Buying a Soviet rangefinder in Russia (Moscow or St. Petersburg).

I’m visiting Russia in a month, an I’m not the sort to buy the usual tourist baubles, but I thought it would be fun to buy an old Soviet rangefinder there. Which brings up a few questions...

- are they easy to find there, or, like everywhere else in the world, have old film cameras disappeared and all the camera shops I find will be stocked with modern DSLRs and selfie sticks?

- if they can be found in shops, can anyone recommend any shops in either city? I’ll be with my father who has some patience, but won’t go along with a long detour far outside of the usual places visited by tourists. So, she’s near where I can steer the walk and “stumble on the shop” by happenstance.

- finally, what camera should,I look for? While I don’t know them well, my initial preference would be a Kiev II (well, and Kiev Contax clone without the meter hump on top) or a Zorki 4. I’d like it to work, and I’d like it to be under $100usd (~6500 rub) with a lens. I know there are probably lots of thread on this, and I’ll look them up, so feel free to ignore this question.

In the very centre of St Petersburg you may try visiting these
https://maxilabphoto.ru/contact/ (they sell & process film too)
https://photolubitel.com/

Thanks! Photo Lubitel seems to have a bunch of old Soviet rangefinder, and they’re not far from where we’re staying. Maxilab Photo has a few things and looks worth checking out too.

A Jupiter 8 is a wonderful lens. Kiev II and III are lovely cameras, but are a pain to use if you wear glasses. Zorki 1 are the smallest and lightest of any Barnack camera I have owned and my favorite range finder to use, unfortunately its workings are a little hit and miss.
You can buy plenty on ebay delivered to your door for not much money, so I wouldnt spend too much money unless its a prime example.
Good luck, have fun.

The Zorki 3m is very similar in function to the Zorki 4 but, IMO, a little more ergonomic to use. The advance knob, in particular, is much easier to turn.

While not as stylish to look at, the Zorki 6 is probably the easiest to use of all the Zorki RFs.

The Kievs are all a pleasure to use, provided they’re in good working order. Make sure the shutter is in good shape or you could be in for repair headaches down the road. Kievs also require the odd Contax grip (the “Contax claw”) which some people find hard to get used to.

The FED 2 is a good, solid choice as well. Longest RF base of the lot, which is good for focusing accuracy.

Keep in mind that these cameras are all decades old so if you can find one that’s been serviced recently it might be worth the higher purchase price to avoid potential hassles. UN-serviced soviet cameras have a (deserved) reputation for being unreliable but, in many cases, a recently serviced one can be sturdy and dependable and many of the Soviet lenses from the 50s and 60s are quite good.

I actually kind of like the Zorki 6, but it has the disadvantage of not looking like a classic Contax or Leica. They seem much less common, but if I found one for reasonably cheap, it seems like it would be a good user.

I should mention that part of the reason I'm considering this is just as a souvenir, but part is because where I live, I have no opportunity to see these cameras in real life. I can look at photos all day, but that won't go that far to tell me that I like them.

that being said, the "contax claw"? I haven't heard of that. can you describe it and the cause?

abruzzi said:

I actually kind of like the Zorki 6, but it has the disadvantage of not looking like a classic Contax or Leica. They seem much less common, but if I found one for reasonably cheap, it seems like it would be a good user.

Click to expand...

I have two; one has always been very dependable. The other has never worked well and I keep it in case I need parts.

abruzzi said:

the "contax claw"? I haven't heard of that. can you describe it and the cause?

Click to expand...

Because of the location of the rangefinder window it’s easy to get your fingers in the way and block the rangefinder. The location of the focus wheel adds to the problem. As a result, the easiest way to operate a Contax or Kiev RF is to place your first finger on the shutter release, place your second finger on the focus wheel and then curl your third and fourth fingers back toward your palm to keep them clear of the rangefinder window.

The grip resembles a claw. It feels a little weird at first but it doesn’t take long to get accustomed to it. Contax/Kiev RFs are really nice cameras to use but they have their quirks.

abruzzi said:

- finally, what camera should,I look for? While I don’t know them well, my initial preference would be a Kiev II (well, and Kiev Contax clone without the meter hump on top) or a Zorki 4. I’d like it to work, and I’d like it to be under $100usd (~6500 rub) with a lens. I know there are probably lots of thread on this, and I’ll look them up, so feel free to ignore this question.

Click to expand...

I bought a perfect condition, like new, perfect functioning Zorki 4 with J-8 lens and case from ebay seller alex-ukr-alex for $80. And even though that was an incredible deal (to me) it was still priced for export to 'rich' foreigners. So I would expect buying from the source in Russia you should be able to get this stuff way under $100.

I’m not entirely sure what to expect, but at the Lubitel link above there is a Kieva 4a with a Jupiter 8 lens for 2000 rubles. That’s like $30. So far a Kiev like that one is on the top of my list, though I’m happy to pay a bit more for excellent condition. If prices are really like that when I arrive, I may buy a couple different cameras.

Hey,

I live in Moscow, let me know if you need any help here for the camera or indications, I can spare 2-3 hours one day or another. Also I'm used to the second market here.
My camera to choose would be Zorki 4K or Fed 2, plenty of the and you could get any for 50$ case included.

Alex

hi Alex
ill be in moscow this February still finalizing dates.
Can you help me find some good camera stores within the city?



thanks

QUOTE="alexvaras, post: 2168981, member: 87097"]Hey,

I live in Moscow, let me know if you need any help here for the camera or indications, I can spare 2-3 hours one day or another. Also I'm used to the second market here.
My camera to choose would be Zorki 4K or Fed 2, plenty of the and you could get any for 50$ case included.

Alex[/QUOTE]

Hi there,

It depends what you are looking for, I would recommend 3 but all of them are middle men between the real seller and the buyer, these shops get usually 20% of the selling prices, you casn bargain up to 5-10% of the final price in most of cases.
Anyway the quality of the items sold there is basically you go and check them yourself, no guarantee is given.
I already helped the OP to find a perfect working Kiev-2 among the local forums and one guy who really does very well service to Kievs and their lenses, highly recommended among locals and I have worked with him twice already. The bad is timing, one month might be not enough if you want a fully working camera so we can go to PM for details.
Btw, I'm not middle man and not asking for anything in exchange.

thanks for the reply

im actually looking for second hand range finders like fed and zorki.
maybe also another medium format camera like kiev 88.
maybe just a couple and ill be ok.
actually my wife was able to get me one before but she could not remember where she bought them.
thanks!!


QUOTE="alexvaras, post: 2248288, member: 87097"]Hi there,

It depends what you are looking for, I would recommend 3 but all of them are middle men between the real seller and the buyer, these shops get usually 20% of the selling prices, you casn bargain up to 5-10% of the final price in most of cases.
Anyway the quality of the items sold there is basically you go and check them yourself, no guarantee is given.
I already helped the OP to find a perfect working Kiev-2 among the local forums and one guy who really does very well service to Kievs and their lenses, highly recommended among locals and I have worked with him twice already. The bad is timing, one month might be not enough if you want a fully working camera so we can go to PM for details.
Btw, I'm not middle man and not asking for anything in exchange.[/QUOTE]
hi

Which model of zorki / fed?

alexvaras said:

Which model of zorki / fed?

Click to expand...

zorki 4 or 6
Fed 2
wide lense for kiev 88 and zorki 4

thanks again

pm sent

hi alex

sorry cant find the pm you sent?

where can i check it?

thanks

Upper right side should be a warning, inbox.

I will be in Berlin and Munich in first half of April and would like to buy a rangefinder camera, Russian or German (used) any great stores to find them?

I will suggest you look for, two cameras; the FED 3B, and the medium format Iskra.

The Fed 3B is a well built camera, no meter, and does no have the 'funkadelic' aspect of the Fed 2's and the Fed 3a, and is reliable enough that a number of photo journalists, used them with a slight modification-0 to the take-up spool assembly, so that it was much quicker to load, with a fixed slotted spool installed instead of the typical pop-out spool that requires two hands to load properly.

You'll also appreciate the advance lever, over the twist nob on the earlier FED cameras.

The Iskra, is a folding rangefinder, which carries Zeiss Jena Glass, taken along with the Zeiss factory infrastructure, As I understand it, as "war reparations" in post WWII E.

It's a great camera, which you should try to find one with a CLA, already. by a good camera repair person there, or have it done with the Fed, with a slight modification.

The camera is likely going to be well used, as a number of them were used by professionals, who cut into the back and made a red film check window, so do no go for one of these, but instead, an example with an intact back.

The Iskra makes beautiful photos, but it does have one real weakness, literally, the "star" film advance wheel, a thin brass affair at the top right of the camera interior.

The brass is quite thin, too thin in fact, and is often damaged by long use or mishandling..

I did no have issues with the Iskra, I had, I'd like to have another, but if I had the opportunity to buy another, especially in the former Soviet Union, I would ask the CLA person to install a thicker star wheel, just so it is taken care of there, by an experienced repair person.

I still own and use a Fed 4B, and it's a great camera, with a standard, I-22 or I-50, or the standard lens it came with and the Jupiters, including the 8.5cm and 13.5cm lenses, plus, the 3.5 cm Bigon wide angle.

Buy the turret viewfinder as well, cleaned already.

Again, do yourself a favor and have the lenses, collated there, while the cameras are being given a CLA, and you'll have a lifetime camera that gives wonderful images

Buy all your b&w filters there, and metal lens shades, they are good quality too.though a polarize might be better off bought from the B&W.Brand.

I hope this helps and if I have any aspects wrong, please feel free to correct me.

IMO
Have a truly great time!

.

Don’t waste your time with FSU LTM and MF gear. Only if you are collecting, not using cameras.
Any Japanese LTM is much better and served in USA by several technicians. None of them would touch FSU LTM with ten feet pole.
If you in Russia get RF lenses. Those are worth of money.
Where are KIEV RF, but they are serviced by non English speaking in Kiev and by person known as Oleg, but I won’t recommend to buy camera from him by now.

FSU gear, typically works just fine, if in good condition, though you do have to be careful it is put together properly AND has a competent CLA, just to be positive about it's function.

The Iskra is a well respected and sought after camera, and so is the Fed 3b.

The Fed, is the camera/lens system you might rather have if thief while traveling or shooting in rough conditions, instead of a Higher priced Western or Japanese rangefinders, and getting both cameras serviced in the FSU, means that you will be able to find competent repair people with years of doing work on them.

Russian glass is also very good, on a hit and miss basis, so having them serviced as I suggest, is important, and will make it easier to find a 'good' lens if the one you've bought is a lemon.

Lastly, while the Fed is no a 'sexy' camera, it takes shots a good or better than your abilities, even if the aesthetics are no where as nice as a Leica, Nicca Tower, ect.

A lot of this kit was imported by a lot of photographers, experienced or otherwise, and more than a few beginners, were burned by bad sellers, badly built or maintained, or misunderstood cameras and lenses, new demands, such as always cocking the shutter first, when changing camera speed, with exception.

Do find out for yourself what it is to experience the well serviced Fed 3b (plus the Fed 5, (no meter), 39mm LTM lenses and Iskra, as I do no think you will regret it and , you can always pass it on, when your ready, to a new generation of film shooters.

IMO.