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Post by Just Plain Curt on Aug 31, 2005 18:55:50 GMT -5
Hi everyone, just wanted to say I received my latest two Ebay goodies this week: a Zorki 6 w/Industar 50 f3.5 and a Kiev 4m with Helios 103 53mm f1.8 . Should be fun trying them out this weekend. I look forward to seeing a few other Russians here as well.
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PeterW
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Post by PeterW on Sept 6, 2005 12:35:05 GMT -5
Hi, Hope your Zorki and Kiev are turning out to be good buys. I've got quite few Russian cameras, and although quality control at the factories seems to be pretty poor my experience is that most Russian cameras work well enough when they're properly adjusted, and Russian lenses are excellent. The later Zenit SLRs with instant return mirrors that I've got are a bit clunky and agricultural in feel compared with western and Japanese SLRs, and not as smooth as my earlier Zenit C (S) and Zenit 3M. But I've got no argument with my two Kiev 4s, Zorki C, Zorki 4, Zorki 4K and FED 4. They're really smooth. BTW, If anyone has problems with a Kiev 35mm have a look at Russ Pinchbeck's Kiev Survival Website www3.telus.net/public/kaylalyn/index.htmlPeter |
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Post by Randy on Sept 6, 2005 18:20:08 GMT -5
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PeterW
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Post by PeterW on Sept 7, 2005 5:23:42 GMT -5
Go for it Randy. Red would seem to be an appropriate colour! It looks as if you'll have to take the top off for repainting but this isn't difficult on an EM. You could possibly replace the ZENIT and the EM with Letraset or similar waterslide transfers but you'll lose the Olympics symbol commemorating the 1980 Olympics in Moscow. The Olympic Zenits aren't as rare as some people on e-bay seem to think. Thousands of them were churned out between about 1978 and 1981. In case you might not know, you can date your camera by the first two figures of the serial number on the back of the top plate. Does the meter work? Sometimes they fail because of bad contacts but if the cell is dead it's possible to replace it with a solar cell from Tandy. Details (and a lot more about Zenits) are on Tom Tiger's site www.xs4all.nl/~tomtiger/Quite a lot of Zenits were turned out with very stiff and jerky shutter releases because of slipshod hurried assembly at the factory. If yours suffers from this I've got details and pics of how I adjusted several of mine. Not difficult while you've got the top off. Peter |
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Post by Randy on Sept 7, 2005 6:37:34 GMT -5
Meter doesn't work. The advance mechanism is stiff, but I've been working it and it seems to be loosening up. I don't know how far I want to get into this one though.
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Post by kamera on Sept 7, 2005 13:16:13 GMT -5
Ah, go for it...it might take you a little longer, but take your time and then post pics of the 'new' Zenit by Randy.
The only Russian camera I have is a Kiev 4m. And...I am still learning the language so I can read the instruction manual that came with it...yeah...right...l0l.
Ron Head
Kalamazoo, MI
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Post by Just Plain Curt on Sept 7, 2005 16:56:42 GMT -5
Wow Randy, that's some project you have there. With time and your magic wand you should be able to resurrect the old gal. Love to see one in red, should be cool.
Hi Peter, I have 17 Feds, Zorkis, Mir, and Kievs, so these two have plenty of kin to keep them company. Hope to use the Zorki 6 first tomorrow then the Kiev on Friday if all goes as planned. A trip to watch World of Outlaws sprint car races was called off last minute so I have a couple of free days to shoot a few rolls.
Hey Ron, does your 4m have the Helios lens ? Curious as this one on my 4m is the only one I've seen in RF. Plenty in SLR but RF?
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Post by kamera on Sept 7, 2005 17:39:04 GMT -5
Hey Curt,
I said I was still in Beginning Russian class...lol. The lens on my Kiev4M is a..."?nNTEP-8m", 53/2. The ? mark means I have no idea what the first letter is.
Actually, not a bad camera overall...it is hefty and appears to be well made, for what I understand about Soviet cameras.
In the mags, you tend to hear more about their lenses than cameras. The writers often recommend a Soviet lens as a 'somewhat quality' cheap alternative lens to other brand names.
There are different of their cameras that attract my attention and, I think, would be neat to have in my collection but I tend to steer away from another out-of-the-USA purchase based on
my not-too-happy experience when I got the Kiev4M. The one and only out-of-this-country purchase.
And I have not found the Kiev dealer in the US as the most customer oriented or helpfull...my personal opinion.
Ron Head
Kalamazoo, MI
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Post by GeneW on Sept 7, 2005 19:40:54 GMT -5
Curt, I find the Russian RF's hard to resist. I've had a Zorki 4K, and Fed-2, both of which I later sold, and currently have a Zorki 3M (my fav) and recently a Kiev 4AM with the Helios 53/2 and a Jupiter-12. I particularly like the results from the Jupiter-8 I use on my Zorki 3M, and the 3M also serves as a companion LTM camera to my Bessa R, often wearing a CV 25/4 lens and VF. There's something delightfully impertinent about these cams -- a decent one can perform well beyond its cost ...
Gene
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Post by kamera on Sept 8, 2005 10:46:58 GMT -5
Gene,
You say you are a writer and photographer...and everything about the pic of you says so also...not to stereotype.
"Too many cameras, not enough time...". You sure hit the nail on the head with that statement.
Ron Head
Kalamazoo, MI
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Post by Just Plain Curt on Sept 8, 2005 15:27:33 GMT -5
Hi Ron,
No problem telling these lens ID's apart, if it ends in TEP it's Jupiter, if it ends in TAP it's Industar and Helios is pretty straight forward. Some look like they say N-61 or N-26 these also are Industar.
Hi Gene,
I know what you mean about performing well beyond their cost, I also have a Lubitel 2 and 24 Zenits just because they're so durn cheap and ALMOST always seem to work. (Like everyone else on eBay, I've had a few non-working models slipped through as "like new")
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Post by GeneW on Sept 8, 2005 18:27:35 GMT -5
Thanks Ron. I keep pounding at the keyboard, although lately I've taken to writing first drafts with a fountain pen on yellow legal pads ... must be the influence of vintage cameras...
Curt, I've been lucky. Most of my Russian purchases have been good. My Zorki 3M, when it arrived, gave me uneven exposures -- one half of the pic more exposed than the other -- so I sent it to Oleg for repair and he replaced the shutter curtains. Now it works beautifully and should be good for another 30 yrs or so ... I'm not sure why but I really like the heft and the lines of the 3M.
Gene
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Post by herron on Sept 9, 2005 1:08:13 GMT -5
In addition to my Mamiya collection, I have several Russian cameras: FED's, Zorki's (most of the iterations, through the Zorki-4), Mir, Start, Zarya, Zenit and Kiev. All of them are in decent condition now, although some were pretty scruffy when I first got them. The FED-1 pictured is serial number 3214 which, according to McKeown, makes it one of the earliest. I don't use the FED's and Zorki's much anymore, even though they take decent pictures...I'm afraid I've gotten so I dislike having to cut and trim the film leads (even though I have the template). Am I just getting old?  |
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Post by kamera on Sept 9, 2005 12:46:42 GMT -5
Gene, Did you really mean an honest-to-goodness "fountain" pen?  ? You are a true writer then...lol. I thought fountain pens were obsolete? Ron |
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Post by GeneW on Sept 9, 2005 19:39:41 GMT -5
Ron,
Yup. A Sheaffer -- and I'm still able to find ink and cartridges with no trouble. Not to get anyone here started, but I've heard of folks who, in addition to cameras, collect fountain pens! (I'm not one of them ...)
Gene
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? You are a true writer then...lol. I thought fountain pens were obsolete?