Soviet cameras always have very angular, industrial designs. They don't have the elegance or the preciseness of German or French build quality or the space-age look of Japanese, but they were built for rugged, every day use and they were built to last. Zenits are the only cameras I am happy to let my kids use as I know they will never break them.
Hi Ted only recently discovered your channel, excellent! i have a FED 4 L , purchased new in 1978,i only shot transparency film with it ,the lens is the Industar 50mm 2.8, this gave superb results ,i only used Ektachrome My daughter used it at school during her art courses,she loved it too! I havnt used it for a few years and the selenium light meter is not functioning correctly (good job i have a Wetern Master v back up ) but regularly run a blank through it to make sure it all works as i do with other cameras in my small collection, been out today and run 24 exposures through my Olympus Trip 35,another little gem.Next time the FED !!.
FED is a high quality Russian camera, it was hard to get one back in the days, very rugged also. Its not really leica but you can call it Russian leica quality camera, just cheaper price.
Coupled rangefinder means the lens itself is coupled to the camera's built in rangefinder, not that the viewfinder and rangefinder are in the same eyepiece.
I was about to say that too. Good video otherwise though. Personally I would recommend the FED 2 or Zorki 6. Although as he says, the Zorki 3 is a very nice camera, they command a premium price somewhat.
Watched this a couple months ago and ordered a FED IIIA. It came in today. It's very cool and smaller than I expected, I like that. My kit came with two filters yellow and orange and original box. I have to adjust for infinity then off to shoot. Thanks for another great video from way back.
I really love these faux Leicas, warts and all. And they're a great value. I misplaced my Fed-2 and Zorki-4 in an overseas move. No problem, they were easily replaced for under 75 bucks, including decent an Industar-26 lens. Since the box containing my missing cameras finally showed itself, I now own two Fed-2's, a Zorki-4, Zorki C (S), and two Kiev-4's (Contax copies). The Zorki C is the most beautiful and cool looking, but my favorite to use is the Fed-2.
I have a Fed 3 and it's awesome, almost all the pictures from my childhood were shot using it and they are decent. Also I have a CMEHA that looks pretty nice too.
I like the immediacy and enthusiasm and knowledge in your review here. I don't like the look of the film loading on the model that you detached. I have a *Kiev 4a* which I bought new in 1979 for £25. The Kiev and Kiev 4a look a little more modern but the knurled 360 degree wind on was difficult to master. I didn't buy any additional lenses either but I was working in black and white at the time and with a Yellow filter I got some excellent results from the camera. Great cameras for us enthusiasts at that time, short on cash but high on photographic enthusiasm and ready to learn. Thank you, again.
Well put Joonas, and I totally agree with you. I purchased a FED 4 today and I have to say when talking to the seller in the shop, we compared digital to the last century's rangefinders. The one aspect that really made sense to me is how well made they are compared to todays DSLRs. Updates aren't always going to be available, and technology changes so quickly, that in reality your camera and its software is already yesterdays news.
As we speak, I'm just cleaning a Zorki "1933 Leica IIc" imitation. It still doesn't work, but it's so much fun to have this little unreliable gem in your own hands. I'll give it a good CLA soon (from the same technician who fixed my Rolleiflex 6003 Pro, who can't wait to do the work.) Very good video, I really enjoy our work.
I learned how to use 35mm cameras starting with a 1938 Leica IIIa, which is a bottom loading unit. Most of the III series Leicas had a loading diagram which worked if you "just followed directions." Modern 135 film tongues require you to trim it for bottom loading cameras, but you aren't a gotta-get-it-a-split-second-or-lose-it 1930's press photographer. I NEVER tore up a roll of 35mm film loading Ye Olde Leica, because this is a "slow down and catch the decisive moment" camera system.
Russian Rangefinders are really nice cameras. They are not as cheap as in UK. Old Voigtlanders are usually cheaper than FED or Zorki. Kiev cameras are even more expensive. Yes, they are really lovely cameras. I have FED 4 and Kiev 4 - both working fine, have a nice lenses
It's great that there are photographers on RUclips who really care more about the photography itself than the latest and most technically advanced gear. Many RUclips-photographers say that they don't care much about the equipment but then the next video they put up is a gear review... Glad you're not one of them! Keep up the good work and greetings from Finland!
Hi Ted.. I have and shoot on a couple of FEDs and kievs. But for one of them the rangefinder never really were aligned, so I have it with my voigtlander 15mm f/4.5 which does not need focusing anyway. I just wanted to add here that for those who want, the fed 5 and the fed 5c has a selanium lightmeter which is really old design but different from what we see in slrs for example and fun to check out..
Yes. I rem I got a brand new in the box 5c somewhere around the lat 80's early 90's. It was a functional camera to use some old Russian & Canon sm lenses I picked up off & on from ebay & such. Delightful vid.
yp. Dzherinsky, who was founder ChK (later KGB or modern FSB), establish kinda homeless kids house (for trouble makers, criminals) to helped them to become a better people. some of them become engineers, scientists.
@@khatuntsovmikhail6223 Indeed, the pre-WWII factories were established before Stalin, and produced clones of Leica II / III by training orphans and young people taken from the streets, and give them education and training, to become experts in mechanics and optics, in this example (other factories made tractors, drilling machines, etc.., copied from the west) .. Sad that this part of history is largely forgotten.
@@dju1999 By "before" Stalin, do you mean in a previous time (i.e. by Tzar Nicholas II) or do you mean place (i.e. "in front of him)? Anyway, you are wrong in both cases.
The first labour commune was founded in 1924 by order of OGPU, whose chairman was Feliks Edmudovic (wrong family name spelling). Unfortunately poor old Feliks did not make it to be the founder of the labour commune in New Kharkov in 1927, because he died in 1926. The institution was entitled to him posthumously. In the end NKVD became responsible for managing all jails, correctional houses and similar institutions and the name of the commune transitioned from "УССР" (U for Ukrainskyi) to "СССР" (S for Soviet) to take the final version of Харьковский комбинат НКВД СССР им. Ф. Э. Дзержинского (one of my cameras is engraved with the earlier version: Трудкоммуна НКВД УССР им. Ф. Э. Дзержинского).
Howdy :) I own a FED 5 (no additional letters). This model has a meter and is a great camera! FED comes with industar lenses (55mm), so if you try jupiter lens (50mm) - you MUST adjust the rangefinder for the new lens, other way you'll get your shots out of focus (that's a 15 min. work and i'll be glad to help on that). Kiev 4 has a meter too but they aren't M39. Zorky don't have meters, though they really look cute :) Russian cameras are really accessible and Jupiter 8 is a sharp lens with sweet bokeh. Bodies may are a Leica copy, but lenses are Carl Zeiss copies, so you'll be glad, do believe me. The price, the quality really inspires you to take pictures with joy and without any regrets or concerns :) Wish you all health and peace.
Hey man! Been a long time since your comment, but hope you can help me, I'm thinking about getting a FED 3, would you know if there's any differences between this model and yours(FED 5)? btw: have you still got your FED? Like it? Anyways, it will be my first analog and I'm trying to orient myself into the probable piece I'll be using! Thanks
About FED-1 lenses. Russian post-WWII lens production really was based on a Zeiss copies - Tessar, Sonar and Biogon. BUT! There was a pre-war lens 50 mm f2.0 for FED-C (special version of FED-1 with additional 1/1000 shutter speed) and it can be a copy of some Leica lens. But this lens has no coating and extremely rare today.
This is perfect! I just got a Fed 5c and I needed this tutorial about this ragefinder. I am used to my Zenit E type of focusing and this will be a game changer.
I bought a "Zprki 6" from the Ukraine on Ebay. No TTL metering. The sprockets sometimes grind the film and the rear film door opens by accident. Fun stuff. The pictures comes out ok. I gave it away to a friend.
Hi Ted. Good roundup of the FED & Zorki line. You might want to mention, when talking about old cameras, that there are pretty good exposure meter apps available for the iPhone, etc. Even if an old camera has a working exposure meter, they can be suspect after 30 years or so.
All soviet rangefinders shares the same optics so there is no use to compare FED optics with Zorki or with Kiev. Lenses differ more in production years and facilities.
have a Fed1 and a Zorki coming, but only for the lenses. The Fed has the first Industar 10 which was uncoated and will use it on my Sigma SD Quattro and Sigma FPL :D
I just acquired a Argus C3 Matchmatic, would be very curious to learn a bit more about it out of curiousity! I'm going to run some film through it soon. Pretty excited.
A separate window for rangefinder and viewfinder does not mean the rangefinder is uncoupled. If it was, a seperate wheel would be used for the rangefinder, to measure the distance, which would then be applied to the focus on the lens.
FED - Felix Edmundovich Dzerzhinsky! Being Russian, I didn't know what FED stood for. Thanks for clarification. This is awesome! I liked your pronunciation, and yes, you got it almost right! Here is the approximate transcription - [Feliks Edmundovich Derzinskij]. You don't need to pronounce [dz] in Dzerzhinsky, just say [de] and you ate al good :o). Good luck with your Russian, and thanks for your Vlog!
To clarify the difference between the FED types. FED 5 has both a light meter and the ability to correct for bad eyesight, so You don't need glasses. The 5b does not have the light meter, and the 5c has the light meter but no eyesight compensation
I would be curious to see how you personally set up a shoot (in your free time). I'm not sure how to explain this or ask but here goes. Let's say you're driving around and perhaps something catches your eye, how do you try to capture the essence of what you see? Or perhaps lets say you wanted to shoot a particular landscape. What motivates your creativity? I guess what I'm really asking is if you can take us along for the ride (vlog it) when you go to shoot something.
FEDs were made because the government stopped importation of alot of products because of money going out of the country and little coming in. The first FEDs were copies of the original Leica with no range finder. After that it was a copy of the Leica 2. Your version of the Zorki-3 is quite rare these days. Finally the FED-5A and C have light meters in them. The I-61 lens that come with them are quite sharp made from radio Thoriated glass thorium in it. Oddly my first 8x10 lens was a 305mm Kodak Aero Ektar made from the same glass. For a giggle I use one of my I-61 lenses on my Canon 7 body
Hi, I would like to correct a technical detail in your description. The rangefinders that you are referring to as 'uncoupled' are in fact coupled. The term 'uncombined' would be more appropriate. That is, the viewfinder & rangefinder eyepieces are separate, not combined. Each has its own little window. An uncoupled rangefinder is one which is used to establish the subject distance & this value is then set, by the photographer, on the lens' distance scale. There are accessory rangefinders that can be mounted in the shoe of a simple viewfinder camera & used in this way to set the focus. On your FEDs & Zorkis the lenses are 'coupled' to the rangefinder via a cam in the lens mount. Essentially, you are making the two rangefinder images coincide, by turning the focus ring of the lens, thanks to this coupling. I have seen this "uncoupled" misnomer used a lot on RUclips. I hope this clarifies things a little. ;-) ciao, fm.
I had a Zenit once before it was stolen, it made nice pictures! Will you ever make a program on Japanese fixed lens coupled rangefinders? My first camera was a Yashica Electro 35 GSN that I had repaired in Colorado and later ii bought a GX and enjoy them thoroughly!
My father got some tim ago an actual Leica IIIa and on this, it's the same like FED 1 with loading film. But I have to say, with open shuttercurtain and no lens it's much easier, because you can guide the film thru the opening.
When dusting off those closet cameras, what could be a good procedure to start using it again? Checking the battery if it has one? Shooting a roll and checking the exposure or light leaks? This might be an idea for a podcast. I have several that I would like to start using again but testing seems the logical approach.
I wanted a rangefinder so i opted for the canonets. good build quality and a good lens, but not quite the leica. Could you maybe do some introduction to 4x5 video (cheaper cameras enlargers and all) and ,not sure if you've done it yet, composition, compositional tools what you look for in compositions Thanks for the commitment! :)
Thanks for the good video. I'll be getting my Fed5 these 2 weeks. You mentioned about the metal view finder that can scratch spectacle lens. Any workaround that I can do? Should I dab some shoe goo to rubberized the metal part? Thanks.
i'm thinking about a fed 2 also for some b&w photogra[phy. they are inexpensive and similar to leica but at 10th the priice. the lack of a meter can be a problem but i've used sunny 16 before. i have a minolta srt 202 with a broken meter and it shoots fine with sunny 16. great presentation as always. keep it up.
If you get a good FSU camera, with the lenses they were made for, they are brilliant...if you get a good one. I love my Zorki 4K, especially when loaded with TMax (sorry TriX lovers), it has to be one of my favourite 35mm cameras. I broke the rules with mine and bought one that looked in perfect condition, I did this because the printed numbers easily wear off, they say though that you should buy one that looks used because the ones that look better may be prone to breaking down. Mine however had a full CLA before I bought and a full 12 months guarantee from Scotland, so like me in the UK, and the lens is spotless. At £45 I feel I got a bargain and if I worked it out I'm sure it would come to about 10p a printable negative, my digital works out much more.
Hi, nice of you to bring FSU cameras to the vlog. I just think you went a little too fast and there are a few innacuracies. First, the Leica Elmar is a copy of the Zeiss Tessar, just like the Industar, Schneider Xenar, D Zuiko lenses etc. The Tessar design is the bare minimum for a qulity lens, so there are no noticeable differences between the Industar and the rest, save for the Industar 61 L/N with its lanthanum glass. Normally Jupiter lenses were not standard in FED cameras.
Interestingly, Zenit is closely related to those fake Leicas. And first Zenits - were SLR cameras build on Zorkiy foundation, they had L39 lenses, although, with a tweaked lenses. So we had 2 versions of the same lens - one for rangefinders (with a barrel) and one for L39 SLR (pancake)
I'm just getting into film photography :) .. I'm so glad I found out about film to digital scanners! :D .. On another note, I won an FED4 camera on ebay for £16.. is that a good deal? I was thinking about getting a zorki too
I gave up using my FED because it's a pain to use. The rangefinder is constantly getting out of calibration and I have to take it apart and re-calibrate it every few shots. The film rewind is messed up and I have to take part of the top of the camera apart to get that to work... Also, it has a crazy weird light leak or something that only effects the center portion of the film plane. Mine's yellow and green...I don't use it anymore.
Hello. You are wrong about children not working in the commune. Read the theory in the book of Pogrebinsky about how a labour commune can change people - and by people I mean petty thieves and homeless kids. This was a correctional institure where the "guests" had to study and work to "elevate" themselves (see also Gorky's kids colonies and the book The Road To Life of Makarenko, the first director of the Kharkov commune). The design of the FED 3,5/50 is a very close relative of that of the Elmar. They look more like "modified" Cooke triplets (with the rear lens made of two lenses glued together) and have nothing to share with a Sonnar scheme. Maybe you confused the FED 50mm f/3,5 scheme with the FED 50mm f/2 scheme?
Hello Ted :) I have watched this many times now, I really love it. Could you please do a favor? Post a picture of the fed 1 and the zorki 3 side by side for size comparison. Thanks or as we in Danish: Tak :)
i have no experience with Russian made cameras. but ive a cabinet full of east German Prakticas solid simple cameras with what i consider great ergonomics. they flash sync at 1:125th great for me' i enjoy flash and multi flash shooting. they are m42 screw mount. they are not fussy about lenses. ive got a wide range of lenses (including a magnificent smc takumar 85mn 1.8 $75 at a pawn shop in Dallas Tx). many models and variations within models enough for anyone with G.A.S. (gear aquistion syndrome).
Hi ted how about a look at the american argue and the Roberts and the supreme optical comoanty liuca copy saw one of these in Manchester UK about 5 years ago. Regards sorrow about the spelliung
I just got a zorki 1 and its i. Beautiful condition but when I wind it and try to fire the shutter it dosent seem to fire? It worries me because I think I spent a little to much on it:/. What could be the problem I've always heard that they have really quiet shutters but I don't even hear it. So if anybody knows what could be wrong or if you know what is wrong please get back with me .
just got my zorki 4k from ebay and i was so excited until i realised the person who sold it to me had not cocked the shutter before changing shutter speeds :( Now i have to get that fixed..Nice video though :)
So i found 2x cameras hidden in the attic of my house, one was a FED3, but written in russian though. i guess, is this worth anything? both perfect condition. Other is a Zenith, also written in russian. Thanks!
@@iwonone4019 yes it's a good Starter camera, but dont pay more than 30 Bucks. And Test the lightmeter before you shoot, mine gave me a reading, but it was 2 stops too high most of the time :D
Have you tried a Kiev (e.g. 4A)?. Arguably the best soviet era camera. A _direct_ descendant of (in terms of tools & casting dies, the production was moved from Germany to USSR coz of reparations) of Contax IIa. High precision focusing coz of outstanding 9 cm rangefinder base. Metal shutter curtain, that slows down on slower speeds preventing camera shake. Check it out! One can go like 1/10 handgeld :)
I have a FED-5, Zorki-4, and a Kiev 4 I think I like the Kiev more. The Kiev has a brighter rangefinder and the Jupiter lens is better and faster than the Industars that came with the other 2.
I'm Russian and nobody in ex-USSR calls them F-E-D, evetone says "Fed"
I have news for you man. You are a camera collector.
Dave B yeah, having bins full of cameras kinda makes you a collector, though maybe not an expert
Collectors have display shelves hoarders have plastic bins. 😊📸📸
The rangefinder is coupled to the lens. When the lens is focused, the rangefinder is aligned.
Soviet cameras always have very angular, industrial designs. They don't have the elegance or the preciseness of German or French build quality or the space-age look of Japanese, but they were built for rugged, every day use and they were built to last. Zenits are the only cameras I am happy to let my kids use as I know they will never break them.
Hi Ted only recently discovered your channel, excellent! i have a FED 4 L , purchased new in 1978,i only shot transparency film with it ,the lens is the Industar 50mm 2.8, this gave superb results ,i only used Ektachrome My daughter used it at school during her art courses,she loved it too!
I havnt used it for a few years and the selenium light meter is not functioning correctly (good job i have a Wetern Master v back up ) but regularly run a blank through it to make sure it all works as i do with other cameras in my small collection, been out today and run 24 exposures through my Olympus Trip 35,another little gem.Next time the FED !!.
I have Fed 2, Zorki C and a Zorki 4K and they all work fine.
Zorki 4K is the best. The Jupiter 8 50mm f2 lens is awesome.
FED is a high quality Russian camera, it was hard to get one back in the days, very rugged also. Its not really leica but you can call it Russian leica quality camera, just cheaper price.
Coupled rangefinder means the lens itself is coupled to the camera's built in rangefinder, not that the viewfinder and rangefinder are in the same eyepiece.
Bron Kowal +1
I was about to say that too. Good video otherwise though. Personally I would recommend the FED 2 or Zorki 6. Although as he says, the Zorki 3 is a very nice camera, they command a premium price somewhat.
+1. Combination of RF and VF gives combined VF not coupled.
Watched this a couple months ago and ordered a FED IIIA. It came in today. It's very cool and smaller than I expected, I like that. My kit came with two filters yellow and orange and original box. I have to adjust for infinity then off to shoot. Thanks for another great video from way back.
I really love these faux Leicas, warts and all. And they're a great value. I misplaced my Fed-2 and Zorki-4 in an overseas move. No problem, they were easily replaced for under 75 bucks, including decent an Industar-26 lens.
Since the box containing my missing cameras finally showed itself, I now own two Fed-2's, a Zorki-4, Zorki C (S), and two Kiev-4's (Contax copies). The Zorki C is the most beautiful and cool looking, but my favorite to use is the Fed-2.
I have a Fed 3 and it's awesome, almost all the pictures from my childhood were shot using it and they are decent. Also I have a CMEHA that looks pretty nice too.
Just bought a Zorki 4 for 30€. I already have some LTM lenses at home. 28mm 2.8, 35mm 2, 53mm 2.8. Can''t wait.
I like the immediacy and enthusiasm and knowledge in your review here. I don't like the look of the film loading on the model that you detached. I have a *Kiev 4a* which I bought new in 1979 for £25. The Kiev and Kiev 4a look a little more modern but the knurled 360 degree wind on was difficult to master. I didn't buy any additional lenses either but I was working in black and white at the time and with a Yellow filter I got some excellent results from the camera. Great cameras for us enthusiasts at that time, short on cash but high on photographic enthusiasm and ready to learn. Thank you, again.
Thanks for watching william orr ***** David Haylett Bob Bridges *****
i really like the little sense of humor you through i into your detailed and educative videos, please keep up with the awesome work
Well put Joonas, and I totally agree with you. I purchased a FED 4 today and I have to say when talking to the seller in the shop, we compared digital to the last century's rangefinders.
The one aspect that really made sense to me is how well made they are compared to todays DSLRs.
Updates aren't always going to be available, and technology changes so quickly, that in reality your camera and its software is already yesterdays news.
As we speak, I'm just cleaning a Zorki "1933 Leica IIc" imitation. It still doesn't work, but it's so much fun to have this little unreliable gem in your own hands.
I'll give it a good CLA soon (from the same technician who fixed my Rolleiflex 6003 Pro, who can't wait to do the work.) Very good video, I really enjoy our work.
Great video. Tons of fun. I first bought a FED4 and I just picked up a FED2. Wonderful cameras!
I learned how to use 35mm cameras starting with a 1938 Leica IIIa, which is a bottom loading unit. Most of the III series Leicas had a loading diagram which worked if you "just followed directions." Modern 135 film tongues require you to trim it for bottom loading cameras, but you aren't a gotta-get-it-a-split-second-or-lose-it 1930's press photographer. I NEVER tore up a roll of 35mm film loading Ye Olde Leica, because this is a "slow down and catch the decisive moment" camera system.
Wanted to point it out too. A *coupled rangefinder* is the one that couples the determination of the distance with the focusing of the lens.
Russian Rangefinders are really nice cameras. They are not as cheap as in UK. Old Voigtlanders are usually cheaper than FED or Zorki. Kiev cameras are even more expensive.
Yes, they are really lovely cameras. I have FED 4 and Kiev 4 - both working fine, have a nice lenses
Hi Ted! Thanks for making this video after I made the request. I've just gotten my FED2 from the bay and I just can't seem to let go of it!
Sign Off: May all your days be F/16!
Got myself a Zorki 4k today and looking forward to shooting a roll on it .
It's great that there are photographers on RUclips who really care more about the photography itself than the latest and most technically advanced gear. Many RUclips-photographers say that they don't care much about the equipment but then the next video they put up is a gear review... Glad you're not one of them! Keep up the good work and greetings from Finland!
My favorite, and I have all of these plus some more feds, is the FED 2. It is the best of the lot.
shostakov66 what makes it the best of the lot?
Long Time Subscriber - Brought a FED 4 today - Thank you endlessly for such great vlogs and reviews.
great to watch the blog as i just have got a Zorki-4 for £13 off ebay
Thanks! Greetings to you too! Thanks for the kind words…
Hi Ted.. I have and shoot on a couple of FEDs and kievs. But for one of them the rangefinder never really were aligned, so I have it with my voigtlander 15mm f/4.5 which does not need focusing anyway. I just wanted to add here that for those who want, the fed 5 and the fed 5c has a selanium lightmeter which is really old design but different from what we see in slrs for example and fun to check out..
Yes. I rem I got a brand new in the box 5c somewhere around the lat 80's early 90's. It was a functional camera to use some old Russian & Canon sm lenses I picked up off & on from ebay & such. Delightful vid.
"Made by child labor"
*buys one immediately*
yp. Dzherinsky, who was founder ChK (later KGB or modern FSB), establish kinda homeless kids house (for trouble makers, criminals) to helped them to become a better people. some of them become engineers, scientists.
@@khatuntsovmikhail6223 Indeed, the pre-WWII factories were established before Stalin, and produced clones of Leica II / III by training orphans and young people taken from the streets, and give them education and training, to become experts in mechanics and optics, in this example (other factories made tractors, drilling machines, etc.., copied from the west) .. Sad that this part of history is largely forgotten.
@@dju1999 By "before" Stalin, do you mean in a previous time (i.e. by Tzar Nicholas II) or do you mean place (i.e. "in front of him)? Anyway, you are wrong in both cases.
The first labour commune was founded in 1924 by order of OGPU, whose chairman was Feliks Edmudovic (wrong family name spelling).
Unfortunately poor old Feliks did not make it to be the founder of the labour commune in New Kharkov in 1927, because he died in 1926.
The institution was entitled to him posthumously.
In the end NKVD became responsible for managing all jails, correctional houses and similar institutions and the name of the commune transitioned from "УССР" (U for Ukrainskyi) to "СССР" (S for Soviet) to take the final version of Харьковский комбинат НКВД СССР им. Ф. Э. Дзержинского (one of my cameras is engraved with the earlier version: Трудкоммуна НКВД УССР им. Ф. Э. Дзержинского).
Howdy :)
I own a FED 5 (no additional letters). This model has a meter and is a great camera! FED comes with industar lenses (55mm), so if you try jupiter lens (50mm) - you MUST adjust the rangefinder for the new lens, other way you'll get your shots out of focus (that's a 15 min. work and i'll be glad to help on that).
Kiev 4 has a meter too but they aren't M39. Zorky don't have meters, though they really look cute :)
Russian cameras are really accessible and Jupiter 8 is a sharp lens with sweet bokeh. Bodies may are a Leica copy, but lenses are Carl Zeiss copies, so you'll be glad, do believe me. The price, the quality really inspires you to take pictures with joy and without any regrets or concerns :)
Wish you all health and peace.
Hey man! Been a long time since your comment, but hope you can help me, I'm thinking about getting a FED 3, would you know if there's any differences between this model and yours(FED 5)? btw: have you still got your FED? Like it?
Anyways, it will be my first analog and I'm trying to orient myself into the probable piece I'll be using! Thanks
About FED-1 lenses. Russian post-WWII lens production really was based on a Zeiss copies - Tessar, Sonar and Biogon. BUT! There was a pre-war lens 50 mm f2.0 for FED-C (special version of FED-1 with additional 1/1000 shutter speed) and it can be a copy of some Leica lens. But this lens has no coating and extremely rare today.
This is perfect! I just got a Fed 5c and I needed this tutorial about this ragefinder. I am used to my Zenit E type of focusing and this will be a game changer.
I bought a "Zprki 6" from the Ukraine on Ebay. No TTL metering. The sprockets sometimes grind the film and the rear film door opens by accident. Fun stuff. The pictures comes out ok. I gave it away to a friend.
Hi Ted. Good roundup of the FED & Zorki line. You might want to mention, when talking about old cameras, that there are pretty good exposure meter apps available for the iPhone, etc. Even if an old camera has a working exposure meter, they can be suspect after 30 years or so.
Would be neat if you could compare the lenses and their optical performance, Zorki, FED, Leica atc
All soviet rangefinders shares the same optics so there is no use to compare FED optics with Zorki or with Kiev. Lenses differ more in production years and facilities.
Excellent video. Have a growing collection of Zenit's, Zorki's and have just bought a FED 2D on eBay in mint condition.
have a Fed1 and a Zorki coming, but only for the lenses. The Fed has the first Industar 10 which was uncoated and will use it on my Sigma SD Quattro and Sigma FPL :D
I have a FED 1, lovely camera. Takes some beutifull shots. Want to get some old sovet film for it.
I just acquired a Argus C3 Matchmatic, would be very curious to learn a bit more about it out of curiousity! I'm going to run some film through it soon. Pretty excited.
I decided to buy one the moment I heard it's named after comrade Dzerzhinsky.
A separate window for rangefinder and viewfinder does not mean the rangefinder is uncoupled. If it was, a seperate wheel would be used for the rangefinder, to measure the distance, which would then be applied to the focus on the lens.
FED-5 has a light sensor that helps you set exposure pair. It has a calculator on "roll thing when you're done with film" thing... yeah.
I have the Zorki 4 export version with a black Jupiter 8, awesome camera. Who needs the Leica?
Snobs? :D
FED - Felix Edmundovich Dzerzhinsky! Being Russian, I didn't know what FED stood for. Thanks for clarification. This is awesome! I liked your pronunciation, and yes, you got it almost right! Here is the approximate transcription - [Feliks Edmundovich Derzinskij]. You don't need to pronounce [dz] in Dzerzhinsky, just say [de] and you ate al good :o). Good luck with your Russian, and thanks for your Vlog!
To clarify the difference between the FED types. FED 5 has both a light meter and the ability to correct for bad eyesight, so You don't need glasses. The 5b does not have the light meter, and the 5c has the light meter but no eyesight compensation
What about the 5V?
You are doing great! I enjoy watching/learning... Keep it up; I know, not easy; very valuable...
Still my favorite video of yours
I liked this. I learn a lot here.
I would be curious to see how you personally set up a shoot (in your free time). I'm not sure how to explain this or ask but here goes.
Let's say you're driving around and perhaps something catches your eye, how do you try to capture the essence of what you see? Or perhaps lets say you wanted to shoot a particular landscape. What motivates your creativity?
I guess what I'm really asking is if you can take us along for the ride (vlog it) when you go to shoot something.
FEDs were made because the government stopped importation of alot of products because of money going out of the country and little coming in. The first FEDs were copies of the original Leica with no range finder. After that it was a copy of the Leica 2. Your version of the Zorki-3 is quite rare these days. Finally the FED-5A and C have light meters in them. The I-61 lens that come with them are quite sharp made from radio Thoriated glass thorium in it. Oddly my first 8x10 lens was a 305mm Kodak Aero Ektar made from the same glass. For a giggle I use one of my I-61 lenses on my Canon 7 body
Hi, I would like to correct a technical detail in your description. The rangefinders that you are referring to as 'uncoupled' are in fact coupled. The term 'uncombined' would be more appropriate. That is, the viewfinder & rangefinder eyepieces are separate, not combined. Each has its own little window. An uncoupled rangefinder is one which is used to establish the subject distance & this value is then set, by the photographer, on the lens' distance scale. There are accessory rangefinders that can be mounted in the shoe of a simple viewfinder camera & used in this way to set the focus. On your FEDs & Zorkis the lenses are 'coupled' to the rangefinder via a cam in the lens mount. Essentially, you are making the two rangefinder images coincide, by turning the focus ring of the lens, thanks to this coupling. I have seen this "uncoupled" misnomer used a lot on RUclips. I hope this clarifies things a little. ;-) ciao, fm.
Hi, I do like the looks of the camera's
I had a Zenit once before it was stolen, it made nice pictures! Will you ever make a program on Japanese fixed lens coupled rangefinders? My first camera was a Yashica Electro 35 GSN that I had repaired in Colorado and later ii bought a GX and enjoy them thoroughly!
I have a Zorki 6 and I love it. You should touch on the the other available m39 lens from other companies
My father got some tim ago an actual Leica IIIa and on this, it's the same like FED 1 with loading film. But I have to say, with open shuttercurtain and no lens it's much easier, because you can guide the film thru the opening.
When dusting off those closet cameras, what could be a good procedure to start using it again? Checking the battery if it has one? Shooting a roll and checking the exposure or light leaks? This might be an idea for a podcast. I have several that I would like to start using again but testing seems the logical approach.
I've been thinking of one of these FEDs for my first film camera. they seem to be fairly cheap and good enough quality
All that I have bought from ebay have problems. So I'd recommend one that has as service and non original curtains...
Have you ever used the Kiev 4? I've got one and I really enjoy using it. It is a contax copy and has a combined rangefinder/viewfinder.
I wanted a rangefinder so i opted for the canonets. good build quality and a good lens, but not quite the leica. Could you maybe do some introduction to 4x5 video (cheaper cameras enlargers and all) and ,not sure if you've done it yet, composition, compositional tools what you look for in compositions
Thanks for the commitment! :)
Ha! Thanks Daan!
Thanks for the good video. I'll be getting my Fed5 these 2 weeks. You mentioned about the metal view finder that can scratch spectacle lens. Any workaround that I can do? Should I dab some shoe goo to rubberized the metal part? Thanks.
i'm thinking about a fed 2 also for some b&w photogra[phy. they are inexpensive and similar to leica but at 10th the priice. the lack of a meter can be a problem but i've used sunny 16 before. i have a minolta srt 202 with a broken meter and it shoots fine with sunny 16. great presentation as always. keep it up.
I own a Zorki 2c and I was wondering how to check to see if the shutter is working, any help would be most appreciative. Great videos.
Never had a Kiev 4 - I've heard cool things though.
The Keiv cameras are copies of the German Contax cameras
The camera also came with 53 2.8 lens
Thank you for the video!
If you get a good FSU camera, with the lenses they were made for, they are brilliant...if you get a good one. I love my Zorki 4K, especially when loaded with TMax (sorry TriX lovers), it has to be one of my favourite 35mm cameras. I broke the rules with mine and bought one that looked in perfect condition, I did this because the printed numbers easily wear off, they say though that you should buy one that looks used because the ones that look better may be prone to breaking down. Mine however had a full CLA before I bought and a full 12 months guarantee from Scotland, so like me in the UK, and the lens is spotless. At £45 I feel I got a bargain and if I worked it out I'm sure it would come to about 10p a printable negative, my digital works out much more.
Hi, nice of you to bring FSU cameras to the vlog. I just think you went a little too fast and there are a few innacuracies. First, the Leica Elmar is a copy of the Zeiss Tessar, just like the Industar, Schneider Xenar, D Zuiko lenses etc. The Tessar design is the bare minimum for a qulity lens, so there are no noticeable differences between the Industar and the rest, save for the Industar 61 L/N with its lanthanum glass.
Normally Jupiter lenses were not standard in FED cameras.
Interestingly, Zenit is closely related to those fake Leicas. And first Zenits - were SLR cameras build on Zorkiy foundation, they had L39 lenses, although, with a tweaked lenses. So we had 2 versions of the same lens - one for rangefinders (with a barrel) and one for L39 SLR (pancake)
Will the FED / Zorki lenses from this era fit the Leica M bodies? And will they work?
I have 5 Russian cameras 2 Zenit 2 Zorki 4s and a FED 2 which I really love good development of Leica ii.
I'm just getting into film photography :) .. I'm so glad I found out about film to digital scanners! :D .. On another note, I won an FED4 camera on ebay for £16.. is that a good deal? I was thinking about getting a zorki too
Have you ever used a Zenit photo sniper?
I gave up using my FED because it's a pain to use. The rangefinder is constantly getting out of calibration and I have to take it apart and re-calibrate it every few shots.
The film rewind is messed up and I have to take part of the top of the camera apart to get that to work...
Also, it has a crazy weird light leak or something that only effects the center portion of the film plane.
Mine's yellow and green...I don't use it anymore.
Sounds broken.
thanks!
Thanks
Hello.
You are wrong about children not working in the commune.
Read the theory in the book of Pogrebinsky about how a labour commune can change people - and by people I mean petty thieves and homeless kids.
This was a correctional institure where the "guests" had to study and work to "elevate" themselves (see also Gorky's kids colonies and the book The Road To Life of Makarenko, the first director of the Kharkov commune).
The design of the FED 3,5/50 is a very close relative of that of the Elmar.
They look more like "modified" Cooke triplets (with the rear lens made of two lenses glued together) and have nothing to share with a Sonnar scheme.
Maybe you confused the FED 50mm f/3,5 scheme with the FED 50mm f/2 scheme?
You almost got the russian text right. :) "D" in "FED" stand for "Dzerzhynski", not "Dzherzinski", but I see why it's hard to pronounce.
How about the kiuev copy of the contax with or without a light meter and lens adaptor from 55 to 35 and 55 to 80. Regards
Hello Ted :) I have watched this many times now, I really love it. Could you please do a favor? Post a picture of the fed 1 and the zorki 3 side by side for size comparison. Thanks or as we in Danish: Tak :)
"Poor man's Leica and Voigtlaender" :D good rangefinders, anyway.
i have no experience with Russian made cameras. but ive a cabinet full of east German Prakticas solid simple cameras with what i consider great ergonomics. they flash sync at 1:125th great for me' i enjoy flash and multi flash shooting. they are m42 screw mount. they are not fussy about lenses. ive got a wide range of lenses (including a magnificent smc takumar 85mn 1.8 $75 at a pawn shop in Dallas Tx). many models and variations within models enough for anyone with G.A.S. (gear aquistion syndrome).
Hi ted how about a look at the american argue and the Roberts and the supreme optical comoanty liuca copy saw one of these in Manchester UK about 5 years ago. Regards sorrow about the spelliung
Example photos from the cameras that are reviewed, please.
I just got a zorki 1 and its i. Beautiful condition but when I wind it and try to fire the shutter it dosent seem to fire? It worries me because I think I spent a little to much on it:/. What could be the problem I've always heard that they have really quiet shutters but I don't even hear it. So if anybody knows what could be wrong or if you know what is wrong please get back with me .
I would like to see your photography work......
just got my zorki 4k from ebay and i was so excited until i realised the person who sold it to me had not cocked the shutter before changing shutter speeds :( Now i have to get that fixed..Nice video though :)
Its says in the gallery that I dont have permission to the the private page
So i found 2x cameras hidden in the attic of my house, one was a FED3, but written in russian though. i guess, is this worth anything? both perfect condition.
Other is a Zenith, also written in russian.
Thanks!
No not worth heaps, especially without a service.
Hey man, I loved the video, you know your stuff. I’ve got a FED 4 but I can’t get it to work, would you have any suggestions?
Instead of trying to feed the FED with SD card try to load it with 35mm panchromatic film.
Does all the Feds use the same lenses/ do they all different mount?
All the newer FEDs (I believe from FED 3 up, probably?) use M39 mount.
The difference between the Fed5 and the Fed5 b is, that the normal 5 non b has a build in lightmeter :)
Is a Fed 5 good to start I was thinking of holga but I want a fed
@@iwonone4019 yes it's a good Starter camera, but dont pay more than 30 Bucks. And Test the lightmeter before you shoot, mine gave me a reading, but it was 2 stops too high most of the time :D
Hi how about a summery. of the less expensive German cameras of the 1950 erette was one with a prontor shutter and a schnifer Jena lens
Do you have any Zenits?
Have you tried a Kiev (e.g. 4A)?. Arguably the best soviet era camera. A _direct_ descendant of (in terms of tools & casting dies, the production was moved from Germany to USSR coz of reparations) of Contax IIa. High precision focusing coz of outstanding 9 cm rangefinder base. Metal shutter curtain, that slows down on slower speeds preventing camera shake. Check it out! One can go like 1/10 handgeld :)
I have a FED-5, Zorki-4, and a Kiev 4
I think I like the Kiev more. The Kiev has a brighter rangefinder and the Jupiter lens is better and faster than the Industars that came with the other 2.
hey what film did you use ?
Children really did make these cameras, it's not a myth.