Zorki 5 -- Maybe it's just me

[kiev4a]

When I was first introduced to FSU cameras in early 2002, there was one camera that fascinated me. That was the "Red" Zorki 5 made only in 1958. For me it always has been one of the best looking Russian cameras -- red lettering on the front and the distinctive square rangefinder window--looks a little like a Leica M (Ok that might be stretching it).

I took a awile but I finally got a Red 5. Even better, it was one of the early models with a vulcanite body instead of nylon mesh. The only trouble was it didn't work. The film advance sounded like it was shearing off teeth with each winding attempt.

A few months ago I got another RED Z5. Same problem -- almost inoperable film advance plus bad curtains. I opened up the two cameras thinking I could get enough good parts to make things work right. That's when I discovered the advance mechanism on the two cameras was slightly different -- enough so that I didn't want to get involved. Then I got a Red Z5 parts camera from someone it the states. The advance mechanism again was slightly different--almost identical to the 1959 black Z5.

Finally, this summer, I decided it was time to get the job done right. So I packed up two "Red" and shipped them off to Oleg with the request to make one good one out of the two and keep the extra parts. He's working on it now. So, hopefully in about another month, I should have a fully functional, smooth operating Red Zorki 5. I'll post pictures.

Maybe there's just something about me that particular camera doesn't like🙂

 

[je2a3]

Hi Wayne,

Good luck with the red Z5! I'm sure you'll have a nice working camera when you get it back from Oleg. Anyway I want to let you know that I've been a frequent visitor to your site and recently printed out all the pages pertaining to various Zorki 1s. I have a few FED 2s, a FED 3a , Zorki 6s, a Z5 and Z4 but never owned a "true Leica II copy". So after perusing your site I took a chance on a Zorki 1d on eBay which I'm expecting delivery any day now and hoping that it will be a good shooter. You have a great website and it's a must visit for anyone into FSU equipment. Thanks a lot!

Regards,

Joseph

 

[kiev4a]

Hi Wayne,

Good luck with the red Z5! I'm sure you'll have a nice working camera when you get it back from Oleg. Anyway I want to let you know that I've been a frequent visitor to your site and recently printed out all the pages pertaining to various Zorki 1s. I have a few FED 2s, a FED 3a , Zorki 6s, a Z5 and Z4 but never owned a "true Leica II copy". So after perusing your site I took a chance on a Zorki 1d on eBay which I'm expecting delivery any day now and hoping that it will be a good shooter. You have a great website and it's a must visit for anyone into FSU equipment. Thanks a lot!

Regards,

Joseph

Joseph:

Glad you enjoyed the site. IMO the Z1D and the Z1C (Zorki Zorki) are the best of the Z1s if you are looking for a shooter. Right now my best bottom loading shooters are a 1D and a FED 1 that is the last model of the series. I have a FED 1 coming back from Oleg that was made right after the war and darn near as smooth as a Leica (it had bad curtains). It was the last camera I got from Anya--some old Beststuff FSU users remember Anya.

The nicest Z1 I have is a Z1B with flash sync (also from Anya) It is nearly mint. The trouble it has the soft body shell and you have to be careful handling it. More of a collecting piece than a shooter for that reason.

Good FED and Zorki 1s are getting harder to come by and the prices have gone up.

 

[je2a3]

Good FED and Zorki 1s are getting harder to come by and the prices have gone up.

Is the VF and RF on the FED 1 also slightly dimmer than a Zorki 1 in the same way they are in a FED 2 vs Zorki 6 comparison? Depending on how I'll get along with the Zorki 1d, I might add a FED 1 to my collection at some point perhaps from Oleg.

 

[Laika]

When I was first introduced to FSU cameras in early 2002, there was one camera that fascinated me. That was the "Red" Zorki 5 made only in 1958. For me it always has been one of the best looking Russian cameras -- red lettering on the front and the distinctive square rangefinder window--looks a little like a Leica M (Ok that might be stretching it).

MMmmmm .. yes the red Z5 is a very sweet camera 😎

Something that is not often mentioned is its compact size, I think only the Zorki1 / FED1 series are smaller. It is a little smaller than the FED2 and its older brother the Z6. It also shares the nice big viewfinder (for a Soviet standards that is 😀 ) of the 3/3M/4/4K/6 models.

One of my Red Z5's with the Jupiter 3 - 50mm/f1.5

 

[kiev4a]

Is the VF and RF on the FED 1 also slightly dimmer than a Zorki 1 in the same way they are in a FED 2 vs Zorki 6 comparison? Depending on how I'll get along with the Zorki 1d, I might add a FED 1 to my collection at some point perhaps from Oleg.

The FED 1 and Zorki 1 viewfinders have comparable brightness (or dimness). It pretty much depends on the individual camera--some are in better condition than others. The Z5 finder is, IMO, much better than the FED 2

 

[je2a3]

Thanks for the info Wayne! Perhaps the brighter VF/RF KMZ produced came with the later models with combined VF/RF.

BTW, Laika nice Z5! I've seen another nice Z5 posted by you in the past with red painted metal border and it was re-leathered that was really nice too. I just don't remember if that was a Z5a with rectangular RF or later Z5b.

Yes the Z5b I have is very compact just slightly taller than a IIIf but similar girth and bulk.

 

[Laika]

BTW, Laika nice Z5! I've seen another nice Z5 posted by you in the past with red painted metal border and it was re-leathered that was really nice too. I just don't remember if that was a Z5a with rectangular RF or later Z5b.

That was this camera, bought for $29 with very chipped paint and scruffy nylon covering. A bit of red paint, leather and TLC and it turned out better than I had hoped 🙂 ... The finished pic shows it with the same J3 lens but most of the time it has the chrome J8 on it as shown in my gallery.

kiev4a - I'd be interested to hear how you Z5 feels after being worked over by Oleg. While my refinished Z5 action feels fine its not as slick as my others, I'm tempted to send it to Oleg for some tweaking.

 

[reagan]

Good choice on the Z5 "red letter addition". I've several times lusted after one of those myself. I'm sure Oleg will get you in good shape. Can't wait to hear of the finished product... or products. Knowing Oleg, he can probably get them both up and running without too much trouble.

And a hearty "Amen!" on your great site. I've enjoyed it several times, finding myself occasionally checking back to it to re-read something. (I also share your fondness for the Zorki 1s. I just got my second one today and it feels as smooth and sturdy as my first one. I'll be putting a roll through it before the weekend and if all goes well, I can easily see myself using these two most of the time.)

Anyway, good luck on the Red Rascal project and to reply to your thought, "Maybe there's just something about me that particular camera doesn't like" ... No worries. Once Oleg has a little heart to heart chat with it in it's native tongue, 😉 I'm sure it will come home with a whole new attitude!

 

[kiev4a]

That was this camera, bought for $29 with very chipped paint and scruffy nylon covering. A bit of red paint, leather and TLC and it turned out better than I had hoped 🙂 ... The finished pic shows it with the same J3 lens but most of the time it has the chrome J8 on it as shown in my gallery.

kiev4a - I'd be interested to hear how you Z5 feels after being worked over by Oleg. While my refinished Z5 action feels fine its not as slick as my others, I'm tempted to send it to Oleg for some tweaking.

Very nice looking camera.

As to the film advance smoothness, there is a small gear the meshes with a large gear in the gear train. The small gear is mounted on the end of a metal plate and fastened to the camera body by two screws. The small gear must mesh with the larger gear at a precise angle or the advance will be rough. Unfortunately, the small gear tends to loosen up and the angle changes. When it is adjusted correctly, one needs to put some nail polish or Locktite on the two screws so they can't loosn up. This all comes from Maizenberg's book on Russian camera repair. I understand the theory bout have never been able to do it properly in actual practice. They apparently solved the problem on the black Z5s and the Z6 as they always seem to have a smooth advance.

 

[Nickfed]

Maizenberg, huh? I see that this book isn't hard to get. Sounds like you have it? Is it worth it?. Is it well illustrated? Dare I ask if there is an English translation? What is the latest edition?

 

[pshinkaw]

I have an English version. I bought it here:

http://www.edromney.com/

Very useful.

-Paul

 

[kiev4a]

Maizenberg, huh? I see that this book isn't hard to get. Sounds like you have it? Is it worth it?. Is it well illustrated? Dare I ask if there is an English translation? What is the latest edition?

Like many cameras, I had an English copy of the book, decided I had learned enough, sold it, then discovered I still had a lot to learn, wished I hadn't sold it.

 

[je2a3]

The Maizenberg book's print quality isn't so great. Practically no pictures except for the front cover. The rest of illustrations are pretty good drawings from a skilled draftsman. You mainly have to get over the syntax [due to perhaps the translation] and leaf through several pages sometimes to find the referred illustration. For certain things it has helped me with simple CLA jobs. However, I gave up on understanding the shutter principle and changing curtains so I sent a couple cameras to Oleg. Nontheless the book is the only reference material I'm aware of for anyone who has interest in collecting/fiddling with Russian cameras.

 

[kiev4a]

The best material on Repairing Zorki and FED 1s is Jay Javier's Survival Siet Much better explanation that Maizenberg. But it only cover that one model of camera.