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ZORKI
I MODELS, VARIATIONS AND LENSES
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The
Zork 1i and FED 1 cameras have a particular charm because they are small,
compact and closely resemble the early Leica II. In fact some of the cameras
have been reworked into counterfeit Leicas and more than one buyer who
believed he was getting a bargain on a Leitz classic was actually getting
the Russian version of the Brooklyn Bridge.
KMZ began producing copies of the pre war Leica rangefinder
in 1948 in cooperation with FED. Between 1948 and 1956, 835,502 Zorki
1s were produced. Changes were made throughout production but many are
difficult for a casual viewer to identify.
Several attempts have been made to classify the various
Zorki 1 models . Almost all of them conflict to some degree and this one
will, too. This information is based on my personal observations or, where
I don't have physical access to a camera, on material from other Russian
camera users. Take it for whatever you believe it's worth.
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Zorki
1 1948 - 1956 (KMZ totals)
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1948: 1,636
1949: 15,000
1950: 38186
1951: 70,501
1952: 128,752
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1953: 152,150
1954:190,500
1955: 204,400
1956: 34,377
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| FED/KMZ
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The FED-KMZ has the FED name on top of the viewfinder housing with the KMZ
old style "tombstone" insignia underneath and the year 1948 underneath
the logo. At least some had uncoated 50mm f 3.5 Industar Moskova lenses.
The shutter release does not have a flared collar and the body covering
is the coarser FED type. There were allegedly only about 150 of this model
made. I have seen one example on a collector's web site with the serial
number 00026. |
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| FED/ZORKI
1948-1949
- The Zorki/FED has the
two company names inscribed on the top of the viewfinder with the KMZ logo
underneath. A few hundred were manufactured with the FED name and the KMZ
logo underneath. These earliest camera also have either 1948 or 1949 inscribed
on top between the two company names. The FED/Zorki has three screws in
the back of the top plate and a button shutter release rather than the later
collar type. It also has a film guide on the bottom plate held in place
by two screws.This camera's body shell wasn't as strong as later models
and it was possible to dent it by gripping it too tightly. This weaker shell
carried over to most of the Zorki 1Bs. Some very rare examples of this model
have shutter speeds to 1/1000 sec. The Industar-22 lens on this model has
the old KMZ "tombstone" logo on the front ring (see example at
right). Some FED/ZORKIs were equipped with the f2 or f1.5 "ZK"
lens in a collapsable mount. |
KMZ "Tombstone" logo
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ZORKI A-B transition
- This camera was equipped with a collapsible ZK
50mm f2 lens-the same lens found on the Kiev but in a different mount.
There also may have been some with a f1.5 ZK lens. There weren't many
of these cameras made. All appear to have been made in 1948 or 1949. This
was the first model with Zorki only on the top of the viewfinder housing
and the newer KMZ logo with a line through the "tombstone."
Some of these cameras had the flared collar aound the shutter release.
This is the first model without the indents in the ears of the accessory
shoe (see photo above)
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ZORKI 1B
- The 1B has the flared
collar around the shutter button and the release is threaded for a release
cable. The flare isn't as wide as that of a FED 1. Another identification
mark is three screws in the back of the top plate. Later models ony have
two screws. Most Zorki 1Bs have a finer grained vulcanite than the FEDs.
All have a film guide screwed to the baseplate. Some 1Bs have Zorki inscribed
in both Latin and Cyrillic on top of the viewfinder. The serial number
is on top of the viewfinder, in front of the accessory shoe. The majority
of 1Bs appear to have the soft shell body that is very easy to bend.
More on Zorki 1B
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ZORKI
1C -
The Zorki 1C has two screws in the back instead of three. The change to
two screws appears to coincide with the introduction of a stronger alloy
body shell that made the middle screw unnecessary. The 1C has black painted
accent stripes around the top and bottom of the body-the earlier models
don't. The 1C also lacks the film guide in the baseplate. The serial number
is on top of the viewfinder housing in front of the accessory shoe. 1Cs
were built in 1952 and 1953. There are at least two variations of the Zorki
1C:
ZORKI ZORKI -
An export model with the
name in both Latin and Cyrillic and "Made in the USSR" engraved on the top.
There also are 1B Zorki Zorkis. The Zorki Zorkis appear to have a better
finish than later Zorki 1s. The shutters on the earlier cameras also seem
quieter than later models. There is also is alleged to be a Zorki 1C with
a slow speed dial but some information suggests they were made outside the
plant. |
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| ZORKI
1C Cyrillic -
Zorki engraved in Cyrillic on top along with the serial number. Other than
the single name, this camera has the same mechanical characteristics as
the Zorki Zorki. The finish doesn't seem to be as nice as the export model. |
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| SHUTTER
CURTAINS -Zorki
1 cameras have slightly wider shutter curtains than later Zorkis which use
the same curtains as the later FED models. Some enthusiasts report that
the narrower curtains will work on the older cameras but others say they
can cause light leaks. If you plan to replace the curtains, avoid problems
by making sure you install the wider type. |
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ZORKI
1D --
Introduced sometime in 1953. The serial number was moved to the back of
the top plate. "Zorki" is stamped in Cyrillic on the viewfinder top, although
there also are examples of engraved models. Most 1Ds also has an accent
stripe around the lens mount. The shutter on the 1D and the 1E that followed
has a different sound than earlier models. If you remove the bottom plate
and examine the bottom of the shutter assembly you'll see the long, flat
Leica-type spring with a rounded end visible on early models is gone.
There is a Zorki 1 that has the serial number on the
back but no accent stripe around the lens mount. Some classify this as a
model 1D, and call the first camera with an accent stripe around the lens
mount a model 1E, and the final change model 1F. I believe, however, the
camera without the lens mount accent stripe is a 1D variation and not a
separate model.
Some collectors consider the 1D the best Zorki 1
user camera. It has the stronger body shell and the newer shutter design
(see photos above) that is easier to repair than the earlier version with
the long, flat spring. |
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ZORKI
1E is the last Zorki 1
model and was manufactured from 1954 to 1956. Most of these cameras have
eight digit serial numbers where the first two digits of the reflect the
year of manufacture. The 1E is easy to identify because it has different
shutter speed progression and a "B" setting instead of "Z" like earlier
models. There are some early 1Es with six or seven-digit numbers where the
numbers don't reflect year of manufacture. I have a 1E with a seven-digit
number beginning with "55" but it was made in 1954. |
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ZORKI
1 LENSES
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| Nearly
all Zorki 1s came with the Industar-22 collapsible f3.5 lens. Some of the
last cameras may have had the collapsible Industar-50 lens. A few cameras
during the early 1950s were equipped with a rigid Industar 22 lens. The
rigid I-22 is a different, more complicated lens than the Industar 50 rigid
lens on some later Zorki cameras. A few cameras also were produced in 1948
and 1949 with the Contax-designed "ZK" lens either f2 or f1.5. Industar-22
serial numbers (which sometimes correspond to year of manufacture) can be
found on the back of the lens mount (early models) or on the front (later
models). |
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LETTERING
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| Some
Zorki 1 models are engraved while others are stamped--a cheaper way of applying
lettering. All FED/Zorki, 1B and 1C cameras appear to be engraved. Zorki
1D and 1E models seem to be mixed with a few engraved but most stamped.
Since KMZ tried to develop an overseas market for the camera a reasonable
guess would be that the engraved models (which have a nicer look) may have
been produced for export. The two types are easy to identify because the
stamped lettering appears to be just that--letters pressed into the metal
(see Zorki 1C illustration above). Engraved letters have cleaner, crisper
edges on the letters. There were also at least two different styles of engraved
lettering with letters that differ in width and font styles. |
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BODY
COVERING
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Zorki 1 camera bodies are covered with a synthetic, hard rubber type material
commonly called "Vulcanite." Zorki Vulcanite coverings are smoother and
less rough than the covering on the FED 1. Most early Zorki 1s (models
1B and many 1C) are covered with a pebble-like material sometimes mistaken
for leather. The covering tends to turn a brownish color with age. Zorki
1Ds and 1Es are covered with a rougher, more-artificial-looking Vulcanite.
A few Zorkis prepared as awards or special gifts may have been covered with
real leather. |
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Zorki
1B and 1C Vulcanite
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Zorki
1D and 1E Vulcanite
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Synchronized
flash
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Zorki 1 model had a connection for flash as a factory feature. There are,
however, many cameras that had that option added later by a repair shop
(or possibly by the factory). Maizenberg also describes how to add electronic
flash synch in his book on repairing Russian cameras. This is a great feature
when combined with the compact size of the Z1, and well worth a little extra
money. |
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SUMMARY
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Although
identifying some Zorki 1 models isn't difficult, there isn't any way to
easily classify all of them. Apparently, KMZ sometimes used parts left
over from earlier production runs in later model cameras, especially during
the transition from the 1B to the 1C and from 1C to 1D. There doesn't
seem to be any specific cutoff dates when production of one model ended
and a new model began. There also are incidents of Russian sellers mixing
parts from different models in an attempt to create something they feel
might be more attractive to collectors. Then there's the problem of serial
numbers.
It is a common belief that the first two digits of
a Zorki serial number is the year of manufacture. This appears to only
apply to Zorki 1s manufactured in 1948 and 1949, when the year was inscribed
on top of the viewfinder, and on 1955 and 1956 models that have eight-digit
numbers. Some 1950 through 1954 models may have serial numbers that appear
to be manufacture dates but they are simply coincidence. Zorki I-22 lenses
appear to have had year of production included in the number earlier than
the cameras. If the lens is the original for a camera produced prior to
1955, its serial number may aid in determining the date of manufacture.
It is possible to get a general idea when a Zorki 1
was produced from the serial number, using the KMZ yearly production totals
listed on this page. Keep in mind, however, camera numbering did not begin
with "1". According to Nathon Dayton, each craftsperson who assembled
cameras was assigned a block of serial numbers. It that person left the
company or died the remaining numbers weren't necessarily transferred
to another person--therefore there are breaks in the consecutive numbers.
©
2004 Wayne Cornell
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