Info on FEd f2 coll lens.

[elmer3.5]

Hi, in this year or so i´ve found a pair of fed 50mm lens on ebay.

The thing about it is that´s collapsible and F:2!

Does anyone know more about this lens?

I don´t remember if it has an special name but it´s specs are just extraordinary! Because as i could app i had a very small profile once collapsed (looked like an elmar or hektor 50/2.5)
In one case it was attached to a fed camera with nkvd markings, 1000 speed and offered as highly collectible.

Any info much appreciated!

Bye!

 

[batterytypehah!]

I believe that makes it a "Kommandirskij" FED:
http://www.sovietcams.com/index.php?1980562877

Certainly a collectible if it's genuine. The lens is hard to fake but the body engravings and a dial with 1000 speed would be easy.

 

[wolves3012]

I believe that makes it a "Kommandirskij" FED:
http://www.sovietcams.com/index.php?1980562877

Certainly a collectible if it's genuine. The lens is hard to fake but the body engravings and a dial with 1000 speed would be easy.

More commonly known as a FED S. In actual fact, I suspect all the old FED 1 cameras are equipped for 1/1000, mine certainly is. It's just not selectable, the speed selector doesn't allow it. A few minutes work with a file would make it so, however. As you say - the engraving is easy but the lens isn't readily fakeable.

 

[pauls52]

Hi, in this year or so i´ve found a pair of fed 50mm lens on ebay.

The thing about it is that´s collapsible and F:2!

Does anyone know more about this lens?

The others are quite right - the lens was normally fitted to the "Commander's" or "S" (C) type FED. It was only offered pre-war so like its pre-war f/3.5 sibbling, it was uncoated, had a non-standardised flange to film plane distance and a not quite Leica standard lens thread. I am not familiar with its photographic qualities but I suspect it is priced more with collectors in mind than users. To use it on LTM standard bodies will require some work and technical knowhow and you would want to ensure first that the results are worth its loss of value as a collectible.

Cheers,
Paul

 

[batterytypehah!]

(...) I suspect all the old FED1 cameras are equipped for 1/1000, mine certainly is. It's just not selectable, the speed selector doesn't allow it. A few minutes work with a file would make it so, however.

That's very interesting. About the only thing that's been keeping me away from the older FEDs and Zorkis is the limited speed range. But as I'm finding out, changing speeds on the Zorki 4 is very fiddly, so a modded FED 2 with 1/1000 top speed might be just the ticket...

Have you / has anybody experimented with adding 1/1000? Are you getting consistent results or is it a hassle to adjust right?

This probably deserves its own thread, or has one already (I admit I didn't do a search).

 

[elmer3.5]

Collpasible

Collpasible

Hi, thanks i was not gone nuts! useful link!

I love the elmar type collapsible lens it´s so small and pocketable!
But it´s too slow, the other coll leicas are bulky even collapsed!

With your info i could find an ebay example, quite expensive, wow!

http://cgi.ebay.com/rarest-russian-...=ViewItem&pt=Film_Cameras&hash=item5ad44068ce

Thanks!

 

[wolves3012]

That's very interesting. About the only thing that's been keeping me away from the older FEDs and Zorkis is the limited speed range. But as I'm finding out, changing speeds on the Zorki 4 is very fiddly, so a modded FED 2 with 1/1000 top speed might be just the ticket...

Have you / has anybody experimented with adding 1/1000? Are you getting consistent results or is it a hassle to adjust right?

This probably deserves its own thread, or has one already (I admit I didn't do a search).

Well the hole is present on the bottom part of the speed selector (on my 1939 FED 1, I don't know about later models), but the cast upper part is designed such that you can't select the speed. If you filed the cast part away near the "arm" on it, you could use the speed. I haven't tried it on mine. I suspect it's just there from reducing parts-count between the models and I have no idea if the FED S had any other differences to keep the 1/1000th consistent (like the Leica III has), although Zorki 3 & 4 models manage well enough without that.

Something I might be tempted to try one of the days, not much to lose. If it doesn't work, you'd just have to not use it! It would also be unmarked on the dial so you'd have to be careful with selection of 1/500th too.

 

[wolves3012]

But as I'm finding out, changing speeds on the Zorki 4 is very fiddly, so a modded FED 2 with 1/1000 top speed might be just the ticket...

Have you thought about a Zorki 3M? Not half as fiddly as a Zorki 4/4K to select 1/1000 and the slower speeds are easier too! Not to mention the aesthetics...

 

[David Hughes]

Thanks for the link to the f/2 50mm: it's the one mentioned in the article from November 1941 in "Miniature Camera" magazine.

Regards, David

 

[batterytypehah!]

Have you thought about a Zorki 3M? Not half as fiddly as a Zorki 4/4K to select 1/1000 and the slower speeds are easier too! Not to mention the aesthetics...

To be honest, I am very unhappy with the VF in the Zorki 4 and I suppose there is little, if any, difference to the 3. For me it's clearly not worth the bulk of that top deck, I'd rather deal with separate RF and VF windows. Particularly as the camera would be wearing a 35mm lens and accessory finder most of the time.

Not that I've had a chance to try them all. Besides my 4, I have played with a couple of FED and Zorki 1 models, and I think a Zorki 2C, at a show recently. That's it.

I'd like to try a Zarya, really. Would even consider grafting a modern 35mm finder from a point-and-shoot into it. But they go for more than a FED 2 which makes it rather pointless to go without the RF.