A Tale (and Test) of Two Zorki's

Ok, I'll admit it. I'm obsessed with my two Zorki rangefinder cameras, especially the older one, my little Zorki 1. Come to think of it, I'm quite fond of my Zorki 4 as well. Both of these cameras have a special place in my heart and in my camera arsenal, and I've written about them before in this blog (see links above and below). I love seeing them sit on my window sill, and I love putting film in them and making photographs with them. 
They are fun to use, not because they are fancy or loaded with features, but quite the opposite, actually. Using them connects me with the basic functions of a camera:  shutter speed, aperture, focus, and depth of field. I sometimes feel as it I have stepped back to an earlier time in photography when photographers learned to think carefully and quickly about composition and exposure to avoid missing shots. I am not fast with these cameras yet, but the more I use them the more comfortable I get. 

If you are a regular reader of this blog, you will know that Zorki was a brand name for a series of cameras manufactured in Russian beginning around the time of World War II. They were meant to be copies of the very fine (and very expensive) German-made Leica rangefinder cameras that Russians citizens could no longer get because of the war. My Zorki 1 greatly resembles a Leica ii, and my Zorki 4 is loosely based on a Leica iiic. Of course, the Leica's were far better cameras with outstanding optics, and today Zorki's are dirt cheap compared to the investment one must make to own a Leica. Ironically, I used to own a Leica iiib beginning back in the 1980's until it my house was broken into in 1994. Maybe someday I will own one again. Maybe not. However, for now I have these two Russian copies to play with. 

If I had to pick one really good thing about these cameras, it would be that they actually work. I have had to made some repairs on the shutter curtains of the Zorki 1, and I have had the Zorki 4 shutter completely overhauled by a professional camera repair person, but hey, eventually you have to service all vintage cameras including Leica's. so functionally, my Zorki bodies work fine. But what about the lenses?

In my experience so far, the quality of theses Russian-made lenses are the most significant difference between the Leica and the Zorki. My early experiences with both cameras produced results that ranged from mediocre to out-of-focus bad. It was enough to make me question actually using them until I was able to afford better lenses. However, I decided to try again and do something along the lines of a test. I decided to try shooting subjects at difference distances with different apertures to see what the lenses can do under the best of conditions. Also, I strove to make sure that I was focusing carefully and holding the camera steady to get the sharpest photos possible. 

I started with my Zorki 1. It is equipped with a Russian-made Industar 22 50mm f3.5 collapsable lens that is a copy of the German-made Leica Elmar lens, a very fine lens indeed. I loaded the Zorki 1 with some Ultrafine Extreme 100 film and looked several walks around downtown Chattanooga on sunny days, which gave me easy-to-calculate exposures. I shot subjects at close distances, and subjects at infinity. I developed the film myself and made some prints at Safelight District Community Darkroom, where I am a member. I decided to make prints of only the best shots.

The best way to describe what I found is this:  inconsistency, especially with distant subjects. Some photos of our river bridges (a favorite subject of mine) were just not sharp, even though I set my focus at infinity. Using different apertures, like f8, f11, and f16, did not make a significant difference, either. However, a shot of our local aquarium from a distance was much better and certainly acceptable. Photographs of subjects at a medium distance (about twenty feet) also were reasonably sharp. 

The Tennessee Aquarium. Reasonably sharp
at infinity, unlike other photos at similar distance.

Universal Joint, a local pub. Good focus from about twenty feet.

Where this lens really shone was with shots with five to ten feet. I made several photographs of a public art exhibit called Passages, which commemorates the tragic removal of the Cherokee Nation from Tennessee and Georgia in the 1830's. There are several large ceramic disks that tell of the history of the Cherokee, and I wanted to see how well the Industar lens would render the details. The resulting prints are very sharp indeed! 

Strength of Life, Passages, Chattanooga. I was surprised at how
sharp the details are. Good job, Industar 22!

Warrior Birds, Passages, Chattanooga. I'd take this level of
sharpness from this lens anytime.

I am left with several conclusions. First, it is possible that the built-in rangefinder on the Zorki 1 needs some adjustment. Perhaps the lens is not really at infinity when I set it to infinity, but such a condition would show up more on close up, I would think. Second, I should try again with a tripod to achieve maximum control and rule out "Shaky Hand Syndrome." Putting a 35mm rangefinder goes against the very purpose of these cameras, which was mobility and spontaneity. Third, I would love to try a better lens. I have given thought to either selling or trading some cameras to get a genuine Leica Elmar. Anybody out there have one I could at least try out? 

Lastly, I'm not giving up. I'm going to continue to find out what can this camera and lens can do best and/or how I can improve my skills to make better shots with it. Maybe it will make me a better photographer along the way. 

Next time:  My Zorki 4.

Happy Shooting!

UJC Podcast #25: Interview with Mark Gilliland

©2020 Mark Gilliland

Today I recorded an interview with one of my favorite people in the world, who just happens to be an outstanding professional photographer. His name is Mark Gilliland, and like Kelley and me, he is a Chattanooga native. Mark is one of those rare people who make a living doing what he loves to do:  capture beautiful images with a camera, and in his thirty plus years he has worked in just about every field of professional photography including news, sports, features, fashion, food, real estate, and wedding photography. His work has earned him awards from Nikon, the Associated Press, and the Tennessee Professional Photographers Association. When he is not shooting for assignments, he shoots for himself, capturing patterns of light, color, lines, and shapes with an uncanny eye for beauty. His photographic art hangs in museums in Georgia and Arizona. 

I first met Mark when both Kelley and I were just beginning to return to film photography. Mark has had to put up with my constant questions, and he always more than happy to answer them. He truly loves what he does, and I find that and him incredibly inspiring. I hope you get some inspiration from our conversation. I highly recommend that you investigate his work, some of which can be see at www.markgillilandphotography.com. He is a frequent poster on Instagram and can be found @magill3179.

Happy Shooting!

Hello Goodbye

Today’s post is a little different. There are no film photographs or prints to share, and I am not reviewing a camera. Instead, I am sharing with you some news that has been ongoing since mid-July and has only now come into complete fruition, more of less.

I’m retired. 

That’s right. Retired. Retired from being a public school music teacher. Retired from my career, the only career I have ever known. And not just me, either. My wife, Debbie, a career elementary school teacher retired with me. We always have enjoyed taking our journeys together, and this is the start of a big one, one we have been looking forward to for quite some time. One that wasn’t supposed to start for another two years. But scratch that. It’s on.

We made our decision suddenly but certainly while in our VW Rabbit on the way back from our summer trip to the western US to visit both our daughters. We like to take backroads and stay off the interstate when possible, and we happened to be on a very backroad winding our way around Missouri cornfields at the very moment when our decision was made. The day was sunny, and the corn was tall. Debbie was driving, and I was in the middle of a Google meet with my principal. When he announced that a change in our reopening plans had been made, we looked at each other and made our minds up. No turning back from then on.

No doubt you likely are thinking that our decision to retire was brought about my COVID-19, and you are not wrong. However, during the month and a half since that day, we both have come to realize that this choice was the right choice at the right time - pandemic or not. Something inside had been telling me that the end was near for a year already. I’m fascinated by baseball players (I love baseball) who either because of their love of the game or because of the money keep on playing past their time of effectiveness. Sometimes it works out and magic happens. Other times it’s painful. I felt like my “game” was in pretty good shape still, but the daily pressure to be creative (teaching the same standards year after year but always having to have new lessons, songs, games, dances, etc.) was beginning to take its toll on my central nervous system. Certainly our change in lifestyle from urban house owners to downtown condo dwellers had something to do with it, as well. At any rate, it’s time for the next chapter of my life:  Chapter Three.

2004:  Hello

I call it Chapter Three, because I think of my life so far as being divided into two periods. The first was my youth all the way to the conclusion of my college education. The second was my teaching career. Both were periods of generally routine and predictability. Not boring, mind you. My wife and I love our live together as we always have, and we could not be more proud of two daughters we raised. It was a blast, but they are grown now. Changes come and life goes on. Being parents was great. Being empty nesters was great, too. Same thing with college. I loved being a college student, but I also loved being a professional music educator. Each has its season. and now the season has changed again. Now, I am turning the page and starting Chapter Three. To quote Elvis Costello, “Everyday I write the book.” I’ll write it as I go.

2020:  Goodbye

I actually don’t like the word “retirement.” It calls to my mind images of being in a rocking chair taking it easy. That won’t be me, God willing. I’ve got lots to do. Yes, the first couple of weeks have been an adjustment, and we have enjoyed the constant thought that we are not tied down to a routine. But we have plans together for travel, learning, and service. And in all of that, I will make more of my own music than I have been able to do for some time. Of course, I will shoot lots of film, develop it, and make lots of prints. And I plan to write a lot for this blog and for others. I still love to do what I did as a profession educator, and that is sharing what I have learned. And yes, there will be more Uncle Jonesy’s Cameras podcasts. Thank you for your patience. Stay tuned.