Zorki 4 Questions

[Born2Late]

Hello all,

I have a Zorki 4 and have a couple of questions:

First, the shutter speed setting knob; it takes a lot of force to pull it up to make changes to the shutter speed. Is this normal? Yes, I know you have to cock the shutter first.

Second, about half of the shutter speed numbers are worn off of the ring surrounding the knob. I printed a label and placed it over the ring as a temporary fix; I'd like something more permanent. Any suggestions or recommendations?

Thanks for your help

 

[jim10219]

Yeah, it will take some force to lift up the speed knob. But if it's a lot, then it might be time for a CLA. Actually, if you've never had it done before, it might be worth getting a CLA done anyway.

As for the numbers, the best solution is to remove the knob, sand it smooth, and reapply all of the numbers with a silk screening machine. That's going to be costly and difficult though. So I wouldn't do that. But that's probably how it was applied at the factory. The second best solution, and this is what I did to mine, is to just reapply them with a brush (I used a round 0000) and some enamel paint, like the kind people use to paint models with. It'll take a couple of day to a week for the paint to dry, and maybe a month or more for it to fully cure. But once cured, that enamel paint will hold up really well on metal. It doesn't look perfect, but it looks pretty good. I can easily read the numbers anyway, even if you can clearly tell they were applied by hand and not printed on.

 

[foc]

Would this be of any help?



See also here
http://ussrphoto.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=610

 

[Born2Late]

Yes, that is considerably better than what I have. Short term I'll print and attach to the dial. Long term I may see about getting it laser etched into the dial.

Thanks for your help.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

@pentaxpete reviewed this camera on youtube. He'd be the one to ask.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Earlier version of Z4 had engraved numbers. Then it went late soviet way.
Crude shutter dial is norm.