Why is Canonet better than a Zorki

[Spyderman]

Hi,

I just came back from lab with a freshly developed film from my Zorki 4. First film after my CLA. Some shots with Jupiter8, some with Industar61.

I was just soooo disappointed. Exposure was fine, focus was fine, but the framing... The Zorki 4 has a BIG finder. It's so big I can't see the edges most of the time, unless I stick the viewfinder right into my eye (or the eye about 1mm from the viewfinder). My negs show about 20% more on the right and bottom, and about 10% less on the left... and it's not paralax, 'cos it's also shots of subjects more than 10m away. And I don't like to crop. :bang:

I'm going back to my Canonet with its beautiful viewfinder, paralax corrected bright framelines... oh, what a joy 😀

PS: I read that Zorki 6 has smaller but still very bright viewfinder - would that be a better body?

PS2: hope I won't be excommunicated from this forum 🙄

 

[captainslack]

I got rid of my Zorki 4 for the same reasons: finder was just too big.

I've got a Zorki 6 and, for me at least, the finder is much easier to use. The magnification is about .7 and it's just as bright at the 1:1 finder on the 4. No slow speeds, though.

 

[ZorkiKat]

It's really difficult to compose through the finder of the Zorki-4. The edges of the frame are undefined, and you'd have to move your eyes to either side to see what's on the edges.
However, this case is limited to the Zorki-4/ Zorki-4K. The Zorki-1 has a fairly accurate finder, though much smaller. Same could be said about the finders of the Zorki-5 and Zorki-6.
Jay

 

[rami]

[...]
time, unless I stick the viewfinder right into my eye (or the eye about 1mm from the viewfinder). My negs show about 20% more on the right and bottom, and about 10% less on the left... and it's not paralax, 'cos it's also shots of subjects more than 10m
[...]

It's a known problem, not only with FSU rangefinders, but for example with contaxes G1/G2.
Do you think about external viewfinder?

regards

 

[SCOTFORTHLAD]

I had a similar problem with an old Fed 4 some time ago.I found that by taping over a small area of one side of the viewfinder with black insulatingtape,I solved it, for myself at least.By the way,I always view with my right eye.

Brian.

 

[ruben]

I am also taking a rest from FSU, but at Yashica Spa, king size room, automatic elevators, somewhat cheaper price, smooth room service. :angel:

Yet, home is home

Cheers,
Ruben

PS: It seems I like it hard :bang:

 

[Max Power]

I got rid of my Zorki 4 for the same reasons: finder was just too big.

Funny that, it's the VF on the Zorki 4 which ''opened my eyes'' (pun intended) to just how wonderful a 1:1 VF/RF is and led me to the R3A!!!

Kent