Zorki 4 shutter no longer cocks - i am an idiot

[jezza]

Hi everyone

You can all laugh at the newbie, it's ok, I don't mind :bang:

I received my 1st Zorki 4 yesterday. It is my first FSU camera. Although it's been a while, I learned photography with film before the digital age and was fairly confident I knew my way around a manual camera.

I also thought I did enough initial research. So... after I opened the package in my half asleep state, I excitedly fiddled with the camera, until the shutter doesn't seem to cock anymore.

NOW I know you're not supposed to adjust the shutter speed without cocking the shutter first. But I probably did just that - I am an idiot. Is this something I can maybe repair myself or will I have to send it away? Does anyone know a place in London by the way?

Thanks
Jez

 

[wolves3012]

Firstly, don't panic! Unless you actually forced things it's unlikely you actually broke anything. When you say it doesn't cock any more, what happens when you try? Does the wind-knob turn freely or is it stuck? If it turns easily you've either a) locked the shutter button down by accident (turn it to release it) or b) you've accidentally put it on "rewind" (turn the collar around the shutter button to release that)

If it turns but meets resistance, try this: with it uncocked, select the highest speed you can (don't worry about what speed it is). Now wind on GENTLY until you feel extra resistance and stop. Select the highest speed you can again. Repeat this till the shutter is cocked. Now select a correct speed and fire it and check all is ok.

If the above fails to work, then yes, you have bu**ered it up and it may need dismantling.

 

[Largeneg]

Figured out the most frequent reason the shutter won't work after rewinding a Zorky 4.

There is a shutter lock. Not described in any manual that I've come across in English. Rotating the shutter button counterclockwise locks the shutter. Clockwise unlocks the shutter.

Here's what happens- your roll full of Mona Lisa's is finished. You rotate the rewind release knob/ring (that encircles the shutter release) counterclockwise. Unknowingly, you've also just rotated the shutter release counterclockwise (because of friction/age of lubricant/big fingers/etc.) and locked the shutter!!!

You load the new roll of film, rotate the rewind release clockwise and advance the film. The sprockets engage, the film advances, but the shutter doesn't cock! Why? The shutter lock is still stuck in the counterclockwise locked position!!! It didn't stay stuck to the rewind knob/ring and come back to where it started. The shutter lock keeps the shutter drive train away from the take up spool drive and you see the little pin stick out at the bottom of the take up spool drive thinking that the rewind mechanism is gummed up, or worse.

Summary: make sure the shutter button is unlocked (shutter button rotated fully clockwise and standing up proudly) after returning the rewind knob/ring to it's fully clockwise position.

A simple fix, as it was never broken in the first place...

 

[4KTony]

Zorki Shutter Lock

Zorki Shutter Lock

Thank you Wolves3012 and Largeneg. My 4K's shutter suddenly went AWOl the other day. Moment of panic until I read your posts.



Actually, the 4K handbook does mention the shutter lock, but in such a vague way that it only makes sense reading it after the event!