Zorki 4 Misaligned Film

[franciscojhh]

Hi to all,

The images on the film of my Zorki 4 are not aligned. After a bit of googling, I think the problem is similar to what is explained here: http://photo.net/leica-rangefinders-forum/00UtsF but I don't find a good solution...

Any experience with this? Have you tried any home-made solution? Could you confirm which models present this problem (definitely Zorki S doesn't have it)?

Best,

Fran

 

[Ron (Netherlands)]

Hi to all,

The images on the film of my Zorki 4 are not aligned. After a bit of googling, I think the problem is similar what is explained here: http://photo.net/leica-rangefinders-forum/00UtsF but I don't find a good solution...

Any experience with this? Have you tried any home-made solution? Could you confirm which models present this problem (definitely Zorki S doesn't have it)?

Best,

Fran

can you show a photo of the spool and of the spindle, then we can ascertain whether you have the right spool for the right spindle - regularly we find that these two are not matching

 

[franciscojhh]

Here you have 3 pictures of the spool, its support and the spindle:

https://picasaweb.google.com/110736...&authkey=Gv1sRgCMamoYXUvJX5Xw&feat=directlink

 

[Ron (Netherlands)]

Here you have 3 pictures of the spool, its support and the spindle:

https://picasaweb.google.com/110736...&authkey=Gv1sRgCMamoYXUvJX5Xw&feat=directlink

Well it looks like a spool from a Zorki 6, it matches but it will sit loose. In the Zorki 6 it is held up by an uplifted stopper in the bottomplate. See here for the Z4 spool:

 

[franciscojhh]

That could easily be the problem, thank you. I have this other spool:

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/SG8DOdsXQfHn6VpVJa1iTadCS9jpJsG3Uo_BDFG7EBE?feat=directlink

but it does not look like the one you posted either (and does not seem to fit better)... Any idea? What would be the best way of getting a Z4 spool?

What about using the one of my Zorki C?

 

[Ron (Netherlands)]

That could easily be the problem, thank you. I have this other spool:

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/SG8DOdsXQfHn6VpVJa1iTadCS9jpJsG3Uo_BDFG7EBE?feat=directlink

but it does not look like the one you posted either (and does not seem to fit better)... Any idea? What would be the best way of getting a Z4 spool?

What about using the one of my Zorki C?

Zorki C spool should fit also the Z4, I just checked and mine does fit.

 

[stratcat]

I just saw that exact issue yesterday after developing the first roll from a Zorki 4. The spool provided with the camera is virtually the same as yours, Francisco.

I guess I'll have to look in the bay for a real Zorki 4 spool...

 

[fanshaw]

I think that all the Zorki spools are interchangeable, except for the ones on fixed spool cameras like the Zorki-6.

 

[Ron (Netherlands)]

I think that all the Zorki spools are interchangeable, except for the ones on fixed spool cameras like the Zorki-6.

No that is not the case. On early Zorki's the spindle holding the spool is comparable to that of the Barnack Leica's: the spool is held firmly by the vertical tabs of the spindle. On later Zorki's a different spindle was used with spools that were not held firm by the spindle but where turned around by the notches at the end of the spindle that fit into the spool. However the later Z6 spool has a smaller diameter at the end of the spool so that is cannot completely fit the spindle of the many Zorki's of the 50'ties and early sixties since the nut and the end of the spindle (the nut holding the spring) doesn't fit the spool. The Z6 spindle therefore is attached to the camera by a small screw that fits the diameter of the Z6 spool.

However looking again at the pictures of the OP, it seems that the nut of the spindle is small enough also to go through the end spool. To make sure this is the case, please check whether your spool (that looks at least like a Z6 spool) can be placed as a whole over the spindle, and touches the bottom of the topplate of the camera. If that is the case, your spool is OK but you have to place something on the bottomplate to hold the spool into place during winding.


Don't be fooled by this picture. Here I changed the nut-type with the screw-type, but the screw actually belongs to the spindle fit in the Z1. However in order to be able to use the Z6 spool (in the picture on the right) in the Z1, I had to change only the spindles and not the nut itself, since that is small enough to take the Z6 spool. In other cameras however the nut has a small edge which prevents the use of the Z6 spool: in the below picture you see a nut with edge and one where I stripped it off so the camera could make use of a Z6 spool (you might ask, why all this trouble to use a Z6 spool: since it was the only one we had at that time with a working film spring: the springs on Z1 spools are regularly worn so that it doesn't catch your film)

 

[Murray Kelly]

Thanks to all the contributors on this thread. I have had a Z-4 sitting on the shelf because it had exactly the problems discussed above. 5 minutes with a screwdriver and patience and it now tracks and winds and rewinds beautifully.
Thank you all.

Just a reminder to wind the shutter button fully clock-wise and the collar fully anti-clockwise to ensure the dog clutch engages at the bottom of the sprocket shaft so that it winds on correctly after rewinding.

Thanks again.

 

[franciscojhh]

Yeah, it can be placed as a whole over the spindle, and touches the bottom of the topplate. So.. do you recommend me to modify the bottomplate with something to hold the spool up against the topplate? It should allow it the spool to turn freely, so I guess foam is bad idea...

 

[Murray Kelly]

Yeah, it can be placed as a whole over the spindle, and touches the bottom of the topplate. So.. do you recommend me to modify the bottomplate with something to hold the spool up against the topplate? It should allow it the spool to turn freely, so I guess foam is bad idea...

Darn, I've loaded a film in expectation of fun!

But, could you make a ring (washer) of hard plastic to raise it up off the bottom plate but not drag on the spool as it winds on? Would maybe take a little experimentation but could do the trick? Just the opposite of the rings at the supply side.