Zorki 1c. Worth CLA?

[kumotaki]

Hi guys,

The intro is posted in the relevant thread, so here I come.

I am the proud owner -since yesterday- of a very lovely Zorki 1c. Well, it definitely looks 99.9% like a 1c except for those strap lugs that don't seem to be that common on 1c's. But I am new to those cameras, so I'll just call it a 1c for now.

Everything seem to be spot on. RF adjustment done yesterday following the RFF sticky. The Industar-22 lens is super clean and pass the flashlight test brilliantly (no scratches, dust level inside lens eerily low). Shutter speed is absolutely fine according to the test roll I shot today. The camera itself looks like it has almost never been used: no scratches, mint vulcanite and so on.

Hence the problem: it suffers from heavy light leaks in the rear curtain (the one that shows once the shutter is cocked). The curtain shows no pinholes, but some transversal wrinkles (dryness?).

CLA'ing a Zorki costs the same here in Japan as a Leica II/III would. About 450$. That's three times the price I paid for the kit. So that's too much. Now, I am not looking for a cheaper CLA option. This price is right relatively to Japan wages and the work done by repair shops here is mind-blowingly good.

So my question is: how hard would that be to replace a shutter curtain by myself? I am definitely a "if you can't open it, you don't own it" kind of guy, but this usually applies more to bicycles and power tools than to micro-mechanics. To be honest, I am as excited to perform surgery on the Zorki as I am scared about it. Are there less invasive procedures? I'll post images of my problem soon.
Buying another one is out of question too by the way. This one is beautiful, and it is mine now. I want mine to work, not to buy another mine.

Sorry for the long post...

 

[kumotaki]

Well, actually, I didn't even ask my question. If I open the camera to change the curtain, I believe that I should as well degrease-regrease, re-tension and stuff. But I am in no way an expert at that kind of job. So, do you think that I should try the repair, or is it worth the money to have it serviced by a professional?

 

[kumotaki]

Here come the pictures of the light leak and the wrinkled curtain:

 

[begona]

NO! NO! NO! 😀 look, Zorki in Croatia cost max 20$ (we have lot of them here because we were in Yugoslavia and imported russian stuff). I am sure that zorki in Japan is not that common but ,zorki is not bad camera but not worth more than 20$.

Go to cla only valuable cameras. Zorki is not one of them.

Cheers

 

[kumotaki]

Go to cla only valuable cameras. Zorki is not one of them.

Cheers

Okay. Well, now that I own it, that's a valuable camera to me, but that sets the tone for the path to follow. Thank you for your answer.

Wow, 20$ for a Zorki, that's unheard of in Japan. They are still the entry-level screw-mount RF but more like 100$ with lens. Then come the Canons RF at 350$ with lens, then the Leicas at 700$ and finally the Nikons at 1000$.

Pricewise, the dirt-cheap beasts are the manual-focus Japanese SLR here.

 

[greyelm]

You could try a quick fix by sealing the light leaks in the curtain using black liquid electrical tape. This has been discussed on RFF so I suggest a search.

The secret is to apply a few thin coats to the affected area allowing it to dry thoroughly between coats.

Give it a go, what can you lose, otherwise the curtain would need replacing at a high cost.

 

[begona]

Also you can try fix that curtain with black liquid gum and just fill that curtain holes. I am not an expert so you will need to wait other advices 🙂

edit: greyelm post it in same time as me 🙂

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

They are pleasant cameras to use and own. Please don't dismiss them as a cheap camera. Especially as looking at prices is not how to judge them, as you say yourself.

Why not send it to Oleg at OK Vintage Cameras? He has a very good reputation and charges far, far less than you have quoted for your country. Also he has the correct spare parts available and can fit them easily. I have had cameras repaired by him and I was delighted with the results.

I am sure that many others will confirm this.

Also, attempting a repair yourself might work but what would you do if (for example) a screw was damaged or worse some other part?

Just my thoughts.

Regards, David

 

[locheeboy]

Agree with David (above). Just got my Kiev back from Oleg. $52 - full CLA (inc, several replacement parts (+ $20, p+p to UK). So for Japan probably $30-40 postage.

This is the second camera he's done for me and ah'm delighted with the jobs on both. One thing tae note, FSU postage can take between 2-6 weeks. Your items always arrive there quickly but the vagaries of FSU postal services mean that there seems tae be no "avg. time" for returns - but it gets back tae you...eventually!

ps... a photo of the camera?

 

[wolves3012]

Strap lugs weren't fitted to the Zorki 1, so either it's a Zorki 2 or it has the shell from a later camera (C, 2 or 2C had them) or someone has added them. Only you can decide if the camera is worth the repair cost. If the overall condition is good and you like it and want to keep and use it, it's worth it. You can do it yourself but it's not for the faint-hearted, you can find instructions on the internet (such as Jay Javier's excellent site). As others have said, Oleg has a good reputation if you want someone else to do it.

 

[Fawley]

I own what I believe to be a 1c. Came with the collapsible Industar lens. I use it interchangeably with my Leica IIIf. The Leica is superior in several respects but the 1c is a very nice camera to use all the same, and for about 1/10th cost in my case. I would use the one you have for a paper weight and search for a replacement.

 

[farlymac]

I've got a 1D with the rangefinder from a 1B, so it has two serial numbers. Quite interesting, but probably not unique in the annals of Zorki reconstruction. Mine had the dreaded curtain leaks that I fixed with fabric paint. It's likely not as good as the electrical insulation paint, as the holes either came back, or I just burn't new ones. I didn't bother to do a forensic analysis to see if they were new or not. And the shutter started capping too, so I just set it aside for a later determination on it's status (repair, or display).

However, when it was working, it took very good photos. The I-10 is a nice lens, but I wanted something that I could mount filters on, and still change the aperture. So I got an I-26M, and was very happy with it. After that is when the shutter "went south" again.

I do plan on getting it repaired someday, as it is a nice approximation of using a Barnack Leica, and looks so good doing it. Well worth getting it repaired, but I have other priorities right now. Send yours off to Oleg, since it's in such good shape otherwise. You won't regret it.

PF

 

[locheeboy]

Some Zorkis, in all the iterations from around the 1c - from 1951 onwards, have strap lugs. These are not (in most cases) bodies from later cameras. The decorative band around the body appeared about the same time. It's quite likely that yours is a 1c. It's rare, but probable. If it has bi-lingual engraving then it's even rarer.

 

[rfaspen]

OK, the Zorki 1c is really nice to use. You shouldn't have to spend a lot to get it fixed. The camera is not worth a whole lot, but Zorki's for $20 is not typical in most countries. It all comes down to how much it is worth to you, personally. For me, a perfectly working Zorki 1c could be worth about $100 to me. Maybe a little more, or less. All depends.

My strategy for your situation would be:

1) Repair the curtain leaks yourself. Someone already mentioned the fix in a thread above. Black liquid electrical tape is one product, flexible black fabric paint has been used too. Do a search for repairing pinholes in shutter curtains, and I'm sure you'll find a step-by-step guide to this repair. Its very easy. Make sure you let the product dry completely before winding/tripping the shutter. I've used this repair method to fix a lot of cameras. The worst was a Fed 3 with so much curtain deterioration it looked like a window screen. The liquid electrical tape repair was a desperate fix and I didn't have high expectations. That was 5-6 years ago and the camera has no issues at all with sporadic use over that time.

Chances are this home remedy will work beautifully for you and all will end well. But...

2) If the camera still needs work by someone with tools, knowledge, parts. Send it to Oleg. The postage costs are high, but probably still worth it to have a nice, perfectly functioning Zorki 1c. I wouldn't spend more than that though. The camera is not worth a $450 CLA. The biggest drawback with sending to Oleg is turnaround time. I'm terribly impatient.

In all, congrats on Zorki 1c ownership. Use the liquid tape, paint, or whatever to fix the pinholes and enjoy your camera.

 

[ray*j*gun]

2) If the camera still needs work by someone with tools, knowledge, parts. Send it to Oleg. The postage costs are high, but probably still worth it to have a nice, perfectly functioning Zorki 1c. I wouldn't spend more than that though. The camera is not worth a $450 CLA. The biggest drawback with sending to Oleg is turnaround time. I'm terribly impatient.

I second using Oleg..... takes time but you will wind up with a wonderful camera kit.

 

[kumotaki]

Wow! Thanks for the many answers! I will try the electrical liquid repair to begin iwth so to test camera shutter times more thoroughly.

I'll love that little camera and I really want to use it, not as a toy, but as a real tool. I shot with a Leica IIIc lent by a friend for some time, but I can't say it feels cheaper with the Zorki.

It seems that this Oleg is famous around. It is really tempting now to send the camera to him for a serious overhaul. What I am a bit afraid of with the "paint on curtain" is to let some other unsuspected flaws alone without realizing it.

 

[rfaspen]

Not much else to go wrong with these cameras. At least, not without noticing it. That's one of the attractions.

A post somewhere above mentioned Fedka in NY. He no longer offers repair services. His repairman retired. Very unfortunate!

Oleg's great. Long time to be without your camera.

Make sure to find a tutorial for how to apply the black paint fix. I'd do that and enjoy the camera for a while. You might find there's nothing more to worry about.

I have Zorki and Fed 1 bodies and use them along with my barnack Leicas. I just pretend they're all Leicas and use them the same. Occasionally, I forget which I have in my hand. Only the slightly stiffer film winding is noticed. Also, remember that if body holds film in the dark and opens its shutter at the expected timing, the rest of taking pictures is done by the lens. If I put a great lens on a Zorki or Fed, I get great pictures -- well, that's assuming the photographer has any skill, and that's debatable.

Recap: black paint repair, enjoy camera with good lens, send to Oleg if necessary.

 

[Dez]

I tend to agree with the comment that there is little to go wrong with the camera, so you probably should not worry too much about problems which are not obvious. Sending it to Oleg for a new curtain is a much better plan than spending ten times the price of a good example of the camera for a CLA in Japan. It sometimes seems to be a matter of honour to spend as little money as possible to get good results from FSU cameras, so I would try patching the shutter. This can solve your problem for the short term if done correctly, but should not be looked upon as a solution to last for 10 or 20 years!

I have never tried the "liquid electrical tape" stuff, but several people have recommended it on RFF. I have had very good luck with a very dense black acrylic artist's pigment, M Graham & Co #22-115 Mars Black. Whatever you use, don't think of it as a coat of paint, which will eventually come off, but a treatment of the cloth of the shutter curtains. The important thing to remember is to use as little as possible, and to rub it into the fabric of the shutter curtain. Support one side of the curtain while rubbing the pigment into the other side with a finger. Done properly, the coating should be almost invisible. Your problem is tricky as you seem to have a dried out fold in the curtain which probably goes above and below the film gate, so it might be challenging to reach some of the areas. These compounds dry quite quickly, so work quickly.

Good luck!
Dez

 

[Dralowid]

I have an early Fed whose shutter blinds are covered with black sticky tape. Doesn't look great but it does work.

 

[xayraa33]

Try 4 separate coats of black acrylic paint on each curtain.

Let each paint coat dry for 24 hrs. before applying each coat.

This worked on my Zorki 1 camera to get rid of the pinholes in the shutter curtains.