Black FED 2?

[zcopley]

Hey guys,

From time to time I see black FED 2 cameras on eBay and whatnot. There seem to be a couple variations -- one has a star on the top. However, I cannot find any information on black FED 2's on my usual Russian camera web sites.

Are these real FED 2 variations? I mean, did they come from the factory that way, or are people just trying to jazz them up? Either way, they look pretty cool.

Thanks,

Zach

 

[Roman]

Except for a few very late FED-5 cameras, NO Russian rangefinders with exchangeable lenses (that is, most FEDs, Zorkis, Kievs, Leningrads, Drugs) came in black from the factory - they are all after-market modifications.
Black FED-5s (usually with brown or red leather) were sold by a big German mail-order company (Foto Brenner) for a while, but as I said, they are the exception from the rule.

Roman

 

[Zevoniac_57]

Black Fed, not!

Black Fed, not!

Hey Zach.

I bought a "Black" Fed 2 d/e. The photos looked good, but on inspection the recent addition of black paint was not a quality job. I am just finishing repainting the camera the proper way, great resource.

http://www.geocities.com/fzorkis/black.html

I also stripped the "leather" skin and replaced it with one from here.

http://www.aki-asahi.com/store/html/Fed-2/type-d/index.php

While you'got it apart give it a good cleaning and adjusting using this guide.

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=895

My advice.... a).find a nice clean chrome Fed from a reputable seller b). ask for a lens/camera combo with the lens you'd like (collapsible 50, Jupiter 8, Industar 61). c). Once you get it decide if you want a chrome or black beauty.

Don't pay a premium for something you'll end up redoing yourself!

 

[zcopley]

I guess that answers my question! Black FED 2's are... enhanced.

Thanks everyone.

 

[iggers]

Is there some simple / quick and dirty way, short of sandblasting and baking on enamel, that I can touch up a "black" Fed-2 that is losing a lot of its black? Some touch-up paint in a little bottle, that will dry and stay on?

 

[Fedzilla_Bob]

Is there some simple / quick and dirty way, short of sandblasting and baking on enamel, that I can touch up a "black" Fed-2 that is losing a lot of its black? Some touch-up paint in a little bottle, that will dry and stay on?

You could try the small bottles of automobile touch up paint. Works for me.

But, if your FED is like mine, the black parts seem to be hand painted with a very soft and fragile paint that can be rubbed off while cleaning with a dry cloth (even a soft one). You might find youself doing touch ups weekly if you handle the FED 2 a lot.

 

[Roman]

I have got a black Kiev that came from alex-photo, and the paint job on that one is very good, looks durable...

Roman

 

[iggers]

Thanks! I'll look for a little bottle of touch-up paint.

 

[jlw]

The problem I've had with bottled touch-up paint is that it comes out pretty thick, since it's designed to help build up chipped areas on a car. That makes it harder to get it to lie flat on a camera body.

You can add thinner, but another alternative is to buy a spray can of paint, spray some of it into a little jar, and apply it from the jar with a brush. Paint formulated for spraying is already thinned, so it's easier to brush on smoothly.