Zorki 4 to 4K

[moretto]

I am just curious.
I have a Zorki 4, and a busted 4K beyond repair..Have anyone here tried to upgrade 4 with a cocking lever?
As I am very fond of my Z4, I most probably wont't do it..It was my grandpa's camera and is a "50 let Sovijetske Vlasti" anniversary model, but in case I get my hands on another one...cocking lever is so handy..

 

[Rey]

I have wondered about this too. Someone must have tried it.

 

[mongo141]

Zorki 4/4K coversion

Zorki 4/4K coversion

I have wondered about this too. Someone must have tried it.

I had both on my bench, both needing various repairs. The 4 was brand new and mint and the 4k was pretty well trashed or maybe it was the other way around and I thought about a conversion.😀. It wasn't worth the effort and work, differant top plates with differant mounting hole locations etc.etc. so I gave up on the idea. Dave

 

[moretto]

Very good. That takes care of my curiosity. Knob is fine.

 

[wolves3012]

Can't be done I'm afraid. The 4K has too many differences, as pointed out. You'd have to swap the top plates and all the gears, easier just to get a 4K in the first place.

 

[PhotoJim]

I have both cameras, and I strongly prefer my Zorki 4. It might seem illogical, but knob wind seems to fit the Soviet rangefinder experience better than lever wind does.

I've picked up a Fed 2b and a Fed 3a too. They are also knob wind and I like them a lot.

These three are easily my three favourite Soviet shooters, and I'm sure the knob has a lot to do with it.

 

[xayraa33]

I prefer the Zorki 4.
the lame Zorki 4k has such a weak wind mechanisim with that advance lever.
the one on the Fed 5 is built much stronger.

 

[fidget]

I think that a nice Zorki 4 a far better looker than the 4K. The ker-plonk of the z4K winder is just too cheesy for comparison. Although, I do admit, they can do the job well enough.

 

[Rey]

Good info. The Zorky 4 seems very well built. I don't have a 4k, but it does look like a cheaper construction ethic was applied.

 

[dll927]

So the Soviets were also good at changing things from model to model. A different mounting hole from the knob to the winding lever. That sounds like the same tactic as changing the battery every time a new model of camera (or cell phone) comes out.

As for quality, keep in mind that some websites on FSU cameras seem to feel that quality control was often a matter of how much vodka the comrades consumed the night before. I've read, I thnk it was regarding Kiev cameras, that one time a bunch of inspectors came in and tossed to the trash heap a month's production of cameras. The boys must have really tied one on!!

 

[raid]

I have both types, and both work well.

 

[giovatony]

IMO the knob wind is a bit slower but provides the necessary feedback that gets lost with the force of a winding lever . The feedback being able to guage the film transport system with some degree of certainty and able to determine if all is well or not.
Obviously the crank lever allows for a more rapid succession of shots.
Like everything in life, there`s always a tradeoff and always a reason to argue the pro/cons.
John