Zorki 4 film loading

[panorisi]

Hello. Today I got two Zorki 4 cameras. Everything is working smoothly, but I can't figure out how to load the film in it. It seems, that instead of spool is mounted something else...

Maybe you know, is it possible to load film in it.

 

[wolves3012]

Looks very much like a home-made attempt at a spool! You might be able to tuck the end of the film in the slot but it would be better to get a proper spool for it.

 

[xxloverxx]

Stick the end in and start winding.

 

[panorisi]

Thanks. Found a solution - http://sageshome.net/blog/index.php/sage/2007/10/18/zorki4_self_made_takeup_spool

 

[camperbc]

There is nothing wrong with it; mine is the same way. Just stick the lead into the slot and you're off to the races!

Glen

 

[David Hughes]

Can any one put up a picture of the correct spool?

I ask, because - who knows - someone reading this may have one but not realise it or want it, and it will upset the right-wingers... And I'm sure I'm not the only one to have a box of bits and pieces just waiting for a good home.

Regards, David

 

[Ron (Netherlands)]

this is what it looks like (although the one in the ad seems to have got an extra layer of black paint)

http://www.ebay.nl/itm/Russian-metal-take-up-spool-for-FED-Zorki-USSR-Rangefinder-35mm-film-cam-NEW-2-/150831384683?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item231e40486b#ht_1744wt_1187

 

[panorisi]

this is what it looks like (although the one in the ad seems to have got an extra layer of black paint)

http://www.ebay.nl/itm/Russian-metal-take-up-spool-for-FED-Zorki-USSR-Rangefinder-35mm-film-cam-NEW-2-/150831384683?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item231e40486b#ht_1744wt_1187

But are Fed and Zorki spools the same? Couse I owned Fed3 take-up spool and it has looseness in Zorki4.

 

[Ron (Netherlands)]

But are Fed and Zorki spools the same? Couse I owned Fed3 take-up spool and it has looseness in Zorki4.

which FED and which Zorki are you comparing?
The first type Zorki's as well as first type FED's use different spools than the later ones, the first ones are clamped by the spring in the spindle, the later ones are loose but grabbed by notches in the spindles

 

[MartinP]

"Unusual" design! I have a FED3 which indeed has a factory-fitted slotted spindle, in place of the plastic (or brass) removable spool of the Zorkis or earlier FEDs. The centre part in the photo above indeed looks like that normally in the Zorki4 (which uses the removable spool) while the FED3 has a shorter assembly at the top, because it doesn't need any lugs for a spool, so they are a different design.

I wonder if the homemade-looking tube in the OP's camera is an attempt to use the slot-type loading of the FED3 - or even someone lost their spool down the drain and came up with a practical solution to the problem (especially if you fold over the end of the film to hook into the slot). Was there ever a Zorki version which had a slotted-tube when it came out of the factory? Maybe a much later number?

There was an article on a repair website (long forgotten) which mentioned that the slotted-tube system on the FED3 was interchangeable with the removable-spool of the later FED2. As I had a FED2 which I preferred to my FED3 I was going to make this swap - until I bought an M3 🙂

 

[fanshaw]

Was there ever a Zorki version which had a slotted-tube when it came out of the factory? Maybe a much later number?


I don't think so. I have seen plenty of Zorki-4 cameras of all ages and all had removable take-up spools, The later ones had plastic spools while the Zorki-4K which was the last of the Zorki-4 line had a fixed spool.