I've briefly posted about this before... but it's now two cameras that have this little problem.
See, I have three KMZ cameras and I like them a lot. I like that they were cheap, I like the style, the simplicity and that I can work on them myself with basic tools. Theres a Zenit S, a Zenit E and a Zorki S. You may know that these have essentially the same shutter except that on the Zenits there are mechanisms for raising and lowering the mirror (different mechanisms. The Zenit S is non-returning and winches the mirror down with a string past a catch that is controlled by the shutter release bar at the bottom, and the E has some kind of cam that flips it up and then releases it when the exposure is over.) The curtain mechanism is the same on all three, basically a Leica II shutter with some modifications.
So on the Zenit E and the Zorki, there's a problem visible at 1/500. The slit gets wider for a short distance at the left hand side of the frame (which should be the end of the exposure, right?) and creates a fairly distinct band of slight overexposure. Past this band the remaining strip is also slightly overexposed, as if the slit went back to almost its original size but not quite.
So Donald told me that there must be a hitch in the gearing. He was right inasmuch as there's a hitch somewhere. If I release the shutter but hold the speed selector, and slowly turn it, I can feel the mechanism hit some kind of catch towards the end of the exposure.
I have not disassembled either, braided removing the body casting on the Zorki to install a replacement pressure plate.
A professional repairman who is also a connoisseur of the Zorki says that he thinks the curtains are hitting the film plane (so either the film or the pressure plate surface.) I do not believe that's what's happening because that would show wear to the curtain paths and the pressure plate and distinctive damage to the film, in my estimation. He said to tighten the curtains a little to increase the force of the curtains and they'll probably move past the hitch in a smoother way.
So what's my next move? Do I disassemble one of them and look for the hitch? Do I just leave well enough a line and try to avoid using the top speeds? Has anyone else had this problem with Leica-type shutters?
I know these cameras are in most photographers' view not worth any effort but I like them and I already have them so I might as well try, huh?
See, I have three KMZ cameras and I like them a lot. I like that they were cheap, I like the style, the simplicity and that I can work on them myself with basic tools. Theres a Zenit S, a Zenit E and a Zorki S. You may know that these have essentially the same shutter except that on the Zenits there are mechanisms for raising and lowering the mirror (different mechanisms. The Zenit S is non-returning and winches the mirror down with a string past a catch that is controlled by the shutter release bar at the bottom, and the E has some kind of cam that flips it up and then releases it when the exposure is over.) The curtain mechanism is the same on all three, basically a Leica II shutter with some modifications.
So on the Zenit E and the Zorki, there's a problem visible at 1/500. The slit gets wider for a short distance at the left hand side of the frame (which should be the end of the exposure, right?) and creates a fairly distinct band of slight overexposure. Past this band the remaining strip is also slightly overexposed, as if the slit went back to almost its original size but not quite.
So Donald told me that there must be a hitch in the gearing. He was right inasmuch as there's a hitch somewhere. If I release the shutter but hold the speed selector, and slowly turn it, I can feel the mechanism hit some kind of catch towards the end of the exposure.
I have not disassembled either, braided removing the body casting on the Zorki to install a replacement pressure plate.
A professional repairman who is also a connoisseur of the Zorki says that he thinks the curtains are hitting the film plane (so either the film or the pressure plate surface.) I do not believe that's what's happening because that would show wear to the curtain paths and the pressure plate and distinctive damage to the film, in my estimation. He said to tighten the curtains a little to increase the force of the curtains and they'll probably move past the hitch in a smoother way.
So what's my next move? Do I disassemble one of them and look for the hitch? Do I just leave well enough a line and try to avoid using the top speeds? Has anyone else had this problem with Leica-type shutters?
I know these cameras are in most photographers' view not worth any effort but I like them and I already have them so I might as well try, huh?
