A stiff, film ripping FED: is it worth getting a CLA?

[spanish_inquisition]

hi everyone

I got a FED (a leica III copy) on my trip to Eastern Europe. I didn't have much hope for it, was planning on having it as a souvenir. The shutter works (kind of). Everything is very stiff and it rips the film that I try to load.

Do you think a good CLA will make it smooth and workable? I don't feel like paying $100 and then getting a kind-of-working-but-not-really camera back. Do you have any similar FED cla experiences?

Please share, and don't be mean.
Ghe

 

[Steve M.]

No. Just buy a Bessa R, Canon P, Canon 7, Leica IIIa, etc.

 

[wolves3012]

Chances are nothing's broken. It's up to you whether you want to shell out more than the camera is probably worth for a decent CLA. Do you want to use it or are you happy with a paperweight?

If they're working properly, they can be almost as good as the Leica (heresy but true). Canons, Leicas and Bessas aren't immune from problems either. I have 2 Zorki 1s and 2 FED 1s and they are just as reliable as my Leica IIIC.

Make your own decision though, we can only really advise on what's possible.

 

[johannielscom]

Let Yuri at fedka.com work his magic on it. See if he has a nice clean Industar in his shop, rather than spend money on a CLA for the lens. A CLA for the camera will get you a fine working FED, really will be as much fun to use as any 'real' Leica III. I have a wartime FED-S with FED 50/2.0 Summar clone and it's the smoothest Barnack I own.

Just don't mix the FED body with a Leica lens unless always stopping down past f/5.6, they do not match 100%

 

[Costo Kim]

fed cameras worth $5-50
I suppose there is no reason to buy them till it in really good shape

and if it breaks then "thow it away and take another from the bag" 🙂 just kiddin'

 

[ruby.monkey]

Load it with Rollei Retro 400S and see which wins.

 

[JohnTF]

Trick in Eastern Europe is to try it while you are there and take it back if it does not work. ;-) Been there already-- service is cheap there, but you need to find a good guy.

Don't put much money in them, every now and then I find a service guy who is very reasonable, and I think about having some of these fixed. So far, not so good results.

IMO, they are just not worth putting much cash in to, especially when there are so many other RF's to choose from-- you can often find a nice used Canon, or even Leica RF for what you would put in to a repair.

Camera show next week here, and there was a guy at this show who was selling serviced IIIf's (had two) last year for $200, and this is light years above the FED in every way.

I have my share of "Shelf Queens", and even with the ones whose shutters work, and the film advances, a number had pinholes in the curtains, just too many fires to put out, unless you are handy fixing them your self.

Regards, John

 

[spanish_inquisition]

Let Yuri at fedka.com work his magic on it. See if he has a nice clean Industar in his shop, rather than spend money on a CLA for the lens. A CLA for the camera will get you a fine working FED, really will be as much fun to use as any 'real' Leica III. I have a wartime FED-S with FED 50/2.0 Summar clone and it's the smoothest Barnack I own.

Just don't mix the FED body with a Leica lens unless always stopping down past f/5.6, they do not match 100%

Thanks buzzardkid

Sounds like a good idea. Both the camera and the lens need a CLA. I might sleep on it ($100 is a lot, and a good CLA is around that much). It works just fine as a paperweight right now.

Ghe

 

[johannielscom]

Thanks buzzardkid

Sounds like a good idea. Both the camera and the lens need a CLA. I might sleep on it ($100 is a lot, and a good CLA is around that much). It works just fine as a paperweight right now.

Ghe

Yuri charges USD 70 including return shipping, see here. An Industar-22 is USD 39, completely clean and correctly aligned, here.

Just for you to consider. You will have the camera perfectly in order and completely checked out.

Don't have any other relation to Yuri than being a happy customer, recommended.

Good luck!

 

[ZorkiKat]

A BIG YES.

Once properly fixed, it will work as well as any similar Leica. FED can also be calibrated well enough to take in Leica lenses, assuming its lens mount has the same entry/exit positions. I've used Leica Summitar and Elmar 90 on my calibrated FED at apertures greater than 5,6- and the focus was as right as can be expected from Leica.

However if you've got one of the prewar FED, calibrating the focus and lens register may not be possible unless the original lens the FED came with is not going to be used anymore. Also, almost all the prewar FED have lens mount threads which are differently cut from the Leica's thread mounts.

A properly repaired FED will outlast a Bessa. Bessa shutters are more delicate than what the FED used. And any other camera of considerable age will also break and die as bad as the FED. Canon IVSB and Leica III can also be clunky and rip film. I know, because I've had Canon and Leica which behaved like this before they were repaired.

Is your FED any worse than the FED shown here?

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1442447&postcount=678

 

[dee]

Provided a camera is genuine and not a bitsa , Fed / Zorki / Leica etc , it can be made great to use with a proper CLA .
[ I even have a rebuilt fake Leica which is a good user , but Oleg checked it out for me , and he was surprised to find how well made it was ]
I have a CLA Leica II / IIIc / various Zorki and they are all good users .
Those that have not been serviced are an accident waiting to happen .

 

[paulfish4570]

I finally got a properly CLA'd FED-2 (fedka's shop did the work) in a trade with a forum member. It is a peach.

 

[John Robertson]

My Fed 2 is the most reliable camera I have ever owned (40+years)
Its collapsible 50mm Elmar clone is very sharp and flare free. I would not sell it!

Heavy ,clunky yes but rubbish NO!!:angel:
Gave it a new leather coat last year!!

 

[David Hughes]

Well, if you want a souvenir and nothing more, put it on a shelf and dust it from time to time.

Personally, I'd sooner have it up and running. My experience of them is that they will come back from Oleg as good as new and cheaply too.

I'm not sure what you've got as a Leica III has a slow speed dial on the front and I've never seen a FED with one; perhaps you've a copy of a Leica II, meaning a FED 1? A photo of it would resolve things.

If you've a lens on the camera, then you will probably get a pleasant surprise once it's been cleaned etc. For most people, except the really unlucky ones the lenses and cameras are good but do need looking after. If your one is stiff to use (suggesting mere neglect) then a complete service ought to work wonders.

I'll wish you luck.

Regards, David

 

[breathstealer]

If you've already got other working cameras you might as well take this one apart and learn to CLA it yourself. It's not too hard, and it's pretty fun too.

 

[ZorkiKat]

hi everyone

... it rips the film that I try to load.


Ghe

Ghe, if in case you have this camera repaired and restored, it will STILL rip film if you don't follow the Barnack method of loading. Bottom loaders require a specific in the film leader's cut. And a unique procedure for loading.

If you use a short-tongued modern film leader, even a perfectly working bottom loading Leica will likely eat and rip the film.

 

[newspaperguy]

Good call ZorkiKat.

I'm just reading this thread today and that was my thought, too.

Not everything needs a CLA...

we've just been brainwashed to think that way.

Also suggest he read the "how to load" in the Leica LTM thread .

PS - I aggree with wolves3012 comments.

My two Zorki 1's work just as well as my IIIf.

 

[nzeeman]

maybe rewind crank make too much tension - try to put some wd40 in rewind mechanism (not in wind!!) and it will pull film easier from cassette...

 

[shootodog]

don't listen to them. just ship it off to me and be done with it! 😀