Uneven exposure Zorki 2c

[grouchos_tash]

Hi,

I've had a Zorki 2c lying around for a while and I've got my time on my hands at the moment so...

I've only shot one film through the camera and found that each frame had more exposure on the left (viewed after scanning).

When I take the lens off and fire the shutter you can just see that the first curtain doesn't seem to have the same 'snap' as the second. You have time to see the base plate on the right at 1/25th (viewed looking into the camera from the lens mount of course).

Is there anything I can do to fix this? I have some tiny screw drivers and nothing to lose haha.

Thanks,

Gary

 

[charjohncarter]

I know that Barnak Leicas have something called an accelerating shutter curtain. Which gets out of order will cause this. I had it happen on my IIIf, I didn't do it but it can be adjusted easily with removal of base plate and one more cover. The problem is it is hard to get it right. So, you need an instrument to check.

Yours may not have this type of shutter curtain but I would check with an expert. Maybe one will jump in here.

Nice photo, so get it fixed.

 

[mconnealy]

Some things to try first:
Blow out and clean the gear train under the spool.
Adjust the curtain tension.
Pull the frame out of case and do a more thorough cleaning of curtain tracks.
Lots of good info here in rf forum in the Soviet cameras section.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

https://www.fedka.com/jay/index_files/Page389.htm

 

[grouchos_tash]

Some things to try first:
Blow out and clean the gear train under the spool.
Adjust the curtain tension.
Pull the frame out of case and do a more thorough cleaning of curtain tracks.
Lots of good info here in rf forum in the Soviet cameras section.

Thanks for suggesting the curtain tension sticky, I don’t know why I thought it wouldn’t be relevant

I made a schoolboy error not holding onto the locking screw and have had to work up from zero tension! The chances of this being accurate are pretty slim but hopefully it’s consistent across the frame haha! I think a test strip is in order

Thanks,

Gary

 

[wolves3012]

Thanks for suggesting the curtain tension sticky, I don’t know why I thought it wouldn’t be relevant

I made a schoolboy error not holding onto the locking screw and have had to work up from zero tension! The chances of this being accurate are pretty slim but hopefully it’s consistent across the frame haha! I think a test strip is in order

Thanks,

Gary

If the shutter is running freely, you'll be looking at somewhere around 3.5 to 5.5 turns from slack on the second curtain roller. Any more indicates the mechanism is gummed up and needs a full overhaul. It's a waste of time over-tensioning, it only postpones the inevitable so I suggest you avoid that route.

To be honest, a properly cleaned and lubricated shutter is very hard to persuade not to run properly. I tried it once on a camera I was working on and found it required ridiculous settings to upset it.

 

[grouchos_tash]

If the shutter is running freely, you'll be looking at somewhere around 3.5 to 5.5 turns from slack on the second curtain roller. Any more indicates the mechanism is gummed up and needs a full overhaul. It's a waste of time over-tensioning, it only postpones the inevitable so I suggest you avoid that route.

To be honest, a properly cleaned and lubricated shutter is very hard to persuade not to run properly. I tried it once on a camera I was working on and found it required ridiculous settings to upset it.

I checked each full turn and was probably in the ball part of 4 - 6. Just developed the negs and they look correctly exposed for each speed drying in my shower! I'll scan them in the morning

 

[grouchos_tash]

Scanned my test film today and the exposure has evened out a lot and consistent across all shutter speeds although it is still present slightly depending on the subject. I might give that screw one more turn


Zorki2C_Pan400_ (12)-Exposure by Gary Harding, on Flickr

 

[Brambling]

I'm happy for you!
(the texts reminded me of Asimov's book " Profession")