Big time FSU camera collectors

[lmd91343]

When I was dropping off my "new" non-FSU camera today for a CLA at the repair place, another customer came in to pick up his Nikon. He noticed the I-26 lens on my camera and we got into a discussion. He is a Russian emigre (many years ago) with over 30 FSU cameras. The shop proprietor heard our conversation and brought over a handful of dusty FED1s and Zorki1s. He has 40 FSU cameras all bought at $10 each!

I felt like a little kid with 4 parts and 5 working FSU cameras. I think these guys are both collectors. However, I will ask them if they want to sell if anyone wants me to.

Imagine three people meeting in L.A. with 75 FSU cameras amongst them. Well, 70 cameras between two. 😉

 

[wierdcollector]

If they were still available at $10 each I think most of us would add at least two or three to our collections, LOL. I have 21 FSU RF's, 22 SLR's, three Smenas and a Lubitel. (A Druopta Vega ll also, ok, Czech but close)

 

[lushd]

Look at the cover of the first edition of Princelle - now that's a collection. I reckon you are not going to be a Commisar in FSU collecting till you can beat that lot. I am doing my best though ...

 

[lubitel]

when I was at a camera market in Dresden, there were 2 polish guys selling fsu cameras. I got a fed 2 with i-22 for 35euros, but nearby was a whole box full of dozens of fsu cameras for 10 euros each, probably with problems or missing parts. I regret not picking up a couple of "project cameras".

 

[Fedzilla_Bob]

Keep us informed. Zorki 1's are going for a lot more than that on ebat. Add on the now higher shipping from FSU rates and you often have a $100+ zorki.

 

[cameosis]

when I was at a camera market in Dresden, there were 2 polish guys selling fsu cameras.

lubitel,

how often do those markets sales take place, and where in dresden is that? maybe combining a short trip with a shopping spree wouldn't be a bad idea. i'm in marburg, but got friends in the area.

cheers!

 

[reagan]

Good story Lance. If I mention Zorki in the two or three camera stores in my town, I get blank stares and "Huh?"

 

[rpinchbeck]

If you can convince one of those old cats to unload a Fed1 or Zorki 3M or Kiev 2, I'd be interested.

Cheers,

Russ Pinchbeck

 

[tedwhite]

I've recently sold off my FSU cameras (an act that I have come to deeply regret) but when I had them I used them. One day in my town, which is becoming (God knows why) a tourist attraction, as I was standing about in front of the coffee shop with friends, an elderly couple began to stare at me. The man had a grey beard and appeared to be at least seventy. Suddenly he pointed at my camera and said, "Vaht? You haff a Zorki?" and broke into Russian.

Turned out he thought I was a Russian tourist also. We finally got it straightened out, and he told me, in guide book English, that he loved Zorkis and had several, but his wife made him leave them home and bring a digi Point&shoot for their US trip. A bit of irony, perhaps.

Ted

 

[reagan]

"...and he told me, in guide book English, that he loved Zorkis and had several, but his wife made him leave them home..."

Aaaahh, I know how he felt. My wife has tried the "No cameras this time" power-play on me a couple of times. But she wearies of seeing my bottom lip stuck out like cheap shovel, and finally caves in.

Another good story Ted. thanx.

 

[lubitel]

lubitel,

how often do those markets sales take place, and where in dresden is that? maybe combining a short trip with a shopping spree wouldn't be a bad idea. i'm in marburg, but got friends in the area.

cheers!

Here's the link to organizers of this kameraboerse

http://www.kameraboersen.de/html/terminkalender.html

I'll try to make it to the one in Hamburg in may.

 

[cameosis]

lubitel, danke.
ted, great anecdote! stories like these add to the pleasure of sharing common hobbies | interests.

 

[kiev4a]

"Big Time" is a hard word to define with FSU gear. My collection has gone as high as 65 and is currently static at about 50 RFs with no plans to increase or decrease. But I'm a lightweight. There are some folks out there with well over 100 FSU cameras. There are so many slight variations of models one could easily fill a large room. At one time I had 27 Zorki 1s. No two of them were exactly the same. And there were others I didn't have or couldn't afford.

 

[ZorkiKat]

Uhmmm, I have about 65 FED and Zorki, and about 45 of those are of the FED-1 and Zorki-1 types. That's not including the Kiev, Lubitel, Zenit, and other FSU cameras....😀 Got only the cheap ones.

These cameras are really addictive!

 

[kiev4a]

Uhmmm, I have about 65 FED and Zorki, and about 45 of those are of the FED-1 and Zorki-1 types. That's not including the Kiev, Lubitel, Zenit, and other FSU cameras....😀 Got only the cheap ones.

These cameras are really addictive!

Hi, Jay

Wayne

 

[ZorkiKat]

Hi, Jay

Wayne

Hi Wayne

Great to hear from you again!

Jay

 

[zhang xk]

Uhmmm, I have about 65 FED and Zorki, and about 45 of those are of the FED-1 and Zorki-1 types. That's not including the Kiev, Lubitel, Zenit, and other FSU cameras....😀 Got only the cheap ones.

These cameras are really addictive!

Hi Jay,

Have found a Chinese "Zorki"? 😀

Zhang

 

[ZorkiKat]

Hi Jay,

Have found a Chinese "Zorki"? 😀

Zhang

Hi Zhang

I always wanted to have one of those Shanghai RFs. Saw one once displayed in a photo processing lab, but the owner didn't want to part with it- or at least that was what the store clerks said. That lab closed shop, and I don't know where that Shanghai went. As far as I could tell (got to hold it and saw the shutter), it wasn't operational. The RF was off and one of the shutter tapes was broken.

Jay

 

[zhang xk]

Hi Zhang

I always wanted to have one of those Shanghai RFs. Saw one once displayed in a photo processing lab, but the owner didn't want to part with it- or at least that was what the store clerks said. That lab closed shop, and I don't know where that Shanghai went. As far as I could tell (got to hold it and saw the shutter), it wasn't operational. The RF was off and one of the shutter tapes was broken.

Jay

Hi Jay Tongzhi,

Shanghai 58-2 is a must for any Leica copy collectors. These are not as well built as a later Zorki. More like an early Leica. :bang: 😀 But I am sure you can bring a defective 58-2 back to life with your skills. The chrome finish of a 58-2 is more shining. They are very nice to look at.

Shanghai 58-1 is very rare. These cost many times as a 58-2. Less than 2000 cameras were made.

Zhang

 

[zhang xk]

Hi Zhang

I always wanted to have one of those Shanghai RFs. Saw one once displayed in a photo processing lab, but the owner didn't want to part with it- or at least that was what the store clerks said. That lab closed shop, and I don't know where that Shanghai went. As far as I could tell (got to hold it and saw the shutter), it wasn't operational. The RF was off and one of the shutter tapes was broken.

Jay

Hi Jay Tongzhi,

Shanghai 58-2 is a must for any Leica copy collectors. These are not as well built as a later Zorki. More like an early Leica. :bang: 😀 But I am sure you can bring a defective 58-2 back to life with your skills. The chrome finish of a 58-2 is more shining. They are very nice to look at.

Shanghai 58-1 is very rare. These cost many times as a 58-2. Less than 2000 cameras were made.

Zhang