Before getting my Leica IIIf I used a Zorki 1c with an industar 22 collapsible lens Incredible black and white results on that camera , gonna bring it on a trip to Puerto Rico soon Definitely not as smooth and refined as the Leica but a beautiful and great working machine (:
Excellent video. I have seen a lot, about the Soviet Leica clones and, with out doubt, this one is the one which give us all the perspectives we need to choose the "right" camera. Thanks a lot
I picked up a zorki 4 vid on my channel I loved the camera such fun to use sadly there was a bad light leak so the bloke I bought it from offered to fix it communication was awesome he kept me updated weekly then since Christmas nothing I think the old boy might have gone 😞 I will definitely look for a replacement Zorki or maybe a fed. Great video thanks liked and subbed
A very nice and comprehensive video! I settled on the Fed 2a a while ago and been very happy. Just a couple of thoughts that came to mind about this particular model that may help people out there: there seem to be issues with some Jupiter 12s on some Fed 2s with the rangefinder arm, but I don't know what models of lens affect which cameras. My 1965 silver J12 works perfectly with my 57 Fed 2 though. And an additional thing for early FED 2s is the shoe is quite low so it interferes with some external viewfinders. I sorted this by getting a cold shoe adapter on ebay for a couple euros that raises it slightly and sorts the problem out.
Thanks! Yes, good point about the shoe, a thing to consider when buying. With some finders it is an advantage though, like the KMZ turret, which has a pretty "tall" foot. Looks great on the FED-2.
@@extremebanding2748Never tried the turret viewfinder but it's good to know it fits! I used the 3.5cm KMZ viewfinder, which gave me issues which is probably why the shoe was raised later in production.
Of all the Soviet rangefinders, I think the Fed 3 gives the best blend of features, ergonomics, and quality. Zorki's viewfinders are slightly larger and brighter, but in all other respects seem slightly behind the Fed. Tried the Kievs too, but a little too clunky for me.
my Zorki 4 (1957 make) is one of my favorite Soviet RF cameras. It feels decently built, and I absolutely love the feeling of all the knobs. Bonus points for that it has a combined RF/viewfinder for 50mm and its not a bottom loader. The early model Zorki 4s are the way to go, the later maodels feel more cheaper as the years of production kept going.
I bought a Fed 2 recently and a zorki 4. I definitely prefer the zorki. Bigger brughter viewfinder. But i think the lens that came with the fed is horrible so that might be another reason i like the zorki better. Ended up ordering a Jupiter 3 so we'll see if its a good one.
Zorky2. Same form-factor as Zorky1 plus self timer and tabs for hanging. Disadvantages: it is not cheap. Only 9k were produced. Also no synchronization, but people added it DIY.
I prefer the one without just because of ergonomics. It is a tiny bit smaller and lighter, and the cold shoe is a bit lower (but that can also be a downside depending on what external finder you use, if any), and as I don't use the self timer I think it is mostly in the way. Personally I also prefer the knob of the one without the self timer. Other than that they are very similar, and should be just as reliable.
Hi, it is the Russar 20mm f5.6. It is not rangefinder coupled, but really compact as you can see. Because of the protruding rear element it is not a good choice for digital, so best used with film
Thanks! It is the Russar 20mm f5.6. It is not rangefinder coupled, but really compact as you can see. Because of the protruding rear element it is not a good choice for digital, so best used with film
I am about to buy Zorki 4/4K. I am buying it online in my country from the sellers that have no ideas about the cameras. Aesthetically they look good, but my main concern is how likely is to get the camera with the damaged shutter? Does it break easily if the speed is set before the winding film?
Yes, unfortunately it does tend to break if you change the speed before winding the film. You can in most cases repair it yourself if that happens, then you have to remove the top and adjust some things (The Mir is a Zorki-4 without slow speeds, and does not have that weakness). As always when buying untested stuff, it is a lottery, but you might get lucky, and if you find one cheap you can always test repairing it yourself. I would also watch out for holes in the shutter curtains on untested cameras.
@@extremebanding2748Thanks for the quick reply. There are others Soviet range finder cameras, but too much to spend time researching them. I narrowed my choice to be Zorki 4k. I can get it cheap, around 30USD. If can be relatively easily accessible, then that would not be a problem to me. I`ll have to give myself 2-3 days before I make a purchase. Right now GAS kicked in and I have multiple tabs open regarding this camera lol. I hate when I find nice cameras for cheap.
Yes, the probability of buying a non-working camera is high. Imagine - this camera is 60 or even more years old, all this time it was going somewhere in the farthest corner. Any technique, if not used for half a century, can break. I bought my Zorky-4 (1959), it needed cleaning and grease. I was just lucky because I could meet the seller in person and inspect the camera with my own eyes before buying
Any of this Russian garbage won’t make it anywhere near to the top 10 list of rangefinders under $1000. There are literally about 20 models of rangefinders from the top/main brands in the $150-$700 range. Cameras such as Canon VT & VI & P & 7, Minolta CLE, Contax III & II, Leica CL, Canon S II & J II, any LTM Leica.
