problems with zorki 1

[nzeeman]

i have problem with uneven exposing on some speeds in my z1. 500 and 200 works just fine but on,lower speeds i get a bit darker right side of photo. i tried to change tension of curtains but still i dont have good enough results. is there any option other than CLA that will solve problem?

 

[santino]

unfortunately I don't think so 🙁

 

[santino]

hey but try to clean the zorkis geras (take off the metal bonnet it is really easy)

 

[kiev4a]

Some folks will try to just adjust spring tension but that seldom works very well. You are getting uneven exposure because the mechanism is dirty. The only way to really clean it properly is to dissamble it (including the shutter crate) and clean it properly. After a CLA it will be an entirely different camera. Anyone with patience can do it but it isn't easy--especially if you remove the shutter crate and curtains. There is only one way to install the curtains so they work properly and there are innumerable ways your can put them in which are wrong.

 

[nzeeman]

thanks a lot guys. ill try that dissasembly in future when i find another zorki 1. i dont want to ruin only z1 that i have because i really like it even if it makes uneven exposures. or ill maybe send it to CLA if i have enough money one day.

 

[ZorkiKat]

If you're adept with tools and find nothing scary about dismantling and repairing small precision equipment, fixing your Zorki-1 is easy.

Go to my
FED Zorki Survival site for all things about adjusting and fixing the Zorki-1 or FED-1.

This page will explain why your shutter is behaving that way.

The worst that you could do with your Zorki when you attempt to CLA it is to upset its adjustments, but if you go through the pages of the site, you'd be able to calibrate it back to working specifications. It would probably be in a better working state after you fix it than when you first got it.

Jay