The first camera named Zorki was made in Krasnogorsk near Moscow at the KMZ factory in 1948.

The Zorki camera was an improved version of the earlier FED (Felix Edmundovich Dzerjinski, founder of the Soviet secret police) that was an copy of the German Leica II.

 

Zorki 1e, made 1955

 

In 1949 the production of Zorki 1a started, the factory made the  model 1 with some changes giving the model versions up to Model 1e the production of the model 1 camera ended in 1956 then the model 2 was made for an short time, Zorki 3 started in production as early as 1951. The 3 model was an combination of the Leica II and the M model. With an new improved shutter the Zorki 3 was rebuild and got an new number, The Zorki 4 was born in 1956 and was to become the most popular and successful camera. It was made from 1956 until 1973 in 1.715.677 units. In 1972 the model 4 was improved with an lever instead of the standard turning knob for film advancing. Zorki 4k was made from 1972 until 1978 when Zorki cameras stops being made.

During the years there was several different models and versions of the Zorki.

Zorki 1a 1949 - 1950

Zorki 1b 1940 - 1951

Zorki 1c 1951 - 1953

Zorki 1d 1953 - 1954

Zorki 1e 1954 - 1956

Zorki 2 1954 - 1956

Zorki s 1955 - 1958

Zorki 2s 1955 - 1960

Zorki 3 1951 - 1954

Zorki 3m 1954 - 1956

Zorki 3s 1955 - 1956

Zorki 4 1956 - 1973

Zorki 4k 1972 - 1978

Zorki 5 1958 - 1959

Zorki 6 1959 - 1966

Lenses, from left to right:

Jupiter 8 (50mm, f2.0) Industar-50 (50mm, f3.5), Jupiter 12 (35mm, f3.5, Industar-22 (50mm, f3.5)

KMZ universal viewfinder 35, 50, 85, 90, 135mm

 

 

Real photographers use Zorki cameras. Why use new plastic, light meter using, built in flashes cameras? When all you need is an good solid metal camera in your hand. With no extra functions at all? All you need is an lens with stops, an camera with regular shutter speeds. The rest is in your own eyes and mind. No more blaming the camera for taking bad images. Now you are the master of the camera. No battery, no need for a charger. Just an can of film, load up and shoot!

 

Thomas 2008