Waitin' on a Zorki 4K to arrive...

[FujiSigmaNolta]

Hi all. Got me self a Zorki 4K off eBay after missing an opportunity on Sunday for buying a Minolta Himatic 7s for a tenner. As a payback, I got myself a Zorki 4K with a 50mm f2.
I always wanted a rangefinder, I have only handled one, never owned any and in fact I wanted a Voigtlander Bessa. But, for the time being that will be a dream as such, I took the "plunge" and bought a Zorki 4K. Particularly, because I like street photography and reportage, so my rangefinder ownership it's way overdue.

Enough blabbering, what I am after are some tips from you guys on Zorki handling (apparently they dont have markings for different focal lengths, I only found that after I bought it!).

Thanks,

[parisian]

Good morning Luis - user manual here; clicky

Watch out for the shutter speed setting protocol and remember to set the dioptric correction for the viewfinder (probably each time you use it) enjoy

[OneTen]

My school had a handful of Zorki 4 cameras and we had a lot of fun using them. Enjoy.

[FujiSigmaNolta]

Watch out for the shutter speed setting protocol and remember to set the dioptric correction for the viewfinder (probably each time you use it) enjoy

Hi guys,

Aaaah Russian cameras and their quirks, don't you just love them? My Kiev 6C with the shutter release on the left,drains meter cell batteries in a matter of hours,care in releasing the advance lever and all those warts...
Now a Zorki 4K....

Thanks for the manual, your tips and input. Keep the tips coming though. I am really looking forward to using it.

PS: Just one thing, I was reading the manual and it says it was design for use with BW film. Any ideas why would that be? I am sure any film works just curious why they state that in the manual.

[Malcolm_Stewart]

PS: Just one thing, I was reading the manual and it says it was design for use with BW film. Any ideas why would that be? I am sure any film works just curious why they state that in the manual.

So it does! I missed that when skimming through my manual. Perhaps they didn't trust the shutter or aperture settings for reversal film; whilst B&W is predominantly negative with wider latitude.

The manual for my Kiev 4A lists Kodachrome.

[Manofolympus]

PS: Just one thing, I was reading the manual and it says it was design for use with BW film. Any ideas why would that be? I am sure any film works just curious why they state that in the manual.

So it does! I missed that when skimming through my manual. Perhaps they didn't trust the shutter or aperture settings for reversal film; whilst B&W is predominantly negative with wider latitude.

The manual for my Kiev 4A lists Kodachrome.

Perhaps it was to dissuade the proletariat from demanding decadent western colour film-or possibly they considered the lens was insufficiently achromatic?

[parisian]

PS: Just one thing, I was reading the manual and it says it was design for use with BW film. Any ideas why would that be? I am sure any film works just curious why they state that in the manual.

Just a wild guess here but I suspect that as the, 'working mans Leica', they wanted to make sure you knew you could emulate Cartier-Bresson and his black and white gems. Rather subtle way of telling you this though!
I have used all types of film in mine and they are pretty good.

[Benchista]

PS: Just one thing, I was reading the manual and it says it was design for use with BW film. Any ideas why would that be? I am sure any film works just curious why they state that in the manual.

Just a wild guess here but I suspect that as the, 'working mans Leica', they wanted to make sure you knew you could emulate Cartier-Bresson and his black and white gems. Rather subtle way of telling you this though!
I have used all types of film in mine and they are pretty good.

I think it's far simpler - just the Zorki doesn't have a built-in meter, unlike the contemporaneous FED 4 and Kiev 4.

I like the Zorki - loved mine, in fact. And that lens is really, really good - if you get a good 'un, anyway.

[zx9]

Watch out for the shutter speed setting protocol and remember to set the dioptric correction for the viewfinder (probably each time you use it) enjoy

Hi Luis, Peter is right about the dioptric correction lever having a mind of it's own. I find the viewfinder to be a bit too wide(closer to a 40mm coverage), that combined with the lack of parallax correction tends to make me crop a little too tight when using the Jupiter 8. My only tip would be leave a little more space around the subject and do the final crop under the enlarger / on the scan.
My J8 (silver) is a reasonable performer despite having taken a heavy knock at some time. My only criticism would be that it suffers from flare when shooting into the light, perhaps the later black lenses have better coating.

I enjoyed my 4C enough to set me off on the slippery RF GAS slope, but I think you could be there already

[parisian]

I think it's far simpler - just the Zorki doesn't have a built-in meter, unlike the contemporaneous FED 4 and Kiev 4.

Why would having a meter make any difference Nick? On that basis millions of people using millions of simple (i.e. low tech. which could be pro or amateur) cameras should only be shooting black and white.

[Benchista]

Simply that in those days, no "serious" amateur would've used colour neg, and although estimation of exposure for the accuracy of neg film is child's play, it's a lot tougher for slide film. It's actually precisely the boat I was in when I had my Zorki - my Zenit had died, I had virtually no cash at all and the only decent camera I could afford was a s/h Zorki. No meter (couldn't afford one of those, either), Kodacolor II was dismal (although my mother was using it, setting the exposure on the Agfa Sillette she was using based on the instructions that came with the film), so B&W was the only option. Had I got a FED 4 or a Kiev 4, I would've been fine with the external selenium meter similar to the one on my Zenit.

[parisian]

Simply that in those days, no "serious" amateur would've used colour neg,

That is SO true, I well remember the caustic comments in club competitions when colour print submissions came up!

[Benchista]

In fairness, I've still got the results of the first roll of Kodacolor II I ever shot, and they're not bad at all. It's just all the rest that were poor, and the other colour neg films were much worse at the time.

[FujiSigmaNolta]

Wow guys, as usual, lots of detailed info. Thank you all. It's one of the reasons I love this forum. No wonder we keep getting all the noobs asking for camera advice.
I just received the Zorki and I am surprised at how solid it feels. The lens seems to show a little fungus in the back element if you shine light at a certain angle into it, but I am not complaining. It's the black Jupiter-8 50mm f2. The condition of the camera is very very good. It came with instruction stuck to the back and in English!
But as usual, like my Kiev 6C, it smells , but it's something I'll get used to. I just put a roll of process paid Sensia in it to test it. I can't wait to try some Tri-X in it though!

[Photocracy]

Luis, try to get hold of the turret finder for your Zorki. It's a wonderful thing and looks so cool on the camera. It's also extremely handy as you can flick through the different focal length views before committing to fitting a particular lens.

You will love your 4K!

[FujiSigmaNolta]

I Rob, thanks for the advice in fact I have just done it, I got one from eBay.

Next is some nice lenses!

[Benchista]

Yeah, the turret finder is great.

As to lenses, the 85mm f2 Jupiter is a cracker.

[FujiSigmaNolta]

Yeah, the turret finder is great.

As to lenses, the 85mm f2 Jupiter is a cracker.

Thanks! I'm on it! I also so a 135mm f4 for £50 inc p&p, but I got to slow down with the expenses. I just finished my BA and I am kind of treating myself but I got have some control otherwise I'll be bankrupt by the end of the month!

[Benchista]

The 135 is a very nice lens, too - maybe just a bit long for a rangefinder.

[sillyconguru]

The 135 is a very nice lens, too - maybe just a bit long for a rangefinder.

Indeed it is a little too long for the Zorki, it is better on a FED 2 (larger rangefinder base).