zorki 1

[adrian_freire]

What do you think about the Zorki 1? (Yes, I know that it´s a cheap copy of the Leica IIf but I can´t afford a real one) I was thinking about buying one in ebay. Any suggestion? Who is the most reliable seller?... Any info will be wellcome.

 

[pschauss]

Great cameras. I have three of them and use them as my primary travel cameras. The standard Industar-22 collapsible lens (50 mm f 3.5) is very sharp. You might also want to look at a Zorki-C or a Zorki-2C. The bodies on these are a bit taller in order to house the flash synchronization mechanism and some people say that they are not as attractive as the Zorki-1s, but they are otherwise mechanically equal and usually somewhat less expensive.

On ebay I have bought from alex-photo, asr-photo, and kubanoid. You could also buy from Oleg at www.okvintagecamera.com. He specializes in repair of cameras and does a CLA on everything he sells. In the US, you can also check with Yuri at www.fedka.com. He has all of his cameras CLAed in Russia.

If you want more information on these cameras and their relatives, there is a Russian camera forum on beststuff.com.

 

[adrian_freire]

Pschauss, do you use a light meter?

 

[zenrhino]

What do you think about the Zorki 1?

I like mine a lot. It's not a Leica, that's for sure. But for as little as I paid for it (and it came with a 50mm f2.0 Jupiter 8 which it really sharp) and the fact that I can use my collapsible Industar f3.5 on it (which is also really sharp at f8) and it fits into a coat pocket nicely I'm super happy with it.

Get a Zorki 1 and an old Sekonic light meter. You'll be fine.

Or...


Another option to consider is the Canon QL17 GIII. It has both manual and shutter priority, accurate metering, and a really nice f1.7 45mm lens. It also has (and most of them you find on ebay come with it) a low power but dedicated flash that is pretty tasty. Add to it all that the QL stands for "Quick Load" (and the first time you try to load that Zorki 1 in a hurry you'll know why I recommend the Canon) that lets you literally drop a roll in, lay the film across a platen, shut the film door, and wind. It's a great, quiet (leaf shutter!), inobtrusive (nice and small) photojournalism camera.

They can be had for about $40 or so on eBay or at your local camera boneyard. The GL17 is my walking around camera

 

[pschauss]

I splurged and bought the Voigtlander VC meter which clips on to the flash bracket. It cost a good bit more than the camera, but I can use it on all of my Russian cameras and it gives me good consistent exposures.

 

[Solinar]

The other half to this is Soviet glass is cheap. Stick with the collapsible Industar 22 for a 50. The 85/2 Jupiter 2 is bit massive for this body. The 35/2.8 Jupiter 12 works really well with this body.

Alternatives are the venerable FED 2, (type D or type E), with the same range of shutter speeds, but offers a combined RF/viewfinder, wide RF base and removeable back for film loading. Like the Zorki 1, the FED 2 has a nice hand-hold that feels solid.

The disadvantage of the old Zorki 1 is that film loading is like a Leica and the viewfinder is small. On the upside, the design is very light proof and with a collapsible 50 or the Jupiter 12 it is very compact.

There are times with the 50/3.5 that you will run out of Zorki in low light. Either rate Tri-X at 1600 or spring for a Zorki 3, which retains the Leica styling, but offers the shutter speed range of the Leica III's. The Zorki 3 viewfinder is huge in comparison to the Zorki 1. For the modern look and easier film loading there is Zorki 6, which isn't a bad choice for a budget RF.

 

[reellis67]

I love mine! It goes everywhere with me. I found that after I got used to loading it, there really is not that much to it. It took 2 rolls to get the swing of loading worked out and now, nothin' to it! I have the collapsable Industar-22 and have never thought of another lens. The Zorki 1 feels great, is easy to use, and gets great looks from passers-by. I suppose it could be me, but I prefer to think it's the camera... At any rate, I highly suggest getting one. They really are a blast to use.

- Randy

 

[Lee L]

I splurged and bought the Voigtlander VC meter which clips on to the flash bracket. It cost a good bit more than the camera, but I can use it on all of my Russian cameras and it gives me good consistent exposures.

Be sure and get the VC Meter Mark II. It has several improvements over the original, including locking in the exposure reading when you release the button (giving you time to dial in the setting with the camera down below eye level), a better battery door that's more secure, a moveable mounting foot for different cameras, and easier to read settings, and a lower profile. There may be one or two other improvements that are slipping my mind.

Lee

 

[adrian_freire]

thanks

Thanks for your help I have just buy a 1b "bilingual" (name engraved in cirilic and latin) from kubanoid. I will tell you how the camera works as soon as I can.

 

[adrian_freire]

I've just received the camera from kubanoid everything seems to be ok but nevertheless such a old camera needs a slight cleaning. I´going to play I am Robert Capa. hahaha