Best FSU RF camera

[thawkins]

I have enjoyed using a Zorki "C" for a number of years. The camera works good with it's Industar 22 lens and various other lens purchased from Fedka.
However my patience with the archaic loading system is gone. Cutting a "Leica leader" and then feeding it into the slot from the bottom of the camera has become too much. Time for this one to go.
Do any of the FSU RF cameras have a normal film door on the back of the camera for easy film loading? If so which is the best in terms of build and reliability?
I await the wisdom of the assembled multitude.

 

[farlymac]

As far as I know, the Zorki-6 is the only one with a hinged door, but you still have to trim the leader to fit into the slot on the take-up spool.

You may find something on this site to suit your fancy:
http://www.sovietcams.com/index.php?358713866

As to the quality or reliability of any of them, I've yet to get one that was worth the trouble. Some of that though was due to folks making "repairs" that didn't know what they were doing. A properly adjusted FSU should work just fine, if you can get one.

My favorites are the FED 2C, and Zorki-6, because of the wide field rangefinders, and built-in viewfinder diopter correction. The FED is a bottom feeder, but I am okay with that.

You might have better luck with an SLR model, unless you mean to stick with rangefinders.

PF

 

[thawkins]

As far as I know, the Zorki-6 is the only one with a hinged door, but you still have to trim the leader to fit into the slot on the take-up spool.

You may find something on this site to suit your fancy:
http://www.sovietcams.com/index.php?358713866

As to the quality or reliability of any of them, I've yet to get one that was worth the trouble. Some of that though was due to folks making "repairs" that didn't know what they were doing. A properly adjusted FSU should work just fine, if you can get one.

My favorites are the FED 2C, and Zorki-6, because of the wide field rangefinders, and built-in viewfinder diopter correction. The FED is a bottom feeder, but I am okay with that.

You might have better luck with an SLR model, unless you mean to stick with rangefinders.

PF

I have a number of RF cameras that I enjoy using including the Zorki but as I said my patience is exhausted with the film loading process. This has been a good camera; I bought it for $5 at a garage sale, sent it to Yuri at Fedka for repairs and CLA and it has been problem free since then. But I want a film door.

 

[farlymac]

I have a number of RF cameras that I enjoy using including the Zorki but as I said my patience is exhausted with the film loading process. This has been a good camera; I bought it for $5 at a garage sale, sent it to Yuri at Fedka for repairs and CLA and it has been problem free since then. But I want a film door.

Then the Zorki-6 would be your only option. The film leader trim is just a matter of reducing the width by half, an easy snip.

PF

 

[thawkins]

Then the Zorki-6 would be your only option. The film leader trim is just a matter of reducing the width by half, an easy snip.

PF

I understand how to trim the leader. Have been doing it for years but am ready not to do it any more.

 

[farlymac]

Well, unless you modify the spool, you can forget about FSU cameras then.

PF

 

[dee]

You could try a Kiev , but reliability is not a strong point - but working Kiev is a delight .
Oleg , when he is back from sorting out his affairs is a wizard repairer or restorer .
dee

 

[dee]

Incidentally , a Leica IIIc can be cost effective - buy could get a rough looking one cheaply .

 

[ForestCap]

Zorki-6 is a nice choice: Long RF-base, bright viewfinder with relatively longer eye-relief, far-away positioned shutter button to prevent finger touching speed dial during exposure, hinge-door loading, and a primitive but working advance lever. Unlike many other LTM bodies, the chassis and shutter chamber of Z-6 are merged into one piece of metal, which I guess is a design to increase robustness.

However I would pick a Kiev-4a for shooting in low temperature.

BTW: You don't need to do extra trimming of the film leader (a.k.a. Leica leader) for Zorki-6, as long as it's pre-trimmed normally like those kodak/fuji negatives you buy from drug stores.

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

I'll second the above answer,the Zorki 6 is a pleasant camera to use and I'm baffled about the comments on film loading as it (normal commercial film in the usual cassettes) just slides into a spring slot and it than caught by a sprocket on the take-up spool.

As for condition, one from the usual reliable sources should do the trick or else buy one and get it checked over etc.

Regards, David

 

[Ko.Fe.]

If you want it reliable and FSU, skip slow speeds. It is also helping with build. Skip level advance FSU as well. Without level advance and slow speeds you'll have camera which is reliable for obvious reason and easy to CLA by yourself.
FED-2, if you need easy loading as well. I'm using this camera for 30+ years. All parts are original, expect shutter curtains.

If you want FSU with all of the bells whistles and want it reliable where are some like Kiev-2, better with original Contax parts 🙂. All you will need is periodical service. Good luck with this one... Or maybe you are the one who could CLA FSU with slow speeds and level advance. I'm not the one for sure.

Zorki-6 is soviet tractor, IMO. Looks nice, driving is shaky.

 

[lukitas]

In use, the zorki 6 is a very nice camera, but that back door is a confirmed exhibitionist : it flies open at the slightest provocation.
The fed 2 is better in that respect : the back comes off, easy film loading, and is secured with two tabs.
I prefer the fed 2, even if the viewfinder is small and crappy. But then the zorki 6 's viewfinder, though larger, isn't much of an improvement.

cheers

 

[cassel]

I really like the "Droog" cameras--- like a canon VT with trigger wind and hinged back,etc. Rare but worth hunting down a good one IMHO:

https://www.fedka.com/My_collection/drug.htm

 

[papaki]

I like the "Droog" too. But it is not a smooth operator. Mine feels like dragging heavy chains along while advancing the film.
My favorite FSU is the fed-1 and zorki-1. They are a breeze to use and they look and feel nice and compact. Yet I need to find one of those zorki-1 never ready cases that was meant for the zorki-1 with the non collapsible industar lens so I can have my J-12, J-8 and J-3 lenses on it while protecting it from the dust and accidental smacks.

 

[bobby_novatron]

Some of the only FSU film cameras I know that have "normal" film loading and hinged doors are later cameras like the Fed 35A, or Fed Micron and Fed Micron 2. The Micron 2 is a nice semi-auto camera with a sharp lens, if you don't mind the auto light sensor.

Fed Micron:

Fed Micron 2:

 

[David Hughes]

In use, the zorki 6 is a very nice camera, but that back door is a confirmed exhibitionist : it flies open at the slightest provocation.
The fed 2 is better in that respect : the back comes off, easy film loading, and is secured with two tabs.
I prefer the fed 2, even if the viewfinder is small and crappy. But then the zorki 6 's viewfinder, though larger, isn't much of an improvement.

cheers

Hi,

I had a Zenit with the same door trouble but the Zorki-6 has behaved itself, touching wood as I type that!

As for the FED 2, a very nice camera and the removable back is a bonus and the evil spike for the film makes it almost foolproof to load and use.

Again, like all elderly and second-hand cameras you have to buy with your eyes open. OTOH, FEDs and Zorkis can be picked up dirt cheap, especially if you are patient.

Regards, David

PS It's best to assume that the non-metered ones are preferable although old meters can usually be rebalanced etc but the less there is to go wrong the better and the simplicity without meters is an advantage.

 

[ForestCap]

In use, the zorki 6 is a very nice camera, but that back door is a confirmed exhibitionist : it flies open at the slightest provocation.
The fed 2 is better in that respect : the back comes off, easy film loading, and is secured with two tabs.
I prefer the fed 2, even if the viewfinder is small and crappy. But then the zorki 6 's viewfinder, though larger, isn't much of an improvement.

cheers

There is a fix for the Z-6 door lock issue posted somewhere on this forum: You can unscrew the two screws on the lock and take the metal bar out, bend it slightly and then put everything back. The lock will be functioning normally and need reasonable amount of force to be lifted.

I did it on one of my Z-6s that had loose lock and since then it has been working properly.

 

[tunalegs]

Zorki 4, Zorki 4k, Zorki 6, a number of Fed models need no trimming of the film for loading. I think the Zorki 4 is far and away the best of all the FSU rangefinders. They usually work fine, the build quality was decent up until the end (a little less so for the 4K) the older ones have strap eyelets. The back slides off for film loading and the take up spool comes out, but one doesn't need to trim the film, it's definitely not a hassle to load and unload. I have a Fed 3 that has the same deal with the slide-off back and removable spool, its only downside relative to the Zorki is a smaller, slightly dimmer VF. I should note that the Fed 3 is of noticeably higher quality than later Fed 4 and 5 variations (as well as less freakishly oversized).

Zorki 4 by Berang Berang, on Flickr

 

[Wulfthari]

As far as I know, the Zorki-6 is the only one with a hinged door, but you still have to trim the leader to fit into the slot on the take-up spool.

I never did that on my Z6, not even for my Z4K and Fed2.

Why do you think it's necessary to trim the leader?

Incidentally , a Leica IIIc can be cost effective - buy could get a rough looking one cheaply .

The OP doesn't want to cut the leader, and a IIIc is a slowed shooter than a Z6 or a Fed2.

 

[JoeV]

Ditto on the Zorki 4. "Conventional" film loading in the sense of no need to cut the leader, the take up spool is removable and the film tongue just slips into a slot on the spool; the only non conventional feature being the slide-off back. I've learned to place the back into a front pocket while loading film, rather than try to fumble around with holding it while my hands are occupied with loading the film and risk dropping the back.

~Joe