Zorkij 4 -shutter problem

ANNIEphotographer · Oct 13, 2023

Hello Everyone,

I have recently received zorkij 4 .

It worked maybe few weeks but suddenly I don't why shutter is not opening. While I am turning the wind knob, shutter speed is not moving. Previously it was moving and shutter was released so I could take a photo.
Collar and shutter are in the position like on the on the attached photo.
Do you know what could happened ? Did I somehow destroyed , can I repair by myself or I need give to specialist.

BMbikerider · Oct 13, 2023

I had something similar happen with a Kiev 4 (Also Russian) a good many years ago. What mine turned out to be were two tiny screws on the collar had become loose and while the movement was appearing to work it was doing nothing. It may be that you may need to take it to a repairer to have it professionally repaired.

henryvk · Oct 13, 2023

First, try fiddling the release collar back and forth a bit, maybe it has not properly engaged. I have this with my FED 5 every once in a while and it takes pushing the collar a number of times while excercising the advance lever all the way and firing the shutter.

If that's not it: Is the shutter cocked currently? If it is, you should be able to open the curtain by, gently, rolling the right-hand curtain roll (viewed from the front) clockwise. If that's the case, there is an issue with the shutter release.

I think that's less likely, tough, and maybe you just broke the Golden Rule of cocking the shutter before changing the shutter speed?

Look at this thread here, the reply by "kralefski" further down: https://www.flickr.com/groups/17036158@N00/discuss/72157613113998988/

What may have happened is that the shutter speed shaft has become misaligned.

(I'm actually wondering if you can cock the shutter on the Zorki 4 by turning the shutter speed dial counter-clockwise like here: and thus check if the shutter is cocked and/or reset the shaft to it's proper position.)

ANNIEphotographer · Oct 13, 2023

henryvk said:
First, try fiddling the release collar back and forth a bit, maybe it has not properly engaged. I have this with my FED 5 every once in a while and it takes pushing the collar a number of times while excercising the advance lever all the way and firing the shutter.

If that's not it: Is the shutter cocked currently? If it is, you should be able to open the curtain by, gently, rolling the right-hand curtain roll (viewed from the front) clockwise. If that's the case, there is an issue with the shutter release.

I think that's less likely, tough, and maybe you just broke the Golden Rule of cocking the shutter before changing the shutter speed?

Look at this thread here, the reply by "kralefski" further down: https://www.flickr.com/groups/17036158@N00/discuss/72157613113998988/

What may have happened is that the shutter speed shaft has become misaligned.

(I'm actually wondering if you can cock the shutter on the Zorki 4 by turning the shutter speed dial counter-clockwise like here: and thus check if the shutter is cocked and/or reset the shaft to it's proper position.)

Thank you ! I will check your propositions. About cocking the shutter before changing the shutter speed not sure write if I did it or not (

KitosLAB · Oct 13, 2023

If you sent it to me in Kyiv, I would fix it))) I love fixing Zorki-4, it’s a very simple camera. If you can, make a short video about the problem. You need to see in what position the curtains are and what happens when you turn the rewind/cock handle

henryvk · Oct 14, 2023

ANNIEphotographer said:
Thank you ! I will check your propositions. About cocking the shutter before changing the shutter speed not sure write if I did it or not (

Don't worry too much about changing the shutter speed before cocking. From what I've read (and seen on the inside of these cameras) it is unlikely to actually break the mechanism.

Fwiw not all Soviet Leica-derivates are subject to the Golden Rule. With the Zorki 2 and 2C as well as the first Zenit SLR you can set the shutter speed before cocking the shutter. I suspect all the ones with a post in the middle of the shutter speed dial are safe to do this.

KitosLAB · Oct 14, 2023

henryvk said:
Don't worry too much about changing the shutter speed before cocking. From what I've read (and seen on the inside of these cameras) it is unlikely to actually break the mechanism.

Fwiw not all Soviet Leica-derivates are subject to the Golden Rule. With the Zorki 2 and 2C as well as the first Zenit SLR you can set the shutter speed before cocking the shutter. I suspect all the ones with a post in the middle of the shutter speed dial are safe to do this.

Zorkiy 4 has a deceleration mechanism, which is a clock mechanism with gears and a spring and operates at shutter speeds shorter than 1/30 sec. There is a rod on the deceleration mechanism that turns; if you change the shutter speed when the shutter is not cocked, there is a high chance that the deceleration rod and the shutter speed rod will cross in the wrong position and the shutter will be jammed.
This is quite easy to treat. You need to remove the cover and remove the flash synchronizer housing with three screws. Slightly raise the angle of the deceleration mechanism, thereby releasing the shutter speed rod. Set the bucket to manual position “B”, cock the bolt and make sure it works correctly. After this, all that remains is to assemble the camera in reverse

Zorkij 4 -shutter problem

ANNIEphotographer

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