Zorki Camera Repairs

[Bob L]

Hi All
If repairs are required on a Zorki camera here in the states is there anyone who can handle this, I have one of my Zorki 4's that need to have the synch. dial adjusted, it will only fire when set at 10 or above and not at 0 or 5.
Grayhound send me to a page that shows how to adjust it but I don't when to be the one to remove the cover and cause more damage, would rather pay someone who know what there doing and get it right.

 

[captainslack]

If you're willing to sent it back to Mother Russia for awhile, I've heard Oleg at http://www.okvintagecamera.com is THE one to work on FSU cameras.

 

[Bob L]

Thanks, but I'd rather not do that, would like to keep it on this side of the pond.

 

[reagan]

Yeah, I keep thinking one of the energetic young gentlemen [with good eyes] here in RFF will open his very own "Home Repair of FSU Rangefinders" business... and make a mint!! But reality is, finding someone here in the US to work on one of these beauties would HAVE TO cost almost as much or more than what the everyday Zorki 4 is worth, even for the most minor repairs or adjustments + shipping and handling.

I've got two; one is dear enough to send to Oleg if it needed serious repair. The other not-so-dear would be torn into by yours truly. If I botched it, hey, there are 6 or 7 more on this page that can be had for under $25 + shipping. On my budget, as long as they're that inexpensive, paying for repairs just isn't an option and being apprehensive about making things worse is just no big deal to me. I'll try to fix it... if it swarms, I'll ordain it to be a paperweight and get another.

But that's just me. Good luck and I do hope you'll post if you find a good repairman here stateside.

 

[Bob L]

I hear you, and I'm sure your right, maybe I'll give it a shot ,like you say what have I got to lose, I have 2 4's now and a 4k on it's way and there is always e-bay.

 

[kmack]

Attempting to do the repairs yourself may fall under the "penny wise, pound foolish" rubric.

If, say, you have to buy 3 cameras to get one that is repairable by you, you would have spent around $120 (estimating $25 per camera and $15 shipping each).

Buying one camera, $40 (assuming a zorki or fed) $45 repair by Oleg and $30 shipping (both ways). You will have spent $115 and have a camera that has been professionally CLA'ed.

Even if the shipping runs higher you end up spending $130 for a camera that is totally "up to spec".

 

[newspaperguy]

Well said. IMHO if it's worth using, it's worth sending to Oleg.

I've had non-FSU cameras serviced in the USA and a two to
three month wait is not unusual.... it's normal! And $80+ is the
starting number for CLA/minor repairs. Oleg is a bargain in both
the time and the money departments. That's my $0.02 worth.

Rick (who has learned his limits when it comes to fixin') 😕

 

[Bob L]

Up-date on Synch. dial adjustment:
Contacted Oleg, explaned my problem and ask for cost to repair, his answer was "to easy to fix and charge for" he told me what to adjust without having to remove cover and now it works just fine when set at 0.
Super guy to deal with and also I purchased some item from him at the same time.

 

[Jon Goodman]

Yeah, I keep thinking one of the energetic young gentlemen [with good eyes] here in RFF will open his very own "Home Repair of FSU Rangefinders" business...

I won't claim to be young, but I've considered doing this. It isn't as easy as it sounds, though. There are challenges of time and I'd have to find somebody in Russia or elsewhere to be a source of parts cameras. So, I'd like to ask the group a question...maybe a two part question: How much would you consider spending to have one of these cameras serviced, and at what price would you consider having more than one done?

Jon

 

[pshinkaw]

I doubt that I would spend more than $100 for work on one of my Russian cameras. I do most everything myself except for shutters, and that is about the going rate for cloth FP curtain replacements.

Based on the quality of work I received on my last shutter replacement, I think I will start doing them myself too.

The number of hours I put in on my last rehab job (a Zorki-4) far exceeds a reasonable amount of time that I would pay someone else for. That's why it's a hobby.

-Paul

 

[Bob L]

As usuall your right on greyhound, that is just what Oleg told me to do.
I think that $100.00 would be the top to pay for repair work on 4 or 4K and that would have to be first rate work with a guarantee.
As was posted before Oleg will do a 4 or 4K for 44 or 48 bucks and shipping round trip would be about 30 bucks so I feel 100 is top.

 

[Kim Coxon]

My 0.02c worth.

I think getting a professional service done on a common FSU camera is just not cost effective. I use a very good repairer in the UK for my SLR's who seems to be much more reasonable the the prices in the USA. Even so, I doubt I would take a common FSU camera to him. Paying about $40 for a cheap FSU camera and then paying $80 for a service doesn't make sense to me. For not a lot more, I bought my Bessa R from another member. There is no comparison in feel, ease of use and quality etc. If it were a rare "collectors" type that would be worth a $100 or so afterwards and that I was very fond of, it would be different. For me, FSU's are a hobby and great fun. If there is a minor problem, I can tinker and if it all goes wrong, I don't get upset. If it's major, it will become a parts donor for a paint job or spares.

However, a "semi-pro" job might be different. I fix quite a few computers for people and quite often they are very surprised at the cost. I do it because I like messing with computers and it helps to fund mine. There is no way I can make a living out of it. It is also a very different thing to do a "favour" for a friend than doing a "pro" job with the possibility of liability etc.

Kim

Well said. IMHO if it's worth using, it's worth sending to Oleg.

I've had non-FSU cameras serviced in the USA and a two to
three month wait is not unusual.... it's normal! And $80+ is the
starting number for CLA/minor repairs. Oleg is a bargain in both
the time and the money departments. That's my $0.02 worth.

Rick (who has learned his limits when it comes to fixin') 😕

 

[Jon Goodman]

Thanks for the responses. So far, comments I've heard sound like the voices inside my head...particularly Kim's, with whom I find myself in agreement quite frequently. Another question: If a person was to concentrate on only one Soviet rangefinder, which one do you think it should be? (There are valid reasons I think limiting service work to one is the answer, but to avoid a wordy and rambling post, I'll keep them to myself at this point.)
Jon

 

[Kim Coxon]

Hi Jon,
A difficult question. A simple answer might be "whichever is your favourite or you enjoy working on most". The more complex answer would be the one which would generate the most cost effective work.

IMHO, I would not choose the Kiev's. The LTM cameras seem to be more popular/common and seem to generate far more questions about repairs.

The FED's are perhaps the most common. however, they do seem to attract the tinkerer's more (especially the 2's) and their resale value is very low. With the later ones, there could be problems with the meter's.

The Zorki 4's (and Mir) are popular and seem to attract better prices than the Feds which would mean they are more likely to attract a service. So for the later ones, I would tend to go in this direction.

From a purely financial point of view, perhaps the early cameras would be best. Many of the FED 1's, Zorki 1 & 2's go for around $100. I would be far more likely to get a pro service on one of these than tinker and there should be a good deal in common between these before the 2 went down their separate ways.

As a final thought, I would also consider concentrating on lenses. Many of the cameraswork reonably well and need little work. However, it appears a much larger portion of the lenses need at least a re-lube. To be honest, I had thought of trying to offer such a service especialy for the J9. Trouble is, I don't think there would be the demand in the UK and trans atlantic post would mean it might not be cost effective. However, If any RFF members, need lenses doing, feel free to contact me.

Regards
Kim

Thanks for the responses. So far, comments I've heard sound like the voices inside my head...particularly Kim's, with whom I find myself in agreement quite frequently. Another question: If a person was to concentrate on only one Soviet rangefinder, which one do you think it should be? (There are valid reasons I think limiting service work to one is the answer, but to avoid a wordy and rambling post, I'll keep them to myself at this point.)
Jon

 

[dll927]

I continue to be bothered by all this talk about home repairs. Do we suddenly have a lot of amateur camera repairmen? In the case of FSU cameras, it seems to me that given the going prices on most of them, it would be just as sensible to get a replacement if whatever is wrong really prevents use of the camera.

Yes, I've seen websites with what appear to be directions on what to do to repair/adjust a rangefinder, for instance. But I'm no mechanic or camera repairman. And I'm not sure I'd care to take the time to get into such a thing.

How many have actually done such things, and what is the time element involved?

 

[pshinkaw]

Hours and hours.

I do it for fun, not profit or utilitarianism. Soviet-era cameras are the easiest to start on since they cost less and work with wider machine tolerances than most other small cameras.

There are a lot of people who do this. Take a look here for a sample.

http://www.kyphoto.com/classics/forum/

-Paul

 

[GeneW]

I think getting a professional service done on a common FSU camera is just not cost effective. I use a very good repairer in the UK for my SLR's who seems to be much more reasonable the the prices in the USA. Even so, I doubt I would take a common FSU camera to him. Paying about $40 for a cheap FSU camera and then paying $80 for a service doesn't make sense to me.

It depends. I have a really nice Zorki 3M (a less common model) that is the pride and joy of my FSUdom. But the negatives were more exposed on one side than another. The 3M was my third FSU cam and I knew it was my keeper, so I shipped it to Oleg who diagnosed that the shutter curtains, that had once been replaced, were too thick. He put in new curtains and the cam is now beautiful to use, as well as being good for maybe another 30 years or so. I'm not a handyman and could not have done this repair myself so I consider it money well spent.

Gene

 

[Kim Coxon]

Hi Gene,
I fully agree with you which is why I went on to say it would be different for one of the rarer cameras or one with a particular significance. I enjoy tinkering but my favourite repair man is also kept quite busy 😉

Regards
Kim

It depends. I have a really nice Zorki 3M (a less common model) that is the pride and joy of my FSUdom. But the negatives were more exposed on one side than another. The 3M was my third FSU cam and I knew it was my keeper, so I shipped it to Oleg who diagnosed that the shutter curtains, that had once been replaced, were too thick. He put in new curtains and the cam is now beautiful to use, as well as being good for maybe another 30 years or so. I'm not a handyman and could not have done this repair myself so I consider it money well spent.

Gene

 

[reagan]

Bob L, glad you got your sync worked out. Good job!

Hey! I sneak off on a little two day trip away from the computer and this thread takes off! Sorry about the "comment-and-run" but now I'm back. There's some really interesting comments here and I'd have to say, I agree with everybody. (And no, I'm not a US politician! 😛 ) ... agree, well, almost.

I continue to be bothered by all this talk about home repairs. Do we suddenly have a lot of amateur camera repairmen?

Allow me to answer this simply... YES!! I'm also an amateur plumber, amateur electrician, amateur auto mechanic, amateur curling iron solder-er-er, amateur washing machine/furnace cusser/kicker/fixer. I'm a tinkering do-it-yourselfer. IT'S WHAT I ENJOY! hello? I buy, sell, clean, rub, shoot, admire, curse and tinker with FSU cameras for the same reason... I ENJOY IT. It's also for that reason that I spend way too much time chit-chatting with other SchmuckBrethren like myself who putter with these little FSU rascals... just for the sake of ENJOYMENT! ((sorry for the name-calling, it's just a joke, term of endearment... don't PM me back and call me a NukingWhaleKillerForJesus or something 🙁 )) But frankly, I ENJOY IT and, with all due respect, don't care who it "bothers."

As I mentioned earlier, on the one hand, FOR MY MEEGER MONEY the market-value of FSUs generally doesn't warrant spending a lot on shipping for repair. Replacement is = or < than professional repair. However, I have a Zorki 3M (as some of you might have surmised from my signature) another Zorki 4 on the way that is a 1956 offering and a Zorki-Zorki also in transit. While I have purchased them for the same reason - I ENJOY IT - those three are ones I plan on keeping and USING for many years to come, so I would spend a few dollars to keep them in good working order.

Jon asked, "How much would I pay?" Again, FOR MY MEEGER MONEY, I don't think Oleg is over-the-top at all, and I would send it here in the US for costs competitive with his. And actually, the time needed for transit and repairs is not a big concern for me... within reason, of course. I'd like them back before I die... sorta.

And Jon, which models should one choose to work on? Well, "the models that CVBLZ4 owns... of course!!" 😉 Okay, I know, it's not about me. My wife told me. But I agree with the previous comments, the earlier less abundant Zorki and FED models seem to be the ones more likely to be held on to and therefore, sent for repairs. I also agree on the lens re-lube option. I'm a newbie and only done a couple, but some are simply done while others, in my opinion, seem to be a little more touchy going back together... correctly.

Okay, I've run off at the mouth long enough. I've got to go solder my wife's '57 Chevy curling iron... TO HER HEAD!! ... so I'm outta here.

 

[Bob L]

Ok Camera

Ok Camera

After dealing with Oleg at OK Camera i have found that it's much better to deal with someone who know your camera and when the work is done it done correctly.
As far as I'm conserned he is the expect when it comes to these type of cameras,
price and deleivery is right in line plus what you get is right from the start.