GraeRB
journeyman
Reged: 25/05/2006
Posts: 69
Loc: South Manchester
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Just found an old Zorky with a jupiter lens in the cupboard at my parent's house.
Not knowing much about anything that isn't digital, I have no idea how to use it but I'd love to try. Any tips on which film to use and how on earth do you focus these things and take decent pictures? 
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Dave_Cox
old'n'grumpy
Reged: 12/07/2006
Posts: 2719
Loc: somewhere in Sussex
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Some of the Zorkis are actually quite good cameras if they're in good condition. Also depends which model. Manuals for the Zorki4 and 4k can be found here.
free manuals
Focussing is by the rangefinder method - look through the viewfinder and you should see the subject + a yellow square in the centre which will be out of focus. Turn the focussing ring until the two images merge and are sharp - it's now focussed!
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Growing old disgracefully..!
http://snapper56.deviantart.com/gallery/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dave2006/
Edited by Dave_Cox (24/12/2007 21:45)
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nspur
enthusiast
Reged: 20/07/2005
Posts: 264
Loc: Derbyshire
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I have a Zorki 4 in good condition with the (excellent) Jupiter lens. The nicest thing about it (and the FED) is that there's a diopter adjuster built into the rangefinder. Just pop a roll of Ilford XP2 (a b//w film that is processed by normal high-sstreet colour labs) and have some fun.
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K10D
journeyman
Reged: 25/09/2007
Posts: 94
Loc: Herts UK
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Hi. Make sure you cock it before you change the shutter speed or------------dam!
I have a few (7 now) 4 K's and 3 4's great fun if they're set up right. Built like tanks, last forever with a bit of tlc and the J-8's are good! As nspur said they have a diopter adjuster built into the rangefinder which is real handy. Get a hood as the J-8 can flare. Which is it a 4k or a 4 or a------3M----fantastic piece of iron.
All the best.
Scott.
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GraeRB
journeyman
Reged: 25/05/2006
Posts: 69
Loc: South Manchester
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HAd another look now, it's a Zorki 4k.
Looks to be in good condition, only I can't get the diopter to change when I turn the focus ring, it just seems to stay out of focus and the images don't merge. Any ideas?
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Mat
enthusiast
Reged: 16/05/2005
Posts: 291
Loc: Sheffield, England
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Lol you got me looking now that you've dragged them up! I want a Zorki 3 or 3M as I think they are the prettiest of the soviet cameras. I have a Fed 2 which I enjoy using and have had some nice shots from it.
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Photocracy
The Great Pretender
Reged: 18/11/2006
Posts: 404
Loc: Sunny South Coast
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Quote:
HAd another look now, it's a Zorki 4k.
Looks to be in good condition, only I can't get the diopter to change when I turn the focus ring, it just seems to stay out of focus and the images don't merge. Any ideas?
Look at the base of the knurled film rewind knob to the left of the viewfinder. You should find a lever. Move it back and to until the viewfinder magnification suits your eye. Focussing a rangefinder camera is different to anything else. When you turn the lens to focus, the view in the viewfinder will not go in and out of focus like an SLR camera. Focussing is achieved by bringing the two images, visible in the viewfinder. together. When the two images coincide, the lens is focussed. If the two images do not move when you turn the focus on the lens, then I'm afraid the rangefinder may need repairing. Many people would not bother having a Zorki repaired as they are not worth a great deal, but they are great cameras to use and if you like it, it would be worth finding out about a repair. Let me know if you need any more information about how the camera works. As said previously, remember to change the shutter speed (top dial with 1 second to 1/1000 sec) ONLY AFTER THE CAMERA IS WOUND/COCKED. Otherwise, the shutter will be ruined. Also, make sure that all three black and red dots are aligned on the knob stack next to the shutter speed dial. They really are gorgeous cameras to use and additonal lenses are relatively cheap and generally good quality. Hope this is helpful.
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Rob
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Photocracy
The Great Pretender
Reged: 18/11/2006
Posts: 404
Loc: Sunny South Coast
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Forgot to mention, you will also need to get hold of a separate lightmeter as you may have noticed the camera is purely mechanical and has no electronics whatsoever. You should get a basic lightmeter off e-bay for next to nothing. The contemporary Russian lightmeter for the Zorki was the Leningrad 4. This is a selenium cell lightmeter and also needs no batteries! Finally, if you want to know the year of your Zorki, the first two numbers of the serial number will tell you. It should be 1970s.
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Rob
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GraeRB
journeyman
Reged: 25/05/2006
Posts: 69
Loc: South Manchester
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Thanks Rob, loads of useful info there. Looks like it's a 76 model.
Got the focus working well now only now I have another problem.
The shutter seems to be jammed. Before this had happened, I had noticed that the shutter was sticking half way when I was having a look with the back off. I ran the camera through a few differnt shutter speeds and it seemed to work OK at some and stick at others. Only now it's well and truly jammed, the film advance lever won't budge and the shutter refuses to open.
I've seen a few guides on the internet showing how to take it apart but I got as far as trying to move the main camera body housing but that won't budge. Guess it's not worth taking it to someone to try and repair? Or is there an easy fix to try by any chance?
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Photocracy
The Great Pretender
Reged: 18/11/2006
Posts: 404
Loc: Sunny South Coast
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Quote:
Thanks Rob, loads of useful info there. Looks like it's a 76 model.
Got the focus working well now only now I have another problem.
The shutter seems to be jammed. Before this had happened, I had noticed that the shutter was sticking half way when I was having a look with the back off. I ran the camera through a few differnt shutter speeds and it seemed to work OK at some and stick at others. Only now it's well and truly jammed, the film advance lever won't budge and the shutter refuses to open.
I've seen a few guides on the internet showing how to take it apart but I got as far as trying to move the main camera body housing but that won't budge. Guess it's not worth taking it to someone to try and repair? Or is there an easy fix to try by any chance?
Sorry, haven't checked this thread for a while. Your shutter problem doesn't sound good I'm afraid. I don't know of any easy fix. If it's totally jammed, dismantling or professional repair are the only options. If no real damage has been done i.e forcing it against its will, it might not be too expensive for someone to reset it, but I'd imagine you'd be looking at £50 + including a clean, lubrication and adjustment. You could buy a good working one for £25 so unless it has sentimental value and you want that specific camera, perhaps consider buying another one.
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Rob
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Hopeless_Andy
member
Reged: 17/07/2005
Posts: 102
Loc: Shepperton, Surrey
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Quote:
you will also need to get hold of a separate lightmeter as you may have noticed the camera is purely mechanical and has no electronics whatsoever
Or take your SLR with you when you go to the park or wherever to test it. If you're using print film you'll pretty quickly be able to guestimate a good exposure.
Can't stress enough about the shutter speed problem, or you'll be left with a dud... WIND IT ON BEFORE YOU CHANGE THE SHUTTER SPEED! In fact I'd pick one of the lower speeds and leave it there and change the aperture to suit the light.
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Andy P
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Malcolm_Stewart
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 11/07/2005
Posts: 2244
Loc: Milton Keynes, UK
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(Sorry for the late intervention, but your posted link now seems dead.)
At Milton Keynes market this morning, I bought a good condition Zorki 4K for £5, so thought I'd see how it should work. My body came with all the warnings printed on the back, thanks.
All I need now is a lens.
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Malcolm Stewart
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swanseadave
addict
Reged: 05/10/2007
Posts: 527
Loc: Swansea, Gateway to Gower
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Here is link again.
http://www.butkus.org/chinon/russian/zorki_4k/zorki_4k.htm
I find this New Jersey site very useful.I`ve posted it before IIRC. Cheers Dave  
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If it wasn't for bad luck, I wouldn't have no luck at all - Albert King
my flickr
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Malcolm_Stewart
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 11/07/2005
Posts: 2244
Loc: Milton Keynes, UK
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Many thanks.
My big decision is whether to get a lens for it. I do like testing these older cameras.
I've done a trawl around my favourite UK shops which cover new stuff quite well, but couldn't find anything low cost enough to do my £5 purchase justice. There is a Jupiter 8 50/f2 from Russia and/or the Ukraine so I might give that a go. It's on ebay "Buy it Now", so I think I know how much Paypal will take from my credit card.
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Malcolm Stewart
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Photocracy
The Great Pretender
Reged: 18/11/2006
Posts: 404
Loc: Sunny South Coast
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Do check their feedback. I bought a Helios 50mm lens for a Kiev/Contax rangefinder which was listed as "new". I don't doubt it was unused, but I strongly suspect someone had found a source of smart looking rejects in an old skip at the Arsenal plant! It was very wobbly when mounted on the camera.
The Jupiter 50mm F2 is a fine lens (of Zeiss origin) and is very sharp indeed. You will enjoy the quality of pictures you get from one when attached to your bargain Zorki 4k. If you really become smitten with your Zorki, you might like to check out this guy on Ebay and buy a luxury new leather covering kit for it. Mine now sports Leica style genuine leather and looks like a new camera! 
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Rob
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Malcolm_Stewart
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 11/07/2005
Posts: 2244
Loc: Milton Keynes, UK
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Thanks for the tip. The site I found seems to have many "New" lenses, so could well be the one you've warned about.
The leather panels look quite intriguing, and my bargain buy is in good cosmetic condition. After some exercise, the shutter is now functioning much better than 12 hours ago.
Interestingly, what caught my attention this morning was a Kiev copy of the early Contax Rangefinder 35mm. That too was in good cosmetic condition, but its shutter had jammed, and I was offered the Zorki in its place.
It's quite a change to my normal area of Canon DSLRs.
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Malcolm Stewart
Edited by Malcolm_Stewart (23/05/2008 01:19)
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Photocracy
The Great Pretender
Reged: 18/11/2006
Posts: 404
Loc: Sunny South Coast
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This broken Zorki on ebay has a good lens and you might just get it cheaply enough if you read this in time.
Here's the link
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Rob
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Malcolm_Stewart
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 11/07/2005
Posts: 2244
Loc: Milton Keynes, UK
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Many thanks. I've put in a minimal bid, and will just see how it goes.
Interestingly, I found it impossible to hold my logged-in status on ebay from the log-in page to the bid page. I've just moved over to Mobile Broadband (on the "3" mobile phone network), and until I logged out and dialled in using my dial-up land-line connection, I was unable to make a bid.
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Malcolm Stewart
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Malcolm_Stewart
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 11/07/2005
Posts: 2244
Loc: Milton Keynes, UK
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I was the only bidder, so won the auction at the posted price. Am now awaiting a response from the seller.
Once again, thanks for the tip.
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Malcolm Stewart
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Photocracy
The Great Pretender
Reged: 18/11/2006
Posts: 404
Loc: Sunny South Coast
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Your most welcome! Glad you won the Zorki. Hopefully the lens will be good and it seems you've aquired an ever-ready case for the good one too. I too love my digital photography, but I can't resist playing around with gorgeous old mechanical cameras. Some, and I would include the Zorki in this, make a good account of themselves even today. If someone took away my digital SLR and left me with a Zorki and three lenses for the day, I would be just as happy. 
If you get hooked, you'll want the turret finder and some other lenses. All are reasonably affordable, although the desirable 85mm Jupiter 9 (I think it's a 9) is rather expensive.
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Rob
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