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View Full Version : Get another zorki?

MarkoKovacevic
03-10-2009, 16:22
My zorkis shutter broke, so i was considering buying another one from fedka. I have a jupiter 8, which i love, its a bit soft wide open for portraits but very sharp stopped down. My dilema is I just bought a olympus XA, which is a awesome RF P&S with a great lens. Above all, it is reliable, which my zorki definelty wasn't. For these reasons, what should my decision be?
ItsReallyDarren
03-10-2009, 18:20
If your happy with your XA and your Zorki is broken then it seems the decision is set. Zorki broken = use working XA.

If your dilemma is (it sounds like) you have a hundred bucks and your debating where to spend it. You could; get it repaired, buy a new one, buy a new one and attempt to repair your old one.

Getting it repaired might be cheaper. There's a few repair men out there that specialize in FSU rangefinders. Repairing it yourself might be fun if you have the patience, plus you dont have anything to lose since its already broken!
neelin
03-10-2009, 18:25
I'm with Darren...from the school "If it doesn't fit, force it. If it breaks, you needed a new one anyways" ;)

Robert
reagan
03-10-2009, 19:15
don't guess it really matters, but out of curiosity, what flavor of Zorki are we replacing?
blazejs
03-11-2009, 00:37
I'm with Darren...from the school "If it doesn't fit, force it. If it breaks, you needed a new one anyways" ;)

Robert

Haha..! Very cool :-)
Soeren
03-11-2009, 01:40
Stick with the XA for now and put some money aside for a Bessa R or something similar. If I understand correctly you can use your lens on any LTM + adapter. Correct me if I'm wrong.
Kind regards
Kozhe
03-11-2009, 01:52
Well, Zorkis are cheap and you allready have a lens you like for it. Moreover a full manual camera is a good companion for the XA, I have one allready and although itīs actually a hell of a camera I donīt like auto cameras and moreover itīs limited to 800 ASA, so itīs not so great at night shooting.

Anyway, I donīt really get your doubt. Do you need to sell the XA in order to buy a Zorki? You are not sure about getting the Zorki because you might prefer another model?

An XA has nothing to do with a Zorki as you know for sure... Just one AE camera wonīt work for me.
MarkoKovacevic
03-11-2009, 03:09
The Zorki model is a Zorki 4. I'm debating wether to replace it as I already have a XA which is a lot more reliable than the previous zorki was, and I can use the XA in cold weather.

Soren, does Bessa also make LTM cameras?
Joao
03-11-2009, 03:20
Hi
Can you be more specific about the shutter problem? It may be a simple fix - or not - and that will help you to decide..
Joao
reagan
03-11-2009, 03:52
The Zorki model is a Zorki 4...
as i suspected. you might take a look at the Zorki.1 models and see if that might be of interest. i like all Zorkis, but personally prefer the One over the others.
cysasam
03-11-2009, 04:21
The Zorki model is a Zorki 4. I'm debating wether to replace it as I already have a XA which is a lot more reliable than the previous zorki was, and I can use the XA in cold weather.

Soren, does Bessa also make LTM cameras?


Sounds like no debate to me. Use the working cam.
Spyderman
03-11-2009, 04:31
Send the Zorki to Oleg for CLA. After it returns, it will be more reliable than the XA.

http://okvintagecamera.com/
momus1
03-11-2009, 04:34
I've had so many Zorkis w/ problems that I also think a Bessa R is a better way to go. Takes LTM lenses, small, and has a meter. I've also had shutter and rewind crank issues w/ the Bessa's, but your chances are a lot better than w/ a Zorki.

I haven't had the same good luck w/ Oleg that spyderman has had. Bought two Zorkis from him, both had problems, and after sending them back for repair neither worked right when they returned. Shipping isn't cheap either.
blazejs
03-11-2009, 04:46
I'd also go for Bessa R. It's much more reliable, takes LTM, build in light meter, frames for 35/50/75/90. I keep my Zorki 4 for Jupiter 12 only, which does not fit Bessa.
santino
03-11-2009, 05:03
well well, I don't get the point, why Zorki 4's wouldn't be reliable. I've got 4 and all are working fine (especially the ealier models are smoother). Just luck? :D
Spyderman
03-11-2009, 05:08
I haven't had the same good luck w/ Oleg that spyderman has had. Bought two Zorkis from him, both had problems, and after sending them back for repair neither worked right when they returned. Shipping isn't cheap either.

I haven't had anything repaired by Oleg, but he has a reputetion of the best repairer of FSU LTM cameras.
Sure a Bessa is better, but it's also in a different price range

PS: and the Zorki is made of solid metal.
Peter_Jones
03-11-2009, 05:10
does Bessa also make LTM cameras?

The Bessa R is LTM, R2 and newer are "M" mount (in the main..)

Newer Bessas (with M mount) will take LTM lenses with a LTM to M adaptor

Good cameras.
Soeren
03-11-2009, 05:58
The Zorki model is a Zorki 4. I'm debating wether to replace it as I already have a XA which is a lot more reliable than the previous zorki was, and I can use the XA in cold weather.

Soren, does Bessa also make LTM cameras?

Whoops sorry I missed your question :bang:
I see Peter gave the answer just above here.
My experience is that if you have a camera that is unreliable that will affect your trust in the next camera of the same make. So if you find your Zorki was unreliable before the breakdown just stick to you XA and your F5. If you then find you miss a RF system camera you can put the money aside and buy a Bessa R or later version. as said youll need a LTM to M adapter for R2 and later for you current lens but that wont break the bank.
Kind regards
blazejs
03-11-2009, 09:36
Well, Bessa is more reliable just because it's newer. My Zorki 4 has broken slow speeds and issues with straight film transport (it was discussed in other threat) but I still love it. Anyway some features of Bessa are really useful (meter, frames) and I'm very happy I've bought this camera.. To be honest I've bought a Kiev 4a just 2 months later ;-) So there really is SOMETHING in these cameras.
dll927
03-11-2009, 10:28
There were more 4's produced than any other Zorki incarnation, so there should still be some left. I have two 4's, among various others - at least one of all from 1 to 6, except Zorki-2.

You mention getting one from Yuri at Fedka. I don't think you can go wrong there. I once bought a Kiev-4a from him, and he emailed me that the lens had "minor cleaning marks" on it, so he was sending a different lens. The camera arrived with BOTH lenses!! He's hard to beat, even if he's somewhat more expensive than the Unkrainian sellers. And it will get there sooner!
shadowfox
03-12-2009, 11:58
For those in the US, Eddie Smolov is also a good choice for FSU camera repairs. Heck, he fixed my Contax IIIa's shutter.

Reagan, it's good to see you around, pastor :)

Having now a zorki 1, I tend to agree with you, they are little darlings.
blacknoise
03-12-2009, 14:35
You could have a crack at fixing it, it depends how broken it is :P

I managed to fix mine with the stickied CLA guide on this forum. If I can do it, I'm pretty sure you could :)
MarkoKovacevic
03-14-2009, 05:42
Hi
Can you be more specific about the shutter problem? It may be a simple fix - or not - and that will help you to decide..
Joao

The main metal film sprocket, has a pin under it, after firing the shutter, the pins do not match up and i cannot wind or cock the shutter.
wolves3012
03-14-2009, 13:20
The main metal film sprocket, has a pin under it, after firing the shutter, the pins do not match up and i cannot wind or cock the shutter.
I can think of several reasons for that, none of them simple or quick fixes, sadly...
MarkoKovacevic
03-14-2009, 16:32
I can think of several reasons for that, none of them simple or quick fixes, sadly...

So I should just give up on that camera then? It wasn't very reliable before anyways
ItsReallyDarren
03-15-2009, 01:39
Doesn't sound like the Zorki has been very good to you. You could put it on the back burner for the time being, deal with it a later day.

In the meantime if you get the desire for a second body beyond the XA you could pick up a FSU rangefinder from a reputable seller. A few have already been named in this discussion. That way if you decide its still not for you, you always have the option of selling it with the history of where you got it from. It definetly helps keep the value of the camera.
wolves3012
03-15-2009, 08:10
So I should just give up on that camera then? It wasn't very reliable before anyways
Unfortunately, it's not a high-value camera where you could justify repair costs. If you can't or don't want to fix it yourself then it's not really worth it.

Out of curiosity, when the shutter has been fired and the pins don't align, are they sitting on top of each other or what? Are both shutter blinds actually moving when the shutter is tripped? One thing to check: Can you wobble the lower part of the film sprocket? If so, the lower bearing is worn and needs a bushing. I've had that happen on a Zorki 1 but I wasn't willing to let it defeat me, so I made and fitted a bush. Not a simple job!
MarkoKovacevic
03-15-2009, 08:38
Unfortunately, it's not a high-value camera where you could justify repair costs. If you can't or don't want to fix it yourself then it's not really worth it.

Out of curiosity, when the shutter has been fired and the pins don't align, are they sitting on top of each other or what? Are both shutter blinds actually moving when the shutter is tripped? One thing to check: Can you wobble the lower part of the film sprocket? If so, the lower bearing is worn and needs a bushing. I've had that happen on a Zorki 1 but I wasn't willing to let it defeat me, so I made and fitted a bush. Not a simple job!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8z6ax7ITBk heres a video on the problem
wolves3012
03-16-2009, 05:31
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8z6ax7ITBk heres a video on the problem
It's a little difficult to tell from that but it looks like the first curtain isn't travelling properly. A simple CLA would tell you a lot more but it depends if you're willing to attempt it!
David Hughes
03-17-2009, 03:47
Hi,

If you've had it since it was new then I'd go along with the others in saying don't waste money on a camera that you've little faith in and know to be unreliable.

But, here's the crunch, if it was an old, secondhand one then you've no ideas of what it's been through and so an overhaul might just restore your faith in it and it will probably seem like a new one to you. And the lenses etc for it are very nice (and dirt cheap).

Try pricing it's replacement too but sit down first...

Regards, David