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Ramon-uk

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I have one of these re-engraved FSU cameras which I believe started out as a Fed 1d but I'm not entirely sure and would welcome the thoughts of others to assist in it's original identity.

I have blotted out the new engravings on the pics because I know they offend some people.

fz5.jpg


Alloy sheet shutter cage, small pointy rangefinder cam.

fz4.jpg



Stepped shutter spring.

fz6.jpg



Rings on shutter release, shutter release collar removeable,
hole for 1/1000 setting on brass selector dial (not printed on main speed dial)

fz7.jpg



fz9.jpg


Round film pressure plate with nib.

fz3.jpg


Indent on top panel for rewind switch.

fz1.jpg


Engraved Cyrillic character under flash shoe.

fz2.jpg


Small semi-circular mark, possibly part of original engraving,
but if it was the Z of Zorki then it looks to be in the wrong place.

fz8.jpg


Lens is coated and has old style aperture settings.


A couple of other points:

The centre top screw on the top panel is not obscured by the lens mount.

The lens mount has been modified to refit 90 degrees anticlockwise and a thick spacer shim (0.3mm) has been fitted bertween the lens mount and body.


Any comments would be welcome.

Ramon
 
It looks like a Fed, perhaps a post war KMZ made Fed.
The odd points are the pointed RF cam and the letter D (in cyirillic characters) under the accesories shoe, wich BTW isn´t present in the Zorki 1 (can´t say if it belongs to a Fed).
The pressure plate is also odd in it´s shape as it doesn´t look like a KMZ nor Leitz made one.
Think is kind of a Frankencamera.
Hope this one will take pictures soon!
Regards
Ernesto
 
I think this is a very early Zorki from 1948. The really early ones had the pointed RF coupler like the Fed as well as the stepped spring, both later changed. Does the bottom plate have a film guide held on by two screws?
 
ErnestojL:

The pressure plate is the original one because the body shell has a machined recess and a screw to locate in the tabbed slot of the plate. It's a mystery to me.

Brian Sweeney:

I noticed the DOF scale after I made the first post. I have compared the lens to another Industar 10 that has the later f stop numbers and I it would appear that the engraving is right but the DOF scale isn't. It looks like the lens may be a hybrid made up from other parts.

Pickett Wilson:

Yes, the bottom plate does have the film guide and 2 screws, but I thought that this this was only on the FED.


The main thing that puzzles me is that "D" under the flash shoe, I've never seen that before either on a FED or Zorki.
 
Dear Ramon,

Clearly the crate of a Fed NKVD to me, a 1d.

Please count the small holes on the shutter selector and count the shutter times. It looks like there is an optional 1/1000, which is blocked by the screw on the shutter dial. I have a 1d which has an optional 1/1000 which is not engraved on the dial.

If you find the engravings offending. I can send you a spare top plate from am original Fed 1f. It would look more genuine as well. Just PM me if you are interested.

With kind regards,


Valkir
 
Brian Sweeney said:
The F-Stop marks are re-engraved as well, do not match the DOF scale.
Click to expand...
The early, uncoated lens had this scale but the lens is coated and the DOF scale doesn't match it, as you say.

There are also mistakes! The aperture scale font is wrong and the 8.3 should be 6.3. Additionally, the 18 should not have the offset mark and the lower engravings on the uncoated lenses reads "1:3,5 F=50M/M" (with small "M"s).
 
Last edited:
Valkir1987 said:
Dear Ramon,

Clearly the crate of a Fed NKVD to me, a 1d.

Please count the small holes on the shutter selector and count the shutter times. It looks like there is an optional 1/1000, which is blocked by the screw on the shutter dial. I have a 1d which has an optional 1/1000 which is not engraved on the dial.

If you find the engravings offending. I can send you a spare top plate from am original Fed 1f. It would look more genuine as well. Just PM me if you are interested.

With kind regards,


Valkir
Click to expand...
I agree it looks exactly like the crate in my NKVD. The top cover plate may from a Zorki or FED, it's hard to know. The pressure plate is also like my NKVD. As for the 1/1000th hole, mine has that too and I think all FEDs may have done. The selector arm shape is what prevents it being selected, I don't think the screw does. The hole is likely there for use on the FED S model.

EDIT: On looking again, it does look as though the screw is all that prevents 1/1000th being selected. I don't recall that is the case on the NKVD I have, I seem to recall the selector arm would have needed some filing.
 
Last edited:
Valkir1987 said:
Please count the small holes on the shutter selector and count the shutter times. It looks like there is an optional 1/1000, which is blocked by the screw on the shutter dial. I have a 1d which has an optional 1/1000 which is not engraved on the dial.
Click to expand...

Yes you are right Valkir, the 1/1000 is there and is selectable but even after a complete strip down and CLA I cannot yet get the 1/1000 to work reliably without affecting the other speeds. I shall keep trying.

Thank you for your offer, PM on it's way.

Ramon
 
wolves3012 said:
On looking again, it does look as though the screw is all that prevents 1/1000th being selected. I don't recall that is the case on the NKVD I have, I seem to recall the selector arm would have needed some filing.
Click to expand...

The selector arm has been filed at some time and the 1/1000 can be set (although not reliable). The screw doesn't seem to serve any purpose once the arm is filed down and I think the same effect could have been achieved by not filing and just removing the screw.
 
bsdunek said:
I have no experience with FSU cameras, but I'm curious. Why would markings offend anyone?
Click to expand...

Oh Bruce, don't even mention it. 🙁
There is a certain 4 legged Nazi wartime symbol that causes serious offence to a lot of people, even now 60 odd years after the war. I'm not too concerned but displaying the sign can cause you a lot of grief, and that's all I'm saying about it.
 
Could be a lot of things. The very early Zorki's and the Feds looked a lot alike inside. I think they diverged with the first Zorki 1. But, as someone else has said, this could well be a Frankencamera.
 
The offensive part has nothing to do with the Soviet Union, it is the Nazi Swastika.

And it does look weird on a camera, I guess one of the times black tape is justified (or red blur on a photo).
 
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