Should I buy?

[Marsopa]

Should I buy a Zorki 4 with Jupiter 8 and a lightmeter?

Could I forget the lightmeter?

 

[fidget]

a nice camera when sorted and working. Quite featured for an FSU cam. Get the light meter, plenty here use the sunny 16 rule, but I for one can't do this at any time when it's not bright. A light meter will take some of the guessing away.
Buy and enjoy.

Dave

 

[pesphoto]

When I had my Fed 2 I enjoyed not having the light meter and trying to figure out correct exposures. You get good at it after a while, but nothing wrong with having the meter along to check yourself now and again.

 

[rbiemer]

If the Z4 and lens are working well and no too pricey: yes. Light meter? Depends on same criteria; I don't use a meter during the daytime much but there are some situations when I find having one very important: if I'm someplace new to me I will check my "sunny 16" intuition against the meter; if I'm using a new to me film, I will meter for at least the first roll(and always for slide film--I don't shoot that much and so can't comfortably rely on my eye to judge exposures) or until I get confident with my exposure estimates; if I'm using a new to me camera or lens, I will meter until I'm confident that the camera and/or lens are functioning as they should(and with the old gear I prefer, I like knowing if and how far off the shutter speeds are).
If you already have a good meter, there's no need to get another but they are small(mostly) and some are pretty cool in their own right so you may want it anyway. For some odd reason I own 7 or 8 meters😉 even though I rely on only one.
Rob

 

[shadowfox]

You should buy a similarly old light meter to match your Zorki 🙂

Then notice any discrepancy (if any) compared to let's say the meter in a digital camera and factor in the offset whenever you use it with the Zorki.

Me, I just use sunny-16 with the Kiev 🙂

 

[Marsopa]

Thanks, I'm still dealing between sending the payment or not...

Pesphoto: hope your Bessa story has a happy ending

 

[pesphoto]

Thanks, I'm still dealing between sending the payment or not...

Pesphoto: hope your Bessa story has a happy ending

Oh thanks.....actually Im getting it ready to go out to cameraquest for repair so I Im back to having my GSN be my main shooter for a while.
Maybe I'll pick up a zorki. Always wanted a Z6

 

[Marsopa]

Ups, it's done... zorki 4 with jupiter 8, lightmeter, wrist strap, UV filter.... dammm, GAS is for feeling Guilty After Shopping?

 

[pesphoto]

Dont worry the guilt wears off quickly. Congrats!

 

[payasam]

Exposure meters are never regretted.

 

[Malcolm_J]

Should I buy a Zorki 4 with Jupiter 8 and a lightmeter?

Could I forget the lightmeter?

I would just add that I think your choice is sound. I also have ended up using the Zorki4K with Jupiter8, after testing quite a variety of other RF's and lenses. It gives truly superb, consistently sharp pictures.

Ironically, I only bought the Zorki because it was a back cover for the Jupiter8 lens I wanted off eBay, but it has turned out to be must best RF.

Likewise with my Zenits, they were cheapo jobs bought off eBay and they have turned out sharp and reliable.

The only trouble I have had was with a camera bought from a dealer, which developed a light leak in the second film. I paid more and got less. So you never can tell.

You don't really have to have a light meter for print film. You'd be amased how forgiving it is. From time to time I forget to stop down my Zenit, so I end up taking a picture at f2 instead of f8 or f11. The main problem is that you lose depth of field, rather than it looks greatly over-exposed.

That said, I have a Leningrad 7 light meter, bought on the cheap off eBay, with which I get good results.

 

[rbiemer]

Ups, it's done... zorki 4 with jupiter 8, lightmeter, wrist strap, UV filter.... dammm, GAS is for feeling Guilty After Shopping?

I noticed during the first day of this thread, that Marsopa took 5 hours to go from "should I?" to "it's done".
I think we are slacking a bit here, comrades! We should've convinced him a lot quicker than that!😀

Marsopa, think you got a good set, really. I'm a fan of the Zorki cameras and the J-8 is the one 50 I use most. I don't have a UV filter but I always use a hood and if I'm shooting BW, a yellow filter.

One thing to be aware of; apparently on some of the later cameras, the shutter speed markings are printed instead of engraved. I can't recall when the change occurred, but I do know that somewhere in the FSU forum here, there are a couple of threads dealing with this; one of our members posted a printable shutter speed scale that you can use for your Z4 if necessary. I'll go look for the thread and edit my post to include the link. That's about the only concern I'd have with a well sorted Z4.

Looking forward to some pics of and from your "new" gear!
Rob
EDIT: the link to the shutter speed dial fix:
A Solution to the Dreaded "Worn Silkscreen Syndrome!"

 

[Superbus_]

Congrat. It was a good decision. I made my best pictures with zorki 4 with jupiter 8 lens. ((you can not find in my gallery - recently I'm looking for a good scanner to scan by myself))

So I'm absolutely sure you will enjoy your zorki.

 

[gb hill]

You'll be glad you got the exposure meter. Especially if it's a fsu type. I have a Liningrad 6 I never leave home without when I carry my Fed or zorki. It's part of the experience.🙂

 

[Marsopa]

Well, the exposure meter it's a Bower (all stuff from fedka)... still waiting