Zorki film advance trouble

[WetMogwai]

Today, I finally took the plunge into interchangeable lens rangefinders. I found a Zorki 2-C for a good price. It came with an Industar-50 lens that is in great shape. After figuring out how to load it, I found that it doesn't like to advance film.

I put a few rolls of color film through it and took them to the local 1 hour lab. Most of the frames were either double exposed or overlapping. I put a roll in and tried advancing the film with the lens off, marking each frame with the shutter open. The first two frames are in the right place. The next one slightly overlaps the second. Frame 4 seems fine. Frame 5 covers most of frame 4. In the attached picture of the frames, there is an extra line next to the number 4. It is from an earlier experiment.

After frame 5, it just grinds. I assume if I keep trying, it will advance more. The color film did earlier, so I expect the same here. I also attached a close up of the sprocket holes so you can see the damage done while it is grinding.

I watched videos of Leicas being loaded. I'm doing the same thing they were doing. Is there something special about the Zorki 2-C that makes it slightly different to load? Could I be doing something wrong, or is it likely a problem with the camera? I also have a Vivitar 35ES that grinds just like this after two or three frames. I'd like to solve that problem too. I doubt it is worth it to pay for repairs on either camera since they were quite cheap.

 

[Galah]

Today, I finally took the plunge into interchangeable lens rangefinders. I found a Zorki 2-C for a good price. It came with an Industar-50 lens that is in great shape. After figuring out how to load it, I found that it doesn't like to advance film. ...The first two frames are in the right place. The next one slightly overlaps the second. Frame 4 seems fine. Frame 5 covers most of frame 4. In the attached picture of the frames, there is an extra line next to the number 4. It is from an earlier experiment.... is it likely a problem with the camera? I also have a Vivitar 35ES that grinds just like this after two or three frames. I'd like to solve that problem too. I doubt it is worth it to pay for repairs on either camera since they were quite cheap.

Ah well, them's the risks you take with "mature" gear.

I, personally, have experienced similar problems with elderly gear.

What you describe sounds exactly like what I have had with several "vintage" cameras. My repair man said it was down to 'interlock' malfunction.

some required adjustment, some a spring or two + adjustment, some just a clean and lube: can't say which category your's falls into, but most of mine were fixed for a good deal less than Aus$100-00.

The one's that "didn't make it", I donated to my repairman for parts for someone else's job, as a gesture of good will.

so, it may well be worth it to go to a pro? :confused:

 

[ricksplace]

You probably got one of those models that was used to pound in fenceposts. I have a Fed that used to do the same thing. The take-up spool has a screw inside it that sets the friction on the spool so it can keep tension constant as the diameter of the film roll increases. This screw was too tight which caused the situation you describe. I loosened the screw a little until it worked fine. I have had no trouble with it since. Don't know if the zorki is the same.

 

[Joe Grodis]

I never did see a Zorki-2 in real life and it's the only Zorki model I don't have and I suspect it's rather rare. The Zorki-2 is pretty much a Zorki-1 with an updated rewind mechanism. Sure it's very old but I wouldn't give up on it yet. Zorki's are rather simple and there is a fair amount of repair resources on line. Maybe if you have the patients and a little mechanical aptitude you should try to fix it yourself, it may simply need a bit of lube. If it was some other Zorki model I wouldn't bother having it sent to the shop. But... A Zorki-2 may be worth it since I have never seen one for sale.

 

[WetMogwai]

I tried the tension screw in the rewind post. It showed promise when I tightened it all the way and loaded it with tension in the cartridge. It still slips, but sometimes i can get to the end of the roll with only one or two small slips. I'll see if I can find a repair guide. I would rather keep it than take it back.

 

[WetMogwai]

As for rarity, I get the impression that the 2 is quite rare, but the 2-C is common. I've seen the 2 on eBay for over $200. The 2-C is around $40. I paid a bit less than that in a local camera store.

 

[Joe Grodis]

Here's a Zorki repair resource that's even in English-----> http://www.dvdtechcameras.com/info/2.htm

 

[WetMogwai]

I had seen that site before, but I didn't think it was useful. It pointed me in the right direction. I found that the reel is worn out. By pinching the film clip with pliers and putting a small strip of receipt paper inside it, I was able to get it to advance through a full roll. It slipped a bit at the beginning, but after that, I watched it turn correctly all the way to the end. I'm going to shoot a roll of film tomorrow and see what comes out. If it works, I'll just have to find some more reels, which I planned on doing anyway.

 

[WetMogwai]

And now for more trouble. Since I had the lens off this last time, it has stopped turning past the 2m focusing point and won't go back on all the way. I'm done. This camera is going back to the store. I'm going to start looking for a Bessa R and not bother with 50+ year old Soviet cameras anymore.

 

[Rol_Lei Nut]

I'm going to start looking for a Bessa R and not bother with 50+ year old Soviet cameras anymore.

Though if you *do* get hold of a properly working 50 year old Soviet camera, it will probably way outlast the Bessa...

 

[Fanshaw]

So it was the clip on the take-up spool that was failing to hold the end of the film leader? In such cases I just tape the film to the spool. I have a few 2-Cs and they have not given me any problems.