David Mitchell
Well-Known Member
Hi all,
I have wanted a rangefinder for a while and I like the Leica design but can't really afford the very high price tag for them so I decided to get a russian Leica copy
I was looking at some FEDs but then found the Zorki 4 was common, I decided to go with the 4K model as it means I don't have to mash up my thumb on the advance wheel as this has a lever 
Also the film reel is captive so it doesn't all come apart when you take the back off
Anyway, as with all things Russian its never going to be reliable which is why I have 2, the Zorki on the left is in very good condition but no lens and the second shutter curtain needs to be retensioned. The camera on the right has been well used, has a lens, shutter works perfectly but it seems that the rangefinger cam needs oiling.
The way the rangefinder works with these is there is a cam sticking out into where the lens goes (you can see it on the left camera) which then runs on the back of the lens edge which moves in and out depending on the focus. This then moves a prism inside the viewfinder and you have to line the 2 images up to get everything in focus.
The plan is to re-oil the slightly stiff cam in the 2nd camera and then I can use that whilst I retension the second shutter curtain on the first - its a very very common issue. I think the cam in the 2nd camera got stuck as I don't think the lens has EVER been off since 1977 lol
Here is the 2nd camera closer with the nice Jupiter 8 lens - its buttery smooth on the aperture ring!
Here is the top of the camera, you have some basic controls, the shutter speed, the flash sync mode, the advance lever, the exposure counter and shutter lock.
With all Russian rangefinder cameras (and probably all russian cameras in fact) you MUST wind the advance lever on and cock the shutter before changing the shutter speed. This is due to that dial actually rotating when the film is advanced which then tensions up the shutter curtains. Basically one shutter curtain fires, then the 2nd, the gap between the 2 firing makes a gap which exposes the film. The gap width depends on what you set the speed to, fast speed, small gap, slow speed, large gap. The issue comes when one curtain (usually the second) doesn't move as fast as it needs to which causes an over exposure.
Here is how the back comes off to load the film, its held on with 2 rotating fasteners on the base
Here is the every-ready case, I have 2 but this one still has the strap.
I will also post up some photos of the repair work, I don't think its too hard, just need to make sure it goes back together again!
I have wanted a rangefinder for a while and I like the Leica design but can't really afford the very high price tag for them so I decided to get a russian Leica copy
I was looking at some FEDs but then found the Zorki 4 was common, I decided to go with the 4K model as it means I don't have to mash up my thumb on the advance wheel as this has a lever Also the film reel is captive so it doesn't all come apart when you take the back off Anyway, as with all things Russian its never going to be reliable which is why I have 2, the Zorki on the left is in very good condition but no lens and the second shutter curtain needs to be retensioned. The camera on the right has been well used, has a lens, shutter works perfectly but it seems that the rangefinger cam needs oiling.
The way the rangefinder works with these is there is a cam sticking out into where the lens goes (you can see it on the left camera) which then runs on the back of the lens edge which moves in and out depending on the focus. This then moves a prism inside the viewfinder and you have to line the 2 images up to get everything in focus.
The plan is to re-oil the slightly stiff cam in the 2nd camera and then I can use that whilst I retension the second shutter curtain on the first - its a very very common issue. I think the cam in the 2nd camera got stuck as I don't think the lens has EVER been off since 1977 lol
Here is the 2nd camera closer with the nice Jupiter 8 lens - its buttery smooth on the aperture ring!
Here is the top of the camera, you have some basic controls, the shutter speed, the flash sync mode, the advance lever, the exposure counter and shutter lock.
With all Russian rangefinder cameras (and probably all russian cameras in fact) you MUST wind the advance lever on and cock the shutter before changing the shutter speed. This is due to that dial actually rotating when the film is advanced which then tensions up the shutter curtains. Basically one shutter curtain fires, then the 2nd, the gap between the 2 firing makes a gap which exposes the film. The gap width depends on what you set the speed to, fast speed, small gap, slow speed, large gap. The issue comes when one curtain (usually the second) doesn't move as fast as it needs to which causes an over exposure.
Here is how the back comes off to load the film, its held on with 2 rotating fasteners on the base
Here is the every-ready case, I have 2 but this one still has the strap.
I will also post up some photos of the repair work, I don't think its too hard, just need to make sure it goes back together again!
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