The Zorki Indicative

[hugivza]

Using my relatively newly acquired Zorki 1e whilst on a current business trip to Melbourne (the fact that it is Melbourne Cup week is entirely irrelevant), I have found that rewinding is not a quick procedure in comparison to other cameras which I own. If you add the time for cutting the film profile, it is very long: hardly an 'Action Man' sequence. I now have a distinct callous on my right index finger (from rewinding, I might add). Is this indicative of the need for a CLA (the camera works well otherwise) or am I just being a wuss, and need to shoot more film to develop 'manly' fingers, whatever they might be? Is this normal? I can envisage a tool to give greater leverage, but the arc is not much more than 180 degrees.

 

[Nickfed]

Definitely a wuss. What's more and worse, an undercover wuss. Real wusses solve their problem by stepping out and flaunting their wussiness by driving one of those fake FED Siberia models, with the big knobs even though it doesn't snow during Melbourne Cup Week, thereby getting more lever advantage.

 

[hugivza]

I hide my head in shame at the ignomony of being found out - is there a practical solution?!!

 

[Solinar]

Just remember that the Russians had to rewind and load with their gloves on.

The Good: No callouses.

The Bad: Looding the bottom loader with gloves on - OR - a case of frost bite from loading the camera without gloves.

I assume that you are holding the rewind lever and rotating the camera when rewinding. It isn't any faster, but much easier on the fingers.

 

[pshinkaw]

It's normal. In fact it's just as much of a challenge with a Leica.

The solution is to have two Zorki's. That way you just switch to another camera until you have a quiet moment to rewind and reload. They don't cost very much and they take up very little space.

-Paul

 

[phototone]

The Leica's I have with knob rewind do not take a lot of effort to rewind. Perhaps the Zorki needs lubricating. I also have a few Zorki's, including a I (one), and I can't recall it being extremely difficult to rewind.

As far as loading a bottom-feeder. If you anticipate doing a lot of shooting, then you can always pre-cut the leaders on several rolls of film, and put them back into their cannisters, and then they will be ready when you need them. I do this.

 

[kiev4a]

No matter how smooth the rewind knob operates you have the problem of doing the rewind with a very small burred knob that requires a great many turns to move the film any distance. You might pull up the knob and put a drop of light oil where the shaft enters the body. But even reducing the friction won't reduce the number of turns necessary to rewind the film. It's the nature of the beast.

 

[reagan]

Speaking of pulling up the knob, I was nearing the end of the third or forth roll of fun with my first Zorki 4. It was a morning in the woods with my brother, me sitting on a stump while he mended fences. He was sweating and cussing (they don't curse in Oklahoma ~ they cuss) and I was taking his picture and entertaining brother-dear with an extended monotone dissertation on how one might "fix" these Russian cameras so they're easier to rewind.

"They're so hard to reach," I protested. "Maybe I can rig it so the knob will slide upwards for easier access." With that statement, I pulled on the rewind knob and .... ta-daaa!

Do you know what kind of look a sweaty Okie farmer can give you so that it leaves no doubt in your mind that you're are indeed, not only a wuss, but also an Idiot?

After a moment of silence, "Well," I responded, "got that fixed. Anything I can help you with there?"

**********************​

Meanwhile, in this world of quick-draw Point-n-shoot, the Zorkis do take time... and [somewhat painful] effort. Just clean and lube it so that it works according to it's design. Rewind with patience, enjoy the moment ~ stumps are a good spot.

And never.... NEVER! .... let your brother know it hurts.

 

[Nickfed]

Pulling out the knob..........Hummmmm

Hot damn! Maybe that was the problem!

He was so busy checking out all the beautifully dressed women at the Melbourne Cup that he didn't get to read the book of instructions for his new Z-1.

 

[Tarzak]

Check this link from the Camera Quest site:
http://cameraquest.com/LRWlev.htm

Lovely little rewind attachments.
I'm going to make one for my Zorki 4, which is not that hard to wind really (I do have big Russian style fingers), but I thought it would be nice.

 

[Nickfed]

I'm amazed. From this I conclude that the Leica M has a freewheeling rewind knob? What's the point of that? It seems that they always intended to have a rewind handle accessory but couldn't get round to it.
Hummm... I guess a freewheel is a good idea, a bit like winding a watch.

 

[hugivza]

Thanks guys - I have been too busy the last couple of days to worry about a Zorki, Fed or whatever, but I have definitely got the message: indicative callouses are here to stay, and don't take photographs of your brother (it's easy for me as he is about 10,000 km away!).