Received my Zorki 4 + J8

[SergioGuerra]

😀

I am currently shooting my test roll on the Zorki 4 with Jupiter 8 lens I just bought cheap on ebay 🙂

My first soviet camera, everything seems to work fine, looking forward to finish the test roll 🙂

I am starting to feel the RangeFinder fever... 🙄

 

[lubitel]

Welcome to the world of FSU cameras 🙂
That looks like a nice combo! Looking forward to seeing some pics from your new russian.

 

[SergioGuerra]

Oh well...

just discovered first problem on the Zorki... the viewfinder never reaches clear focus at infinity. I guess this must be some sort of dissalignment of the rangefinder, because the lens seems perfect and I suppose I should trust the lens barrel distance scale..
Time to understand and learn how to align the Zorki's rangefinder 🙂

 

[SergioGuerra]

Hi Daniel,

yes the diopter lever, I put it at the correct focus...

Meanwhile done some other test and the close focus also gives bad readings... When I focus a subject at 1.70 meters it get a reading of 2.10 meters at the lens barrel scale. This will need a infinity and close focus alignment...
Is this very hard to accomplish?

Regards,

Sergio

 

[Kim Coxon]

Hi,
This will depend on whether the camera body or the lens is at fault. You need to check that the flange/film plane distance is good. A quick way is to use a known "good" lens. Once this is sorted you can sort out any lens problems.

Kim

Hi Daniel,

yes the diopter lever, I put it at the correct focus...

Meanwhile done some other test and the close focus also gives bad readings... When I focus a subject at 1.70 meters it get a reading of 2.10 meters at the lens barrel scale. This will need a infinity and close focus alignment...
Is this very hard to accomplish?

Regards,

Sergio

 

[SergioGuerra]

Kim:

Unfortunately I have got no other M39 lens... What would it be the best way to test it? Shoot some photos like at 1 meter distance focus with scale and other with focus with the rangefinder? and the same at infinity?
I have currently a FP4+ inside the camera and might have to do this before advancing with any adjustments, right?

 

[Kim Coxon]

Unfortunately, it still won't tell you which is at fault. If the lens is at infinity and you point the camera at a distant object, does the RF patch line up? If not fix this first. You could try a poicture wide open using the lens scale. If this is OK it is most likely the RF mech but it is difficult to be sure.

Kim

Kim:

Unfortunately I have got no other M39 lens... What would it be the best way to test it? Shoot some photos like at 1 meter distance focus with scale and other with focus with the rangefinder? and the same at infinity?
I have currently a FP4+ inside the camera and might have to do this before advancing with any adjustments, right?

 

[SergioGuerra]

I will try to fix the infinity alignment first. It doesnt reach a match at infinity so that must be wrong... I ll do also some shots with known measures...
eheh.. guess this is normal with soviet gear, right? eheh

 

[SergioGuerra]

Ok, just got the infinity focus right, and when I tested the close focus, it seems to be acurate now 🙂
There is also a slight vertical disalignment, but since i do not have the correct tools (a very very very small screwdriver) to take out the top of the camera, i might pass that for now (it is really very slight).

I will take some shots near and infinity and see if they show up focusided on the test roll...

Thanks for the help, hope my soviet camera is in full working order now 😀

 

[brians]

I had one of those black J8's. They're nice, but my lens' flange was off. I sanded a lot of it off with ultrafine sandpaper. I don't know if that's recommended, but it worked for me.

Correction: I believed that the lens were off because other lenses worked properly calibrated at inf.

 

[pedro.m.reis]

Hey!
Glad to see another "tuga" with FSU fever 🙂).
I hope you didnt got one with "light leeking" problems like my Zorky.... Still havent found the source of the problem 🙁.

 

[Luf]

Benvindo! Welcome to this adictive machines world!

 

[SergioGuerra]

Thanks for the warm welcome on my entry to FSU gear 😀

I developed the test film yesterday, and looking at the negatives focus seems to be right, and very sharp (well... everything seems sharp on film before enlarging anyway).

I hope I have the time later tonigh to scan some test photos 🙂

 

[SergioGuerra]

Here go some pictures of the test film...

I think the lens are ok... but tell me what do you think 🙂

There is a problem on the low side of the frames, but that might be a problem of mine... I load my own 35mm cassetes and the film might be a little dissaligned.

(FP4+ + Agfa flatbed scanner)