KMZ-Zorki
Zorki 2 prototype ca. 1950
After five years of building Barnack clones, KMZ adopted a late 1930s Fed combined VF/RF design. Determined to produce cutting edge RF camera designs, a Leica inspired slow speed escapement was fitted at the bottom linked to the top [derived from the pre-WWII Fed-B]; hence the front mounted slow speed control which was announced to the Soviet public as the Zorki 2 in 1950 pictured above. See how similar this camera is to an aborted Fed 2 prototype. This camera looks very compact and elegant since it was a bottom loader and could have given contemporary Leica and Canon LTMs a run for the money merely on aesthetics.
Real Zorki 2
However the real Zorki 2 that was sold to the public was still a Barnack derivative with a self timer....
Zorki 3 [1951-1955]
Finally the FSU camera with slow speeds, lifesized combined VF/RF and Contax style removable back for easier film loading to be mass produced by KMZ was the Zorki 3. Top shutter speed is 1/1000 going down to 1/25 on the top dial split to engage the front slow speed dial from 1/10, 1/5, 1/2, 1 sec. and T, same shutter progression as an early Leica M3 and IIIf red dial. In spirit it might be emulating those contemporary models but technically it is a modernized version of the IIIa. The shutter sounds like a Zorki 1d or 1e on fast speeds and the slow speeds have that "twang" of a Leica screw mount. This was soon superseded by the Zorki 3M which has a top mounted dial for all speeds like the 3C and 4. No flash synch on these models but some units were later converted.
The lens mounted in the picture is a rare rigid Industar 22, 50mm f 3.5 but the usual standard issue lens is an early Jupiter 8 50mm, f2 with a tabbed lens mount.
Many collectors consider this model to be unreliable and hard to fix. When I received this camera the curtains were hanging at slow speeds and the slow speed control was engaging different speeds at random. However after a simple CLA I was able to bring it back to life .
Zorki 4 [1956-1973]
This is the longest lived model from the KMZ stable retaining the lifesize combined VF/RF from the Zorki 3. But it now has a flat top RF top cover to accomodate a variable flash synchronizer mechanism and a self timer. Throughout its lifetime there were minor cosmetic variations in engraving. The early ones from the mid 50s to early 60s are sought after because of engraved shutter speed dial and logos. The camera pictured above is from 1963 and has an engraved shutter speed dial but the logo is silk screen printed and fade from over enthusiastic cleaning. This is the flagship of FSU Leica clones with about 1.7 M manufactured. It is a fine shooter and my only main gripe is the heft and bulk.
Zorki 4K [1972-77]
Essentially the same camera as a Zorki 4 but with a lever wind mechanism, there are traces of cheaper build quality when the mechanical parts are dissected as well as cost saving measures such as nylon covering and a printed rather than engraved shutter speed dial that usually gets erased from years of cleaning as well as the loss of strap lugs. The lens mounted in the picture is a late black rigid Industar 50mm, f3.5. Black Jupiter 8, 50mm, f2 lens was also supplied particularly on export models.
Fed
Fed 3a [1961-63]
This model is mechanically very similar to the Fed 2 except that the baselength of the rangefinder had to be shortened to 41mm to accomodate the slow speed escapement with speeds from B, 1 - 1/500. It is the first Fed camera mass produced provided with slow speeds since the very limited production Fed-B, Leica IIIa clone in 1938. Compared to the Fed 2, the camera grew a bit in girth and heft but still retained the ergonomics of its little Fed 2 brother. It was supplied with the Industar 26M, 52mm f2.8 lens as pictured.
Fed 3b [1963-72]
A further evolution of the 3a with a flat top to accomodate the additional mechanism required for a lever wind. RF baselength is the same as well as shutter speeds. It was supplied with the Industar 61 52mm f 2.8 lens nicknamed "Panda" which was the first FSU lens containing Lanthanum. Strap lugs were no longer provided for this model and this is a limited edition model made for me by Oleg Khalyavin.
Fed 5 [1977- early 90s]
AKA "ugly big rear lens cap" because of its standard issue and radioactive Industar 61L/D, 53mm, f2.8 lens that is sought after for being tack sharp. RF baselength and shutter speeds are retained from the earlier Fed 3 and 4 models, plus. Probably a low point in Soviet industrial design but this is equipped with lever rewind, self zeroing film counter. hot shoe for flash and an uncoupled selenium light meter that is pretty accurate for daylight shooting if it is working......in spite of its quaint appearance, every FSU camera collector seems to have one, I wonder why?
Reference: The Authentic Guide to Russian and Soviet Cameras 2nd edition by Jean Loup Princelle available from Fedka.com
