Zorki 3M without slow shutter speeds?

[red snapper]

Dear comrades.
I recently got a Zorki 3M off ebay (Body Number: 5552669, Jupiter 8
Lens Number: 5534988). It has no shutter speeds below 1/25 and no 1/000 either! As its a 3M theres no slow speed dial like the Zorki 3. Does anyone know why this is? Can't find any references anywhere. Tried to upload photos of camera but wouldn't let me for some reason, so heres link:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bolshie/

 

[rbiemer]

As I understand the Z3M, it is an updated version of the Z3. The two I owned and all the ones I've seen had slow speeds and went to 1/1000 for the fast speed.
I would guess that the speed dial is not correct.
Rob

 

[greyelm]

My 3M has speeds of 1000 through to 1.

 

[wolves3012]

As others say, the 3M should have slow speeds. I can think of 3 main reasons yours appears not to have them:

1) Someone has replaced the dial with something like one from a Zorki 1 and you actually still have the slow speeds, just that the dial doesn't show them.

2) As above but the slow speed mechanics were removed also, perhaps because they were broken.

3) You have a rare camera that was never fitted with them, the least likely but still possible.

EDIT: Looking again, you're missing 1/1000th too, which makes option 1) or 2) most likely. Does the camera actually have an unmarked 1/1000th? Do the other speeds actually line up correctly? (They wouldn't if it's simply the wrong dial, because 1/25 ought to be right next to 1/50 for a start)

 

[Deejon]

My first post here so, hello everyone and thanks for all the great info on the site! Anyway:

I also just purchased a Zorki 3M off eBay (Serial no.: 5540095) and it has speeds from 1/1000 to 1 sec. Maybe yours does indeed just have the wrong dial and you can find a replacement part for cheap. I'm curious though - are you able to turn it beyond the indicated markings? Do the indicated shutter speeds seem correct?

Or, maybe you actually have an uber rare model... ? ... !

Edit: I see that wolves beat me to the punch on the questions 😉

 

[red snapper]

Thanks for your replies, after searching high and low on the internet still can't find any reason why this is so.
There are no intermediate clicks between the numbers on the shutter dial, this would indicate that the complete shutter has been replaced to possibly a FED shutter as that has the same speeds? Anyone has any ideas why this may have happened? Will put roll of film through it soon to check that camera is working ok. Not really sure what to do with it as lacks slow and 1/1000 speeds. But if this repair/replacement makes the camera more reliable in the long term them may as well hang on to it. What do others here think?

 

[Nickfed]

It could be that the shutter died and was rebuilt from a Zorki-1 or the like, it being easier to do than fixing the original. Slow speeds are remarkably easy to live without, and much the same can be said for 1/1000, so that would be a reasonable thing to do.

 

[wolves3012]

It could be that the shutter died and was rebuilt from a Zorki-1 or the like, it being easier to do than fixing the original. Slow speeds are remarkably easy to live without, and much the same can be said for 1/1000, so that would be a reasonable thing to do.

+1 on that.

I've never tried to do so but I think it would be possible to swap out the speed-selector parts, they are quite similar in other models - especially something like a Zorki or FED 1, which is very much what the dial looks like.

It could also have been made that way, perhaps for someone with influence at the factory and who wanted the simplified speeds. The serial number isn't too far away from my 3M so I doubt it's any kind of experimental or prototype model.

 

[red snapper]

I ended sending it back it back to the seller who promptly refunded me. Main reason for this was the rangefinder being about 10cm out compared to my Leica M's that I measured it against. Used the money to buy another 3M from Ukraine hope it will be with me in next few weeks. Must say I really liked the finish and general build quality, viewfinder/rangefinder could be brighter and clearer though.

 

[wolves3012]

I ended sending it back it back to the seller who promptly refunded me. Main reason for this was the rangefinder being about 10cm out compared to my Leica M's that I measured it against. Used the money to buy another 3M from Ukraine hope it will be with me in next few weeks. Must say I really liked the finish and general build quality, viewfinder/rangefinder could be brighter and clearer though.

Looks like it's back up on the auction site.
Item number: 250971061665