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

[don.dory at gmail.com (Don Dory)]

Peter,
Soviet cameras are cheap enough that I would suggest starting anew. Try
either a Kiev 2 or a Kiev 4am. Both of these are pretty close Contax II
clones that will mount all Contax glass. You will avoid issues of bad lenses
due to improper focal length (see Cameraquest.com <http://Cameraquest.com>).
Shutters are reliable, lenses are quite good and you will spend between $50
and $100 for a good example. What you will get is a solid camera with a very
long base rangefinder and a good assortment on lenses as long as you like
35-50-85-135. If you catch the bug, I believe Stephen Gandy has some Cosina
lenses that will work down to 21mm.
 For a car camera, you could not ask for a better performance/price ratio.
 0.02
 Don
don.dory@gmail.com

 On 9/25/05, Peter Klein <pklein@2alpha.net> wrote:
>
> 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
>
>
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