Leica LTM Making a Leica Standard clone

[Gordon Coale]

A Zorki Standard

A Zorki Standard

My Zorki 1b arrived today from Oleg. This turned out to be easier than it had any right to be. It came with all the rangefinder mechanism removed. It's a bit smaller than my Leica IIIc. Right now I'm going to leave the shutter mechanism exposed. It looks kind of cute that way. Things that move around and up and down when setting the shutter speed and releasing the shutter. The only downside is that, since there was no rangefinder cover, there was no accessory shoe which I need to attach to the top plate for the viewfinders.

 

[Gordon Coale]

(Check the previous page for the rest of this post.)

I stole an accessory shoe of a Zorki 6 with a bad shutter and, with a little 5 minute epoxy, bonded it to the top plate. I cut up some gaffer's tape to cover the holes in the top plate. It's loaded with film and ready to shoot. I even have a separate rangefinder if I feel I need it. I put some labels on the J12 to make it easier to quickly adjust the focus. I've already used the marked J12 on my Zorki 3M just estimating distance. It worked fine. My Zorki Standard joins my Pentax H1a (a pre-Spotmatic meterless model), with the M42 Industar-50, as my coat pocket cameras that I have with me all the time.

The vulcanite on the Zorki Standard is starting to chip. I may try to chip it off and replace it with leather. I will replace the gaffer's tape with the same leather. I may have a shutter mechanism bellhousing made out of aluminum. Or not. I kind of like the look as it is. I would eventually like to get some modern Voightlander viewfinders. It's a sweet little camera. I think I going to really like it.

 

[vicmortelmans]

This makes me think. Zorki 1 and Fed 1 are called 'Leice clones', but if you compare the Zorki 1 to the Leica III (as pictured above), the design is quite different (although they still look similar, contrary to the later models)! Could it be the 'original clone' was based on the Leica Standard type and design developed independently from that point on?

Groeten,
Vic

 

[Gordon Coale]

Vic -- My Zorki 1 has had the rangefinder removed. The first picture below is what a complete Zorki 1, with a rangefinder, looks like. I've taken a camera made in 1951 and modified it to be similar to a camera made in 1931 -- the Leica I. (Forward! Into the past!) The original Leica didn't have a rangefinder. In 1932 they added a rangefinder and called it a Leica II, see the second picture below. The Leica II is the camera that the FED 1 and Zorki 1 is based on. The early Leica III looks like a Leica II but has a slow speed shutter dial on the front.

 

[Will]

Well done. Looks like fun for the new year...

 

[Gordon Coale]

The Rat Cam

The Rat Cam

In the motorcycle world there is a type of bike known as a rat bike. They are kept of the road for next to nothing. They end up with all sorts of odd parts with flat black being the predominant color scheme. My Zorki Standard seems to be turning into the camera equivalent -- a rat cam.

It's such a tiny thing. My IIIc is positively gigantic next to it. I've spent the last week looking at it a lot. I've run a test roll through it and am waiting for the results. I've not been happy with the viewfinders I have after looking through a new Voigtlander. I would like to get a 50 and 35 brightline but that will have to wait. But, for 1:1 viewing, it's hard to beat a wireframe viewfinder. The Ikodot has a great twist on the wireframe. But, not only can I not afford one right now, it is too low to fit on the Zorki. I cannibalized the lockable accessory foot off a dead Vivitar 285 and, with some brass rod, a couple of glass beads, lots of 5 minute epoxy, and gaffer's tape, I made my own. It's tricky to make. Mine is at an angle but it works great. The great thing is that it works for multiple focal lengths. For the 50mm lens I put my nose one thumb thickness from the back of the camera. For a 35mm lens I put my nose on the back of the camera. If I move closer it works for up to a 21mm lens. Line up the beads to aim and fire away. I love it. Check out their site for pictures and instructions. If you have the money it's easier to buy one than to make one.

I've also glued on the feet labels on the I-50. It makes it really fast to set the distance after estimating it. It's a joy to shoot with. I 've been shooting color for a long time but this camera cries out for some Tri-X. It's on order. When the Tri-X arrives I'll go have some more fun. Looking at the picture of the rat cam and my IIIc, it seems an M3 would make a nice progression. Someday.

 

[Gordon Coale]

It's done!

It's done!

Friday night I was headed for my local drugstore to pick up my test roll from the Zorki Standard Rat Cam when I ran into 2maneekameras. We talked about the little Zorki. I voiced my concern on how to cover the shutter mechanism and he suggested making a little flat pattern and cutting it out of a soft drink or beer can. I don't know why I didn't think of that. I used to draw flat patterns for a living at Boeing many years ago. Yesterday I took some measurements off the camera and this morning I fired up my little CAD program and developed the flat pattern. I cut a practice cover out of regular paper. It all fit. I went for the quick solution and cut the final cover out of stiffer Epson photo paper. I folded it up and covered it with gaffer's tape. It took a little fiddling. The hole had to be enlarged to 3/8" (I used a leather punch) and the legs had to be trimmed down a little. The white stripe is a piece of duct tape. I redid the gaffer's tape on the top deck and fitted the viewfinders. Everything cleared. I have some Tri-X arriving Tuesday from B&H. Oh yes, the test roll came out great. The shutter is working as it should. I did a couple of series at f11 and f5.6 with the 1-50 and J12 at the different distances. The focus was on for all but the 1-50 at 3 feet and f5.6. It's ready to go.

 

[Ash]

Nice one, looks really good now!

 

[jesse1dog]

Hi Gordon
You must be 'right chuffed' over your little camera and how it has turned out.
In fact if I didn't have a Ic I might be jealous - well, I am really because you have had a great deal of fun and not spent much either.
I'm now looking forward to seeing results and hearing how the 'bead' viewfinder works. Keep up the story.

 

[dee]

i love this messing about with poor innocent little Zorkis, and the completed camera looks a treat ! When I find out how to I will post pics of the fabric sleeve case I have made for my ZS . i confess that i love repainted black Zorki/Leicas , but can't do it myself.
cameramate on e-bay do market a Leica 1 copy, but in black/brass - repaint job anyone ?
i have two delightfull black Leica IIs with nickel Elmars and Oleg is fixing two black Zorki 1 leica tributes that arrived suposedly CLA'd but really rough .

... and a couple of black and silver Zorki S 's with the obligatory ''Olympic'' engravings ! which now seem smart, rather than ''OOPs what happened here ?!''
Then there is my all black ZS with white Zorki engraving . And wicked red I 22 lense .. not quite Leica perhaps , but honestly Russian, and different !

newbie dee

 

[john neal]

I have been sufficiently inspired to visit the'bay and snag a 1956 Zorki 1 - this will get the "Gordy" treatment. Does anyone know if the top/bottom plates are brass?

If they are I would consider stripping them if they are and applying black laquer for the full retro look.

 

[Gordon Coale]

I'm glad I could be a bad example! 🙂

I will redo the flat pattern for the shutter mechanism cover to reflect the trimming I did if it can be of some use.

It may be up tonight but we have a wind storm coming in and my power has been off once already. It may be a few days.

 

[Ash]

You going to make a small business and start selling these on your site? I bet you could do deals with straps 😀 😀

 

[dpetrzelka]

Gordon,

Now you've done it- I'll have to find an old Zorki too-- it would be a sweet little pocket street shooter with a CV 25/4 on it- zone focusing!

Now to find me an unsuspecting little Zorki!

 

[john neal]

.... But, for 1:1 viewing, it's hard to beat a wireframe viewfinder. The Ikodot has a great twist on the wireframe. But, not only can I not afford one right now, it is too low to fit on the Zorki. I cannibalized the lockable accessory foot off a dead Vivitar 285 and, with some brass rod, a couple of glass beads, lots of 5 minute epoxy, and gaffer's tape, I made my own. It's tricky to make.

Gordon,

Could you let the rest of us in on the dimensions you used - I visited their website, but could not figure out anything sufficiently accurately to even start a plan. Did you take reference measurements off their Leica III pic?

Also looking forward to your flat plan for the speed "hump", although I might just try spinning some aluminum sheet on the lathe for a more permanent fixture.

Hope you don't get any structural admage with the wind - we have 80mph winds forecast for tonight/tomorrow, apparently, higher in Scotland

You really are a bad influence - and I love it!! 😀

 

[Ash]

John, was the weather as bad where you were as it was here last night? I really hope it's no worse tonight!!!

back on topic, I can't help but think those 1:1 wireframe things are ugly. I'm sure they do the job great, but it ruins the conspicuous nature of the camera!

 

[john neal]

Ash,

It was - and still is!. It's been blowing old boots here since Christmas - we lost our greenhouse in a shower of flying glass one day between Xmas and new year, and the was no way I was going out to clear up! The early part of my daily commute is along semi rural tree-lined roads and there was plenty of timber in the road this morning, parts of the M62 are closed to tall vehicles and one of my colleagues seems to be marooned in Bradford. According to the radio the weather is here to stay until Sunday 🙁

As to the wireframe, I think you are right to an extent, if it was made out of matt black wire, t could be less obvious than a finder with glass as the camera would not appear to be at your eye. I have a couple of dead hot shoe converters, I may try one of those as the base.

 

[Ash]

John, the winds really have picked up today haven't they!? Sucks about your greenhouse and travel route 🙁

 

[Gordon Coale]

The power is back on. There were 109mph winds at the Keystone Ferry Dock about 15 miles from me. Were protected from the prevailing winds but it was windy. Lots of trees around here to fall over on power lines. I'll answer in order.

Ash -- There not easy to make right enough to actually sell. I'll gladly leave that to the Ikodot folks.

Dan -- I've been thinking CV 25/4 thoughts. It would be perfect for a camera like this. A 28 would be nice but the 25 would be nicer. I'm saved by lack of funds. Someday...

John -- I just put the pictures in Photoshop and counted pixels using the Leica as a reference. I'll get the dimensions together. I've been catching up on some work. I will try to get the updated flat pattern up tomorrow. I will also take the dimensions and look at what a turned piece might look like.

Ash -- They are a bit noticable. Not as much as conventional wireframes. I think I'll try the flat black on the wire. I do have the Swallow 35mm finder on. The only 50mm finder I have is a KMZ turret and it's just a little squinty for my eyes. Eventually I would like a set of Voigtlander viewfinders.

I'm glad to see there are other rangefinder abusers.

 

[Gordon Coale]

I got sidetracked. Adding the Zorki Standard, and removing the Zorki 3M, from my 35mm rangefinder kit made my 35mm rangefinder pages on my website out of date. They already were but now it was worse. That whole section has been waiting for updating and now I've started. Check it out.

First the dimensions for the Ikodot/Gordodot. The rectangle it 1.86" x 1.24" (47mm x 31mm). The back bead is in the center. The front bead is forward .79" (20mm) forward on the Ikodot. It's further away on mine. It doesn't make much difference. A little more distance makes it a little more accurate for aiming.

The first picture shows the first cover I made from the paper printout. It's a little beat up but you can see how it was cut and folded. Just score the bend line a little for a sharp bend. There is a real problem with trying to do a turned cover. Check out the post in the second picture. To clear that you have a cover that will be a little larger than the body and it will interfere with the shutter release. Check out the last post on the first page of this thread. The only way they could use a cover that size is if they removed the post and arm which is for the B setting. I think that would only disable the B setting but I want to keep the B setting. I don't want to use a tripod but I want the option of using slower speeds.

The third picture is a revised flat pattern you can print out. It should print out to scale. I put in a reference dimension to check. The upper part shows the size needed for a turned cover.

On to wireframes. The original Leica, the Ur-Leica, used a wire frame. I attacked the Gordodot with a black sharpie. Looks a little better. One of the things the Ikodot people claim is that after a while you will get a feel for the correct field of view without the wireframe. Using the empty accessory shoe works well for aiming and centering. Of course, if you are hip shooting, you aren't using the finder anyway and can just leave it off for miximum stealth.