RARE Russian RANGEFINDER !

[Red Robin]

YO! Ever notice that most of the Russian import cameras are listed as RARE. I've read that most are re-worked and worn out. Too bad , I can't afford a real Leica and had wanted to try out a more affordable copy , but a nonworking hunk-o-junk won't help at all. Red R.🙄

 

[hipsterdufus]

This thread seems like troll-bait, but there are plenty of decent Russian cameras out there that have been CLA'ed by competent repair people. Fedka is the website most folks agree on.

Otherwise, just save a few extra bucks and get a used Bessa R or R2. My R2 was $275 and takes M-mount lenses.

 

[johannielscom]

what hipster says, go see fedka

 

[konicaman]

You might try a CLA'ed FSU from hero4g on Fleabay. I got a couple of his and they are running very, very smoothly.

 

[rbiemer]

If only there was some place to get some reasonably accurate info about the various FSU cameras...Like, oh maybe, a forum. Or even some smaller subset of a forum....
If any one finds something like that let us know, OK?
Rob

 

[DNG]

YO! Ever notice that most of the Russian import cameras are listed as RARE. I've read that most are re-worked and worn out. Too bad , I can't afford a real Leica and had wanted to try out a more affordable copy , but a nonworking hunk-o-junk won't help at all. Red R.🙄

Other than the one used on the Sputnik. Most are pretty common.

 

[Mephiloco]

I bought a Bessa R just recently (past 2 weeks) for about $180 ish. All my lenses are screw mount so it works out pretty well for me

 

[Bill58]

Ditto on Fedka!!!!

 

[Brian Legge]

So a CLA'd FSU camera from a reliable vendor seems to be about $100 + shipping. A non-CLA'd screw mount Leica can be had for about $150 and may or may not need service. It seems like a $100 delta between the cameras at this point (assuming 30-50% more Leicas needed curtain work).

Hmm. Another option - as shipping is a huge part of the price - would be to work out a bulk buy from Oleg or someone else reliable, then ship them within the US (presumable cheaper)?

 

[xayraa33]

now here is a rare russian: