Zorki 5(b) winder operation.

[fidget]

I'm thinking that a Zorki 5b might be nice to play with. I wondered if the winder is like the Zorki 5a (180 degree travel with ratchet), or like the Zorki 6 ( about 210 degree travel, no ratchet noise)?

Dave..

 

[TVphotog]

My Z6 has a bit of a ratchet noise with it. Most of the time that is just from lack of use. A good cleaning and lubrication usually solves the problem. I would also guess that the wind on the Z5b would greatly depend on when it was built. The earlier ones might have a 180 degree crank while a later one might have the 210 degree crank. As stated before in other threads, the russians tended to make changes incrementally and not all in one batch.

 

[fidget]

Thanks for the info. The ratchet sound from my 5a is just that, it's a ratchet with a nice smooth zippy noise, like my Zorki 4k. My Z6 has no ratchet, it locks the wind mechanics with a toothed lever dragged under one of the cogs, like all the FEDs I have seen. I would guess that you are right that there may be Zorki 5b variants with both. Perhaps a better question would be, what is yours like?

 

[wolves3012]

Fidget, I have a later 5, it has a ratchet sound when the lever moves either way and 180 degrees (ish) travel. The 6 has no ratchet noise in the wind direction so I'm assuming it works a little differently - not had the top off (yet) to see!

P.S. The 5s are very nice cameras; the winder on mine has been lubed and adjusted. It's very smooth indeed, bar the slight feel of the ratchet. They are noted for roughness but I think that's just through lack of lube & adjustment.

 

[TVphotog]

My Z6 makes almost no noise what so ever when winding. If I had to classify the noise, I would definitely call it a zip like sound. Of course, I took my Z6 apart and CLA the winder gears and spring.

 

[fidget]

Thanks guys, the shorter winder throw of the 5a is nice, I prefer it to the longer winder throw of the 6. I discovered that bottom loading isn't as difficult or problematic as I first thought, in fact in some ways it makes a neater camera, and quite retro.

Dave......

 

[wolves3012]

I really like my 5, bottom-loading doesn't bother me at all. The 5 is a good combination with a bright, accurate RF/VF and a collapsible I-50 that makes the camera pocketable.

 

[ZorkiKat]

Fidget

Whatever you do, make sure that you don't fire the shutter without a lens on the camera. The layout of the RF and shutter parts inside the top plates are such that these can mesh if there is no lens on the mount. The RF follower will extend out and the part it's connected to inside will also wander in the places where the shutter parts are. Though this would probably never happen after a few blank fires, it can happen. I had recently repaired a Zorki-5 which did this.

BTW, according to Maizenberg, the Z-5 winding is really grittier and heavier than compared to the Z-6's. It's also supposed to have a certain weak part in that department which was resolved in the Z-6. The lens-less winding and firing issue had also been resolved in the Z-6.

Jay