Zorki 2C test roll

<p>I picked up a Zorki 2C from a fellow Dutch photographer a few weeks ago. I intend to sell the camera to a friend who wants to get into Rangefinders. I myself was mainly interested in the KMZ turret finder that came in the lot.</p>

<p>I wanted to test the camera first to make sure everything was working as it should and quickly discovered that the 2nd curtain was dragging intermittently on 1/100th of a second or slower.</p>

<p>Not discouraged I loaded up a roll of Kodacolor 200, screwed in my Industar-61 and took the camera with me to work, my dad's birthday party, a bicycle trip and a WW2 living history event.</p>

<p>The shutter drag was evident in a few frames, but overall the camera behaved pretty well:</p>

<p><img src="http://www.flibweb.nl/flibweb/cpg143/albums/userpics/10001/Zorki2c01.jpg" alt="" width="660" height="420" /><br>

Another picture of the "Hoefsven", a fen that used to be part of a natural water swimming pool. A group of elderly swimmers come here every day. Botulism bacteria / blue algae run rampant in the summer.</p>

<p><img src="http://www.flibweb.nl/flibweb/cpg143/albums/userpics/10001/Zorki2c02.jpg" alt="" width="420" height="660" /><br>

Further along my bicycle route you come past this Pumping station. During dry spells the water from the canal is pumped into the irrigation ditches on the other side of the dyke.</p>

<p><img src="http://www.flibweb.nl/flibweb/cpg143/albums/userpics/10001/Zorki2c03.jpg" alt="" width="660" height="420" /><br>

Graffiti under the road bridge that connects the town of Drunen with the village Giersbergen (and Helvoirt and Cromvoirt).</p>

<p><img src="http://www.flibweb.nl/flibweb/cpg143/albums/userpics/10001/Zorki2c04.jpg" alt="" width="660" height="420" /><br>

The water drops on these plants in the driveway of my parents' house always draw my attention.</p>

<p><img src="http://www.flibweb.nl/flibweb/cpg143/albums/userpics/10001/Zorki2c06.jpg" alt="" width="660" height="420" /><br>

Welcome to Deadwood. Taken just before I got soaking wet in a major downpour. Bad day to be out on your bike. Attempts are made to return the forest to its more natural "prehistoric" state. Trees are left where they fall, giving the little forest critters a better chance to hide from predators.</p>

<p>To fill up the roll I took the camera with me to the living history event at Fort Veldhuis.<br>

<img src="http://www.flibweb.nl/flibweb/cpg143/albums/userpics/10001/HK100810.jpg" alt="" width="420" height="660" /><br>

French resistance fighter, straight from "'Allo 'Allo". Hehe.</p>

<p><img src="http://www.flibweb.nl/flibweb/cpg143/albums/userpics/10001/HK100811.jpg" alt="" /><br>

Another French resistance fighter from our Living History Group.</p>

<p><img src="http://www.flibweb.nl/flibweb/cpg143/albums/userpics/10001/HK100812.jpg" alt="" /><br>

Guess where I slept.</p>

<p>I'm going to give this camera the once over now that there's no film in it. Possible causes of the curtain drag are either dirt in the channel or the light baffles are to close to the curtains. I'll see what I can find when I take it apart....if I can ever find the time.</p>

<p>Regards,<br>

Rick</p>

<p> </p>

I'd tell the buyer about your diagnosis on the curtain, but show him your results. I wouldn't come down in price for that reason, He's your buddy anyway right? Anyway I'm impressed !But I'm already into rangefinders!

<p>The camera didn't cost me an arm & a leg to start with.<br>

Should have some time tomorrow to disassemble it. My freshly arrived Leica Standard also needs a once over.</p>

 

<p>Nice post Rick, enjoyed all. Your friend should be happy with it.</p>

<p>~Jack</p>

<p>Thanks again for these Rick. As always very nice. </p>

<p>I like the Zorkis; they seem to need more lubrication than the German cameras. Some of them are also not aligned properly. Possibly, some earlier owner got things repaired wrongly. I also noticed that the FSU sellers boost up the tension in the curtain springs to make them snappy. I had to reduce the tension in all the cameras ai bought from the Soviet sellers. Once tuned they are delightful. Your pictures speak that quality. sp</p>

<p>Very nice. The photos brought back memories for me: I was born in Holland, then moved to Canada a long time ago. Dutch light is very distinctive, easy to recognize.</p>

<p>The subdued colour and the slightly uneven exposures give these photographs a suitably dated look, <strong>Rick</strong>. If that's "Dutch light" I've been living under it for weeks! It's a very drab winter, downunder...This Industar 61 seems to have produced quite mellow images, compared to the quite gritty pics I get from mine, though I have three copies and they do seem to vary. Thanks for another interesting post.</p>

Nice photos and great post. 'Allo 'Allo- heh, heh. "listen very carefully, I will say this only once."

<p>Nice photos, Rick. Even with a little shutter drag it looks like a very capable performer.</p>

<p>Hey you can practice on the Zorki and then tackle the Standard! I wish I had the courage that you and SP have in tearing these things down! Good Luck!</p>

<p>I'm not that brave, I usually just dare to removed the it from the shell and take off the top cover. But if I take the top from the film crate it leaves me clues how to reassemble the shutter. Springs need to be re-tensioned etc. etc.<br>

<img src="http://www.flibweb.nl/flibweb/cpg143/albums/userpics/10001/LeicaI01.jpg" alt="" /><br>

My new baby, the spindle on which the take-up spool is placed seems to have very little grip on the core. I'm running a film through it to see if it is an issue. It might suffer from bad frame spacing or un-spooling film.</p>

<p>The lens is my 1939 Summitar</p>

<p><img src="http://www.flibweb.nl/flibweb/cpg143/albums/userpics/10001/LeicaI02.jpg" alt="" /><br>

The paperwork in the images also arrived this week.</p>

<p>A triple treat!</p>

<p>In my own experience, such shutter drag has tended to work itself out on exercise, perhaps with a drop (tiny) of naphtha into the shutter grooves.<br /> thanks.</p>

<p>I've exercised it a few times, but it's not improving. When I open it up, I intend to give it a good clean. And maybe a drop of gun oil.</p>

<p>Nice post, Rick. The pictures are very nice; the subdued lighting is actually quite pleasing to me. The camera you've shown is also a good looking piece of gear as well. I agree with Chuck; you and SP are quite brave and knowledgeable when it comes to taking these things apart and then reassembling them in better condition than they started out in. I'm always impressed and amazed.</p>

<p>What scanner did you used?</p>

<p>I scan my negatives with a HP Scanjet G4050, using Vuescan.</p>