Making a Leica Standard clone

[Gordon Coale]

I saw a recent post about a gold plated Lecia fake made from an FSU camera and my two remaining brain cells arced and made a thought. There have been some very pretty Leica Standards in the Show off your Leica I/II/III/LTM Camera thread. Reagan isn't the only one lusting after these elemental cameras that were so clean and simple before Leica cluttered them up by sticking a rangefinder on them. The thought I had was that a Zorki 1 or a Fed 1 would be a good candidate to be made into a Leica Standard clone since the upper rangefinder cover comes off.

The picture on the left is a Leica Standard. (Be still my heart!) The next picture is a Zorki 1. Aki Asahi has coverings for the Zorki 1c and Id so I would use one of those. The #4040 Screwmount Leica Emboss surface leatherette would be very tasteful. The big problem would be covering the shutter speed mechanism on the top deck after removing the rangefinder mechanism. The next two pictures are from ZorkiKat's incredible site FED-1 & ZORKIJ-1 survival site. They show the mechanism that needs to be covered. It seems to extend under the accessory shoe shown in the last picture. I guess you could just start carving away on a piece of wood with a dremel tool. Or maybe a hunk of brass. Any ideas? It would have to be something that would take paint. There would be holes in the top deck but a little bondo would fill those in. Paint the upper deck and bottom plate black, mount the accessory shoe on the top deck and you have a Leica Standard clone. Am I missing something? Put one of those tiny Combination 28 / 35 Brightline Mini-Finders at Cameraquest along with a 28mm Orion 15 or a 35mm Jupiter 12 or both. Or you could put on a Voigtlander 25/4 with the focusing click-stops but the finder is kind of large.

I've got too many projects started now but some day...

If anyone should try this let us know how you covered the shutter mechanism.

[vicmortelmans]

I like zorkisteins, but see no use in downgrading... Nevertheless I'll be monitoring this thread!

Because you're not in a hurry, I'd suggest to take time and keep your eyes open.

The part you want is the 'bubble' below the speed dial, right? Go to your general store and take a look at all the bottles they have (drinks, soap,...). There must be one that has a cap resembling this part, I'm sure!

Groeten,
Vic

[Wimpler]

Why not just get one of these? http://arguscg.tripod.com/id54.html

That is really back to basics

I have an argus AF

[jesse1dog]

Hi Gordon

I know the feeling - not back to basics but forward to fundermentals

Try this:
http://www.cameramate.com/product_in...roducts_id=394
I've been tempted but decided to get a Bessa instead!

[Gordon Coale]

Originally Posted by jesse1dog

Hi Gordon

I know the feeling - not back to basics but forward to fundermentals

Try this:
http://www.cameramate.com/product_in...roducts_id=394
I've been tempted but decided to get a Bessa instead!

Somebody already did it! That's a Zorki 1d converted to a Leica Standard. A little garish, perhaps. After having this thought I did think why not get a Bessa L and be done with it? It would be cheaper and take a lot less time. Two reasons not. One, it's too big. I love the small size of the Zorki 1/ Fed 1/ Leica II/ early Leica III. They make my Leica IIIc look like a porker. The second reason is that the two lenses I have that I would want to use on it won't work on a Bessa L: Jupiter 12 and Industar-50.

Looking at the standardized Zorki from CameraMate, it's interesting that they got the shutter mechanism under a "bubble" like the Leica Standard. Looking at the two pictures from ZorkiKat's site, it would appear the 1. the circular thing with the holes on the left has nothing to do with the shutter (It's probably to support the accessory shoe.) and 2. the spring and cam for the B setting were probably removed disabling the B setting. I don't think the cam and spring would fit under the "bubble". Not having a B setting is not an issue with me. I don't put 35mm rangefinders on tripods. I have medium format and large format cameras for that. This is a street shooter. I would appreciate it if someone could confirm that removing the cam and spring wouldn't hurt the other shutter speeds. Although, looking at it again, maybe the cam and spring would fit under the "bubble". Having a machinist turn the "bubble" out of a piece of brass wouldn't be that expensive. I wonder how the "bubble is attached.

Why remove a perfectly good rangefinder? It makes a small camera even smaller. It looks cool. I like to wear hair shirts.

[Ash]

I love my Leica Standard, but at £200 it's a costly investment for what it is.. I'll be looking into zorkisteining too I think

[Gordon Coale]

I thought it would be useful to attach a picture of the Leica Standard clone made from a Zork 1d linked above, for reference purposes. I found another on eBay. What is with the gold? Black and chrome would look pretty nice. Anyway, The one with the black top and bottom plates is sort of what I am thinking of but with chrome. I would paint the bell housing covering the shutter mechanism black. I would also just have one accessory shoe. These still have the vulcanite where I would put on leatherette. Or maybe black leather and hammertone? Or...

[jesse1dog]

Originally Posted by Gordon Coale

Why remove a perfectly good rangefinder? It makes a small camera even smaller. It looks cool. I like to wear hair shirts.

You might, just might, be able to pick up a Leica Ic body. Now that's the Ic derivation of the IIIc. I keep suggesting this to guys because I have one and think its just tremendous.

However if the pleasure is in the fabrication of a Standard from the proverbial 'sow's ear' then the suggestion isn't a good one. Nevertheless ......

[Gordon Coale]

The problem with the Standards, or the Ic, is the price. I can get a good working Zorki 1 from Oleg for under $60 and it's hardly a "sow's ear". I have a friend with a Zorki 1 that's quieter and smoother than my Leica IIIc. It's a sweet little thing. If money wasn't a problem I would just get a Standard or 1c and start having fun. Unfortunately, it is. And you don't have to worry about losing or damaging a collector's item with a Zorki.

[Ash]

I'm still glad I paid the price I did for my Standard, it worked out £25 more expensive than my IIIc, but it was worth it

I'll keep people posted too if I take up this project

[Mohan]

I really shouldnt have read this thread, now i've got yet another project for the christmas holidays, i'll keep people posted if i ever get round to making one.

[Gordon Coale]

Originally Posted by Mohan

I really shouldnt have read this thread, now i've got yet another project for the christmas holidays, i'll keep people posted if i ever get round to making one.

I'm glad I could infect others with this idea. Now, does anyone have a Zorki 1c or 1d with a good shutter and bad rangefinder for a reasonable price? Let me know. The lines are open with operators at the ready.

[Ash]

Gordon, this should become an RFF project - I think a few of us are very keen now. Let's see who can make the nicest Zorkistein Standard

[Mohan]

Originally Posted by Ash

Gordon, this should become an RFF project - I think a few of us are very keen now. Let's see who can make the nicest Zorkistein Standard

I'm In (i think )

[Gordon Coale]

The Zorki Standard project just got real. I contacted Oleg to see if he might have a Zorki 1 with a good shutter and a bad rangefinder. He thought he might and finally found it. I was thinking of a later Zorki 1, since Aki has covers for them, but this one is an early soft body like the FED 1. The picture is a Zorki 1b soft body (not mine). It doesn't have the metal stiffening ridge around the body edge or around the lens. I will have to develop the shape of the leather cover and cut it out myself. Micro-tools has a similar leatherette and Camera Leather also has leatherette, both available in self-adhesive sheets. Now I have to explain to my wife why I just bought a broken camera. It was only $25 plus shipping. I only need two 35mm rangefinder bodies so it looks like my Zorki 3M may be the one to go leaving me with the Zorki Standard and Leica IIIc. Let the games begin.

[Ash]

Gordon, if you can wait until after xmas, then I can ship you some of that black leather I have. Let me know.

[Gordon Coale]

Ash -- The camera probably won't arrive until xmas and it will take some time to get everything together. I would be interested in the leather. Thanks!

[Will]

Originally Posted by Gordon Coale

I thought it would be useful to attach a picture of the Leica Standard clone made from a Zork 1d linked above, for reference purposes. I found another on eBay. What is with the gold? Black and chrome would look pretty nice. Anyway, The one with the black top and bottom plates is sort of what I am thinking of but with chrome. I would paint the bell housing covering the shutter mechanism black. I would also just have one accessory shoe. These still have the vulcanite where I would put on leatherette. Or maybe black leather and hammertone? Or...

All black, with white letters?

[Gordon Coale]

I will leave the various knobs, levers, and accessory shoe chrome. That would just leave the rewind letters to paint. I'll do those white. Of course, this is a commie camera so maybe the rewind letters should be red?

[physiognomy]

Gordon, I found another example of they type of camera you are trying to make here (click).

Peter

[Gordon Coale]

My Zorki 1b arrived today from Oleg. This turned out to be easier than it had any right to be. It came with all the rangefinder mechanism removed. It's a bit smaller than my Leica IIIc. Right now I'm going to leave the shutter mechanism exposed. It looks kind of cute that way. Things that move around and up and down when setting the shutter speed and releasing the shutter. The only downside is that, since there was no rangefinder cover, there was no accessory shoe which I need to attach to the top plate for the viewfinders.

[Gordon Coale]

(Check the previous page for the rest of this post.)

I stole an accessory shoe of a Zorki 6 with a bad shutter and, with a little 5 minute epoxy, bonded it to the top plate. I cut up some gaffer's tape to cover the holes in the top plate. It's loaded with film and ready to shoot. I even have a separate rangefinder if I feel I need it. I put some labels on the J12 to make it easier to quickly adjust the focus. I've already used the marked J12 on my Zorki 3M just estimating distance. It worked fine. My Zorki Standard joins my Pentax H1a (a pre-Spotmatic meterless model), with the M42 Industar-50, as my coat pocket cameras that I have with me all the time.

The vulcanite on the Zorki Standard is starting to chip. I may try to chip it off and replace it with leather. I will replace the gaffer's tape with the same leather. I may have a shutter mechanism bellhousing made out of aluminum. Or not. I kind of like the look as it is. I would eventually like to get some modern Voightlander viewfinders. It's a sweet little camera. I think I going to really like it.

[vicmortelmans]

This makes me think. Zorki 1 and Fed 1 are called 'Leice clones', but if you compare the Zorki 1 to the Leica III (as pictured above), the design is quite different (although they still look similar, contrary to the later models)! Could it be the 'original clone' was based on the Leica Standard type and design developed independently from that point on?

Groeten,
Vic

[Gordon Coale]

Vic -- My Zorki 1 has had the rangefinder removed. The first picture below is what a complete Zorki 1, with a rangefinder, looks like. I've taken a camera made in 1951 and modified it to be similar to a camera made in 1931 -- the Leica I. (Forward! Into the past!) The original Leica didn't have a rangefinder. In 1932 they added a rangefinder and called it a Leica II, see the second picture below. The Leica II is the camera that the FED 1 and Zorki 1 is based on. The early Leica III looks like a Leica II but has a slow speed shutter dial on the front.

[Will]

Well done. Looks like fun for the new year...