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Post by Just Plain Curt on Mar 5, 2006 8:46:57 GMT -5
Gotta admit I have all of these and many more sites bookmarked in my Russian Favourites folder but as far as Yahoo groups, I went through the 46 groups I was a member of a while back and unsubscribed from any that had few recent posts. I hardly ever get back to these sites any more. Used to do forums on Yahoo, MSN, AcePhoto, BestStuff, Nelsonfoto, RangefinderForums, here of course, as well as several camera repair forums. In the last few months I've tapered off to just Photo.Net, here, RangefinderForums and KarYanMak's Camera Repair site. Too many irons in the fire I guess. I've even slowed down to using about 2 cameras/month now instead of 4 or 5 /week. Buy a few lately, but motivation seems to be waning. I only actually enjoy this forum these days as the people are friendlier and the topics more wide ranging than "my Leica this or my Canon P that" etc. Brand loyalty is a great thing but obsession is hum drum to read after a while.
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Zorki 4
Mar 5, 2006 11:00:53 GMT -5
Post by kiev4a on Mar 5, 2006 11:00:53 GMT -5
I don't know if anyone noticed, but Tom has 'instant check back' for visitors to his site. For example, a little box pops up noting that I'm using ntl as my ISP, that I'm running Windows XP and using Internet Explorer 6. I don't know for sure, but I would suspect that anyone Tom has banned just doesn't get any further. He also has a pet hate about what he calls 'deep linking'. In other words, don't post a link to one of the pages, only to the home page. I believe Tom does all his own programming (I think he teaches it at a college in Holland) and wrote his website in raw HTML code and Java script, running on Linux. He and I had a few email discussions about this a couple of years back, but after a trial I chickened out and used a program generator even though I modify the code it generates sometimes. Tom's very knowledgeable in a lot of ways, as well as being a nice guy. He is also very strict in running the Zenit Collectors Group, and quite ruthless on occasion with people who blantantly transgress what he calls 'Tom's Laws', which he reminds people about every month or so. Well, he has to run a tight ship with over 1000 members across the world, a few of whom have got a bit uptight in past years. Peter Tom works for a major computer operation of some sort in holland. He has forgotten more about computers and programming than most of us will ever know. He's a big Linux fan--I think he uses it exclusively.
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Zorki 4
Apr 24, 2006 23:26:40 GMT -5
Post by physiognomy on Apr 24, 2006 23:26:40 GMT -5
Just thought I'd share a pic of my '62 Zorki 4... I'll be recieving a nice J-12 soon, so I think it will become a more regular user. Peter
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Zorki 4
Apr 25, 2006 5:49:52 GMT -5
Post by Randy on Apr 25, 2006 5:49:52 GMT -5
Very nice Peter, I don't have any Russian rangefinders....yet.
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Zorki 4
Apr 25, 2006 10:31:34 GMT -5
Post by physiognomy on Apr 25, 2006 10:31:34 GMT -5
Hey Randy,
Your 'yet' sounds ominous... Take a hard think because once you have one.... Well, you know the rest of the story! Luckily (for me) the prices (& shipping from the FSU) seem to keep going up, so they are not exactly dirt cheap any more. My collection consists (so far!) of a Kiev 4, a late Fed 2, a Fed 5B, & the Zorki 4... Not too many compared to some, but I am probably forgetting at least one.
Cheers!
Peter
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Zorki 4
Apr 25, 2006 18:23:14 GMT -5
Post by Randy on Apr 25, 2006 18:23:14 GMT -5
Well, I've got about 100 cameras now, so I don't spose a few more will be noticed...(I hope)
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Post by physiognomy on Jul 5, 2006 0:45:38 GMT -5
My J-12 arrived some time ago and I wanted to post a pic... The Zorki 4 just didn't feel right to me with a collapsible 50mm on it. Peter
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Zorki 4
Aug 19, 2006 22:25:58 GMT -5
Post by ampguy on Aug 19, 2006 22:25:58 GMT -5
I also recently got my first Zorki, a Zorki 4K with J8 lens. It's in excellent condition, but I was surprised that it took me an afternoon, plus some to get used to the way the shutter works. The photos from my first roll came out amazingly well. Unfortunately mine does not have strap lugs, and the case it came with, while nice fitting, is cumbersome, so I've yet to find a good way to carry it. 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
Aug 19, 2006 22:40:02 GMT -5
Post by GeneW on Aug 19, 2006 22:40:02 GMT -5
Ampguy,
If it's the standard case, what you can do is take it to a shoe repair place and ask them to punch out the rivet holding the top piece. You can then use the bottom half as a nice half-case with a place to attach a strap. If you want to get fancier have them replace the rivet with a snap so you can reattach the top piece when you want it.
Gene
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Zorki 4
Aug 19, 2006 23:27:42 GMT -5
Post by kiev4a on Aug 19, 2006 23:27:42 GMT -5
I don't think the Z-4 ever came "stock" with a collapsible lens--either the J-8 or the rigid I-50. The Mir, which is a Zorki 4 without slow speeds, did come with the collapsible Industar 50. Peter, I see yours had a FED lens initially.
Yep the rising postage rates have pretty much driven me out of FSU camera collecting. Another factors is the pickings are getting slimmer--at least for cameras in good condition. Besides, I got examples of nearly all the Zorki and FED models except for a few very early ones--so that urge was replaced by Nikons (FSU addiction is cheaper).
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Zorki 4
Aug 20, 2006 0:19:25 GMT -5
Post by ampguy on Aug 20, 2006 0:19:25 GMT -5
Thanks Gene, but I don't think I want to use the original Zorki case bottom at all, the leather has kind of an old smell to it. I might eventually get a tripod mount wrist strap for it. In addition to the J8 I have a couple of collapsible 50's for it, a great I-22, and I-50, also a great I-61 rigid, non LD. Some of these I use on my M with an adapter. Ampguy, If it's the standard case, what you can do is take it to a shoe repair place and ask them to punch out the rivet holding the top piece. You can then use the bottom half as a nice half-case with a place to attach a strap. If you want to get fancier have them replace the rivet with a snap so you can reattach the top piece when you want it. Gene
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Zorki 4
Aug 21, 2006 6:17:51 GMT -5
Post by John Parry on Aug 21, 2006 6:17:51 GMT -5
Hi Ampguy
Yes the Zorki cases are generally beautifully made and hardwearing, but (along with many other leather cases) have a tendency to stink!!
A good way of making them bearable is to use some of that spray-on protective coating that you use to make suede more weather-proof. One we get here is called Scotchguard. Spray the case very liberally, inside and out. It helps to keep the smell in.
Regards - John
ps The smell is just from the tanning process used. Let's just say it's more 'organic' than we are used to!!
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Zorki 4
Aug 21, 2006 6:32:29 GMT -5
Post by GeneW on Aug 21, 2006 6:32:29 GMT -5
John, nice tip on sealing in the smell! The cases certainly are tough and, punched out, I think they make nice half cases. For some reason I find half cases very comfortable. I only now realized, after re-reading this thread, that I'm now the owner of the camera that started it off. Bought this from Rick and I'm delighted with it. Came with the J8, a nice black J12, 'organic' case, and the filters you see here. Thanks again, Rick! Gene
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Zorki 4
Aug 21, 2006 8:37:16 GMT -5
Post by herron on Aug 21, 2006 8:37:16 GMT -5
John and Gene: I've had the same problem on a lot the cases for my "Russian" cameras, as well as some of the older other ones. Started using a product called Fabreeze (I think I've spelled that right), that my wife had in the laundry area. Comes in a spray bottle, like window cleaner. It takes the odor away very, very well. It's sold here in the laundry soap area (seems natural, I suppose) of the local grocery. My wife says she originally got it to help make my tennis shoes bearable...and claims if it works for those, it will work on anything!
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Zorki 4
Aug 21, 2006 8:40:53 GMT -5
Post by herron on Aug 21, 2006 8:40:53 GMT -5
My J-12 arrived some time ago and I wanted to post a pic... The Zorki 4 just didn't feel right to me with a collapsible 50mm on it. Peter: Neat looking camera! Question: did that lens shade come with it, or is it something you picked up elsewhere? It looks particularly good on these cameras, and I thought I might look into getting a few for the Fed's and Zorki's in my own collection!
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