Not a leica...but best I've got

[steve_white7]

I just picked up a Zorki 2c to learn with. I was hoping to get it a bit

cleaned up first, which is the first thing everyone seems to do

when they get one. I'm not too worried about the leather covering,

but more the viewfinder, the lens barrel and the knobs/dials. The

grooves in the focusing knobs are filled with dirt and who knows

what else.

 

Does anyone know of a good website that shows disassembled

Zorkis or maintainence instructions? As well possibly a good

solvent to clean the metal with? The glass appears fine and I'll

clean them lightly as well, but I'm interested in cosmetics too.

 

Please no jokes ;). I swear I'll buy a Leica when my student loan

is paid off.<div></div>

[giles_poilu]

Steve, congratulations - just a thought is it picture distortion or is that lens pointing in a different direction to the film plane?

[jeffpolaski]

http://www.commiecameras.com/sov/35mmrangefindercameras/cameras/index.htm

 

http://www.sovietcamera.com/

[ed_balko3]

There is quite a lot of practical information on russian camera maintenance at:

 

www.fedka.com/~jay

[steve_white7]

Distortion, please god let it be distortion.

 

Thanks, those sites look great. Any ideas on cleaning? I was

thinking about those wetnaps that are soaked in rubbing alcohol.

[bruce_appel]

Lots of ways to clean funk from old cameras. One good method is to get a really soft cotton rag, get it wet, wring it out, put a few drops of dishwashing liquid on it, squish it around until it foams up some and carefully start scrubbing the body up. Don't get it very wet, just damp, and rinse it frequently. A soft toothbrush will work well for getting in the crevices.

Once you get all the accumulated grime off, use a little bit of paste wax or shoe polish on the plastic body covering.