Which One ? FSU

[Tom hicks]

Hi, I fairly new to rangefinders , I'm waiting for my first 3 to so up . I have been looking at the FSU's and have read the (for beginners thread) only to be confused that much more .

I would say just tell which one to look for that is the best but I know that is a loaded question and everyone has his or her opinion.

I'm looking at a FED3-B and an FED5-C, is one better than the other. ?

Im not new to photography, but have never owned a Rangefinder.

Tom Hicks
Mod at www.fredmiranda.com/forum/board/45
www.natureswildscapes.com

thanks in advance , for any help

 

[rbiemer]

Tom,
I own both a FED5 and FED3 and use the 5 more than the 3. Mainly 'cause the 3 needs some attention and the 5 is working OK now. I am going to have the 3 serviced and then I'm think I'll use it more. I have been happy with the FED5 I have but the 3 is so much better looking to me! I find that these two cameras are functionally equivalent--in other words; if both are up to spec, I think it becomes a matter of esthetics. I find the VF on both to be about the same and I'm pretty sure the shutter speeds are the same(don't have either to look at right now so I could be wrong about that).
Not quite the answer you were probably hoping for, I bet!
If I were deciding between these two from the same good seller, condition is what I would choose for. If condition is something you can only guess about or take the seller's word for,then I would choose based on how I felt about who was selling the cameras.
There's a thread around here titled "reputable FSU sellers(dealers?can't recall the exact title)" worth reading.
Good hunting and welcome aboard!
Rob

 

[Tom hicks]

Thanks Rob for the welcome and the help, I'll try to find the info on the sellers . there is a big ebay seller that I'm finding all this stuff at the prod looks very clean and the store is very pro. looking but he never mentions if any of the stuff works.

Tom

 

[Keith]

This has been said many times on RFF Tom but Oleg at OK Cameras is revered by most here.

http://www.okvintagecamera.com/index.html

I bought my Fed 2 fom him CLA'd for $45.00 US and it has been trouble free! 🙂

 

[Tom hicks]

Thanks Keith, these cameras have really peeked my interest, I guess I just have a real hunger for film right now. Thanks for the info I check them out .

 

[nzeeman]

i would go with fed5. i think they are almost same machines - only fed5 have light meter. but also i think fed5 is a bit more smoother when winding. and also it looks totally crazy!!! thats why it s so fun. only bad thing about both is that viewfinder is a bit dim. 🙁 but you can always take fed2 or zorki6 later. 😉

 

[payasam]

Keith has already told you about Oleg K. I might add Yuri B. at http://www.fedka.com. You'll find many sellers with less expensive goods, but these two are utterly reliable.

 

[ZorkiKat]

The FED-3 may be better in the sense that there is less in it, compared to the FED-5, to break down. For instance, the FED-3 uses a manually set frame counter dial. The FED-5 has an auto-setting frame counter, which at the same time is one of the most difficult to handle during disassembly when the need to service the camera comes. And after going through several FED-5 cameras, I have come to believe that FED-3 are indeed better.

Jay

 

[wolves3012]

i would go with fed5. i think they are almost same machines - only fed5 have light meter. but also i think fed5 is a bit more smoother when winding. and also it looks totally crazy!!! thats why it s so fun. only bad thing about both is that viewfinder is a bit dim. 🙁 but you can always take fed2 or zorki6 later. 😉

The FED 5C actually has one of the brightest finders, almost clear, with framelines in it...If the meter works it's actually quite accurate and useful.

 

[zhang xk]

The FED-3 may be better in the sense that there is less in it, compared to the FED-5, to break down. For instance, the FED-3 uses a manually set frame counter dial. The FED-5 has an auto-setting frame counter, which at the same time is one of the most difficult to handle during disassembly when the need to service the camera comes. And after going through several FED-5 cameras, I have come to believe that FED-3 are indeed better.

Jay

Hi Jay,

Before I knew anything about rangefinder cameras, I thought Fed-3 and Leica M6 were made by the same company.🙄

Once I over heard a sales girl talking to a guy with a M6 around his neck:" Your camera is nice, looks just like this camera(Fed-3)."😀 This is a true story.

Cheers,

Zhang

 

[Valkir1987]

If you don't need the built in light meter, go for the Fed 3. I have a Fed 3 with a broken viewfinder (the previous owner dropped it on something). But it is a lot easier to work on than the Fed 5, and in my opinion, the Fed 3 is better built. The release button on the Fed 5 is harder to reach because the big frame counter above the winding lever.

 

[napchop]

Fed 5

Fed 5

All Fed 5's come with the industar 61 L/D as standard. This is a superb lens and would certainly influence my choice as a 'first' rangefinder.

 

[victoriapio]

Tom,
What is a macro machine like you doing on the RF forum 😀

I was a past Leica user and have just purchased an RD-1s. You will like rangefinders, it really changes the way you "see" and photograph.

O.C. Garza
Victoria, TX

 

[Tom hicks]

Tom,
What is a macro machine like you doing on the RF forum 😀

I was a past Leica user and have just purchased an RD-1s. You will like rangefinders, it really changes the way you "see" and photograph.

O.C. Garza
Victoria, TX

Hi O.C. Don't I know you from the Texas Photo Forum? Haven't you been to one of my tiger shoots? I recognize your name . I just thought I'd broaden my horizon a little. Your name is Oscar Is it not?



http://www.texasphotoforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=594

 

[pesphoto]

I have a fed 5 that came with my I61 but the meter is dead. Is it possible to send it to someone to get it working again, or is it a lost cause?

 

[ZorkiKat]

Hi Jay,

Before I knew anything about rangefinder cameras, I thought Fed-3 and Leica M6 were made by the same company.🙄

Once I over heard a sales girl talking to a guy with a M6 around his neck:" Your camera is nice, looks just like this camera(Fed-3)."😀 This is a true story.

Cheers,

Zhang

Comrade Zhang,

You mean that Leica are not made in Zavod im. F.E.Dzherzhinskogo? 😛

Jay

 

[ZorkiKat]

I have a fed 5 that came with my I61 but the meter is dead. Is it possible to send it to someone to get it working again, or is it a lost cause?

Might be cheaper to find a FED-5 with a working meter? 😀

Then again, even the working meters found in FED-5 (at least those which I've seen) are not too accurate, except in good light, in situations where exposure 'guesstimation' would often suffice. The loss of the meter isn't really a handicap in a FED-5.


Jay

 

[pesphoto]

Thanks Jay, good points. I have my Bessa R for when I feel a meter is needed. I guess i could just screw the I61 into my "R" and be done with it.

 

[shadowfox]

Not to knock on anybody's preference.

But in my eyes, only the Fed 2 is beautiful, the other ones are ... well, odd 🙂

 

[victoriapio]

Hi O.C. Don't I know you from the Texas Photo Forum? Haven't you been to one of my tiger shoots? I recognize your name . I just thought I'd broaden my horizon a little. Your name is Oscar Is it not?



http://www.texasphotoforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=594

Tom,

No I post some of my "step back" macro shots on the FM macro forum. The name is surprise, surprise, "O.C." 😀 I do hang out at the Texas Forum some too.

BTW, If you don't need MF scanning, I have had great success scanning B&W and my Kodachrome slides with a Nikon Coolscan IV on loan from a buddy. I hear the Coolscan V is much better (and cheaper than the 5000).

And I WOULD LIKE to do a tiger shoot but get up to big D too infrequently to attend one so far.

O.C. in Victoria