I got my black zorki-6 today!

wblanchard · 02-01-2005

My black Zorki-6 with an LTM Industar-50 (Tessar formula) 50mm 1:3.5-16

This is my first Russian rangefinder and I do have the manual. I'm hoping someone can give me a little advice or tell me of their experience with the camera?

How is the lens? Sharp, contrasty? The lens is LTM..does this mean I can remove it and use another Leica Thread Mount lens on the camera body if I want to?

I'm all excited now.

Roman · 02-01-2005

Wow, very nice - who did you get it from?
I alos have a Zorki 6 - my smoothest Russian camera (after a CLA by Oleg); take care not to mix up the shutter release button and the sprocket release button (for rewinding the film).
How is the (rigid) I-50? UGLY (looks like a pig's snout); results are OK, not bad, not outstanding, either; such a slow lens for me only makes sense when it is at least collapsible... Try to get a Jupiter 8 (for great bokeh) or an Industar 61L/D for ultimate contrast and sharpness.

Roman

(Oh, and BTW, yes, you can remove the lens; the Z6 makes a nice street camera combined with a Jupiter 12 35mm lens and a 35mm finder...)

sockeyed · 02-01-2005

Yes, that's very nice indeed. I'm curious to know where you found it as well.

A great example of what Roman is talking about can be seen at:
http://www.geocities.com/fzorkis/zorki_6.html

rbiemer · 02-01-2005

Very nice camera! And you got a manual, cool. I have gotten a manual with two of my FSU cameras but since I can't read russian the manuals have been not as helpul as I would've prefered. The pictures in the manuals are OK, though and shutter speed charts etc I've been able to figure out.
Another site you might check out is:http://www.fortunecity.com/marina/ma...drs/index.html
Good info but too many pop ups . I don't use explorer for my browser any more but it was annoying when I did. The info there is worth the hassle
IMHO.
I'll echo the question: where did you get this beauty?
Rob

Designer · 02-01-2005

Nice black body! Congratulations! Wblanchard,
You got this from "Fedka"?

wblanchard · 02-01-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by sockeyed

Yes, that's very nice indeed. I'm curious to know where you found it as well.

A great example of what Roman is talking about can be seen at:
http://www.geocities.com/fzorkis/zorki_6.html

I have a good friend who lives in Mytischi, RU Russian Federation. ..Moscow region. He sells a high volume of russian cameras and lens on eBay. 99.9 percent rating with over 290 sales with positive feedback.

If by chance it is a fake, painted zorki-6....it's a pretty darn good job and i might have him paint some other cameras! fake or not, it looks 100 times better in black.

Just looking it over though..it's not as fresh and brand new black finish..it shows sign of use and looks like original black..but im not an expert. here is the body serial if anyone wants to see what they can find: 660022621

Roman · 02-01-2005

What do you mean by 'fake'? The black finish is definitely an 'aftermarket add-on', there are NO Russian RFs that came new from the factory in black finish (except for a few FED-5, most of which were sold via a German mail-order company), they only came in chrome!
So, what's the name of that seller?
BTW, my own black Kiev 4 came from 'alex-photo' and is nicely finished, works very smooth - except that it has very wide film spacing , so that I can onl get about 25 to 30 exposures on a 36-exp. roll - due to the experts at the Russiancamera Forum, this is not so rare with some Kiev 4s, and is very hard to fix.

Roman

jdos2 · 02-01-2005

I was told that the Kiev spacing problems (wide) were due to too much friction between the takeup-spool clutch mechansim. If spacing is too wide, it's because the takeup spool is pulling too hard. It might be as easy to fix as a teeny drop of oil here and there...

JD

webb3201 · 02-01-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by wblanchard

My black Zorki-6 with an LTM Industar-50 (Tessar formula) 50mm 1:3.5-16

This is my first Russian rangefinder and I do have the manual. I'm hoping someone can give me a little advice or tell me of their experience with the camera?

How is the lens? Sharp, contrasty? The lens is LTM..does this mean I can remove it and use another Leica Thread Mount lens on the camera body if I want to?

I'm all excited now.

That looks very cool. I just bought a normal Zorki 6, but I like your black version better. Buy a black Jupiter 8 lens and you will have a very stylish looking rig.