Zorki-3M

Zorki-3M is a Soviet rangefinder camera developed on the basis of the Zorki-3 camera and was produced at KMZ plant from 1954 to 1956.

The main difference between the Zorki-3M camera and the Zorki-3 camera is the transfer of long shutter speeds from the front surface of the camera to the knob from at the top plate. Now short and long shutter speeds are changed by a single knob, and the whole system of shutter soeeds is much more reliable than in the previous model.

Zorki-3M Specifications

Type: 35mm rangefinder camera
Manufacturer: KMZ plant
Production period: from 1954 to 1956
Format: 24x36cm on 135 film
Lens mount: m39 thread mount
Lens: Jupiter-8M f2.0/50
Rangefinder base: 38mm
Shutter: focal-plane shutter with speeds from 1 to 1/1000 sec.
Viewfinder: optical parallax viewfinder combined with the rangefinder
Lighmeter: none
Flash synchronisation: none
Selftimer: none
Weight: 668 grams

As in the previous model, the Zorki-3M camera had a shutter with speeds from 1 second to 1/1000, but unlike the Zorki-3, all shutter speeds can be changed using a single knob on the top of the camera. Why do we place such emphasis on this detail?

The fact is that it was the complex shutter mechanism from the previous model that was the most unreliable part, and could spoil the whole impression of the camera.

As in the previous model, Zorki-3m was equipped with the excellent Jupiter-8 f2.0/50 lens, which was developed on the basis of the German Zeiss Sonnar f2.0/50 lens lens.

Like the German original, the Soviet Jupiter-8 has excellent performance. The lens is quite sharp and has the precarious bokeh characteristic of the Sonnar scheme.

As in the Zorki-3 camera, here the viewfinder and rangefinder are combined into one unit. As we said, this is a huge advantage, because it greatly speeds up and simplifies the process of photographing.

By the way, it should be noted that Zorki-3M has a diopter correction, which is also a huge plus, because if you wear glasses, you can not be afraid that you will scratch the lens on the corrugated ring around the camera’s viewfinder.

As in the previous model, in Zorki-3M the back cover is removable. This is also extremely important if you want to change the film without much difficulty.

Recall that on the first models of Zorki cameras, the back cover was not removable, and in order to load the film, you had to cut it in a special way and insert it from below, as in the first Leica cameras.

The camera is very well assembled, and has a wonderful charismatic design. It is very pleasant to hold it in your hands, turn the knobs and press the buttons. When using Zorki-3M, you do not just take pictures, but get aesthetic pleasure from the very process of photography.

Conclusion

The Zorki-3M camera is a truly high-quality camera, especially by Soviet standards and even more so for the photographic industry of the early 50s.

This camera has almost everything you need for comfortable photography, and is suitable for all lovers of film photography.

Zorki-3M, as well as Kiev rangefinder cameras, which were produced at the Arsenal plant, is one of those Soviet era rangefinder cameras that we can safely recommend for purchase.