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Zorki 4
Feb 2, 2006 16:21:20 GMT -5
Post by byuphoto on Feb 2, 2006 16:21:20 GMT -5
I just got one from a fellow RFF member and a J8 lens. My first impressions are much more favorable than expected. Anyone that considers the FSU stuff junk has never held a Moskva, Iskra or a Zorki. I know it is not Leica or Zeiss but it is pretty darn good ans a heck of a lot cheaper. Now if I just had a J12 35mm lens and finder
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Zorki 4
Feb 2, 2006 16:49:22 GMT -5
Post by kiev4a on Feb 2, 2006 16:49:22 GMT -5
The nicest Zorki 4s were the ones made from 1956 to about 1959 and '60. They had strap lugs, vulcanite covering and all the lettering and numbers were etched, not painted. Some of the Z4s in the '60s had some of those embellishments but they gradually evolved to all painted lettering, nylon covering and no strap lugs. An example of the 1956 Z4 can be seen at home.att.net/~wayne.cornell/camera/zorki4list.htmlI lucked out. The camera is in virtually mint condition and takes great pictures. The Mir has all the attributes of the early Z4s but doesn't have the slow speeds--allegedly one of the most reliable FSU cameras.
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Zorki 4
Feb 2, 2006 19:00:40 GMT -5
Post by byuphoto on Feb 2, 2006 19:00:40 GMT -5
Mine is a '57 in outstanding shape and the J8 is a '58
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Zorki 4
Feb 2, 2006 21:34:10 GMT -5
Post by kiev4a on Feb 2, 2006 21:34:10 GMT -5
Congratulations! There aren't many of the early ones around. The '58 lens is probably original and means the camera was a late '57. The early ones even have a little different sound -- more substantial--at least that's my humble opinion.
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Zorki 4
Feb 3, 2006 10:52:26 GMT -5
Post by herron on Feb 3, 2006 10:52:26 GMT -5
If I hadn't been focused for so long on Mamiya, I would probably be collecting the early Russian rangefinders. I have a decent collection of them already. And I agree with Rick, they are pretty darn good...and a lot cheaper than a Leica! mamiya35collectors.com/russian.htmMy earliest one is a FED, numbered 3214 which would, if I could authenticate it, date it c.1934. I also have a FED type(1d) that -- even though it has the typical (1d) markings -- has a serial number low enough to be a (1c)...which would put it in the transition period between the two, c.1939. Now that I'm thinking about them again, I will probably load some film and shoot this weekend! ;D If I ever find the elusive few Mamiya that will complete that portion of my collection, I will probably start (1) looking for lenses for the Russians, and (2) ducking the pottery being thrown by my wife!
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Zorki 4
Feb 3, 2006 11:26:12 GMT -5
Post by kiev4a on Feb 3, 2006 11:26:12 GMT -5
Ron: Does you low SN FED lack an accessory shoe? The early models didn't have it and the finish was fairy rough--lots of hand tooling marks.
My earliest FED is an NKVD (99495) which puts it at about 1937. It has the earliest type accessory shoe which has a small alignment pin--later ones didn't have it.
Us a lens hood when you shoot with the early FEDs. The lenses are uncoated and flare easily.
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PeterW
Lifetime Member
Member has Passed
Posts: 3,804
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Zorki 4
Feb 3, 2006 15:56:38 GMT -5
Post by PeterW on Feb 3, 2006 15:56:38 GMT -5
Hi Ron, You've got some nice Russian rangefinders, or FSU - Former Soviet Union - as many people on the forums devoted to them like to call the cameras. Others, purists I suppose, call them Ukranian cameras. I've got four rangefinders (actually more if you count doubles ): 1956 Zorki S (C), several Zorki 4s and 4Ks, a FED 4 and a Kiev 4A. I've got two other Kiev 4As and a 4 'in course of reconstruction'. In other words they were bust when I got 'em! I've also got a Zenit S (C), a 3M and a whole gaggle of later ones from the B to the TTL and 12XP. I've actually lost count of the later zenits ...Honestly!! Over the past couple of years they've been turning up regularly in my local market and no-one wanted them. At the prices they were going for I just couldn't resist . The average price was £3 to £5 - though I did give £9 for one 12XP because it was in really Mint condition and I got a working Leningrad 4 meter thrown in as well. One thing I like about these cameras is that they're easy to work on. At the price they're an ideal introduction to camera fettling, and there are plenty of really helpful websites to guide you. Peter
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Zorki 4
Feb 3, 2006 17:09:59 GMT -5
Post by kiev4a on Feb 3, 2006 17:09:59 GMT -5
Peter. It wouldn't be accurate to refer to all the FSU cameras as Ukranian--KMZ (Zorki, Leningrand, Droug, etc. is in Kransnagorsk, on the outskirts of Moscow. Speaking of Zenit 11 that has the best microprism focusing spot I've seen on an M42 SLR. The focus really pops.
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Zorki 4
Feb 3, 2006 17:34:14 GMT -5
Post by byuphoto on Feb 3, 2006 17:34:14 GMT -5
Any of you guys got a Jupiter 12 35mm you want to part with?
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PeterW
Lifetime Member
Member has Passed
Posts: 3,804
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Zorki 4
Feb 3, 2006 20:03:02 GMT -5
Post by PeterW on Feb 3, 2006 20:03:02 GMT -5
Hi Wayne, I just call 'em all Russian . Agree with you about the Zenit 11 screen. Peter
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Post by heath on Mar 1, 2006 3:49:49 GMT -5
I have a Zorki 4 with both the J8 and J12, and I am sorry to say that I am keeping them both. I also have a Kiev 3a ( I think) with a J8. Both work great and I love the feel they both have in the hand. When you are holding them you know that you are hold some substantial kit.
Heath
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Zorki 4
Mar 1, 2006 11:21:00 GMT -5
Post by Just Plain Curt on Mar 1, 2006 11:21:00 GMT -5
On the topic of Zorki 4's, I just received my latest (third Zorki 4 + 1 Zorki 4K) and the Jupiter 8 was scratched a bit with plenty of cleaning marks. The body was nice and I have several extra M39 lenses so I put on my Mint (or so I thought) Industar 50-2 50 f3.5. Looks good, works nicely but f stops totally wrong as the f stop ring closed down about 1/4 inch or 6 mm too far so I had no f3.5 or f4 available, at least on the markings. Had to disassemble the front of the lens 6 times to get it right on. Nobody ever said I are the smart one of the group. Anyhow, eventually found that tightening the front ring to hold in the front element actually allows adjustment of the f stop ring. Is this normal or did I just totally screw up the focus now? Any ideas short of shooting a roll to try it out? It's wayyyyy below zero today and I'm not that adventurous. Thanks.
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Zorki 4
Mar 1, 2006 12:07:49 GMT -5
Post by kiev4a on Mar 1, 2006 12:07:49 GMT -5
Don't think I've ever had a rigid I-50 apart (I assume that's the lens you are talking about) but they are a sharp lens. They were used a lot on the later Z4s--to keep down costs, I think. The black ones on the 4K are especially nice looking.
BTW: It's in the mid 50s (F) here today. Don't know how you folks farther north handle to long winters.
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Zorki 4
Mar 1, 2006 15:39:19 GMT -5
Post by Just Plain Curt on Mar 1, 2006 15:39:19 GMT -5
Strange weather for sure. This morning was sub zero, this afternoon I'd swear it's 20 degrees above zero. Guess I'll try a test roll through the Zorki with Industar 50 f3.5, Industar N61 55 f2.8 and the scratchy Jupiter 8 5cm f2 . Hope to post a shot or two tomorrow but all I have thawed out are 36 exp. rolls of Kodak 200 so we'll see.
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Zorki 4
Mar 1, 2006 16:58:38 GMT -5
Post by screaminscott on Mar 1, 2006 16:58:38 GMT -5
Just to let you'all know it's in the 70's here today...Last day to unpack from my move this past weekend before going back to work tommorrow....And no, we are not all unpacked...Maybe halfway there but work needs me back so I'll have to unpack on the weekends for the next maybe 2 months...Won't have a chance to shoot much till then...
Scott
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