5 frames with a KMZ ZORKI 1 & Industar-22 f3.5/50mm

Living just 120 miles from Leica AG’s headquarters, I have just bought my first Leitz product at the age of 78. No, not that camera pictured above, but a Leitz Prado 150 slide projector with a slide holder, probably from 1955. It’s in very good condition, presumably rarely used – much like many Leica cameras owned by their first buyers, which usually spent more time in a display cabinet than being taken out for a walk, but were regularly serviced at the Leica factory. That’s what people used to say, without forgetting just how much money it all cost. After all, they’ve got it! At least, that’s the impression I’ve gained over the decades here in Germany. That’s one of the reasons why the Prado 150 is my first Leitz device. I wanted to treat myself to a ‘red dot’ on a piece of kit for a change, especially as it only cost €40. Sorry, I’m digressing.

The cover photo shows a “KMZ Zorki 1”; according to its serial number, it was manufactured in 1955 – specifically the “1e” version with the new shutter speeds. A replica of the Leica II, it was initially produced at the FED factory; however, due to the threat of war in Kharkiv, production was relocated by the state to the KMZ factory near Moscow. It was given the name ZORKI, underwent minor modifications and is said to be more robust than the products from Arsenal/Kyiv and FED in Ukraine. At least, that is what my online research suggests, and it sparked my interest in the camera. It isn’t my first Russian rangefinder, but it is my oldest camera. I have the “Zorki 4k” from KMZ, and the “FED2” and “FED3” from FED. I also have two KIEV 4s, which are Contax copies. All the cameras have been working without any problems so far.

The camera is fitted with a KMZ INDUSTAR-22 f/3.5/50mm retractable lens, manufactured in 1950 according to the serial number. It is a replica of the Leitz/Elmar or Zeiss/Tessar, which differ externally in the position of the aperture ring. It is not the sharpest lens, but that did not bother Henri Cartier-Bresson, who took most of his photographs with an Elmar f/3.5/50mm.

The seller of this camera was a private individual living near me, who gave me a credible account of its history. His grandfather frequently travelled to the USSR on business in the mid-1950s and bought the camera from a specialist shop as a new item shortly after its release, bringing it home with him. Later, my seller’s father took over the camera. He has owned it for just under 20 years now, has hardly used it, and it has not been professionally serviced during that time. He couldn’t tell me whether it had been serviced previously. Anyway, the photos in the listing were fine, the seller seemed trustworthy, and for €120 you can’t go wrong.

So, I’m taking a bit of a risk! Judging by my first roll of film, from which these pictures are taken, it works flawlessly. Nothing sticks or jams, the viewfinders are clean, the aperture is oil-free and the focus adjusts easily. All 36 shots were correctly exposed. I’d carried over the settings from my Gossen Variosix F. The Kodak Gold 200 was exposed at the speed indicated on the box.

All the photographs were taken on 10 June 2026 during a midday stroll through Wickrath Castle Park in my home town. The film was developed and scanned (4K JPEG) at a specialist lab, for which I paid €8.50. In LrC on my PC, I applied tone control and straightened the images. That was the extent of the post-processing.

There is plenty of information about Russian rangefinder cameras available online, and my experience with them has always been positive. This Zorki 1 is in superb condition and, as a model, represents a milestone in camera design. It is by no means inferior to the Leica II in terms of quality; in fact, it may even be better. That is precisely why I am considering sending it to a Russian photography enthusiast for a full CLA. He’s been doing this full-time for two decades, has excellent references within the photography community, is now based in Slovakia/the EU, and is easily accessible to me without any customs formalities or logistical hurdles. Especially as we in Europe probably have more reliable parcel services than in the US, judging by the comments from Leica fans recently.

The cost of €150 for the full service on the camera and lens is reasonable; parcels here are insured as standard and come with tracking.

Afterwards, I’ll have a working gem in mint condition. Not for the display cabinet, but for enjoying the finest hobby in the world.

Thanks for reading! All the best!

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