Buying a Russian camera

[colyn]

I've been looking at buying a Russian camera and was wondering if anybody could give me any ideas on which model would be the best to buy including the best lens to start off with..

 

[SCOTFORTHLAD]

Hello Colyn,
Welcome!I asked the very same question about 8 months ago.So far I have progressed to a couple of Fed 2's,which I find great.Pocketable,just,with a collapsible Fed or Industar lens,and a reasonable viewfinder with Dioptre adjustment,In fact following advice from the forum I have even succeeded in cleaning and adjusting the vf/rf on one of my Feds,which gives a remarkable improvement.A Jupiter 8 would probably be a better lens ,but not so compact.Similarly the Industar 61 which has many enthusiastic devotees.

All in all whichever way you go, it won't be very expensive,but in my experience buying a user camera from someone you know,eg,on RFF has proved to be more successful than buying from FSU on Ebay.

Good luck and enjoy,

Brian.

 

[oscroft]

Hi Colyn,

There is a recent thread asking the same question, with lots of answers, here...
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25933

Best,

 

[iñaki]

I like the zorki 3m with a jupiter 8 or 3 (faster), but you already have a Leica M3 and a III c and IIIf too, so maybe you could take a Kiev (contax clone) for the fun of trying something different.
I would buy it from a known member of RFF or a reputable seller like Oleg or Fedka if you don´t find what you want here.

 

[sunsworth]

Avoid the Kiev MF cameras - I've tried the Hassie clone and the SLR, they are junk IMHO. Save money and buy a used Mamiya/Hassie etc., it'll work out cheaper in the long run.

Steve

 

[brachal]

I started on Fed's, but now I really prefer Kievs. There's a nice looking Kiev 4a with a Jupiter8 and a Jupiter12 in the classifieds for a very good price right now.

 

[darkkavenger]

classical topic! everyone has its truth & experience, mine says start with a Fed 3 type B and then move along to a Kiev 🙂

 

[colyn]

Thanks for the info.. There is a Fed 2 at a local camera shop I may take a look at this week. I've also been watching ebay.

 

[w3rk5]

I started on Fed's, but now I really prefer Kievs.

Same here. 🙂

 

[darkkavenger]

oh yes, I'm definitely a Kiev/Contax satisfied user.

 

[eliverto]

I've had a Zorki 4 and Jupiter 8, I found the body was too clunky, even for a fsu camera ( My previous experience was a Zenit SLR and a Smena 8 - a scale focus model), now I'm a Kiev man, got the Helios 103 and Jup 12 - and very pleased with the combo. 🙂

 

[Solinar]

There's black film tested FED 2 with an excellent black Jupiter 8 for sale here on the classifieds, owned by myself.

With regards to Soviet 35mm rangefinders, I also started with FED 2's and have settled into the Kiev.

The FED 2 offers accurate focusing, but it feels awkward when using the 85/2 Jupiter 9 one of my favorite lenses.

The Kiev on the other hand, handles the 85/2 well and it's RF base is even wider. The Kiev works well with Zeiss lenses for the Contax.

 

[anselwannab]

Depends on what you are going to do with it. I like my Zorki 6 and Collapsible 50/3.5 Industar. Great for pocket carry, hinged back loading, lever adavance, sleek looks.

have you checked out Stephen Gandy's Cameraquest site for more info?

Some other links that helped me were:

http://home.att.net/~wayne.cornell/camera/lenslist.html

http://www.commiecameras.com/sov/35mmrangefindercameras/cameras/zorki/index.htm