skopar steve
Well-known
Mine is a bit stiff as well. I think it's designed that way so you don't accidentally move it when winding the film. I think you'll be impressed with the Jupiter 8. Looking forward to seeing pics of your 4.
Steve
New to the world of Zorki 4...
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Mine is a bit stiff as well. I think it's designed that way so you don't accidentally move it when winding the film. I think you'll be impressed with the Jupiter 8. Looking forward to seeing pics of your 4.
Steve
crave1ne
Member
Here is the beautiful Zorki 4 that I purchased from Oleg. The description on the website stated that it had slight water damage. I went ahead and went for it since it came with the Jupiter 8 lens. I have yet to find where the water damage is. So far I've shot a few frames with it. It is amazing in my hands. I even love the way you turn the dial to cock the shutter. The only thing that I don't like about it is the lack of frame lines. I thought I had read that the Zorki 4 had frame lines for the 50mm lens in the viewfinder. So I'm not quite sure what all will be in the frame of what I'm seeing. But, thats going to be a trial and error. Also, the pic on the website showed lugs on the sides for a strap. It does not have these lugs at all. Going to check around about adding a lug for a hand strap at least. Other than that, I really love the way it functions. I was timid with turning the shutter speed, I've read to turn it clockwise. But mine does not seem to turn in that direction. looking at the camera from the back I turn it counterclockwise. It doesn't seem to be doing any harm to it. It doesn't feel stiff or like I'm forcing it in that direction. So far VERY happy with it. Can't wait to see the results! My wife and I are going out of town this weekend to shoot a wedding. I'm going to take this along to take a couple of shots just to use up the film and see how this baby performs.
[/url]IMG_20181004_183134 by Chad Duncan, on Flickr[/IMG]
[/url]IMG_20181004_183109 by Chad Duncan, on Flickr[/IMG]
[/url]IMG_20181004_183056 by Chad Duncan, on Flickr[/IMG]
[/url]IMG_20181004_183037 by Chad Duncan, on Flickr[/IMG]
davidnewtonguitars
Family Snaps
A half-case made from a Zorki 4 case lower part will do the job of carrying your nice camera.
I believe the shutter speed dial does not "go round and round" but back and forth from 1/1000 on one end to B on the other. When you get to the slow speeds it does feel like you are pushing against the gears, winding them up. You have the printed on graphics and speed markings are fading, you will have to remember where the speeds are if they fade out. 1/30 for some reason is over next to B, in between 1sec. and B
I believe the shutter speed dial does not "go round and round" but back and forth from 1/1000 on one end to B on the other. When you get to the slow speeds it does feel like you are pushing against the gears, winding them up. You have the printed on graphics and speed markings are fading, you will have to remember where the speeds are if they fade out. 1/30 for some reason is over next to B, in between 1sec. and B
crave1ne
Member
I wondered if just getting a case and removing the upper part would work.. I may just do that then... Yeah, I have a picture of them in case they do fade. Loving the feel of this camera already, and I'm terrified now that I'm going to want to get a FED2 next...
davidnewtonguitars
Family Snaps
skopar steve
Well-known
Nice score! I have a couple of Fed 2's but my Zorki 3M gets the most use. After using your Zorki 4 you may find the viewfinder of the Fed a bit disappointing. A jupiter 12 with a finder would be a nice addition to your kit.
Steve
Steve
crave1ne
Member
I'm not a huge fan of the accessory finders.. But I have read so much good stuff about a J12... I may have to look into this more once I get alittle more use out of the camera.
tunalegs
Pretended Artist
No frame lines, but the viewfinder is for 50mm. Most cameras didn't have frame lines back then. Everything you see in the viewfinder will end up on film (and a bit more around the edges, as is usual). Parallax is a bit of the problem with close ups, but not terribly bad. If you need pinpoint precision with your framing and print full frame, get a Nikon F.
As for a Fed 2, I've never understood why they get any praise. The Fed 3 is a better camera in every respect (In my opinion, the best of all the Feds really) - with the exception of the rangefinder base being smaller, which practically doesn't matter at all if you're not shooting long lenses.
As for a Fed 2, I've never understood why they get any praise. The Fed 3 is a better camera in every respect (In my opinion, the best of all the Feds really) - with the exception of the rangefinder base being smaller, which practically doesn't matter at all if you're not shooting long lenses.
Swift1
Veteran
Looks like a nice 1967 "50 Years of Soviet Authority" version body, and a nice chrome 1956 Jupiter-8.
Are the shutter speeds engraved or printed?
You can turn the shutter dial either direction, but never turn it from the 1s position to the 1/30s position.
Swift1
Veteran
This depends very much on personal preference.
The FED 2 is smaller, and has strap lugs usually. I wouldn't say one is better than the other, they're different cameras with a different feature set.
crave1ne
Member
They are printed. I wish they had come engraved.. but no biggie...
skopar steve
Well-known
I thought I would not like using a shoe mounted finder either. With a little practice you can get comfortable with it. Framing is not precise, but a little cropping takes care of it.
Sniper X
Member
You'll find when you get your first Zorki or any former USSR rangefinder, you'll quickly want more. And more lenses and accessories. I bought my first Zorki a 4K very clean perfectly working example two months ago with a very clean 2nd gen Jupiter 8 on it. I now have three. 1 of them a 4K, 1 60s version Zorki 4, and a super nice Zorki 4 from 1957...and I ordered another Zorki 4 yesterday because I found a super clean one with a first design Red P Jupiter 8, Nice manual, box and papers for a great price. It is from 1959. I LOVE the Zorki 4 early versions due to the fact they just "FEEL" a little finer made, and have some subtle but beautiful differences from the later 4 and 4K. However, I DO LOVE all my Zorki's Here's a pic of my latest from 59 with the lens and acc.
Attachments
Roger Hicks
Veteran
But wasn't the Leningrad fun? Until the zinc alloy chassis cracked. Or unless you wanted evenly spaced negatives. Or unless you didn't want a camera that jumped it the air when it went off...
Cheers,
R.
David Hughes
David Hughes
They can be repaired; I bought mine cheaply as a dud and got it done and am very pleased with it. The VF covers 35mm and has frame lines for 50,85 and 135mm plus parallax & diaoptre adjustment. There's also a good translation of the manual (needed for the one or two warnings) and the body has the Contax/Kiev style foot.
The FED 2 and Zorki 6 are also pleasant cameras to use.
Regards, David
The FED 2 and Zorki 6 are also pleasant cameras to use.
Regards, David
Sniper X
Member
Crave1ne, that's not just a Jupiter 8 lens, that is one from when they were the best as far as all who know are concerned. It is a Red P lens with the focus knob. I have three of the silver barrel Jupiter 8's, one of those, one from the 60s and one from the 70s and of all, including the black barrel later ones, that early version red p lens is the best. All are great but the red p is better in my opinion. I'd like to hear from all you who read this whether you find this accurate.
Sniper X
Member
That along wint a Jupiter 12 35mm lens are my next purchases.
Sniper X
Member
I have yet to find out when they stopped engraving the numbers on the dials on the Zorki cameras. On the 4 seires I gatehr it was early 1960s around 63~65. I do see many earlier Zorki 4 with the name and numbers all engraved like both my 57 and 59 Zorki 4 have, but after they stopped having the body that has the surround around the VF windows, they also stopped engraving the name on front and words on back...but kept for a while the engraved numbers on the dials on top.
Swift1
Veteran
I have a beautiful chrome "Red P" copy from 1957 (came on my 1957 Zorki 4) and a later black one that Ko.Fe. gave to me. Both are in good condition, and optically I would say both have no issues.
I haven't used either a ton, but I would say they are equally matched when it comes to the images they produce.
The earlier chrome version is better looking, nicer built, and easier to use though.
Swift1
Veteran
According to sovietcams.com
1st version with raised finder windows was made from 1956-1959
2nd version without raised finder windows but still engraved markings , made from 1960-1966
3rd version is start of screen printed markings, made from 1963-1968
So it seems there was a 3 year overlap where both the 2nd version and 3rd version were being produced, which makes it difficult to figure by date alone.
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