Zorki 6 - RF a small disappointment

[Janos]

Hi,

a couple of days ago my first RF (Zorki 6) arrived and I was a little shocked because the rangefinder was so small.

Is it the same with all FSU or are there some better than others? I didnt expect the size of a modern SLR-like viewfinder though.

Im a total beginner in all terms of RF so you may call me blasphemic idiot but please be so kind and explain it afterwards. 😀

Leica has some magnifiers for there viewfinders, are there some for FSU too?

All in all I really love my Zorki and I just started to explore the "surroundings". No way getting me away from them again. 😱

 

[xayraa33]

try a Zorki 4 or 4k next time.
the vf is 1:1 on these.

 

[Nickfed]

Hi,

a couple of days ago my first RF (Zorki 6) arrived and I was a little shocked because the rangefinder was so small.

Is it the same with all FSU or are there some better than others? I didnt expect the size of a modern SLR-like viewfinder though.

I think it is pretty well the same for any rangefinder, from anywhere. The FED-2 has a brighter RF spot, but this is only achieved by dimming the viewfinder and I don't think that is such a good idea.

The FED-1 has a genuine life-size RF view but the spot is about the same size as your Zorki, so it still doesn't cover all the view, something I will never understand. It is life size because the RF optics are separate from the VF. You won't like the FED-1 viewfinder.

All-in-all, the Zorki-6 is about as good as it gets. I guess only the Voigtlander CLR gets near it for the money and it only has its viewfinder to recommend it.

The Zorki viewfinder is about 0.7. Despite the rumours, I think you will find the Zorki-4 no better. You can get accessory finders. Those with suspended frames are big dollars, and I don't think the view is any larger.
The Kontur finder is perforce 1:1 and can be cheap these days. I use one with a FED-1 but I wouldn't bother with using it on a Zorki-6,

Im a total beginner in all terms of RF so you may call me blasphemic idiot

No, just a victim of culture shock.

Leica has some magnifiers for there viewfinders, are there some for FSU too?

Probably not, and if there were, they would be expensive. Their rarity would reflect their popularity, and usefulness. By and large, the things an RF camera does best are the things it can do when it comes out of its box. This goes some way to explain the success of SLRs

 

[xayraa33]

"The Zorki viewfinder is about 0.7. Despite the rumours, I think you will find the Zorki-4 no better. You can get accessory finders. Those with suspended frames are big dollars, and I don't think the view is any larger.
The Kontur finder is perforce 1:1 and can be cheap these days. I use one with a FED-1 but I wouldn't bother with using it on a Zorki-6,"

the Zorki 3, 3M, 3C, 4, and 4k, all had 1:1 veiwfinders.
I own and use 4 of these models Zorki cameras and even when compared to my SBOOI finder on top of my Leica III.

 

[ZorkiKat]

Vintage rangefinders based on the old SM Leica or Contax tend to have squinty small finders. Though small, their chief advantage is the ability to show the full field seen by the normal 50mm lens. In their time, few really complained since that was how many cameras were. A person who's been weaned on big and magnified-view SLR finders or even one of the later large-window RF will really find the old viewfinder sizes 'disappointing.'

IT REALLY IS A MATTER OF GETTING USED TO THE SMALLER FINDER. In the same sense as getting used to seeing a different view, focusing with a coincident patch, winding a knob instead of a crank or lever, or even loading from the bottom. These are things to accept, and get used to, if one chooses to use an old camera.

And BTW, the Zorki-4/4K may show a lifesized image, but the edges of the frame are often harder to see. The entire view isn't seen at a glance, the eye needs to go around the frame to see what's happening on its perimeters.

 

[blacknoise]

IT REALLY IS A MATTER OF GETTING USED TO THE SMALLER FINDER. In the same sense as getting used to seeing a different view, focusing with a coincident patch, winding a knob instead of a crank or lever, or even loading from the bottom. These are things to accept, and get used to, if one chooses to use an old camera.

And BTW, the Zorki-4/4K may show a lifesized image, but the edges of the frame are often harder to see. The entire view isn't seen at a glance, the eye needs to go around the frame to see what's happening on its perimeters.

Couldn't agree more, I dislike the finders on my 4k and Iskra because I wear glasses and have to flip them up to see the whole frame. Where as the smaller ones on my Leica III are much easier to see.

You'll get used to it! I promise 🙂

 

[hks3sgte]

IT REALLY IS A MATTER OF GETTING USED TO THE SMALLER FINDER. In the same sense as getting used to seeing a different view, focusing with a coincident patch, winding a knob instead of a crank or lever, or even loading from the bottom. These are things to accept, and get used to, if one chooses to use an old camera.

...reasons why I love shooting with these vintage cameras.

 

[kievman]

I have a late model Kiev 4 that has the larger eye piece in the rear, same as a kiev 4am, this finder is much brighter than say my eariler 62' keiv 4a, but besides been brighter its patch is much easier to see than my Zorki 6. Its magnafication is about 1: 08 or about 80 percemt It is my favorite FSU finder . The Zorki 4/4k finder is often said to be 1 to 1 or life sze, but if this is true, subjects in the viewfinder would be the same size as viewed with the Naked eye and they are not. I estimate the Zorki 4 finder is really a 1: 1.15 as subjects in the viewfinder are larger than veiwed with the nake eye. And I have found some websites that agree with my estimate. Of all the Zorli cameras i have used from Zorki 4 5 and 6 I often find myself torn between the 4 and the 6. The Zorki 4 is very bright and good for low light focusing. the 6 is good for its easy framing as jt is easy to see the whole frame in one glance simular to my Keiv 4, all the Kievs and most of the Zorkis show close to 100 percent of the frame with a 50mm lens, great for prefered 50mm users like myself and most Leicas and canons do not.- Michael P.S give a Zorki 4 a try most people are happily surprised by how bright and clear the VF is!