My favorite FSU to use was the FED 2. Small, simple, mine was reliable. Great lenses too.
I offers autoexposure and it got an automatic parallax correction.Has anyone tried the Sokol 2? It is huge and heavy, but with a magnificent f/2.8 lens, a leaf shutter and a very accurate rangefinder. At f/2.8 it puts many expensive ones to shame.
It is heavy, but otherwise wonderful camera. I wish I could repair its light meter.I offers autoexposure and it got an automatic parallax correction.
I'll second that, my two - a '59 K4a and '69 K4 are great, as are the lenses (J12, J8, H103, and J9). The '59 needs new ribbons, but it's been used to the point that the advance knob shows brass; the '69 is just as it should be, even to an accurate meter and real 1250th top shutter speed. My favorit walkaround RF.Another vote for the Kiev, a Contax made in the FSU rather than a Leica knockoff. I side step the screw mount cameras by putting Russian M39 lenses on a Bessa L.
In Soviet Russia, best rangefinder finds you!
Sorry, AgX, I had nothing to add except for a lame joke. I suspect the Russian Reversal (joke) did not take hold over in Germany:
Well,
I've a Zorki 4, Fed 2, Zorki 10 (the shiny silver 1970's space age one!) and a Lomo 135BC.
It's difficult to pick between the Zorki 4 and Fed, for looks the Fed, for use the Zorki 4.
The Zorki 10 is a lovely thing to look at, but not so good ergonomically.
The Lomo 135 BC is not one of those toy cameras (google and see) it's a good little clockwork wind camera.
Has anyone tried the Sokol 2? It is huge and heavy, but with a magnificent f/2.8 lens, a leaf shutter and a very accurate rangefinder. At f/2.8 it puts many expensive ones to shame.
Mine has a dead light meter, but I no longer need one.
Other than that, Fed/Zorki 1 has always been my favourite. Small, compact, easy to repair and lenses that do just fine.
Sorry, AgX, I had nothing to add except for a lame joke. I suspect the Russian Reversal (joke) did not take hold over in Germany:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_reversal
Dead Link Removed
A timely thread. The end of February I participate in the annual "Fozen Mosin" shooting match in northern Maine. We shoot old Russian Mosin Nagants, and I thought it would be fun to use a FSU camera to capture the event. Seems like most FED 2 cameras are coming out of Ukraine. Prices are averaging $50. so I'm willing to roll the dice.
Is there any seller I should avoid? Well, besides the one who claims to have overhauled them and the shutter "runs like a Swiss watch". Any help is appreciated.
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