dmr
Registered Abuser
Ko.Fe.
Lenses 35/21 Gears 46/20
Most intriguing part is what he did his own viewfinder by himself.
nukecoke
⚛Yashica
Quite some work to cut a thin piece from Industar-22's name plate to cover the Elmar...
p.giannakis
Pan Giannakis
I'm also in the process of disguising my Nikon F5 as an Olympus trip 35 for the same reason...
santino
FSU gear head
Thanks for sharing 
rfaspen
[insert pithy phrase here]
Hmm.
I just pulled an example of each camera to check. It might be possible to do this, but I don't see how in the pictures provided in the story. They clearly don't want us to see the top of the camera in its "counterfeit" configuration. Why?
The top plate of the Zorki-C does look like it would fit right on the standard just as they show, and I can see how some of the camera functions could be retained; such as the wind knob. I think they attached the Zorki housing via the rear RF windows but anything else? Doesn't look like it. So I would expect some gap to show between the top plate and the housing, but we aren't able to see the original configuration. Then there's the issue with the rewind lever. I cannot see how one could turn the rewind lever when the Zorki housing is in place. Seriously. How? To use the Leica rewind as intended, that lever needs to be turned quite a ways, and on all my Barnacks the little arrow overhangs the top plate in the process. So, this counterfit could perhaps shoot a roll, but not be rewound? Odd. I'm not saying this is a hoax, but I'm certainly confused.
Nice little nickel elmar involved. Does $800 seem like a bit much though?
And, how did this guy just "make" a new finder for this? Where did he get the optics? How did he manage to manufacture such a close resemblance to original? Wow!
I just pulled an example of each camera to check. It might be possible to do this, but I don't see how in the pictures provided in the story. They clearly don't want us to see the top of the camera in its "counterfeit" configuration. Why?
The top plate of the Zorki-C does look like it would fit right on the standard just as they show, and I can see how some of the camera functions could be retained; such as the wind knob. I think they attached the Zorki housing via the rear RF windows but anything else? Doesn't look like it. So I would expect some gap to show between the top plate and the housing, but we aren't able to see the original configuration. Then there's the issue with the rewind lever. I cannot see how one could turn the rewind lever when the Zorki housing is in place. Seriously. How? To use the Leica rewind as intended, that lever needs to be turned quite a ways, and on all my Barnacks the little arrow overhangs the top plate in the process. So, this counterfit could perhaps shoot a roll, but not be rewound? Odd. I'm not saying this is a hoax, but I'm certainly confused.
Nice little nickel elmar involved. Does $800 seem like a bit much though?
And, how did this guy just "make" a new finder for this? Where did he get the optics? How did he manage to manufacture such a close resemblance to original? Wow!
santino
FSU gear head
The rewind doesn't work according to ussrphoto Forum.
xayraa33
rangefinder user and fancier
I call bullcrappola on this story, more fake made-up nonsense to pass off as interesting harmless news.
The rewind mechanism is not even the same on the Zorki C to a Leica Standard and there are a myriad of parts that are different, why would one bother with a futile operation like this supposed one ?
The rewind mechanism is not even the same on the Zorki C to a Leica Standard and there are a myriad of parts that are different, why would one bother with a futile operation like this supposed one ?
David Hughes
David Hughes
Supposing it was stolen and the thief wanted to use it without attracting attention?
A Zorki would be just a cover...
Regards, David
A Zorki would be just a cover...
Regards, David
dmr
Registered Abuser
Or? Maybe the owner wanted to be more discreet? Not obviously showing the Leica brand? Not as much a target item?
retinax
Well-known
Very fishy. The viewfinder homemade?
Maaaaybe, just maybe though it's the product of an abandoned attempt to add a rangefinder?
Maaaaybe, just maybe though it's the product of an abandoned attempt to add a rangefinder?
css9450
Veteran
David Hughes
David Hughes
My second comment/query is could you obtain a Leica in Russia then? I thought they weren't imported...
Regards, David
Regards, David
xayraa33
rangefinder user and fancier
Why not turn it into a Zorki 1 or Fed 1 then?
At least there is a real visual and structural/mechanical resemblance there.
mich rassena
Well-known
I don't know whether I believe anything about this article, but they're really burying the lede. The homemade viewfinder is a work of art. Is this just clever marketing?
xayraa33
rangefinder user and fancier
Next will hear about how a guy cleverly disguised his classic Land Rover IIa into a 1981 clapped out Lada Niva to convince his ex wife and her lawyer that he was totally broke.
seany65
Well-known
I've got the answer, umm, it was owned by a west german spy on their travels through russia...
David Hughes
David Hughes
xayraa33
rangefinder user and fancier
More like someone owned a Zorki C and a Leica Standard and decided to create a story.
Huss
Veteran
In other news I bought a mint, never used, boxed BP M4, then rubbed off the paint w/ sandpaper so it looked like a regular beater M4. That way no-one would bother me.