Zorki 4 or Fed 2?

[Natalia]

Lil,

I think the colour of or the lettering on the J-8 don't matter much but it seems that in general russian lenses produced after 1960 decline in build quality, reaching a low from the 1970s. So, you'll want to get a J-8 with a serial number under 60xxxxx.

I think the crank is indeed the only difference between the 4 and the 4K. I can tell you that it does make a HUGE difference! Being able to wind the film with the crank increased my enjoying shooting with the Zorki immensely. Winding the film forward on the 4 just slowed me down so much I started to resent the camera; the 4K changed all that for me.

RML, take a look at Ebay item#3861192044 .... The lens is under 60xxxxx , but has some wear to it.....

...and what do you think about these Leica copies:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3859838532

 

[pshinkaw]

The black J-8 has an aperture ring that rotates as you focus, the shiny aluminum ones do not. That matters to some people.

Also, the wind lever on the 4K introduces a few more moving parts that can fail. The knob winds are simpler, and they make removing the top for maintenance easier too.

Most 4k'S and the last of the 4's do not have strap lugs. If that is important, look carefully before you buy.

My rule of thumb is that almost all Soviet cameras require some adjustment before they can be used. The closer to mint appearance, the more likely it is that some adjustment was needed.(The camera worked poorly out of the box and became a shelf queen). Moderate to heavy wear usually means that it was a good camera and lens. However, heavy wear also means that something could be worn out.

I just rehabbed a Zorki-4 that was almost completely worn out. It takes great pictures now and has a new burgundy Morocco leather skin, but the shutter doesn't have much useful life left in it.

When buying Soviet equipment, keep your expectations down. It is nothing at all like buying Japanese rangefinders from the late 60's.

-Paul

 

[Natalia]

When buying Soviet equipment, keep your expectations down.
-Paul

...don't I know that! During Soviet era goverment pushed quantity, not quality. We ( I come from Russia) wanted to show "our might" to the whole world....how ridiculous

 

[pshinkaw]

Lil:

Most society's seem to do something crazy to everyone else's perception. We also tend to forget how to learn from other's mistakes.

Soviet cameras are more than just an artifact of a failed political/economic system. They contain some lessons on how to engineer and manufacture a functional product within the limits imposed by the government. After all they do what they are basically design to do, make photographs. For complex machinery they are comparatively simple, and very robust. I think they were designed and built by very smart people who were forced to work with one hand tied behind their backs.

-Paul

 

[RML]

Some wear on the barrel shouldn't be too much of a problem, though you might not like the look of the lens and thus use it less. However, wear caused by heavy use, bumping or falling might have caused damage to the lens as a whole, especially the elements could be shifted out of place. So-called polishing marks on the glass could or could not affect the quality of your shots; usually the effects won't be very noticeable but flare or ghosting could be increased.

I'm trying NOT to look at eBay these days. My bank balance doesn't allow it. I still have to settle my Visa card after returning from 5-6 weeks in Mongolia. And with the holidays coming up financial matters won't easily improve.

 

[jon_flanders]

Just a personal thing. I like the retro feel of using the knob

Gene

Me too. That little bit of time winding the knob gives time tor reflection about what you just shot and what you might do next. And the Fed's not that hard to wind anyway.

 

[Pherdinand]

I like the knob-way on the contax too. Sure, it's slower, but it's fine. Just my fingers complain after half a roll... (Have very dry skin and in the winter serious lack of vitamine makes my fingers very sensitive)