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Zorki
1B
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| The Zorki 1B was the first stand-alone Zorki made--without any reference to its ancestor, the FED 1. There are several variations of the 1B, which were manufactured between 1949 and 1951. The two main variations are the "Zorki Zorki", with the name on the viewfinder in both Latin and Cyrllic, and the standard model with the name in Cyrllic. For more in formation see Identifying Zorki 1 Models | |
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| SOFT BODIES --The Zorki 1Bs were among the smoothest operating of all the Zorki 1 models but there is one area of concern -- soft body shells that deform rather easily. Most 1B bodies were made from a very weak cast aluminum. The cameras are usually easy to spot because they have dents in the back from the pressure of the operator's hand and fingers. It's not uncommon for them to also have a depression in the back in the shape of the film pressure plate. Often the body has been deformed enough that it's difficult to insert or remove a film cassette. Trying to straighten out the body can be problematic. One camera buff likened the body metal to soft lead or "a Hershey chocolate wrapper of the same thickness." I have two 1Bs with 5-digit serial numbers that appear to have soft bodies. I also have a later 1B with a 6-digit number that seems to have the stronger alloy body but this may only be because it was used very little. All later models of the Zorki 1 have a stronger alloy body. | |
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The backs of Zorki 1Bs have the three screws in the top--like a FED 1. Later models had only two screws, probably because the stronger body shell didn't require as many anchors. The Zorki 1B also is the first Zorki with a collar around the shutter button and the button threaded for a cable release. Early 1Bs did not have a reference dot on the inside of the shutter release collar. Later 1Bs have a dot, which is to indicate if the shutter was wound. FED 1s of the period had collars that were more flared. The 1B doesn't have the black accent stripes around the top and bottom of the covering found on later models. |
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| The 1B was the last model to have a film guide attached to the camera baseplate. The guide is attached by two screws. |
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One identification point one the early Zorki 1 models are the "ears" on the accessory shoe. The FED-KMZ, FED-Zorki and early Zorki 1Bs all have indents in the ears as is shown in the photo at left. Later 1Bs, like the one below, and all Zorki 1s that followed, don't have the indents. |
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| Top of the Zorki Zorki 1B shows the brand name in Cyrillic and Latin and includes the statement "Made in USSR," indicating it was made for export. KMZ logo is below the serial number, in front of the accessory shoe. Zorki 1Bs and 1Cs were manufactured with the double name. |
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Engraving
on the standard Zorki 1B with the KMZ logo underneath the brand name.
On early 1Bs the ears of the accessory shoe have indents like the FED/Zorki.
These later 1Bs have shoes without the indentations.
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| Most Zorki 1s have cast aluminum shutter crates with the film rails as part of the casting. This early 1B, however has a sheet metal crate with inset nickel-plated film rails. This is the same design found on early FED 1s. This type of crate is normally found in cameras with a round film pressure plate. |
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