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Zorky 5 Red Lettering with self-timer

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Topic URL: http://localhost:8088/modern/Forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=3657

Printed on: 5/7/2026 2:43:09 PM


Topic

Topic author: Denn_kirov

Posted on: 20240419004549

Unexpected luck, Two interesting cameras were given to me by one of my clients.

http://www.ussrphoto.com/resize/resize_image.aspx?ImgWd=800&IptFl=/UserContent2/1942024_photo_2024-04-19_07-36-32.jpg


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent2/1942024_photo_2024-04-19_07-36-32.jpg

Zorky 5 with self-timer and Zorky 5 with round rangefinder. The second variant had previously fallen into my hands, though rare, but is found. But the first variant had not fallen into my hands before and was not known to me. In the network I found all two references with real photos.

https://www.ussrcameras.ru/catalog/284.

http://www.ussrphoto.com/resize/resize_image.aspx?ImgWd=800&IptFl=/UserContent2/1942024_100_3969.jpg


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent2/1942024_100_3969.jpg

https://rangefinder.ru/glr/showphoto.php?photo=11946

http://www.ussrphoto.com/resize/resize_image.aspx?ImgWd=800&IptFl=/UserContent2/1942024_S70002041.jpg


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent2/1942024_S70002041.jpg

Both cameras require preventive maintenance and therefore I will disassemble and post photos.
Next series soon...

Replies

Reply author: Denn_kirov

Replied on: 20240419035528

http://www.ussrphoto.com/resize/resize_image.aspx?ImgWd=800&IptFl=/UserContent2/1942024_03.JPG


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent2/1942024_03.JPG

http://www.ussrphoto.com/resize/resize_image.aspx?ImgWd=800&IptFl=/UserContent2/1942024_02.jpg


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent2/1942024_02.jpg

http://www.ussrphoto.com/resize/resize_image.aspx?ImgWd=800&IptFl=/UserContent2/1942024_01.jpg


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent2/1942024_01.jpg

Reply author: Luiz Paracampo

Replied on: 20240419093530

excellent find see the Ribin with self timer.

Reply author: Luiz Paracampo

Replied on: 20240419093757

http://ussrphoto.com/Forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=3650

http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent2/942024_rubin 2.png
also the self timer inclusion absent in 1st Zorki 5 series

Reply author: Denn_kirov

Replied on: 20240419101836

The condition was not very good. Shutter curtains to be replaced. Frame counter mechanism too. Otherwise, everything is working.

http://www.ussrphoto.com/resize/resize_image.aspx?ImgWd=800&IptFl=/UserContent2/1942024_11.jpg


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent2/1942024_11.jpg

Reply author: Denn_kirov

Replied on: 20240419124137

The rangefinders are almost entirely the same. Except for the front glass. In the Zorky 5 version with a square window, the glass is glued into the frame, which has no threads and has a larger diameter than in the version with a round window.
The Zorky 5 rangefinder with round window is completely identical to the later versions of Zorky 5 and Zorky 6.

http://www.ussrphoto.com/resize/resize_image.aspx?ImgWd=800&IptFl=/UserContent2/1942024_12.jpg


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent2/1942024_12.jpg

Reply author: uwittehh

Replied on: 20240421131625

Denn,

very nice find, congratulations! Could it be a transitional model from the Zorki 5 to the Zorki 6?

Ulrich

http://fotos.cconin.de

Reply author: Denn_kirov

Replied on: 20240421233548

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="MS Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by uwittehh</i>
<br />Denn,

very nice find, congratulations! Could it be a transitional model from the Zorki 5 to the Zorki 6?

Ulrich

http://fotos.cconin.de
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Good question. The Zorky 6 has a completely different shutter frame. Slightly different cocking mechanism. Only the rangefinders are the same. Maybe they were experimental releases.

Reply author: Denn_kirov

Replied on: 20240422103135

The rebuilding epic has come to an end. If there were no problems with the restoration of shutters, the counter mechanism of one camera had to be worked on. It turned out that there were at least three varieties of them, and I had to gut several donors in search of the right gear. Now both cameras have been restored and are pleasing to the eye.

http://www.ussrphoto.com/resize/resize_image.aspx?ImgWd=800&IptFl=/UserContent2/2242024_photo_2_2024-04-22_18-27-18.jpg


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent2/2242024_photo_2_2024-04-22_18-27-18.jpg

http://www.ussrphoto.com/resize/resize_image.aspx?ImgWd=800&IptFl=/UserContent2/2242024_photo_1_2024-04-22_18-27-18.jpg


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent2/2242024_photo_1_2024-04-22_18-27-18.jpg

Reply author: uwittehh

Replied on: 20240422145645

Denn,

nice work, now they look like new again :-)
For transitional models, I got this Zorki 4 prototype a few years ago. Maybe you can think of something else that hasn't yet been mentioned in this thread?
http://ussrphoto.com/Forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=3266

Ulrich

http://fotos.cconin.de

Reply author: Jacques M.

Replied on: 20240423030019

Absolutely beautiful. And precious concerning the evolution of the Zorki 5.
When reading your thread, I had immediately thought of Ulrich's transitional Zorki 4 too. Thrilling!

Amitiés. Jacques.
PS: if we know the numbering range of the Zorki 5, it would be interesting to locate that one.

Reply author: Denn_kirov

Replied on: 20240423115621

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="MS Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Jacques M.</i>
<br />
PS: if we know the numbering range of the Zorki 5, it would be interesting to locate that one.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

http://www.ussrphoto.com/resize/resize_image.aspx?ImgWd=800&IptFl=/UserContent2/2342024_1.jpg


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent2/2342024_1.jpg

http://www.ussrphoto.com/resize/resize_image.aspx?ImgWd=800&IptFl=/UserContent2/2342024_2.jpg


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent2/2342024_2.jpg

Reply author: Jacques M.

Replied on: 20240423162816

Thanks, Denn.
By its serial number, the Z5 with timer is older. I thought just the contrary...
Would it be possible that your Zorki 5 with timer is in fact a transitional model between Zorki 4 / Zorki 5?
Probably it would be necessary to know more about the numbering ranges of Zorki 4 and 5. But perhaps you can know, after the restoration, if there are parts rather on the Zorki 4 side?

Jacques.

Reply author: Denn_kirov

Replied on: 20240424000713

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="MS Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Jacques M.</i>
<br />
Would it be possible that your Zorki 5 with timer is in fact a transitional model between Zorki 4 / Zorki 5?
Probably it would be necessary to know more about the numbering ranges of Zorki 4 and 5. But perhaps you can know, after the restoration, if there are parts rather on the Zorki 4 side?

Jacques.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
The Zorky 4 has a completely different frame, a different cocking mechanism, a different rangefinder. The only thing they have in common is the self-timer mechanism. I think it is more similar to the Rubin with self-timer from the recent thread. And the early number is probably indicative of that.
Or maybe it was a one-off attempt to produce self-timer cameras for market research. Note, later releases of the Zorky 5 are not known to have a self-timer.
Maybe it was an attempt to create the zork 6. It seems to me that the Zorky 5 was a transitional and experimental model, as it was produced for only 2 years. I think that the Zorky 6 was created in parallel. As a result, they left the case with inconvenient loading of film from the bottom, and finally switched to a hinged back cover.
Either way it's a mystery from KMZ.....

Reply author: Jacques M.

Replied on: 20240424103142

Yes, of course, you are right.
Thanks for your detailed answer.
And congrats for the Rubin and this Zorki 5!

Jacques.