Zorki 10

| No Comments
Classic Fixed Lens Rangefinders:
Classic Fixed Lens Rangefinders:

Zorki 10

by Karen Nakamura

 

Overview and Personal Comments

The Zorki 10 is a Soviet-era fixed-lens rangefinder made by the KMZ factory near Krasnogorsk, which is a suburb of Moscow. Unlike its interchangeable lens Zorki 4 siblings, the 10 is a simple point-and-shoot. Nonetheless, it features full program auto-exposure. All you have to do is focus and push the button. Using the text or images on this website without permission on an ebay auction or any other site is a violation of federal law.

It was the first Soviet auto-exposure camera. I love the design, it's the epitome of functional modernism, very sleek metal lines. It was apparently inspired by the Ricoh 35 camera. Check out the cool "Made in USSR" stamp on the side.

One writer notes that the Zorki 10 has a 'bulb' setting for long exposures, but it has no attachment for a cable release! That means the only way to take multi-second exposures is by holding down the shutter release button.

There was also a companion Zorki 11 that did not have a rangefinder but was scale-focus only. There was a Zorki 12 that was apparently a half-frame camera.

 

Interesting quirks

The quirky thing about the Zorki 10 is that it uses ASA/DIN numbers and not the usual standard Soviet GOST numbers. That means it was designed for export production, but the ASA numbers are: ASA 20, 40, 50, 80, 100, 160, 250, 320. Good luck using ASA 200 or 400 film! In reality it doesn't matter since the selenium cell isn't that accuate, but it's cute nonetheless.

Also check out the really cool bottom mounted trigger wind and film counter. Just the thing every spy shooter needs. I find the Zorki to be extremely well designed for the era it was made in.

 


Technical Details

Camera Name Zorki 10
Manufacturer Krasnogorski Mekhanicheskii Zavod (KMZ)
Place of Manufacture USSR
Date of Manufacture

1964-78
330,000 copies made

Focusing System

Coupled rangefinder (38mm base length; coincident image)
0.65x magnification factor

Viewfinder shows 45mm frame of view

Fixed Lens Industar-63 45mm f/2.8
1.5m - infinity
f/2.8 - f/22
Shutter

Leaf shutter
1/30 sec - 1/500 in auto-exposure mode
1/30 sec in manual mode

Metering System

Selenium cell auto-exposure

Flash

External cold shoe
PC cable connector on front side
1/30 sec X flash sync

Film type

Type 135 film (35mm standard)

Battery type none
Dimensions and weight

Body: 129 x 77 x76 mm, 666 grams.

  Use of this chart, text, or any photographs in an eBay auction without permission will result in an immediate IP violation claim with eBay VeRO. Violators may have their eBay account cancelled.

 

 

 


About Krasnogorski Mekhanicheskii Zavod (KMZ)

KMZ started out its life

 


On the Net

Leave a comment