paul beard
Member
My quest for a reliable FSU rangefinder continues. I seem to attract junk like a magnet. The latest one is a Fed 4 and was slated to be a parts donor but might end up as a daily driver, if I can get into it and see how bad things are. It is missing a couple of things but nothing unsurmountable -- yet.
I have the top almost off but that funky rewind disc/wheel remains. Not sure how to get around it.
I also have a Fed 2 that seemed OK but the shutter speeds were all off (all the same and I never worked out what they were) and it seemed not to actually open and close the shutter reliably, once I loaded it (I thought I checked it?). :bang:
Once I got into it, the shutter and winder conspired against me and the shutter curtains came apart as I tried to figure out what else was wrong. Anyone want a basket case?
Before that, I got a Fed 5C and the RF glass was clouded. I salvaged the RF block from the 2, once it fell to bits, but I'm not sure how reliable it is. I think I %&*ed up the winder when I re-assembled it (I lost the gear that drives the frame counter and that makes the winder very loose and sloppy).
A reliable 2 or 3 would suit me fine, but maybe Feds are not for me.
I have the top almost off but that funky rewind disc/wheel remains. Not sure how to get around it.
I also have a Fed 2 that seemed OK but the shutter speeds were all off (all the same and I never worked out what they were) and it seemed not to actually open and close the shutter reliably, once I loaded it (I thought I checked it?). :bang:
Once I got into it, the shutter and winder conspired against me and the shutter curtains came apart as I tried to figure out what else was wrong. Anyone want a basket case?
Before that, I got a Fed 5C and the RF glass was clouded. I salvaged the RF block from the 2, once it fell to bits, but I'm not sure how reliable it is. I think I %&*ed up the winder when I re-assembled it (I lost the gear that drives the frame counter and that makes the winder very loose and sloppy).
A reliable 2 or 3 would suit me fine, but maybe Feds are not for me.
gb hill
Veteran
You shouldn't of taken it apart. especially the Fed 2. If you take off the back & look at the bottom of the camera you would of seen two screws. You could of adjusted the tension, which in turn affects the shutter speeds & you would of had a good camera. There is a sticky at top of page that showed you how to do this. It's very easy to do.
januaryman
"Flim? You want flim?"
Try Fedka.com - the repairs are done in NY and I've used them before.
paul beard
Member
well, I have a 5 that I finally put back together properly. The 2's problems were deeper than I alluded to above. The shutter was waiting to fall apart, as best I can tell. The 4 is better in some ways than I hoped but the slow speeds don't work at all. I just left a query in the repair area looking for one or offering the 2 and 4 as donors if anyone needs anything.
gb hill
Veteran
Glad you got one going Paul now you need to join the international Commie Camera day 2009 flickr group if you haven't already done so.
http://www.flickr.com/groups_members.gne?id=1060189@N22
http://www.flickr.com/groups_members.gne?id=1060189@N22
paul beard
Member
I'll be there.