Zorki 4 series
Zorki 4s were manufactured from 1956 to 1978--longer than any other Zorki Leica-based camera. . The early Zorki 4s were almost identical to the 3C, with the addition of a self timer. They can be identified by the small frames around the viewfinder windows, all the lettering and numbers are inscribed and the body has strap lugs. This Zorki 4 was produced in 1956 (only 15,150 were made that year) and has an f2 Jupiter 8 lens. The camera has a removable back secured by two locking keys in the baseplate. These early models are relatively scarce in good condition but the prices are still relatively low. 1,715,677 Zorki 4s were produced.
The Mir ("Peace" in Russian) was a lower cost version of the Zorki 4, primarily for domestic consumption, The cameras were made from 1959 to 1961. Standard lens was the rigid Industar 50, collapsible I-22 or the Jupiter 8. Costs were reduced by eliminating the slow speed shutter mechanism. The Mir speeds are B, 1/30, 1/60, 1/125, 1/250, and 1/500. Some claim at least some Mirs have the 1/1000 shutter speed--but it isn't shown on the dial. The Mir is allegedly one of the most reliable Soviet cameras because it isn't complicated by the slow speed shutter train. These cameras a relatively scarce--especially in excellent condition. The camera shown is an early 1959 model with I-22 collapsible lens. The body has the frame around the viewfinder and rangefinder windows--like the early Zorki 4s and is covered with vulcanite. The Mir also has strap lugs, a feature dropped on Z4s in the early 1960s.
Zorki 4Bs were manufactured from the early 1960s to 1978. These later cameras lack the frames around the viewfinder and rangefinder windows. The body is covered with nylon rather than vulcanite. Some don't have strap lugs. The numbers on the shutter speed dial and/or the lettering on the nameplate are painted rather than inscribed. The lettering has rubbed off the shutter dials on some of these camera making them difficult to operate. The change to painted rather than inscribed lettering didn't happen all at once. Some cameras have inscribed shutter speeds and painted names and others have inscribed names and painted shutter speeds. The Z4Bs generally have a "cheaper feel" than the earlier Zorki 4A and the Mir. This is a 1967 model and the red lettering on top salutes 50 years of Communism in the Soviet Union.
The Zorki 4K was manufactured from 1972 to 1978 but only a few were made the final year. The major difference between it and the Z4B is it has a rapid wind lever for advancing the film. It also has modern shutter speed progression. The 4K is nylon covered, has painted numbers and lettering. The tripod socket was changed to standard 1/4-inch. More than one million 4Ks were made and many were exported. The only major flaw is the painted shutter speeds have worn off many of the cameras. The camera shown here was manufactured in 1977 and was imported into the U.S, during that period. The Zorki name is in Latin. Most of the late Z4Ks had the black f2 Jupiter 8 lens while earlier models had the f3.5 Industar 50.
