I’m at all times curious to check out numerous fashions of Russian cameras. I discover myself considering simply how unhealthy a digital camera can get, and if I can get a good consequence out it. After I began to be considering images, mid 80’s, the overwhelming majority of obtainable cameras in Romania have been Russian, with a small proportion of German ones (made within the former Democratic Republic of Germany). Western-made cameras have been scarce and only a few, and naturally, as a member of the working class household, I couldn’t afford one, by no means had the means to personal one, and clearly couldn’t get one to attempt it on mortgage. My early days of images have been all about utilizing Russian cameras, in 35mm or 120.
One of many first issues in regards to the Russian cameras that I realized was that they’re seldom to be trusted fully. Sooner or later, they freeze, flare, skip a body, get blocked, movie wind will get caught, shutter speeds settings bounce its lock, glass separated, rangefinder misaligned, and so forth. After they delivered, the pictures I received have been of common high quality, and it was not at all times my fault. I used to be taking pictures movie and hoped for the perfect. One will get used to those kind of situations, you already know – the truth is, it turns into an entire kind of expertise, to be trustworthy.
This right here Zorki 1 digital camera has an attention-grabbing story: it belonged to my uncle, who acquired it in 1957 or thereabouts. I have no idea if he purchased it new in Romania, or was bought whereas coaching within the USSR as a flying corps cadet at the moment. He was a part of one of many first batches of younger communist pilots to fly the brand new (then) Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-19 jet fighters.
As the brand new Romanian army aviation had been given these fighters by their Russian comrades, the coaching and such was initially made within the USSR after which continued at their respective regiments in Romania. The digital camera was given to me by the household, within the early 2000’s, after his dying. It was in want of a superb CLA, being misaligned, speeds erratic, and many others. I despatched it to a repairer in Russia (go determine), and it was returned in wonderful working situation. The vulcanite was eliminated and leather-based put as a substitute onto the physique, rangefinder repaired, and shutter crisp and actual.
As per its serial quantity, is a 1955 made digital camera. Because the manufacturing of Zorki 1 stopped in 1956, this can be a final mannequin (I imagine) to be produced within the KMZ manufacturing facility. The speeds are from B to 500, apertures from 3.5 (sure, not a sluggish lens) to 16. The lens is of collapsible kind, this digital camera is fitted with the unique ИНДУСТАР – Industar 22, a duplicate of Zeiss Tessar lens, very very similar to a duplicate of the Elmar.
Loading the movie is much like that of Leica: detach the underside plate, have your movie chief reduce to form as per Leica fashion, affix movie chief onto the take up spool, insert the entire thing within the digital camera (cautious), and shut the underside plate (be certain the locking key engaged the lock on the underside).
The required movie chief reduce for backside loading cameras is 10 –11 cm lengthy and about 2,5 cm extensive. It ought to taper gently in the direction of the shoulder and no tough corners across the cuts.
Shutter is of material kind, horizontal traverse focal aircraft, related in design with that of Leica II cameras. The rangefinder window is small and plenty of cameras have the focusing yellow dot light or fully gone. Launch button has a threaded port for a cable, on this mannequin of digital camera (earlier ones want a Leica launch cup kind, additionally made by KMZ). The knurled nobs are simple to work with. A lever located on the left of the winding knob is to be turned to left (to B mark) so as to rewind the movie again into the movie cassette. A chilly shoe for flash attachment has been put in onto the highest plate, along with a flash sync socket put there afterwards, I imagine.
I’ve discovered the Zorki 1 to be an easy digital camera to work with, quite fundamental however one expects that. Wind the movie, select your pace, examine the aperture (ring across the lens), focus the picture by aligning the rangefinder within the first viewfinder, compose your picture on the second viewfinder, and press the discharge button. Straightforward, as I’ve stated. Nevertheless, one has to recollect to wind the movie PRIOR to cocking the shutter/select the pace, as the alternative motion will break the shutter pin upon movie winding.
I’ve by no means tried this digital camera with different lenses, though I used to be tempted a few instances. I really like the pictures it renders, and it appears to me that irrespective of the movie or the topic, this lens provides that 80-ish look to the negatives. It’s in all probability only a fancy, however I do have that impression nonetheless.
I’ve stated someplace above that the Russian-made cameras are a little bit of a hit-or-miss factor, and so as to add to this, they’re quirky and on many events unreliable. Effectively, that’s true from my expertise, however this Zorki 1 is the exception to the rule. It simply delivers and it may be trusted. No points with it because it was repaired a very long time in the past. So sure, this one is an effective one. I want I might say this for each Russian digital camera I personal and use.
Right here, a couple of photographs taken with this digital camera – the movie is Fomapan 200 rated 80, personal course of and scan. The place is someplace within the Jap Europe. You get the enjoyable of this, proper?
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