[Leica] Zorki and J-8 Industar 61 as "car camera"

[mark at rabinergroup.com (Mark Rabiner)]

On 9/25/05 3:48 PM, "Peter Klein" <pklein@2alpha.net> typed:

> This might be the wrong crowd to be asking this question, but here goes.
> 
> My workplace has banned cameras completely.  If I want to shoot at lunch or
> on the way home, I must leave the camera in my car in the underground
> parking garage.  I am not comfortable with leaving a Leica in my car.  So I
> was thinking of applying the Daniel Ridings Solution:  Use a Soviet camera
> as my "at-risk" camera.
> 
> My recent shooting with my Zorki 4 and Jupiter-8 have left me underwhelmed
> at the J-8.  It's an OK lens, but it's very flare-prone, low contrast and a
> bit soft at the 3 widest stops .  Even at narrow apertures, it's no
> Summicron.  At f/4.5 and wider, it's distinctly 1930s.  In general, I
> consider it good for retro portraits, but not up to par for general
> use.  Seattle has many cloudy days when I'd need to open up.
> 
> I also have an Industar 61 L/D  55/2.8, which is supposed to be the Soviet
> equivalent of the Red Scale Elmar.  Basically a Tessar lens, with lanthanum
> glass.  This lens has an outstanding reputation.  Mine focuses
> significantly to the rear of where the RF says it is on the Zorki.  So I
> don't know yet how good or bad it really is.
> 
> I'm thinking seriously of trying to get the Industar 61 adjusted.  But I'm
> wondering whether I should do this with a $12 lens, or simply buy a couple
> more until I get one that works.  Or try for a better Jupiter-8.  I'm also
> wondering whether I should stop playing Russian roulette, buy a used Bessa
> R and C/V 35 or 50  for a couple of hundred dollars and stop worrying.
> 
> I must admit to a slight fascination with the Zorki, but I much prefer
> shooting with a Leica.  Buying more film cameras would cut into the
> "Someday a Digital Rangefinder" fund.
> 
> Thoughts, advice?
> 
> --Peter
> 
I hear Soviet glass is a crapshoot because they could be great if made on
the right day but they never say how many good days there are and I think
they may be every other Tuesdays and Thursdays. Can we afford the down time
just trying to figure out what's wrong with our negs it is us or the
developer a cheap UV filter or a cloudy day? I wasted a year of my life
trying to get results from a bum Leitz Tele Elmarit 90 on my white backdrop
so that's exotic as I get during my formative years. Other than
Cosina-Voigtl?nder most of which are groovy. But I think I will have fun
with all kinds of weird and cheap glass much closer to and after retirement
time which for me is another decade. As if photographers ever retire. They
just soak in used dilute brown Dektol until they achieve a Bermuda burnish.

Mark Rabiner
Photography
Portland Oregon
http://rabinergroup.com/