zorki 4 - question?

D

decoyslikecurve

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May 24, 2006
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Hey all,

I just aquired a nice 71 model Zorki 4, with perfect I-61l/d glass....

Keep in mind this is my first FSU rangefinder - I am having problems understanding the shutter cock process... From what I can tell, all you have to do is turn the film advance knob 350 degrees and it will come to a stop, where you can then change the shutter speeds and take shots etc etc.


Problem is, my advance knob just keeps turning... it doesn't come to a stop, and for some reason the shutter doesn't cock. I figured maybe it needs film in it to do so, so loaded some b/w stuff in there, to no avail (rewound it and took it out)

So, Whats the problem? If anyone could help me very soon it would be largely appreciated, I would like to use the camera today

Thanks
gavin
 
well, it could also be set to rewind mode...make sure that the collar around the shutter release is not set to the "rewind" mode.
 
Thanks, So far, no matter which way I turn the shutter collar, the advance knob doesn't stop turning and the shutter doesn't cock...


I think in a few hours I will dissemble it and have a look at the internal mechanisms... nothing to lose if it doesn't work in the first place...


Keep the advice coming!

thanks!
 
It could be that the shutter speed dial is loose. I had one like this once. There is a little set screw that will tighten, if this is indeed the problem. You should have to lift the shutter speed dial to turn it.
 
Sounds to me like the rewind release is stuck in rewind. You can check by looking inside the back. The rewind release, if it is stuck will be apparent inside of the takeup sprocket.

If that is the problem you may be able to unstick it by removing the top. the rewind release shaft is most accessible immediately under the shutter release button.

Usually this a dirt/old lubrication problem.

-Paul
 
I had a problem like this with my first Zorki4, the shutter release button can be locked down, for long exposures, I guess. If it is pushed in and turned anti-clockwise, it stays down. The shutter will not cock in this condition. Released by turning clockwise, very embarrasing.
Perhaps it is worth checking.. (Kievs do the same)
 
Hallo all - my first post....
(edit: I now see that the post of fidget, above, says the same thing as I did below ! My apologies.)

I had a problem that sounds a bit like this with my '68 Zorki-4. The solution was simple, although not covered in the english version of the Zorki manual.

When you have rewound the film and taken it out, turn the rewind collar anti-clockwise so the the dot is adjacent to the one on the camera body (which you have done of course) PLUS turn the actual shutter release button fully clockwise until the dot or mark lines up with the other two. Then wind on the film transport, the clutch will pop back up and you're in business again.

At first you might not see the dot on the shutter release, as it could have had a lot of wear from use. Just turn the release button clockwise. Also remember to both fire off the shutter before you start rewinding, and to use a lens cap - this is to avoid film-fogging from any gaps that might occur when the shutter curtains are disturbed during the rewind.

I can add a couple of digi-snaps of the dots and the clutch positions, if the explanation isn't clear. I wonder how many Zorkis have been thrown at the wall (poor wall) because of this gotcha . . . .

The back-up solution (suggested by Oleg K.) is to have the shutter open on B while rewinding the film, instead of firing off the shutter before hand. This also works, but don't forget the lens cap! Alternatively your Zorki may have the more serious problems described by others above.
 
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Ah!, MartinP, welcome to the forum. I feel a little better if you also were tripped up by the locking shutter button.........
 
Yep, Just figured out that the actual shutter button rotates and locks... not mentioned in the manual of course.

I stripped the whole thing down and figured it all out.


In a cruel twist of fate, the self timer lever screw was hard to get out, and I ended up snapping half the thread in the actual timer unit. Tryed to dissemble it to tap the thread out - Big big big mistake.... about 5000 million little gears and springs and things went flying all over australia.

Anyway now I have to buy a new one, and I have good parts for it at least, thanks for your help!
 
If you don't need the self-timer, I wouldn't bother getting a new one. I think self-timers should be removed from all FSU RF cameras. It would at least make them a little lighter :D

Also notice that some self-timer lever screws are left-handed and some are right-handed. I have one '61 which is RH, and one '71 which is LH.

PS: For this reason I have 2 extra self-timer mechanism assemblies (from my FED 3 and from my project Zorki 4). One of them can be yours. If you don't mind waiting, a friend of mine is going to Australia at end of august... e-mail me if interested.
 
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OT ~ Spyder ~ nice looking black Z.4 in your avatar. Do you have a larger pic posted somewhere?
 
Thanks Spyderman. A good read about a project well done. The Panda lens looks good too. Nice work all around. Enjoy!
 
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