siracusa
Well-known
Dear all,
I have what looks like a Zorki I (C) 1951-1953 as per the descriptions on the Soviet Cams webpage: http://www.sovietcams.com/index.php?-1795780876
I had bought the camera only for its lens, an Industar 22, knowing that it had a shutter fault. However, the camera body looks in lovely condition and appears to have had little use so I wondered whether anybody might have any insights into what might be the cause of the problem.
The shutter seems to fire at only one speed, which I'd guess is around 1/500, irrespective of what I set the shutter speed dial to.
The only exception to this is Z. Sometimes Z fires at full speed, but sometimes it operates as it should. Z appears more likely to operate as it should if I press the shutter release slowly and gently; a firm press seems more likely to have it firing at full speed. There are exceptions to this both ways, though... Z probably fires as it should around 70% of the time. As for the other speeds: there is never any variation; always full speed.
I've never opened a camera before and as a non-expert it seems that for me to open this would likely just damage it further. I wondered whether it is something simple that might be solved by adjusting the tension screws, or whether it is more complex, like a problem with the shutter release, in which case I will have to decide whether it is worth sending off for a CLA that will likely cost more than the camera is worth (it's not as if I actually need another body, either). On the other hand, to attempt to repair it myself might help me gain a better understanding of the mechanics of cameras. Would such a repair be feasible and fairly straightforward, or completely unadvised as likely to cause more damage - I apprehensive about doing things if I lack the appropriate skills and make things worse...the sum of my mechanical expertise is being an excellent repairer of lawnmowers, which is a very, very different matter 🙂.
Thanks in advance,
David
I have what looks like a Zorki I (C) 1951-1953 as per the descriptions on the Soviet Cams webpage: http://www.sovietcams.com/index.php?-1795780876
I had bought the camera only for its lens, an Industar 22, knowing that it had a shutter fault. However, the camera body looks in lovely condition and appears to have had little use so I wondered whether anybody might have any insights into what might be the cause of the problem.
The shutter seems to fire at only one speed, which I'd guess is around 1/500, irrespective of what I set the shutter speed dial to.
The only exception to this is Z. Sometimes Z fires at full speed, but sometimes it operates as it should. Z appears more likely to operate as it should if I press the shutter release slowly and gently; a firm press seems more likely to have it firing at full speed. There are exceptions to this both ways, though... Z probably fires as it should around 70% of the time. As for the other speeds: there is never any variation; always full speed.
I've never opened a camera before and as a non-expert it seems that for me to open this would likely just damage it further. I wondered whether it is something simple that might be solved by adjusting the tension screws, or whether it is more complex, like a problem with the shutter release, in which case I will have to decide whether it is worth sending off for a CLA that will likely cost more than the camera is worth (it's not as if I actually need another body, either). On the other hand, to attempt to repair it myself might help me gain a better understanding of the mechanics of cameras. Would such a repair be feasible and fairly straightforward, or completely unadvised as likely to cause more damage - I apprehensive about doing things if I lack the appropriate skills and make things worse...the sum of my mechanical expertise is being an excellent repairer of lawnmowers, which is a very, very different matter 🙂.
Thanks in advance,
David
