Problem with Zorki 5

[Zevoniac_57]

I recently got a FED 2e, Zorki 5, 50 mm 3.5 industar rigid, 50 mm 3.5 industar collapsible, and a industar 61 53mm 2.0.

When checking focus distances indicated on the lens barrel to actual all the lenses are accurate on the FED, but the Zorki is off by 1/2 meter on all lenses.

I shot a test roll with the Z 5. Everything I shot at 11 or 16 mostly far off subjects seemed fine, but I would expect that with DOF. The images shot closer the focus points were off. Still waiting to finish the roll on the FED.

Is there any adjustments that can be made to the Z 5 rangefinder cam, or do you have to strip it down to make the adjustments?

I've already taken apart all the lenses and cleaned and lubed them, and now they are like butter!

Thanks!

Randy

 

[matu]

Randy, remove the screw that is in the front of the camera where the Zorki name is.
Inside you will see another little screw.
Now you can adjut infinity focus. Use a measuring tape and find a vertical element that you can see and measure 15 or 20 meters.
Set a lense to infinity, watch if the rangefinder patch has the 2 images merged ok. If not adjust the little screw. Other people use mountains or the moon.


Most FSU rangefinder's the Zorki's and the Fed's are very similar.
Search the forum this has been answered before with more technical details.

Pablo

 

[Laika]

.....Is there any adjustments that can be made to the Z 5 rangefinder cam, or do you have to strip it down to make the adjustments?

Thanks!

Randy

Have a look towards the end of the FED2 DIY service thread (sticky) in this forum, the info for setting up the FED2 RF is the same as for the Zorki 5. If infinity is correct but close focus is out the RF cam needs adjustment, no stripping of the camera is required for this.

The Zorki 5's are rather tasty IMO, the red logo version is a must have 😀

 

[Zevoniac_57]

Thanks to all!

Thanks to all!

I started looking at the FED 2 DIY, but wasn't sure if it applied to Z 5.

Well I've almost got the top off of it to clean it. Having trouble with the film advance assembly. Guess I'll have to buy a small spanner wrench!

Thanks again!

Randy (what have I started!!!) Harkins

 

[kiev4a]

Be careful with the advance mechanism. It's the Achilles Heel of the Z5-particularly the early "Red" models. On some models the main nut on the advance lever turns clockwise and on others, counter clockwise. Also, if the gear assemblies don't mesh perfectly the advance will be rough or not work at all. The gear assemblies ave a tendency to get out of alignment over the years. They seem to have solved this problem in a later Z5s and in the Z6. Also, you aren't supposed to fire the shutter on a Z5 without a lens attached--allegedly can screw up the rangefinder/ viewfinder. I'm not certain how much truth there is to this advice.

 

[Laika]

I started looking at the FED 2 DIY, but wasn't sure if it applied to Z 5.

Well I've almost got the top off of it to clean it. Having trouble with the film advance assembly. Guess I'll have to buy a small spanner wrench!

Thanks again!

Randy (what have I started!!!) Harkins

Here are some exploded view type photos that may help you, I took a load when I rebuilt my Z5

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1000&highlight=Zorki+5

 

[Zevoniac_57]

Zorki 5's has left the building......

Zorki 5's has left the building......

Thanks so much for all the wonderful posts and images.

Everything was proceeding right along, then I came to the film advance.

Top counter off >
Top spanner nut &*^%$%#@@

This was the end of the advance mecahnism! I think I got a little forceful whe it wouldn't budge, and stripped the internal gears. At that point I just wanted to get it off to finish the job and see how it worked. The brass nut basically shredded.

I had to pry it off to get the top off. The external gearing looks OK, but I think the internal gears that wind the shutter curtain are gone. Oh well, it was $30 bucks, and now I have a parts camera.

Next!

The Fed 2 was a peice of cake to dismantle and clean!!!! However the horizontal adjustment screw is not reachable with the cover on. It sits a little low to line up with a screw driver. I tried to adjust it while dismantled (after putting the viewfinder lenses on), but once I had it set at infinity and put the case back on the adjustment was off again!?!?

I'll keep at it, and either fix it, or kill it trying 🙂))))).

Randy

 

[kiev4a]

Your Z5 experience similar to mine. I ended up using a Dremel to cut the top nut off on camera.
I've opened up four different 1958 "Red" Z5s and the film advance assembly of three of them were different. Indicated to me that the engineers were doing a lot of experimenting to get things to work right. The 4th camera, the only one with nylon rather than vulcanite covering, was identical to the black 1959 Z5s.