Attempt to thin collection fails in fine style.

[fidget]

This year has been a little thin, photographically.
I have been wondering if I should restrict myself to a very few cameras and get to use them properly.
So, an obvious choice for a quick thinning out is my FSU hoard. I had great fun with them and none were too expensive, but I've not used any for over a year, so I thought that a few can go. As ever, those in best condition will be easier to sell....

Once I opened the box which contains my 4 remaining Zorkis, I just had to handle them again. This was a big mistake.........

How could I part with this? 😎🙂

Now, I will not be selling my best, in fact I have an urge to go shoot with this (which can't be a bad thing) and even to get a stable mate for it (which probably IS a bad thing)....😱


Is there an end to this? I can be quite rational about almost any other of my cameras, if they did not work properly I would get them fixed or get rid of them.
There's something about them FSU cams.

Dave...

 

[fidget]

Oh! what the....
Whilst I've got the lighting set up.

Yes, I also am a victim of the Blue Fed2.

FED 3a. A favourite shape of mine, a true FSU classic.



So, could you part with your best FSU, is it just a tool to be discarded when it underperforms?

 

[SolaresLarrave]

There will be an end, Dave, but it's just not now.

A long time ago, I sent a Leica for what I considered an easy repair (and it was under warranty). While the camera was away, in frustration and in financial need, I considered very seriously to sell it. In fact, I even wrote the text for the FS ad that I intended to run in Photo.net and then on eBay.

Then, the camera came back. I took it out of the box, put a lens on it and played PJ. That's when I said to myself "to hell with all that, I'm keeping this thing."

I still have it. This time, fully repaired, refurbished and working just great. So, I know the feeling... 😉 Have fun!

 

[moretto]

Good luck with that , Fidget.Every time I tried to force myself to sell a camera, I ended up buying another one. My only succesfull sell was a 2-months old Lumix DMC FZ 30. Never an old camera.

 

[reagan]

had to dig back a few years, but i remembered a quote of a fellow rff'er that should go well here ...

“There never was a purchase of camera gear that I regretted long. There never was a sale of camera gear to which I ever fully reconciled myself.” ~ Benjamin Marks

 

[wolves3012]

Fidget,

I think that Zorki 5 is a beauty, how could you *possibly* even consider parting with it? I have the later version and I think it's one of the best FSUs of all...

 

[rbiemer]

So, could you part with your best FSU, is it just a tool to be discarded when it underperforms?

No.
I have been able to be fairly ruthless about this and have passed along most of my FSU cameras.
Except for these two:

I'm keeping them mainly because I have taken some of my favorite photos with these cameras.
They aren't really worth much to anyone else but me. And they don't take up a lot of space. And I do use them.
The FEDs 2 and 3 I've had and wanted to like--especially the 2--but my eyesight and the VF didn't work well together. The Zorki 5 is still one I'd like to try.
Unless you're desperate for shelf/closet space, I think there's no harm in keeping yours and shooting them when you can.
Rob

 

[moretto]

So, could you part with your best FSU, is it just a tool to be discarded when it underperforms?

hm..as soon as I find one that underperforms. My favorites are Z4 and Z6. I bought a fed 4 just for the I-61 panda that came along, ended up keeping the body as well, because it is excellent. Then I bought an Fed 5b, because of I-61 LD..guess what..😀.
And I honestly wanted just the lenses...

 

[oftheherd]

I have never been able to get very excited about the FED line of cameras. Probably if I ever owned one it would be different. I continue to get more and more attached to my Kiev and the stable of Jupiter lenses. So I do understand.

Actually, I would have trouble getting rid of any camera. I purchase them with the idea that I really want them. I have given three cameras away to my oldest daughter. But that is sort of keeping them in the family. They are just on loan don't you know.

Use them when you can, fondle them from time to time when you can't, but no matter, enjoy them.

 

[shadowfox]

Dave, I know the feelin' man 🙂

These guys have managed to resist three attempts of me trying to sell them, just by me picking them up again...

 

[Semushkin]

Comrades, to Arms!

DO NOT SELL such Glorious Soviet Beauties!!

Shoot, Comrades, Shoot with them instead!

Or at least keep them in a display case, they deserve it!

 

[fidget]

Some great kit here and working successfully too!
I confess that I sold my FED5, as I had never used it and thought that maybe I didn't want to be spotted with one in hand. Glad to see someone can get good use out of theirs.

 

[pschauss]

Several months ago I selected five or six of the FSU cameras that I never use thinking to sell them. I was not really interested in making money off of them, just wanted to see them go to someone who would use them. I mentioned this to my wife and she told me to keep them saying something like, "Our grandchildren might want to use them."

 

[.Lucifuge.]

I mentioned this to my wife and she told me to keep them saying something like, "Our grandchildren might want to use them."

I must say : She is very wise woman.

Greets

 

[Semushkin]

.. I bought a fed 4 just for the I-61 panda that came along, ended up keeping the body as well, because it is excellent.
...

The FED-4 is one of the best Soviet Cameras and very underappreciated. Mine from 1962 (type A with chimney speed dial) has a very accurate selenium meter.

The black FED-5 shown in this thread is also excellent and looks cool too!

 

[shadowfox]

Shadowfox, is that some kind of universal finder on the Kiev? I have a couple of the so-called turret finders but they don't actually fit properly into the accessory shoe -- they're too loose.

It's a finder that can be set to 35mm all the way up to 135mm (or 90mm, don't recall exactly). And it has parallax compensation. Made by Accura. Fits quite snugly on the Kiev's hotshoe, I never tried to take it off.