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Jacques M.
France
2604 Posts |
 Posted - Dec 16 2019 : 09:49:33 AM
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Hello,
I have bought lately a Fed-Zorki (one more!) mainly because of its back (and secondly because I had a 1948 1,5/5cm ZK to put on).
Here it is:
http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent2/16122019_IMG_2445.JPG
First surprise: my ZK lens does not have the right position on it (infinity at 3 o'clock rather than 12). The mount seems in correct position. So, rather than turning the lensplate, I have put an Industar Moskva "tomb" which was waiting for a body too...
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Jacques M.
France
2604 Posts |
Posted - Dec 16 2019 : 09:56:32 AM
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Here is the back:
http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent2/16122019_IMG_2447.JPG
It looks like a home made work, probably for a special work.
The back was partially cut, then replaced with foam to avoid any entry of light. The hole in the center is right in the middle of the film plate. Certainly a possibility to regulate the register. But for which type of work?
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Jacques M.
France
2604 Posts |
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Ulrich W.
uwittehh
Germany
837 Posts
My Collection
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Posted - Dec 18 2019 : 3:21:13 PM
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Jacques, can you slide the back down? Maybe it was made to make the film loading easier?
Ulrich
http://fotos.cconin.de |
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Jacques M.
France
2604 Posts |
Posted - Dec 19 2019 : 07:33:24 AM
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No, Ulrich, I cannot slide the back. But I wonder if it was not re-fixed after the special use, just for selling.
I have tried to slip a film inside by the back: it's very difficult. There is not enough space for that. No doubt that the camera is not in working order.
Probably I will partially take it to pieces to know more in a while. That removing back remembers me my Reid and Sigrist which had been specially prepared for use on periscopes in submarines.
Amitiés. Jacques. |
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Ulrich W.
uwittehh
Germany
837 Posts
My Collection
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Posted - Dec 26 2019 : 4:59:15 PM
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Jacques, it would be interesting to see what's under the removed back.
Ulrich
http://fotos.cconin.de |
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Jacques M.
France
2604 Posts |
Posted - Dec 27 2019 : 04:56:59 AM
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As far as I can, Ulrich (problem at a hand for the moment).
Jacques. |
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Jacques M.
France
2604 Posts |
Posted - Jan 09 2020 : 08:52:14 AM
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So, I have taken to pieces this strange early Fed-Zorki.
As it can be foreseen, the back is removable. I did not want to force, and it is tightly mounted.
http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent2/912020_IMG_0023.JPG
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Edited by - Jacques M. on Jan 09 2020 08:54:48 AM |
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Jacques M.
France
2604 Posts |
Posted - Jan 09 2020 : 09:01:19 AM
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The press film is directly rivetted to the back. So, no spring behind, and I have measured a register strictly at 28,8mm (there are important variations on pre-war Feds).
http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent2/912020_IMG_0011.JPG
A important correction is made on the lens plate which is thicker than usual.
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Jacques M.
France
2604 Posts |
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Jacques M.
France
2604 Posts |
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Jacques M.
France
2604 Posts |
Posted - Jan 09 2020 : 09:35:17 AM
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So, why this removable back? Which special use? Army?
I own a Reid which has a round opening on the back. This Reid was prepared to use on submarine periscopes.
http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent2/912020_Reid 2208 2.jpg
But the Russian system, on Zorki 3 and 4, is different.
So, an industrial purpose? A one shot camera? (it's Guido's idea)
Thanks for your comments! 
Amitiés. Jacques.
PS: sorry for the bad quality of the photos. Very poor light here, and I wanted to reassemble the camera...
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Vladislav Kern
Vlad
USA
4252 Posts
My Collection
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Posted - Jan 09 2020 : 11:10:28 AM
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Hi Jacques, I've seen this before quite a few times on early Zenits and Zorkis, this is a home "Leica" modification.
Best regards,
Vlad |
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Guido Studer
Guido
Switzerland
362 Posts
My Collection
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Posted - Jan 09 2020 : 4:07:48 PM
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Hello Jacques
Yes, my guess was it could be used to take single pictures to be developed as soon as possible. The reason for that could be to test the right exposure of a studio scene to adjust the parameters. I used to do this in my own darkroom decades ago with photopapers too to estimate how long the exposure has to take.
Just my 2 cents.
Best wishes - Guido
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Alfa2
Poland
349 Posts |
Posted - Jan 10 2020 : 4:11:14 PM
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| My guess was it could be the camera for macrophotography. Somhere in laboratory. |
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Ulrich W.
uwittehh
Germany
837 Posts
My Collection
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Posted - Jan 11 2020 : 4:40:08 PM
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Jacques,
intresting, thanks for diassembling. I also think that it was made for easier loading like on the Leica M cameras.
Ulrich
http://fotos.cconin.de |
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Jacques M.
France
2604 Posts |
Posted - Jan 14 2020 : 08:08:22 AM
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Thanks for your answers!
My guess is rather on the home made modification, for a special purpose: macrophoto would be a good idea. The sliding back would allow to check directly the result. And Guido explained how a one shot camera could be used in a darkroom. Sure there can be other possible explanations...
The fact is that the result of the change is rather crude. The two aluminium plates are not polished, the right one is not perfectly perpendicular, the velvet stripes are not regularly placed, etc. But the register has been very cautiously corrected with an extra plate and even a part of a sheet of newspaper under the lensplate. That makes me think of a camera made for shooting, not exactly a distant imitation of the "M". I know too Russian copies of the M, with a flapping back door which are much more convincing.
But who knows...
Amitiés. Jacques. |
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Jacques M.
France
2604 Posts |
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Vladislav Kern
Vlad
USA
4252 Posts
My Collection
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Posted - Jan 24 2020 : 10:49:54 AM
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| whoa that's an interesting fake! The top cover was completely custom manufactured! |
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Guido Studer
Guido
Switzerland
362 Posts
My Collection
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Topic |
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Old Fed-Zorki with a curious back
