Did I break my FED-5?

A

alfisti

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Feb 23, 2011
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(posted this last night in the wrong forum, sorry)

Hi folks. I am new to rangefinders and I am trying to "see" differently. I got a Canonet QL-17 GIII and it is OK, but the rangefinder patch is kind of dim and I find it hard to focus even in good light. I looked around at options and found that the FED camera might be a good fit, particularly since I might get an LTM lens out of it that might even be useful long-term.

So I ordered a "new old stock" FED-5 off ebay, and it arrived yesterday. Looks new alright. Everything works smoothly, the lens looks perfect... basically, all untouched and working as new....
Except the rangefinder was BADLY out of calibration. Focusing seemed to work great but the rangefinder never lined up, either at infinity or anywhere else. So no problem, I thought - calibrating it looks easy enough.

I had it JUST ABOUT RIGHT, when something "bad" happened. I needed to rotate the "tongue" on the end of the rangefinder swing arm, and as I did it, I either pushed the thing in too far, or pulled it out too far... and now it has lost its spring action. Or it's possible I turned the screw too much.....

What did I do?!?!? Is it an easy fix? And how on earth do I get myself into these things? :-O
Thanks
-Glenn
 
er.. OK.. so I guess nobody has any ideas... so how about this - anyone in the US repair these things? It'd be a shame to toss something that is in such good shape.

Thanks
-Glenn

(in NJ)
 
OK - so I actually DID this - took off the top panel and FIXED it... and boy am I proud of myself :)

Turns out I had just turned the adjustment screw IN too much, which caused it to jump off the cam it rides against. All I had needed to do was loosen the screw and it would have been OK!

in any case, it's back together now and it seems to be OK, but I still have a badly misaligned rangefinder. What I found is it is now off vertically a LOT and I can't seem to get it back - anyone have any ideas?

(I have turned the collar both directions, seems to get to a certain point, and then suddenly be far off again)

Thanks
-Glenn
 
Sorry you're having trouble. Forget the Fed. It will be nothing but trouble in all likelihood. Buy yourself a nice Bessa R for $200 w/ a meter, and no more worries.
 
I have never worked on one but if the vertical adjustment is not sufficient, my guess is you need to add or remove shims under the VF to get into the proper range.
 
Steve, shut up. I know this post will get me into trouble but really, just shut up and leave us alone in this forum. We've had it.
 
I feel for ya. I bought a Fed 5 a year or so ago for the same reasons you pointed out.
I managed to break that thing beyond redemption and angrily threw it out.

However, I sold the Industar lens on the bay for more than I payed for the camera and lens.... go figure...
 
There is a sticky on FED rangefinder adjustment, with specifics on FED 5. Should work.

FED-5 is a rugged, reliable camera once you adjust it and get it into working shape. What lens did you get? A good I-61D is up there in heaven next to the L- and Z-word glass.
 
(I have turned the collar both directions, seems to get to a certain point, and then suddenly be far off again)
Click to expand...
Sounds like the small pivoting mirror is loose. it's assembly should be pressed between two tiny ball bearings by a spring on top side, but it's easy to bump the bearings off their holes if not careful. I hope you didn't lose them when camera was opened.
 
batterytypehah! said:
Steve, shut up. I know this post will get me into trouble but really, just shut up and leave us alone in this forum. We've had it.
Click to expand...
Seconded! I wonder if he gets paid commission, since he never recommends any of the other dozens of decent RFs, only ever a Bessa. The FED will outlast a Bessa anyway.
 
t6un said:
Sounds like the small pivoting mirror is loose. it's assembly should be pressed between two tiny ball bearings by a spring on top side, but it's easy to bump the bearings off their holes if not careful. I hope you didn't lose them when camera was opened.
Click to expand...
Seems a likely explanation, assuming the OP has correctly tried rotating the prism. Some Zorkis have an adjustable mirror but the FED 5 doesn't, so it won't be that getting moved out of whack.

alfisti: Read the sticky at the top of this forum, on how to adjust the RF, it covers the vertical adjustment too.
 
alfisti said:
OK - so I actually DID this - took off the top panel and FIXED it... and boy am I proud of myself :)

Turns out I had just turned the adjustment screw IN too much, which caused it to jump off the cam it rides against. All I had needed to do was loosen the screw and it would have been OK!

in any case, it's back together now and it seems to be OK, but I still have a badly misaligned rangefinder. What I found is it is now off vertically a LOT and I can't seem to get it back - anyone have any ideas?

(I have turned the collar both directions, seems to get to a certain point, and then suddenly be far off again)

Thanks
-Glenn
Click to expand...

Unlike SteveM:bang: you are obviously not the useless new age male type that cannot fix anything, well done. I just finished a roll with my FED 4 , this camera has been dropped in the swimming pool..it still works, try that with a Bessa;)
regards, CW
 
Thanks. It is a bummer that the vertical alignment is so far off... But as it is, I shot a roll today and developed it... And I nailed it! Even at close focus distances it seems to spot on (or close). I am afraid to mess with it further but having the vertical alignment so far off makes it harder to get the shot... The veisfinder gets muddy :-(

That said, I got better results than with my Canonet... All keepers, and that includes indoor shots where I just couldn't see the RF patch on the Canonet. And... The meter works well enough to rely on! :-]

I may at some point try again for the vertical, or just send it to a pro... Or at these prices, just get another one!

Also it looks like the lens is a winner. I would prefer a wide-angle... But now the fun begins with looking for lenses :) anyone know of any low cost wide-angles?

Thanks all
-Glenn
 
will that rear element clear the shutter with a Jupiter 9? And how does one focus with a lens that is not RF coupled? (looks like it is not)
 
J-12 is RF coupled, 35mm focal distance, f2.8. I have used mine in Fed-3, Zorki-4, Zorki-6, and a Leica IIIa. The huge rear element does clear the shutter but not for much. It was hard to mount in a Fed-2 I had in loan, though, and I desisted.

I don't understand your question about the Jupiter-9, but that is also a nice lens if you get a good version.
 
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batterytypehah! said:
Steve, shut up. I know this post will get me into trouble but really, just shut up and leave us alone in this forum. We've had it.
Click to expand...
+1 :D

...and alfisti - new old stock can sometimes be fine, but I prefer a used, CLA'ed model from a seller with a good reputation. I have bought several from hero4g on the Bay. All are running perfectly (- and no I am not in any way connected to the guy). When CLA'ed -properly- and used, these cameras will keep on ticking for years.
 
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