Zorki C

[Mikey_Rotten]

I have a black Zorki C with serial number starting 5717... and never used it. Anyone here who uses/ has used a Zorki C ?
Any pros & cons?

It seems very functioning and all. Thought Id give her a good cleaning and attach collapsible Industar22 and try it out. 😛

 

[pschauss]

My first bottom loader was a Zorki C. I bought it because I thought that it would be less susceptible to light leaks than my FED-2 and because you could buy one with an I-22 on Ebay at the time (10-12 years ago) for about $14 shipped. Mine worked well for me.

 

[leighmarrin]

I've got one, and like it. On the first roll the shutter release felt fairly stiff, but on the second roll it's loosening up. No light leaks and frame spacing is much more consistent than my Kiev RFs, hence easier scanning. I only wish mine had strap lugs.

FYI, it's actually a Zorki S --the Cyrllic S looks like our letter C.

 

[KnipsOmat]

I have a black Zorki C with serial number starting 5717... and never used it. Anyone here who uses/ has used a Zorki C ?
Any pros & cons?

The black finish is not original. Black Zorki-S were never manufactured. Someone must have painted it black in the past.

I've used a Zorki-S, but not much. I'm not very fond of it. For my taste, there are many much nicer FSU rangefinders around.

Cons:
- bottom loader, film tongue has to be cut. Loading is cumbersome and relatively slow compared to other models with removable or hinged back.
- separate viewvinder and rangefinder.
- for my taste, it's an "ugly duckling". Non-S Zorki-1 have much nicer looks and are quite a bit smaller, more pocketable
- no slow shutter speeds
- no self timer

Pros:
- flash synch socket

Having sait all that, it's a camera. A black box. A film holder. If working o.k., it's perfectly capable of taking nice images with a good lens mounted on it. If you don't need any of the features it does not have and if you like it, fine. Then go and use it 🙂

Personally, I'd prefer a FED-1 / Zorki-1 for size / pocketability and looks or a Zorki-4/-4K for slow shutter speeds, better viewfinder, combined viewfinder/rangefinder and self timer. Simply much more versatile.

 

[gb hill]

I like mine but it's a bit on the heavy side to lug around in a pocket. Loading can be a chore also but I still like to use it from time to time. Right now I have mine loaded for Red Oktober 2014 with a wide angle finder & J-12 lens.

 

[rfaspen]

I have and occasionally use the Zorki-C. I like it. It was my second FSU body (of many now). I like the size, the reliability, and even the weight of this camera. Compares favorably with my Barnack Leicas (of many now). I put an I-22 on it and took it with me to do fieldwork in Yellowstone National Park. Many wonderful images came from that trip and my friends always think they came from one of my Leicas 🙂 No, the Zorki-C and a good copy of I-22 -- really.