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 |
|
| Focusing System |
Coupled
rangefinder (38mm base length; coincident image) |
|
| Fixed Lens | Industar-63 45mm f/2.8 1.5m - infinity f/2.8 - f/22 |
|
| Shutter |
Leaf shutter |
|
| Metering System |
Selenium cell auto-exposure |
|
| Flash |
External
cold shoe |
|
| Film type |
Type 135 film (35mm standard) |
|
| Battery type | none | |
| Dimensions and weight |
Body: 129 x 77 x76 mm, 666 grams. |
|
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About Krasnogorski Mekhanicheskii Zavod (KMZ)
KMZ started out its life
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