Re-covering FSU cameras

[Dez]

One thing that's useful about later versions of FSU cameras is the terrible rubberized fabric covering that was used on them. Useful, that is, because it's easy to get rid of and thereby improve the camera. And it's not as if you are desecrating a great collector's item by doing so.

I recently bought a Zorki 6, which turned out to be a surprisingly nice camera. While it may not might challenge the FED-2 for the title of prettiest FSU camera, it's not bad at all, and the winder and viewfinder are really quite good. But the fabric covering doesn't do anything for it at all.

So I went to Tandy Leather, and got some thin brown pigskin leather and had at it. I could have gone wild with ostrich skin and the like, but wimped out, as the leather could end up being more expensive than the camera. It took about an hour to complete. Here's a before and after.

Cheers,
Dez

 

[Austintatious]

Nice !
That's quite an improvement.

 

[JChrome]

Nice indeed!

I have a zorki 4k on it's way along with a jupiter 8. Who makes the 50 1.5 that is on your Zorki?

Cheers

 

[Dez]

The Zorki 4 looks really nice with good leather. Smells nice too.

But it's a challenge to find the right one. I consider the older Z4's with engraved instead of painted shutter speeds which rub off, to be the better version. I don't think I have seen one with engraved numbers and a cloth covering though.

Nothing too special about the lens. It's a 1977 Jupiter 3. A silver one from 1966 would be the best match, but this is the best I could manage. Hopefully the long base RF will work well with this fast lens.


Cheers,
Dez

 

[Aapo]

Hmmm good looking Z6. You are absolutely right about fabric yet end result seems to be bit detached / loose. Fabric is thick enough so that grip feels good and seemless?

Anyways thanks for sharing this!

 

[Dez]

I think I understand what you mean. The leather surface is sort of pebble-grained, but it is stretched taut and thoroughly glued, so it's not moving anywhere. It gives a pretty good grip, but the surface is rather soft, and may not wear as well as the rubber stuff.

It is tricky to find leather that is thin enough to work for this conversion. The original stuff is ~0.57mm thick, and the leather ~0.85mm. This is about the thickest material that will fit within the recess cast into the body. There is a fair amount of margin, as I suspect the same body casting was used with the thicker vulcanite used on older models.

Cheers,
Dez

 

[reagan]

Definite home run there. I like it. I have a Zorki.5 that I've wanted to recover since I got it outta the box [yeeeears ago] and just haven't taken it on yet. That ribbed cloth just rubs me wrong. *grin* Thanks for the encouragement.