Has your vintage Zorki 35mm rangefinder camera given up the ghost? Although built like a brick outdoor restroom, many early Zorki models suffer from poor quality cloth focal-plane shutter curtains. Yes, you can replace the curtain by using Japan Hobby Tool shutter curtain material coupled with a very careful disassembly of the camera, but this fix is not for the faint of heart or the mechanically-challenged owner. Ironically, many camera repair shops won’t touch a Zorki, even seasoned Leica repair facilities will shun this Soviet shooter.
Thank goodness, there is one other “repair” option which might be an ideal solution for giving your Zorki a modern makeover. In this option only the “best” part of the Zorki camera is salvaged and this part is the lens. For better or for worse, while the camera body will remain inoperable, the lens can be easily adapted to a modern mirrorless digital camera. In this context, you’ll still be able to enjoy the Zorki “look,” but on a digital JPEG rather than using 35mm film.
Bringing 1955 into 2025
There are a lot of camera body-to-lens adapters on the market. Your challenge is to locate a Leica threaded lens to digital camera body adapter. According to specific adapter nomenclature, your search will require: an L39 (or, M39) lens mount to micro 4/3 (or, M4/3 or Micro Four Thirds) camera body adapter. Thankfully, Fotodiox makes a “M39 – M4/3” adapter called the Fotodiox Lens Mount Adapter – M39/L39 (x1mm Pitch) Screw Mount Russian & Leica Thread Mount Lens to Micro Four Thirds (MFT, M4/3) Mount Mirrorless Camera Body for $14.95.
This adapter is very simple to use, too. Just follow these three easy steps for breathing new digital life into your Zorki:
1. Remove the Zorki lens and thread it onto the Fotodiox adapter. [Please note: be sure to disengage the infinity lock button on the lens before you attach the adapter.]
2. Mount the lens + adapter on your preferred mirrorless micro-four thirds camera.
3. Ensure that your camera is setup for using a manual lens. [Please note: this step might be optional.]
Now it’s time for the fun part of this salvaging job–taking nostalgic photographs with a modern camera. Remember, if your Zorki lens is a collapsible model, like the Industar-22 50mm/3.5 lens, you’ll have to extend and lock the lens barrel prior to taking photographs.
Now that you’ve modernized the best part of your Zorki camera, what can you do with the “leftover” body? It’s still a very attractive camera that could become the foundation piece for a collection of Leica-copy thread-mount vintage cameras. Alternatively, you could relegate the Zorki to a curio cabinet or bookshelf as a historical memento right next to your piece of the Berlin Wall.
Enjoy.
