Help on Zorki 4 picture defects

jasbay · 16th February 2009

seniors here, the bright spot at the lower right hand corner recurs on every shot. what could be the reason?

merelyok · 16th February 2009

Looks like a light leak. Check your shutter for any damage.

tribal.snake · 16th February 2009

u got a hole in ur shutter.

Royale With Cheese · 16th February 2009

Yea, I think so too... Definitely a light leak through the shutter. Have to get it replaced.

Am not sure what kinda shutter the Zorki is using but I assume it is using cloth curtain shutter like the Feds.

Could be a hole in your cloth shutter. Correct me if I am wrong on this ah.

DoveVadar · 16th February 2009

no need to replace. just put some epoxy or glue and paint with black marker on it to cover up the hole.

this happens when you leave your lens on the camera under the sun. next time put on the lens cap first.

jasbay · 16th February 2009

Thanks seniors.

bro dovevader, wat do you mean by "lens on camera under the sun"?

tribal.snake · 16th February 2009

wun advise on self-repairing.
u wun want to jam the shutter and make things worst.

DoveVadar · 17th February 2009

oh that means his lens cap wasn't on. With the lens front element exposed, he left it under the sun hence the lens acts like a magnifying glass.

actually noone changes curtain on a zorki. it will cost half or same price as the camera itself. anyway, just follow my method and apply sparely, you'll be fine

dont be kiasu or kan cheong. There will be more mind blowing situation for a photographer to handler. dont have to knock on the door of the repairman every now and then right?

shuttergal · 17th February 2009

Hi Jusbay,

Try this method. Find a black umbrella that has a broken spine or broken ribs, in order words, you will be too embarrassed to bring it outdoors. Cut a portion of the black fabric out and then cut out 2 small square pieces of the same size, likely about triple the size of the hole on your shutter curtain. Next, get a hot glue gun and glue the 2 pieces of cloth on both sides of the leak. Apply the glue on a piece of board first and using a matchstick or something small, apply a bit of the hot glue on the 2 small square pieces of the fabric, after which you then stick them on the curtain. Make sure they stay flat and smooth. Leave it overnight. Do not apply the hot glue directly on the curtain.

1. The black umbrella fabric is very thin and smooth which make travelling in the shutter chamber obstruction free and idea for this DIY repair. It also has a greater degree of opacity. especially you are using 2 pieces, 1 on each side.
2. Do not use superglue as it becomes brittle when dried.
3. Do not use electrical duct tape as it peels off within a short period of time.

Of course changing the whole curtain is the best method but its not economically feasible for a Zorki, Zenit or Fed.

chiif · 17th February 2009

You can get those black silicon based glue to patch it up. A small dosage is enough. I still have a tube, which I used to patch up a Fed 3 previously. If you want, you can take some and fix it.

It's a quick and easy way to patch it up. No point sending the camera for a curtain change as you can use the same amount of money to buy 2 more Zorki or Feb bodies with lenses.

Even if you get the shutter jam, it's a worth while lesson to learn how things work too...

jasbay · 17th February 2009

now there's still half a roll in it no chance to run it out as work week has began. this weekend will finish it up and study the curtain closely. looking at the leak I hope it is only pinhole size on the curtain. will choose the repair method depending on the size of the hole. it wld be such a waste to throw a perfectly working body away. my zorki's slow shutter speed down to 1/4 is still accurate.

jasbay · 5th March 2009

$3.80 silicone plus foc mini cable tie as applicator. poor man's shutter curtain hole-patch repair...

Cactus jACK · 5th March 2009

well done!!

you saved yourself enough to buy a bunch of rolls of lucky film!

jasbay · 6th March 2009

forget to add, silicone borrowed from chiff

mamypoko · 6th March 2009

as long as you can continue shooting, it's all good

jasbay · 15th March 2009

Brought the zorki 4 for a canton trip couple of days back. This is one of the frame from the 4th roll after the repair. Seems like the shutterspeed is not affected by the repair as thought.

16th February 2009	#1
jasbay Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 199	Help on Zorki 4 picture defects seniors here, the bright spot at the lower right hand corner recurs on every shot. what could be the reason?

16th February 2009	#2
merelyok Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 1,030	Re: Help on Zorki 4 picture defects Looks like a light leak. Check your shutter for any damage.

16th February 2009	#3
tribal.snake Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: west side! Posts: 685	Re: Help on Zorki 4 picture defects u got a hole in ur shutter. __________________ The tribal.snake Gallery D200 \| 20mm f/4 \| 35mm f/1.4 \| 50mm f/1.2 \| 105mm f/1.8

16th February 2009	#4
Royale With Cheese Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Singapore Posts: 741	Re: Help on Zorki 4 picture defects Yea, I think so too... Definitely a light leak through the shutter. Have to get it replaced. Am not sure what kinda shutter the Zorki is using but I assume it is using cloth curtain shutter like the Feds. Could be a hole in your cloth shutter. Correct me if I am wrong on this ah.

16th February 2009	#5
DoveVadar Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 360	Re: Help on Zorki 4 picture defects no need to replace. just put some epoxy or glue and paint with black marker on it to cover up the hole. this happens when you leave your lens on the camera under the sun. next time put on the lens cap first.

17th February 2009	#8
DoveVadar Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 360	Re: Help on Zorki 4 picture defects oh that means his lens cap wasn't on. With the lens front element exposed, he left it under the sun hence the lens acts like a magnifying glass. actually noone changes curtain on a zorki. it will cost half or same price as the camera itself. anyway, just follow my method and apply sparely, you'll be fine dont be kiasu or kan cheong. There will be more mind blowing situation for a photographer to handler. dont have to knock on the door of the repairman every now and then right? Last edited by DoveVadar; 17th February 2009 at 12:48 AM.

17th February 2009	#9
shuttergal Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 594	Re: Help on Zorki 4 picture defects Hi Jusbay, Try this method. Find a black umbrella that has a broken spine or broken ribs, in order words, you will be too embarrassed to bring it outdoors. Cut a portion of the black fabric out and then cut out 2 small square pieces of the same size, likely about triple the size of the hole on your shutter curtain. Next, get a hot glue gun and glue the 2 pieces of cloth on both sides of the leak. Apply the glue on a piece of board first and using a matchstick or something small, apply a bit of the hot glue on the 2 small square pieces of the fabric, after which you then stick them on the curtain. Make sure they stay flat and smooth. Leave it overnight. Do not apply the hot glue directly on the curtain. 1. The black umbrella fabric is very thin and smooth which make travelling in the shutter chamber obstruction free and idea for this DIY repair. It also has a greater degree of opacity. especially you are using 2 pieces, 1 on each side. 2. Do not use superglue as it becomes brittle when dried. 3. Do not use electrical duct tape as it peels off within a short period of time. Of course changing the whole curtain is the best method but its not economically feasible for a Zorki, Zenit or Fed.

17th February 2009	#10
chiif Advertiser Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Excelsior S.C #02-25 Posts: 2,367	Re: Help on Zorki 4 picture defects You can get those black silicon based glue to patch it up. A small dosage is enough. I still have a tube, which I used to patch up a Fed 3 previously. If you want, you can take some and fix it. It's a quick and easy way to patch it up. No point sending the camera for a curtain change as you can use the same amount of money to buy 2 more Zorki or Feb bodies with lenses. Even if you get the shutter jam, it's a worth while lesson to learn how things work too... __________________ www.chiifcameras.com Voigtlander dealer My flickr

5th March 2009	#12
jasbay Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 199	Re: Help on Zorki 4 picture defects $3.80 silicone plus foc mini cable tie as applicator. poor man's shutter curtain hole-patch repair...

5th March 2009	#13
Cactus jACK Contributor Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Singapore (Kallang) Posts: 2,083	Re: Help on Zorki 4 picture defects well done!! you saved yourself enough to buy a bunch of rolls of lucky film!

6th March 2009	#14
jasbay Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 199	Re: Help on Zorki 4 picture defects forget to add, silicone borrowed from chiff

6th March 2009	#15
mamypoko Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 171	Re: Help on Zorki 4 picture defects as long as you can continue shooting, it's all good __________________ flickr / blog / twitter / about

15th March 2009	#16
jasbay Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 199	Re: Help on Zorki 4 picture defects Brought the zorki 4 for a canton trip couple of days back. This is one of the frame from the 4th roll after the repair. Seems like the shutterspeed is not affected by the repair as thought. Last edited by jasbay; 15th March 2009 at 10:45 PM.