Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2002/09/16
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]> Many months ago - obviously you haven't been reading some of the postings > lately ;>) ...only writing.. :P Now to ZorCa: As some of you probably know, I started a project of building a camera, using Leica II shutter/rangefinder parts, found by me on a flea market, and body covering/top plate/baseplate/some parts of Zorki Ie I already had in my drawer. Project took some 1 1/2 month, included new curtains, CLA by myself :), some new parts for a rangefinder path. Currently, ZorCa (if someone has a better name - please help me name this camera), equipped with Russian Industar 61 L/D (2.8/55) show me first results. And I am definitely happy, because it seems that whole thing is working very good. Shutter is quiet, a lot quieter than this in majority of Russian Leica copies, RF is perfectly cleand, wind is smooth, speeds are calibrated within some 15 percent.. Ladies and Gentleman - below lies a link to first light from ZorCa: http://watteau.neurosoft.net/zorca.jpg and above in king size :) (over 500 kB) http://watteau.neurosoft.net/zorca_big.jpg What stroke me is that almost everything fits perfectly; springs are the same, every single hole is identical, you can use Zorki I screws on Leica II and vice versa.. Just tooling of Leica parts is better. Zorki vulcanite is much more crude - put then don't peel at all and is still elastic. Photo was made with fully opened Industar - and, as it was expected with this Tessar design, central portion is sharp and definition lessens in edges - just like in 50mm Elmars. Contrast is very good, there is also flare - but limited to area just near light source ( sun, lightly shaded by clouds, was shining throug the trees into the lens, as is visible here). I will post a ZorCa photos as soon as I will have some more time. Best :) - -- St. - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html