My new (to me) Zorki 4… lenses?

[fdonadio]

Hello, all!

Got me a Zorki 4 last week and already feel the 50mm Industar that came with it won’t get much use… I like to shoot wider.

I’m looking for good glass for it, but I am not sure about what to get, so I came here for advice.

I’ve been looking into Voigtländer’s offerings in the 35mm focal length. So far, the Skopars caught my eye as cheap enough. Ultrons and Noktons are pricier, but still orders of magnitude cheaper than Leica glass.

Yes, it would be a good joke on fellow photographers: using a Leica lens on a cheap Russian camera. But the joke would be pretty much on me and, especially, my bank account.

What would you guys recommend me (except for getting a better camera)?

Cheers,
Flavio

 

[Paul Howell]

I had a Canon 35mm 2.0 it was a really sharp lens, tended to flare, needs a decent lens hood. There also a 2.8 and 3.2.

 

[fdonadio]

I had a Canon 35mm 2.0 it was a really sharp lens, tended to flare, needs a decent lens hood. There also a 2.8 and 3.2.

Cool! I’ve found a handful of these on the big auction site, all of them cheaper than the cheapest Color Skopar I had found. The f/3.2 ones are Serenars.

These also a metric crapload of 50mm f/1.8 Serenars for dirt cheap. I might want to replace my Industar with better glass too.

I’ll keep an eye open for these.

 

[Paul Howell]

I had both Canon and Leica glass, unless you're shooting microfiche film you wouldn't be able to tell any difference between the 2, Canon like Leica made a wide range of lens in a given format the 35 raged from a 1.5 to a 3.2. But remember these Canon and Leica screw mount lens are not going on 60 years old, newer glass will have better coating, still at the price point.

 

[mshchem]

Hello, all!

Got me a Zorki 4 last week and already feel the 50mm Industar that came with it won’t get much use… I like to shoot wider.

I’m looking for good glass for it, but I am not sure about what to get, so I came here for advice.

I’ve been looking into Voigtländer’s offerings in the 35mm focal length. So far, the Skopars caught my eye as cheap enough. Ultrons and Noktons are pricier, but still orders of magnitude cheaper than Leica glass.

Yes, it would be a good joke on fellow photographers: using a Leica lens on a cheap Russian camera. But the joke would be pretty much on me and, especially, my bank account.

What would you guys recommend me (except for getting a better camera)?

Cheers,
Flavio

LTM Voigtlander is really well made. Get some of the 1990s lenses on Ebay for great prices. Also you can find silver finish that may not be available today.

 

[btaylor]

Have you tried the Industar? FSU lenses can be outstanding and they are very inexpensive- why not try them? Jupiter 9 85mm, Jupiter 12 35mm, Orion 28mm- lots of Inexpensive options. And they work properly on the Zorki body, the helicals for Leica and Contax (FSU ltm) are slightly different

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Oh, my...

If you think you could use non FSU fast lenses on Z4, you are still in rainbow unicorn lalaland. Sorry.

Your best bet is J-3. If it is actually going to align with your particular Z4. And nothing else for fast.

Have you got any developed visible exposures from this camera yet? With this old and FSU, you have to hold your breath until you'll see actual exposures. Look for uneven ones...

 

[fdonadio]

And they work properly on the Zorki body, the helicals for Leica and Contax (FSU ltm) are slightly different

Mmmmmmm, I didn’t know anything about that. Thanks for the heads up!

I have nothing against the FSU lenses. I just thought: “if I’m going to spend money, make sure it’s well spent.”

 

[fdonadio]

If you think you could use non FSU fast lenses on Z4, you are still in rainbow unicorn lalaland. Sorry.

Read the subject: “My new (to me) Zorki 4”. I failed to mention I don’t know jack about rangefinders (I did it in another thread). So, you see now why I’m asking?

Have you got any developed visible exposures from this camera yet? With this old and FSU, you have to hold your breath until you'll see actual exposures. Look for uneven ones...

Yes, the camera needs a CLA. The curtain is sticking, specially with low shutter speeds.

 

[Dali]

35mm lens on a Zorki 4 would mean external viewfinder.

If you want to go that route anyway, why not a Jupiter 12? After a dozen rolls, you should know if it fits your need or not.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

I'm not checking every thread here. Sorry. Only those showing on the main page.

You can't use modern lenss you have mentioned on this body. You would have to try to modify thier shimming at least.
CLA of Z4 is another miracle these days. Most if not all won't touch it.

 

[ntenny]

You can't use modern lenss you have mentioned on this body. You would have to try to modify thier shimming at least.

It should be OK for wide-angle lenses. E.g., Cosina/Voigtländer sells their wides for dual use on Contax and Nikon bodies, which have the same alignment difference.

That said, the Jupiter-12 is a nice lens.

-NT

 

[fdonadio]

CLA of Z4 is another miracle these days. Most if not all won't touch it.

There are some crazy technicians here in Brazil. Some of them though are very trustworthy… the others just plain crazy (and cheap).

I would like to get this camera in good working condition and have some fun shooting with it. Although I still haven’t felt any advantage in handling, compared to my Nikon FM2.

 

[fdonadio]

35mm lens on a Zorki 4 would mean external viewfinder.

If you want to go that route anyway, why not a Jupiter 12? After a dozen rolls, you should know if it fits your need or not.

I have no problem with the external viewfinder. I would have to focus with the built-in one then compose on the external one… it’s kind of a hassle, but one I can live with.

I think I’m gonna try one of the Jupiters and see where I go from there.

 

[fdonadio]

It should be OK for wide-angle lenses. E.g., Cosina/Voigtländer sells their wides for dual use on Contax and Nikon bodies, which have the same alignment difference.

Is there a place where I can find information about these differences? If I understand it, there are more than subtle differences in rangefinder coupling, right?

 

[ntenny]

Is there a place where I can find information about these differences? If I understand it, there are more than subtle differences in rangefinder coupling, right?

There’s an article at https://www.dantestella.com/technical/compat.html that goes into technical detail. As far as I know it’s just a rangefinder coupling issue.

-NT

 

[Ko.Fe.]

There are some crazy technicians here in Brazil. Some of them though are very trustworthy… the others just plain crazy (and cheap).

I would like to get this camera in good working condition and have some fun shooting with it. Although I still haven’t felt any advantage in handling, compared to my Nikon FM2.

Crazy or good doesn't mean anything. Those cameras are so badly build, even if you do everything right, they won't give correct exposures.
Maybe your Z4 just needs curtains retention and it will work for few months and then same is going to happen.

FSU cameras can't offer any advantage in handling. Especially Z4 with its cruel shutter speed dial.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

It should be OK for wide-angle lenses. E.g., Cosina/Voigtländer sells their wides for dual use on Contax and Nikon bodies, which have the same alignment difference.

That said, the Jupiter-12 is a nice lens.

-NT

OP is asking about faster lenses in 35 FOV. Not about CV CS 21/4.

Have you ever screw in non FSU lens in FSU or in opposite?
It gives funny feeling and force has to be applied, because LTM threads are not exactly the came.

CV made C/N mount lenses matching C/N cameras mounts. It has nothing to do with what is OP is after.

 

[ntenny]

OP is asking about faster lenses in 35 FOV. Not about CV CS 21/4.

My experience is that the helical difference is OK on a 35/2.5, but I haven’t done rigorous testing or anything.

Have you ever screw in non FSU lens in FSU or in opposite?
It gives funny feeling and force has to be applied, because LTM threads are not exactly the came.

I think this might be down to the infamous FSU quality control and sample variance. I’ve used a couple of FSU lenses on a Bessa-R and several standard LTM lenses on FSU bodies (before I knew about the helical difference) and didn’t run into thread problems. But I’ve got a Contax-mount Helios lens that can barely be mounted, and I don’t have any trouble believing that there are lenses and bodies around with out-of-spec threads.

CV made C/N mount lenses matching C/N cameras mounts. It has nothing to do with what is OP is after.

It’s the same difference between helicals as using Leica-spec lenses on FSU bodies or vice versa. A focal length/aperture combination that’s functionally interchangeable between Nikon and Contax should also be functionally interchangeable between Leica and FSU.

-NT

 

[fdonadio]

There’s an article at https://www.dantestella.com/technical/compat.html that goes into technical detail.

Thanks! I didn’t know I was getting in such a complicate territory, hahah!