "older differences." Though it's not often mentioned, on top of engraved numerals, etc. according to Antique Russian Cameras site, before and after 1960 were different shutter speeds if that's important to you. I don't see how either is better than the other, but I sort of like the "old range," while others may not.

[before 1959] 1sec, 1/2, 1/5, 1/10, 1/25, 1/50, 1/100, 1/250, 1/500, 1/1000 of a second and "B"

[after 1965] 1sec, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/15, 1/30, 1/60, 1/125, 1/250, 1/500, 1/1000 of a second and "B".

I intentionally went hunting for the earliest model I could find and purchased a quite nice though not perfect first year '56 model that was still at a very reasonable price. No regrets. But my first Zorki.4 was a "painted numerals" 1970 model that I really liked as well (and I believe it's still floating around here at RFF "gettin' the shots.")

Sooo.... good luck on finding one you like. I'm sure you'll enjoy whichever you land on.

 

[Kim Coxon]

Hi Jay,
I have seen many of the variations. I have even put and engraved speed scale from a "dead" Z4 on a printed one which had lost it's numbers. In my roundabout way, I was trying to say that if you get one with an engraved name, it will have an engraved speed dial. If you see a printed one, you will have to check to make sure.

 

[zhang xk]

Kim

There were also Zorki 4 from around the mid 1960s which had both engraved and printed markings. It would correct to assume that those found with engraved names would have engraved shutter speeds. Towards the 1960s, many of the markings became printed rather than engraved, as a means perhaps to speed up production or even lower its cost.

I have a 1966 Zorki-4 which had engraved shutter speeds, frame counters, and serial number. All the rest- logo, switch positions, and arrow markers were printed. This camera still retains the strap lugs, a feature which this camera, as well as its contemporary FED models, lost by the time the 1960s ended.

The change over from engraved to printed probably came about in 1968 or 69. Everything on the Zorki was printed by around 1970, and all Zorki-4K had printed shutter speeds and frame counters. Both areas are prone to erasure since their surfaces encounter a lot finger rubbing. 🙂

Jay

Hi Comrade Jay,

I have a few early 1970's Zorki 4K that has engraved shutter numbers. These seem to be quite rare as I never heard from other Z-4k owners that has engraved shutter speed numbers. 😕

It seems that I have the good luck to find all the engraved Z-4ks. 🙂

zhang

 

[Kim Coxon]

It may be that someone changed the dial. I have seen that done on a couple of cameras and have done it myself.

Kim

Hi Comrade Jay,

I have a few early 1970's Zorki 4K that has engraved shutter numbers. These seem to be quite rare as I never heard from other Z-4k owners that has engraved shutter speed numbers. 😕

It seems that I have the good luck to find all the engraved Z-4ks. 🙂

zhang

 

[Byuphoto]

Charles,
It sounds like you've gotten some great advice here and I'd agree, IMHO, "Older is better" in the Zorki.4 camp. I hope others will correct me on this if I'm wrong, but the embossed or raised frame around RF/VF windows you noted, though merely there for looks, I believe is a possible indicator of an older model. While I'm not sure when they halted that extra step of running the tops through the little press that added these frames, I believe it to be quite early. Mine is a first year model and has them, but I've even seen '57 models that were without these frames. Were they only there one year? or hit and miss over several years? (Maybe others would share their year models and "frames/no frames" info to get a better perspective. Sort of curious.)

Anyway, back to "older differences." Though it's not often mentioned, on top of engraved numerals, etc. according to Antique Russian Cameras site, before and after 1960 were different shutter speeds if that's important to you. I don't see how either is better than the other, but I sort of like the "old range," while others may not.
I intentionally went hunting for the earliest model I could find and purchased a quite nice though not perfect first year '56 model that was still at a very reasonable price. No regrets. But my first Zorki.4 was a "painted numerals" 1970 model that I really liked as well (and I believe it's still floating around here at RFF "gettin' the shots.")

Sooo.... good luck on finding one you like. I'm sure you'll enjoy whichever you land on.

My '57 has the frame. I also like the early speeds, ie... 1/50, 1/100, as my old Notwood Director meter is marked that way

 

[Austintatious]

Lots of great advice here indeed ! Thanks to all. I guess I should look to the reputable dealers for one. The ones on the Bay do not indicate that they have been CLA'd. They always say " every thing working perfectly " which is sortof hard to believe. Could put up a WTB in classifieds I suppose.

Thanks again,
Charles

 

[doubs43]

Hi Comrade Jay, I have a few early 1970's Zorki 4K that has engraved shutter numbers. These seem to be quite rare as I never heard from other Z-4k owners that has engraved shutter speed numbers. 😕
It seems that I have the good luck to find all the engraved Z-4ks. 🙂

zhang

Is this the same Zhang of "Russian Camera" fame over on BestStuff.com? The Zhang with all the fantastic mirror lenses?

Welcome to Range Finder Forum. You'll find lots of friendly people here who will benefit from your knowledge.

I haven't been as active on the Russian Camera forum as I once was but I do visit every once in awhile. They're a nice group too.

Walker (doubs43)

 

[dave74]

dll927
I'd be happy to install thread-in strap lugs to your Zorki; check my page at "http://ufies.org/~djb/". The work to fit a bottom-feeder should cost the same as a clamshell Fed. Cheers, Dave(74)

 

[ZorkiKat]

Hi Comrade Jay,

I have a few early 1970's Zorki 4K that has engraved shutter numbers. These seem to be quite rare as I never heard from other Z-4k owners that has engraved shutter speed numbers. 😕

It seems that I have the good luck to find all the engraved Z-4ks. 🙂

zhang

你好张同志

That's indeed rare! I've never seen one (and the Zorki-4K is the only Russian RF which ever got to be seen here before eBay! 🙂 ). It could be, as Kim said, an after-market replacement. Or they could be 'special' exports for Chinese comrades?

Jay

 

[dmchadderton]

It may be that someone changed the dial. I have seen that done on a couple of cameras and have done it myself.

Kim

(OT: Posting at 00:49, 9:29 and 15:48 ... does your boss not have something to say about all this internet time?? ps. I see your avatar and raise you one ... )

I have avery nice Zorki 4 with a Jupiter 8 and a pleasant red Fed 3 ... the Zorki 4 is a very nice camera and I seem to have got myself a decent performing J8 - no substitute for my lost M7 but good to play with nonetheless.