Zorkis C & 5…winter use?

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xxloverxx

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Just found out that we're going to Vancouver this Christmas. And we'll probably be up in Whistler as well.

I want to go RF only this time…but how well do the Zorkis C & 5 stand up to occasional use (a few snaps every 10-15 mins) in -10ºC weather? Obviously it'll be kept in a bag most of the time, but that won't necessarily keep it warm, and I don't think putting hand warmers inside will do any good for the film.

Opinions & experiences much appreciated…
 
The camera should have no problem. Film goes stiff at low temperatures though - wind gently so that it doesn't break.

Take care not to get any condensation on the lens. Condensation-wise it's probably better if the camera is at -10°C constantly than if it switches between -10 and +20 degrees all the time.

Side advice that you may or may not know - don't fire a Zorki-5 shutter with no lens on the camera. The shutter mechanism might jam with the rangedfinder assembly if the rangefinder is extended too far. Some people here have had bad experiences with that. It affects only the Zorki 5, they ironed out the problem as soon as they were aware of it.
 
Pakeha — I actually have a Kiev which I was planning to take as a backup, despite the fact that it's really almost fallen apart and the lens needs shimming…on second thoughts, I won't take it 😀

rxmd — Thanks for the warnings. I am aware of film getting stiff, and with the knob wind C I'm not too afraid of winding too fast, but I'll be sure to be extra careful with the 5. I have been warned about winding/firing the 5 without a lens on.

Does anyone think the shutter curtains will crack or anything? I'm planning to keep the speed at 1/125 or 1/250 for the entire skiing "session"; then I might change it to 1/60 before going to dinner. Basically, I don't think I'll be changing it much (especially given how small the dial is…in the cold! I knew I should've gotten the FED Siberia 😀)
 
My experience has been that very cold weather is when I found out that my fsu camera needed a CLA. The usual symptom was slow closing of the second curtain, especially at 1/30.
I have used a Zorki-4 successfully in temperatures down to -25C, but I always followed the instruction in one of the camera manuals to keep the camera inside my coat except when actually shooting. This is recommended for temperatures below -10C.
 
ZorkiKat said:
Weren't those things conceived and born in Russia? Cold winters should not be a problem with them...I think that's like asking if a penguin will have colds if brought to the Antartic 🙂
Click to expand...

Yes, but I don't know if either Zorkis have been CLA'd…ever! 😱 Still trying to burn through the 1st roll in the Zorki 5 to see if it even has anything wrong with it…
 
Don't worry. In all probability it will be fine. I've never had a mechanical camera break from cold, and where I work it does get chilly in winter. (This year we're expecting a harsh winter again, in some of our project locations we'll getting ready for temperatures in the negative forties).
 
That's reassuring!

So I just have to keep it somewhere inside my coat and wind slowly to prevent the film from breaking.
Should be easy enough.
 
Keep the camera under coat, be gentle with film. from my experience with superia last year it can tear easily in the cold. I´d use kiev, because of the shutter, but zorky will do almost as well, just do not leave it out in the cold for too long
 
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