Zorki 4K - first photos and a question

[space2k]

Hi - I'm new here and to rangefinders. I am an avid digital amateur and decided to use a Zorki 4K as my re-entry into the world of film (after about 20 years).

I recently had my first three rolls precessed my mpix, and I'm fairly pleased since I was totally guessing at my exposures. Hope to improve now of course - blah, blah, blah.

Anyway, my question: Each of my shots has a black horizontal strip across the top (see examples attached - note that these are the lo rez mpix scans). This happened on all three rolls of film I shot with the Zorki 4K. Am I loading the film incorrectly or is this something I need to repair?

Thanks,
SZ

 

[40oz]

If it shows up on the negatives as a lsant on the top of each frame, is it possible the shutter isn't retracting all the way out of the way? Or the frame mask behind the shutter is crooked?

 

[misok]

it seems to me this happen pretty often with FSU RFs that frames aren't ideally placed on the film. z4 i bought week ago gives every frame a little slant and reaches the perforation area on the bottom. this leads to exactly same effect as yours..no enough picture information on the top. you can deal with this by taking it as a 'creative accent' or get rid of it by adjusting spool by shimming or something.. i'd like to know some hints as well.

all the best,

m.

 

[wolves3012]

Looks to me like the lower light baffle is distorted or possibly loose...Nice pictures though!

 

[misok]

.. a little bump .. on some tips about narrowing frame placement on the film ... ?


thanks..

 

[Xmas]

I'd be tempted to ignore unless you need commercial prints as the baffles are just as easy to disturb (worse) as fix.

Noel

 

[Blank288]

I seem to have had exactly the same issue on my first FSU rangefinder: a '66 Zorki-4. Look at the negatives: the film probably is exposed a bit out of the centre, and a bit oblique. The printing machine doesn't 'see' this and prints the upper border of the negative.
I corrected it by glueing a correct fitting metal ring on the upper part of the take-up spool, so that it sits about 1mm lower in its chamber. Now it pulls the film straight across the film gate; in my case the problem was solved.
As I understand the spool of the 4K is fixed (??, don't have one), maybe you could adjust it's position in another way?