Best Soviet rangefinder

E. von Hoegh · Jan 10, 2018

bimmey said:
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.

Anyone who thinks the Soviets/Russians made unmitigated crap needs to experience a good Kiev and a good Mosin-Nagant.

bimmey · Jan 11, 2018

Thanks Ko.Fe. Getting a Fed 2 that has been CLA'ed and tested for $50. falls into the realm of if it's too good to be true.... I would just like to get one that works. Perhaps get it a CLA down the road. A few years ago I picked up a Vittressa T for $80. that works fine. Maybe I'll compromise and shoot the Vitessa and use Russian film.

E. von Hoegh said:
Anyone who thinks the Soviets/Russians made unmitigated crap needs to experience a good Kiev and a good Mosin-Nagant.

My $100. 1932 Tula hex receiver Mosin will ring a gong at 300 meters off hand. Irritates the hell out of guys with $2000. rifles.

Ko.Fe. · Jan 11, 2018

bimmey said:
Thanks Ko.Fe. Getting a Fed 2 that has been CLA'ed and tested for $50. falls into the realm of if it's too good to be true.... I would just like to get one that works. Perhaps get it a CLA down the road.....

From ebay?
Anyway, this guy is well reputable FSU repair person who also has FSU cameras for sale:
http://www.okvintagecamera.com/fed.php
Tested (for sure) and working (for sure).

Huss · Jan 11, 2018

E. von Hoegh said:
Anyone who thinks the Soviets/Russians made unmitigated crap needs to experience a good Kiev .

But that's the point, you need to find a good one because most are ..

E. von Hoegh · Jan 11, 2018

Huss said:
But that's the point, you need to find a good one because most are ..

You know, Huss, you always bring a bit of gloom to a thread.
And kindly refrain from editing any post of mine to suit your agenda. Tyvm.

Ko.Fe. · Jan 11, 2018

Huss said:
But that's the point, you need to find a good one because most are ..

Most of RF Keivs are Contax cameras made on Contax equipment and with some "voluntary" initial "help" of relocated Contax factory German workers.
Up to Kiev 4/4A it is Contax. Then as with any equipment taken from Germany after war by the seventies, eighties it worn out. Then Kiev 4AM came.
This one is considered to be not so good Kiev by those who are repairing them now. Often repair person will open mint Kiev 4AM for service and say - not a good one.
In FSU mentality good is often equal to working one; correctly made, assembled one.
I have working 4AM once and some others still have them. Working FSU camera (good one) is the camera which was successfully serviced.
It is not good Kiev you need to find. You need to find one which was correctly and recently serviced.

bimmey · Jan 12, 2018

Ko.Fe. said:
From ebay?
Anyway, this guy is well reputable FSU repair person who also has FSU cameras for sale:
http://www.okvintagecamera.com/fed.php
Tested (for sure) and working (for sure).

Yes, from ebay. Thanks for the link. That Gentleman seems to have just what I'm looking for at a reasonable price.

Huss · Jan 13, 2018

Ko.Fe. said:
Most of RF Keivs are Contax cameras made on Contax equipment and with some "voluntary" initial "help" of relocated Contax factory German workers.
Up to Kiev 4/4A it is Contax. Then as with any equipment taken from Germany after war by the seventies, eighties it worn out. Then Kiev 4AM came.
This one is considered to be not so good Kiev by those who are repairing them now. Often repair person will open mint Kiev 4AM for service and say - not a good one.
In FSU mentality good is often equal to working one; correctly made, assembled one.
I have working 4AM once and some others still have them. Working FSU camera (good one) is the camera which was successfully serviced.
It is not good Kiev you need to find. You need to find one which was correctly and recently serviced.

Sounds almost like that defunct Elbaflex kickstarter effort. The one where they had basically got hold of a stock of unsold Kiev 19s. They had a pricing structure where if you paid $100 more (or whatever it was) you got one that had a second quality check performed in Germany!

kintatsu · Jan 13, 2018

I have the Fed 3 and found it quite decent. It's got some play om the back film cover, but doesn't cause any fogging or issues. The only other soviet camera I had was the Zenit 122K. It was nowhere near the quality the Fed 3. Mechanically, it was horrid.

Alan Johnson · Jan 14, 2018

I have a Zorki 1, Fed 1. Zorki 4. Fed 2 and Zorki 6. The first two are Leica II copies and the Zorki 6 is very similar but with a larger viewfinder and is my favorite.
My regret is that they did not make more of the Orion 28mm which would be my favoured landscape lens but sells for much more than the camera plus 50mm.
So I do not use an FSU camera for landscapes as have 28 mm in other systems for much less.

bimmey · Feb 3, 2018

Well I made the plunge into the world of FSU camera's. Thanks for the help selecting a good rangefinder.

McFortner · Feb 4, 2018

Good choice. I have a couple FED-2 cameras myself, along with the -1, -3, -4, -4B, -5, -5B, and Zorki-1 and -4, and it's my favorite as far as form factor goes. Good, long rangefinder base and proportions. I just wish some times it has the slower speeds the later versions do, but with the Jupiter-8 it really is a great camera. Enjoy!

blockend · Feb 7, 2018

The Jupiter 8 is soft wide open and takes a few stops to sharpen up. Some people like that, some don't. I find the Industar 2.8 a more versatile lens for general photography, but the J8 is worth a go.

bimmey · Feb 20, 2018

I tried the new to me Fed 2 and Jupiter 8 with some Ferrania P30 that I've never tried before, and was pleased with the results.

Army35mm · Feb 27, 2018

Oh man, I've been thinking about getting another FSU RF for a while. I really got into it when I bought my Fed2 from another member here. Pretty much beat that camera to shit and it kept on chugging. even accidentally dropped it in a soju punch bowl at a punk show in korea. it just wouldn't quit. My brother is enjoying it now. I've since "upgraded" to a leica m3, but I'm getting the itch to buy a solid Russian Leica III copy. Any recommendations on exact models to look for?

Alan Johnson · Feb 27, 2018

The early Leica III was possibly the most similar to the Zorki. The IIIf had flash sync which I believe first appeared on the Zorki S, which has a different appearance.
https://www.photo.net/discuss/threads/leica-iii.338207/
http://www.sovietcams.com/index.php?-1795780876

E. von Hoegh · Feb 27, 2018

Alan Johnson said:
The early Leica III was possibly the most similar to the Zorki. The IIIf had flash sync which I believe first appeared on the Zorki S, which has a different appearance.
https://www.photo.net/discuss/threads/leica-iii.338207/
http://www.sovietcams.com/index.php?-1795780876

I have a Zorki S, Industar 22. It was a gift from the camera fairy and needed some minor attention, but it's a really fun camera, the lens is excellent, and the flash synch. works as it should. My only quibble is the lack of slow speeds, but the Canon IIb fills that.

nosmok · Mar 1, 2018

I like the FED "S" (Cyrillic C) for the 1/1000 shutter speed but they are rare birds (made only from 1939 - 1941 IIRC). FED glass is really good. I have a Zorki -3m that, if it can be brought into adjustment (2nd curtain slow) would be my new favorite, b/c of 1/1000 speed, a single shutter dial with all the speeds in order, and a nice big viewfinder that's still smaller than a Z4.

Best Soviet rangefinder

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