Zorki 3. good buy for beginner?

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Hi

I was wondering what is a good price for a good-excellent zorki 3m/3. I want to use this camera as a carry around high speed shooter with the 50/f2 lens. Is this actually a usable camera or for collectors only?

the specs suggest it would be a pretty decent compact shooter.


thanks


Yihang



I know there are newer more usable FSU RFs but im hooked by the looks of the Z3. zorki ones are also pretty nice but they are a straight copy and arnt that much cheaper anyway.
 
The Zorki-3 is reputed to have a slow shutter speed geartrain that is prone to breaking down. The later Zorki-3m has a differently design slow speed gear train which is said to be more reliable. I have a Zorki-3m which is among the best of my Soviet built cameras.

However, they are both priced much higher than a Zorki-4 or Mir (stripped down Zorki-4). If you are actually gping to use the camera rather than just admire it, you might get a more cost effective purchase if you bought an early model Zorki-4 (with engraved numbers on the shutter speed dial and neckstrap lugs together with a Jupiter-8 lens. They are much more comon and are only slightly deficient compared to a Zorki-3m.

-Paul
 
thanks

thanks

Thanks for the info. but i suppose ill buy a 3/3M anyway.hahaha. im really looking for an idea of prices i should be expecting. I have heard about the slow shutter release. will keep that in mind.

I was gonna buy a LOMO for 150 USD............so i suppose im not one to always go with logic. i guess a really beatup zorki one will kinda act like a lomo if i sandpaper the lens abit.haha


zorki 3m it is

EDIT: is the geartrain repairable if it breaks down?
 
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I have both a 3 and a 3M. As luck my would have it, the 3M needed to be sent to Oleg to be serviced. While my Zorki 3 hasn't missed a beat.

A Zorki 4 or 4K are cheaper, but they don't fit the hand like a Zorki 3 or 3M. The 3 and 3M retain the older style film rewind lever. My preference leans towards the Zorki 3. I rarely use the slow shutter speeds.

I'm guessing that the price of these is now between $75 and $125 US.
 
I really like my zorki-4k. You may want to look into a Kiev-4 also.

I'd go for a newer camera while you're new to these things. If you jump in at the deep fsu end, you may end up with a dodgy cam that needs a CLA. That'll cause you stress and cost more money!

No idea about Z-3's though, personally I dont like the look of them :)
 
Id liek to stick with LTM

Id liek to stick with LTM

the kiev is contax right? im looking to eventually pick up a second hand voigtlander R3a. although now that ive found the zorki 3 with 1:1 finder and 1/1000 speed, i dont see any immediate reason to upgrade. i suppose a meter would be nice for a beginner.

of course. i want to eventually use my LTM lenses on a sub 1000USD epson rangefinder with full frame cmos sensor.hahahaha
 
Totally agree with Paul, but if you are still looking for a zorki 3m :p , there are 3 now on the bay ;) . I bought an ISKRA from Alex-photo in evilbay and it works as advertised. He is selling now a zorki 3m with a 93 dollar bin (item 7630726782).
Also I would consider a second one: item 7631244019.

Anyway, it´s always better to find one from a reputable seller like Oleg (it´s difficult to buy a zorki 3m from him, I tryed). I bought mine in ebay and it was in excellent condition (working and cosmetic), but as expected for a 50 year old camera, it needed a CLA, so I sent it to Oleg.

If you want a good shooter buy from Oleg or Fedka or buy in evilbay to send them latter (you will pay for a CLA and shipping).
 
iñaki said:
This one? item 7619445957. Now it´s in being "Oleged" :D
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fedka is selling one for 135. im assuming with that price it has been CLAed already? i better ask.

is it absolutely necessary to get something in excellent conditioned CLAed straight away? or would not doing so place the machine at a greater risk of coming to grief? i suppose the 135 example on fedka doesnt look as minty as the one from the british seller on ebay.

i cant seem to view the picture of alex-photos camera. does it look as good as te british sellers?
 
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I bought a couple of FSU cameras, a FED-2 and a Zorki 3M, from Alex-Photo and Soviet Camera Store. Both had to go to Oleg for CLA to be acceptable, both came back in great shape. Factoring in the shipping here, back there and then finally back here, I can't really call them inexpensive cameras.

Even if the camera is perfect otherwise, unless it was CLA'd in the old USSR, there's 50 year old grease in there. 50 year old grease has the consistancy of ear wax. Consequently, if I were doing it again, I'd buy from Oleg directly or at least buy from someone willing to ship to Oleg before shipping here. It's the only way to be sure.

Comparing the Zorki 3M to my other cameras, it's actually not as compact as you might think. The body dimensions are closer to my Leica M2. It's big compared to a Leica II or a Bessa. The FED-2 seems smaller but is actually only a little shorter because of the squatty view/range finder.

I haven't bought a camera from Fedka but I have bought lenses and accessories. It's a quality outfit and if I were looking to buy, Fedka would be worth a look. (Sometimes a Kiev calls to me from his web site.)
 
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I've bought gear from Alex Photo before. The items were all serviceable.

The caveat with cameras is that no one actually tests them with film and in the case of the Zorki 3, it is over 50 years old.
 
I prefer the Zorki 3M over the Zorki 4/4K... my 3M just seems more solidly built, even if it is quite a bit older. The only downside I have with the Zorkis is loud shutters. The Kievs are much quieter.
 
ok. email sent. Suppose if the slow release hasnt given out in 60 years it will work for another decade or s0, especially since it just had CLA done.

I can live with alittle patina:D
 
Jason Sprenger said:
I bought a couple of FSU cameras, a FED-2 and a Zorki 3M, from Alex-Photo and Soviet Camera Store. Both had to go to Oleg for CLA to be acceptable, both came back in great shape. Factoring in the shipping here, back there and then finally back here, I can't really call them inexpensive cameras.

Even if the camera is perfect otherwise, unless it was CLA'd in the old USSR, there's 50 year old grease in there. 50 year old grease has the consistancy of ear wax. Consequently, if I were doing it again, I'd buy from Oleg directly or at least buy from someone willing to ship to Oleg before shipping here. It's the only way to be sure.

Comparing the Zorki 3M to my other cameras, it's actually not as compact as you might think. The body dimensions are closer to my Leica M2. It's big compared to a Leica II or a Bessa. The FED-2 seems smaller but is actually only a little shorter because of the squatty view/range finder.

I haven't bought a camera from Fedka but I have bought lenses and accessories. It's a quality outfit and if I were looking to buy, Fedka would be worth a look. (Sometimes a Kiev calls to me from his web site.)
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I know the leica II(zorki 1) is smaller with the smaller RF/VF. But you have to be talking about the bessa L or T? i cant imagine the bessa Rs being smaller.....Although i havent been able to handle the bessas in person. the dealer ran out of them the day before i decided to go and have a fiddle.

I have a pentax program plus. its not a light machine but the dimentions are smal enough for me
 
I have both the Bessa R and the Zorki 3. The Zorki 3 has a lower deck height and even the 1:1 viewfinder is slightly lower than the Bessa R.
 
Hi I am also considering a Zorki 3 or 3m, does anyone know if the slow shutter breaks on the 3 that it affects the fast shutter too?

Thanks
Phil
 
The Zorki 3M is slightly taller and slightly longer than a Bessa R. Each is about as deep as the other, the Bessa is probably a little deeper. Coupled with its old-school heft, the Zorki 3M occupies more space and mass.

However, the low "deck" does give a nice handy feel when one's finger is over the shutter button. In this way it's less of a box than a Leica M which I didn't cottle to until I got a grip for it.
 
The slow speed section is seperate from the fast section. I recently purchased a '54 Zorki 3 from a RFF memeber in my area with a non-working slow speed section. Everything from 1/25 and up worked without it, but I took it apart and cleaned it as well as readjusting it compared to a modern shutter. I like it much better than my Zorki 4K - It fits well into the hands, looks good, had a wide range of available shutter speeds, and is one of the few Zorkis with a "Time" function, as well as a bulb. Very servicable camera, great shooter. Looks good on the shelf, and is great to carry. I use mine with the Jupiter 8, or a collapsible Industar-22 when I need to pocket it away. Strap lugs are a great plus, and everything is engraved.

Vote: "Duh!"
 
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