Size comparisons?

Coldkennels

Coldkennels

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I was under the impression that, while the Fed 2 wasn't the smallest of the FSU rangefinders, it wasn't that different from the Fed 1/early Zorkis. Last night, my Uncle dug out a "Luftwaffe Leica" from the depths of his study - really a Zorki 1 - and I was quite shocked now just at how much smaller it was, but how much smaller it feels to hold.

So this got me wondering: What's the size difference between all the different FSU rangefinders? Does anyone have the data (or, better, photographs of different Zorkis/Feds together) as to the dimensions of each? And is there anything comparable in size to the original Zorki, but without separate viewfinder+rangefinder windows?

(As an aside: this Luftwaffe thing is in pretty good shape. I spent a bit of time this morning cleaning it up and calibrating it for my Uncle, and while it's obviously a fake, it's doesn't look too bad - providing you can ignore the swastikas on it, anyway. But while testing it today and playing with what I assume is a re-engraved I22 on the front, I realised that while the apertures were relabelled 3.5, 4.5, 6.3 etc, the depth of field scale was still in modern parlance - 4, 5.6, 8, etc.! Oops...)
 
Here is the how my collection stacks up from smallest to largest:
  • FED-2
  • Kiev 4M
  • Zorki 4K
That being said, it would be good to say how one is bigger than the other. The Kiev is both wider and deeper than the FED. The Zorki is the same width and depth as the FED, but much taller. Truth be told, it may be that the volume of the Kiev and Zorki is probably about the same, but the Zorki definitely handles "larger". The FED is significantly lighter and smaller than the other two and handles much better.


Steve


(Some photos might be in order...😉)
 
The Smena 8m is a little smaller than the Zorki1 and Fed1. Like you said, just put the Fed2 and the Fed/or Zorki 1 next to eachother and you will notice little difference in size. But the camera feels and holds a lot bigger.

It's not only the size, but also the weight that matters. A Leica IIIa is heavier and feels smaller to me, because it has more weight relative to its size.

I think the Fed 5 winns the prize of being unneccesary big sized. But I still like that camera. It has a very nice standard lens (Industar 61), and a built in light meter, slow speeds. Good to get at a fair price, a nice camera for someone who wants to start FSU RF photography.
 
Valkir1987 said:
I think the Fed 5 winns the prize of being unneccesary big sized.
Click to expand...

Try a Kiev 5 one day. Unneccessarily big-sized, together with a high price. At least it has a decent viewfinder.

Or try a FED-4. All the features of the FED-5, just in a bigger package. 😀
 
Wait, the Fed 4's bigger than the 5? I thought, looking at photos, that they basically had the same body.

How does the Zorki 5 compare? That looks about as tall as the Fed 5 - or at least somewhere close.
 
Yep the FED2 is big compared to the Zorki 1 Leica copy bodies. My FED 3 is a little bigger again compared to my FED2. When collapsible lens is fitted to the Zorki 1 it is really a nice small package.
 
Here are some cameras to compare: Kiev 4 (faked "contax"), FED 4, FED 5, and my Bessa R. And a CD case in back to give a sense of scale.
Kiev, FED, and Bessa by rbiemer, on Flickr
Dimensions of my cameras as measured(in mm):
FED 4 140.76 W x 94.65 H x 40.72 D
FED 5 140.90 W x 92.26 H x 39.79 D
Kiev 4 139.79 W x 88.68 H x 39.62 D
Bessa R 138.75 W x 78.83 H x 34.83 D

I no longer have the Zorki 3m I owned but it felt about the same as the Bessa. I don't think I would rely on my impression, though, as I also though the FED 5 was bigger than the 4 and I have those two side by side on the same shelf!😱
I've never owned an early FED or Zorki and I only briefly had a FED 2 so I can't compare those three.
Rob
 
Off the top of my head (If you guys really want I'll go measure them all!)

Zorki 1/2/FED 1 are the smallest.

Next is the Zorki C/2C (slightly taller).

Next comes a whole bunch, depends if you want to include knobs and buttons etc but the Zorki 3/3M/3C/4/4K/5/6, Kiev 4a/4am and FED 2/3 are all very similar. A couple of mm here and there but that's about it.

Lastly there's the FED 4/5 and Kiev 4, which are a bit taller.

This doesn't include the rarer models like the Kiev 5 and so on.
 
Coldkennels said:
Wait, the Fed 4's bigger than the 5? I thought, looking at photos, that they basically had the same body.

How does the Zorki 5 compare? That looks about as tall as the Fed 5 - or at least somewhere close.
Click to expand...
Yes a FED 4 and 5 are near-identical in size. The Zorki 5 is quite a bit smaller than them, being only a little taller than the Zorki/FED 1. It's deceptive but the "stepped top" models (including the Zorki 3/3M) appear smaller than the "square top" types, yet there's really not *that* much in it.
 
Thanks, all. That's pretty helpful. While I actually quite like using my Fed 5 (heresy, I know), pocketability's a pretty nice feature, and I can't even fit that damned thing into the oversized pocket on my jacket.

It'd be quite nice (in an OCD way) to have a little chart, much like Rob's, but extended to cover the range. I might have to do some measuring when I get in.
 
If I remember correctly, the Zorki 5a and 5b (bottom loaders) have the identical "footprint" to the Zorki 1. I believe that the bottom plates were practically identical. The Zorki 6 is has a very slightly thicker and longer body as this has a hinged back. Both are, of course, taller than the Zorki 1 by around 12mm.
These Zorkis look and feel (to me, at least) significantly smaller than the FED 2 and Zorki 4.
For info, my Zorki 5b base plate is 135mm long x 31mm wide. The cam is 74mm tall to the top of the casing and 81mm to the top of the highest point, the rewind knob.
 
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