Old Fed-Zorki with a curious back

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Printed on: 5/7/2026 2:32:38 PM

Topic

Topic author: Jacques M.

Posted on: 20191216094933

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/resize/resize_image.aspx?ImgWd=800&IptFl=/UserContent2/16122019_IMG_2445.JPG

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...

Replies

Reply author: Jacques M.

Replied on: 20191216095632

Here is the back:

http://www.ussrphoto.com/resize/resize_image.aspx?ImgWd=800&IptFl=/UserContent2/16122019_IMG_2447.JPG

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?

Reply author: Jacques M.

Replied on: 20191216095907

All the rest is common.

http://www.ussrphoto.com/resize/resize_image.aspx?ImgWd=800&IptFl=/UserContent2/16122019_IMG_2450.JPG

http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent2/16122019_IMG_2450.JPG

http://www.ussrphoto.com/resize/resize_image.aspx?ImgWd=800&IptFl=/UserContent2/16122019_IMG_2448.JPG

http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent2/16122019_IMG_2448.JPG

If you have any ideas concerning this back...

Amitiés. Jacques.

Reply author: uwittehh

Replied on: 20191218152113

Jacques, can you slide the back down? Maybe it was made to make the film loading easier?

Ulrich

http://fotos.cconin.de

Reply author: Jacques M.

Replied on: 20191219073324

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.

Reply author: uwittehh

Replied on: 20191226165915

Jacques, it would be interesting to see what's under the removed back.

Ulrich

http://fotos.cconin.de

Reply author: Jacques M.

Replied on: 20191227045659

As far as I can, Ulrich (problem at a hand for the moment).

Jacques.

Reply author: Jacques M.

Replied on: 20200109085214

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/resize/resize_image.aspx?ImgWd=800&IptFl=/UserContent2/912020_IMG_0023.JPG

http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent2/912020_IMG_0023.JPG

Reply author: Jacques M.

Replied on: 20200109090119

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/resize/resize_image.aspx?ImgWd=800&IptFl=/UserContent2/912020_IMG_0011.JPG

http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent2/912020_IMG_0011.JPG

A important correction is made on the lens plate which is thicker than usual.

Reply author: Jacques M.

Replied on: 20200109090754

The two aluminium plates which guide the removable back are rivetted on the body.

http://www.ussrphoto.com/resize/resize_image.aspx?ImgWd=800&IptFl=/UserContent2/912020_IMG_0014.JPG

http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent2/912020_IMG_0014.JPG

Light tightness is fastened through velvet bands glued to the removable part.

Reply author: Jacques M.

Replied on: 20200109091754

All the rest of the camera is ordinary, with a hole on the upper plate for a connexion towards the low speed spring, like on many pre war Feds. This plate could come from Fed parts, unless the early Zorkis have this same hole (I have not checked)...

http://www.ussrphoto.com/resize/resize_image.aspx?ImgWd=800&IptFl=/UserContent2/912020_IMG_0009.JPG

http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent2/912020_IMG_0009.JPG

And a photo of the cover, just for the alphabetical mark.

http://www.ussrphoto.com/resize/resize_image.aspx?ImgWd=800&IptFl=/UserContent2/912020_IMG_0018.JPG

http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent2/912020_IMG_0018.JPG

Reply author: Jacques M.

Replied on: 20200109093517

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/resize/resize_image.aspx?ImgWd=800&IptFl=/UserContent2/912020_Reid 2208 2.jpg

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...

Reply author: Vlad

Replied on: 20200109111028

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

Reply author: Guido

Replied on: 20200109160748

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

Reply author: Alfa2

Replied on: 20200110161114

My guess was it could be the camera for macrophotography. Somhere in laboratory.

Reply author: uwittehh

Replied on: 20200111164008

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

Reply author: Jacques M.

Replied on: 20200114080822

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.

Reply author: Jacques M.

Replied on: 20200124102454

I have just found again photos of a Leica fake with a flapping door. And it is a half format. What a work! (photos Cameraquest)

http://www.ussrphoto.com/resize/resize_image.aspx?ImgWd=800&IptFl=/UserContent2/2412020_leica 72 fake 1.jpg

http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent2/2412020_leica 72 fake 1.jpg

http://www.ussrphoto.com/resize/resize_image.aspx?ImgWd=800&IptFl=/UserContent2/2412020_Leica 72 fake 5.jpg

http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent2/2412020_Leica 72 fake 5.jpg

Reply author: Vlad

Replied on: 20200124104954

whoa that's an interesting fake! The top cover was completely custom manufactured!

Reply author: Guido

Replied on: 20200125031332

Hello friends of fakes

From the same workshop this two other fakes:

Another Leica 72 fake with a different serial number seen in 2016:

http://www.ussrphoto.com/resize/resize_image.aspx?ImgWd=800&IptFl=/UserContent2/2512020_Leica 72 357151, front.jpg

http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent2/2512020_Leica 72 357151, front.jpg

http://www.ussrphoto.com/resize/resize_image.aspx?ImgWd=800&IptFl=/UserContent2/2512020_Leica 72 357151, back.jpg

http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent2/2512020_Leica 72 357151, back.jpg

And this not so colorful Leica I seen in 2014:

http://www.ussrphoto.com/resize/resize_image.aspx?ImgWd=800&IptFl=/UserContent2/2512020_Leica Standard 0017, front-top.jpg

http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent2/2512020_Leica Standard 0017, front-top.jpg

http://www.ussrphoto.com/resize/resize_image.aspx?ImgWd=800&IptFl=/UserContent2/2512020_Leica Standard 0017, back.jpg

http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent2/2512020_Leica Standard 0017, back.jpg

The Leica 72 with the serial number 357166 that Jacques has shown was sold in 2010 as far as I know. The workshop was located in Moscow and once an article about the maker was publicated in a collectors magazine.

Best wishes - Guido