FED-1 v. FED-2 again

[michalurban]

Hi,

sorry to start another thread regarding the differences between the soviet RF, but Im buying a CLAd FED-2 with a CLAd Industar-22 from the ebay. In fact, I bought those item already and am waiting to receive them.

Now I saw a FED-1 with the original collapsible lens accidentaly and I really LOVE how small it is.

So, my question - is the FED-2 much larger the the FED-1? I ask because if the answer is yes, Ill probably buy some CLAd FED-1 right now - Im quite impatient and it takes the parcel about three weeks to arrive.

BTW the fed-1 sure looks cute! 😀

 

[greyelm]

The Fed-2 is wider by about 1 cm and is thicker and taller than the Fed-1 which is the same size as Leica II. There are a number of previous threads relating to each cameras performance and both cameras are capable of producing excellent results if they are mechanically & optically sound. As they aren't too expensive to I obtain I would say get both and have fun.

 

[Coldkennels]

The Fed 2 was the reason I made the switch to 35mm from TLRs. It's a great camera, and a great looker. You've not made a bad choice there.

Like you, though, I've been tempted by the Fed 1; I recently had the opportunity to play with a fake Leica (really a Nazi-fied Zorki 1, which I understand to be pretty much identical to the Fed 1), and the size difference is really quite noticeable. This is not to say the Fed 2 + I-22 is not pocketable - it is, it's just a bit more snug in the back pocket of my jeans, and certainly doesn't fit in the front pocket at all.

But along with this compressed size, there are a few major differences: firstly, and most noticeably, you can't load it like a "standard" (read: modern) camera. It's a bottom loader, which means you need to recut your film leaders and feed the film through a slot. It's a lot easier than a lot of people make out, but it is something you should consider. You'll have to cut your leaders on all your spare film before you go out.

Once you've got it loaded and you start using it, you'll notice that the Zorki doesn't have a combined rangefinder and viewfinder, which means you have to shift between two different windows for composition and focusing. If you plan on using lenses other than 50mm - where you'll need an external viewfinder anyway - this won't make any difference to you, but it can take some getting used to.

This does mean, however, that focusing with the rangefinder is easier, because the view is magnified considerably compared to that of the Fed 2, and that the viewfinder itself is much brighter than the one on the Fed 2, which is dimmer to allow for more contrast on the RF spot. However, it does have a much shorter rangefinder baselength than the sizeable one of the Fed 2; having not used the Zorki extensively, I'm not entirely sure how this effects the accuracy - especially when you factor in the magnified view. It certainly seemed fine to me, but I've used standard 50mm lenses. I might have to see how it copes with the 135mm Jupiter 11 at some point.

One last thing to bear in mind, too, is that the original Fed 1s - i.e. pre-war ones - didn't have a standardized flange-to-film distance. At best, this means that the lens you get with it will possibly be the only lens you can ever use on it. At worst, it might mean the lens the seller puts on it doesn't match it at all and you'll never get a photo in focus. So either buy from a decent seller (Fedka, for example), get yourself a late-run post-war Fed 1, or buy any Zorki 1 instead.

I think that about covers it, but I'm sure others will add to/correct the above in time.

 

[wolves3012]

Good advice given so far. Yes, the FED 1 is quite a bit smaller. As Coldkennels says, make sure you don't get an early example or you're likely to have problems trying to use any other lenses on it. The later, FED 1g is the best option if you want other lenses - it has a very distinctive "soup-bowl" around the shutter release, unlike the early models. It's also the only FED with a locking shutter release, curiously!

Coldkennels: The RF is wide enough to cope with the J-11, with care - I've used one on a few of the narrower-base models without issues. Close-up and wide open would be the worst scenario.

 

[michalurban]

Thanks for answers. I know about the necessity to cut the film (my swiss knife can do that, I tried it) and I should keep away from the pre-war fed.

Im really courious, how hard and quick/slow it really is to use one finder to focus and another to compose. The combined view-n-rangefinder is the only reason to pick FED2 instead of FED1 ...

BTW Im still a bit afraid of the FED-2s size after I saw those little FED-1s. 🙂

 

[Coldkennels]

To be honest, the switch from one finder to another really isn't as awkward as you may imagine - it's just a different way of working. I personally prefer the combined finder, but I don't mind using different finders if I have to. I do wish you could get a Fed1-sized camera with combined range+viewfinders, though, purely for ease of use, but don't let the separate finder scare you. You'll have to do it if you ever want to use a non-50mm lens regardless of what camera you're using, and you soon get used to it.

Re. size: The Fed 2 is still smaller than a lot of cameras. I don't know what cameras you have lying around, but comparing it to the stuff on my shelf, with the I-22 collapsed it's approximately the size of an Olympus Trip 35, only slightly longer; in fact, it's about as long as a Yashica Mat 124G is tall. That's a comparison that doesn't do it justice, though - it doesn't feel large at all, and with the curved ends, it fits quite nicely in the hand.

Real measurements are 140mm long, 33mm deep (48mm deep, including a collapsed I-22 + lens cap), and 75mm high (79mm including the winding knob).
The Zorki, meanwhile, is 134mm x 30mm x 68mm - a difference of 6mm in length, 3mm in depth and 7mm in height (or 11mm when the Fed 2's winder is taken into account). There's really not much in it. They're both very compact, especially when put side-by-side with the gargantuan Fed 5 (140x33x85/93).

One other difference, however slight, is that when I screw a non-collapsible lens - a Jupiter 8, say - into the viewfinder of this Zorki, it obscures the bottom right of the viewfinder. And then if I put a non-slotted hood on it (I use a collapsible rubber one for compactness), the viewfinder is blocked almost completely - as is part of the rangefinder spot. The Fed 2, meanwhile, is only slightly obscured by the aforementioned hood. I don't know why that's never been noted before.

Also, if you need glasses, the Fed 2 has a diopter to adjust the viewfinder to suit your vision. The Fed & Zorki 1s don't.

Oh, and the Fed/Zorki 1 doesn't have a flash connector. Late model Fed 2s do. The Zorki C was the Zorki with a flash connector, and because of that, it had to get a bit taller, negating the size and aesthetic benefits of the Fed+Zorki 1s.

 

[michalurban]

OK, looks like Ive made a good choice with the FED-2 (+ I-22). I dont have much money to spend now after all, so I believe the F2 will do and maybe in the future Ill but 1g ... Thanks a lot you all!!! 🙂

EDIT: Where did you get those exact size measurements anyway? 🙂