[Konvas] Zorki 4 - Just for therapy!

[Speedbirdmgh at aol.com]

Just got my Zorki 4 the first of two I bought. (basically a Mir)
 
It is extremely well made just like they used make to them with lots of  
shiny knobs and metal to polish.
 
I do not own a Leica  but they say the Zorki is a copy of the 1935  Leica!!!  
They also say that if you pick up a Leica you certainly know  about it as it 
has the right feel. Well, my little Zorki has the right feel and  although it 
looks vintage, it is!  Everything is metal and not a plastic  part in sight. 
The rangefinder works too albeit in a 1935 fashion. The good  thing is that 
when you take off the back most of the workings are in view and  mine certainly 
was running dry. As dry as a camel's tongue in the Sahara desert  on a Sunday!
 
After a good lube it is now running much sweeter but not as good as it was  
designed to run I am sure of that.
The gears are badly cut and the teeth do not engage with each other as they  
should and tend to wobble a bit. The curtain is tight and the speeds sound  
correct but the speed knob is a real headache and does not always select the  
right speed in the right notch, I think this can be sorted out. The lens is  
clear and bright but focusing sometimes also changes the aperature as it is too  
close together.
 
The good thing is that it came with filters and a 35mm dummy drum for  
loading your own film but the back of the camera does'nt always close properly  when 
this drum is inserted but is fine with regular Kodak cassettes. The wind  
knob is a real 'teaser' and you need to wind slow to cock the shutter but it is  
a real "sweatie" when it fires but when it does you hear a nice ZZZZZzzzzzzzz, 
 music to my ears.
 
Will shoot off a roll this week-end. There is no lanyard fixings so will  
have to buy a case which is twice as much as the camera.  Camera cost  $15-00.  
In Russia they are going for $60-150.00.
 
If you shoot 16mm or 35mm buy a Zorki to just bring you back to the basics  
and its fun!
 
Rita  (Zorki stands for "sharp sighted")
 
 
 
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