Zorki 3

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Zorki 3

This is the first major revision of the basic Zorki body by KMZ. Produced between 1951 and 1956, it preceded the Zorki 2 and was concurrent with the Zorki 1c and 1d models. Approximately 87,500 units of Zorki 3 and 3-M were made.

This camera looks like a hybrid between Kiev and Leica, the most prominent features are:

  • A large combined viewfinder and rangefinder window.
  • A new top speed of 1/1000th of a second.
  • A new set of slow speeds of 1s, 1/2s, 1/5s, 1/10s selected by a separate knob on the front of the camera.
  • A removable back similar to the Contax/Kiev bodies, no more bottom loading hassle.
  • A diopter adjuster under the rewind knob.
  • Strap lugs allowing the use of a neck strap.
  • Vertical rangefinder adjustment not possible without at least partial disassembly of the top deck.

The shutter mechanism is basically the same as the Zorki 1 shutter.

Zorki 3M

Further improvement of the Zorki 3 resulted in the 3M in 1954. A new shutter speed mechanism was designed, the slow speed knob on the front is now gone with slow and fast speeds now on the top speed selector. This mechanism is used in the successors: 3S, 4, and 4K.

Zorki 3S

The Zorki 3S (Cyrillic: 3-C) is the successor to the 3M, inheriting all of the features including the full set of shutter speeds. It was made between 1955 and 1956, and only 45,500 units were sold. The top plate has to be wider, almost running the entire width of the body, to accommodate the new flash sync mechanism. Many find the taller shape makes the 3S (and its successors the 4 and 4K) to be less attractive than the earlier bodies but the 3S is more robust than its predecessors. The shutter speed selector is different in that the speeds are engraved on a separate plate and that the speed 1/25s is placed out of order. Another feature is that the 3S no longer has a separate lever for releasing the film sprocket gear; instead, the shutter release button is pressed down and rotated.

The Zorki 3S is succeeded by the Zorki 4, which has a self-timer mechanism. Production of the two bodies overlap to some extent. Early bodies of the 3S as well as of the 4 have vertical ridges on the advance and rewind knobs, similar to those on the 3M. Bodies made after some time in 1956 have knurled advance and rewind knobs that sport six rows of raised points instead of the vertical ridges.


Gallery

Zorki 3


Zorki 3M


Zorki 3S


Links

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In French

Zorki cameras
FED-Zorki | 1 | S | 2 | 2-C (S) | 3 | 3M | 3S | 4 | 4K | Mir | 5 | 6 | 10/11 | 12 | 35M