different lens for FED-3, can I still focus?

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daniel buck

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So, I'm getting into range finder shooting a bit, and I've picked up a FED-3, with a 53/2.8 lens (I assume that's 53mm f2.8?) I'm interested in picking up different lens for it, if I can find one for cheap.

Anyway, my question is about the range finder focusing, will focusing via the range finder still work, when I put on a new lens?

Thanks!
 
The Fed's can use 39mm Leica Thread Mounts or LTM's. A good practice when mounting or un-mounting lens is to set to its minimum focus. This moves the focus up so it wont bump up against the cameras focusing arm.
 
Yes, certainly! You might want an accessory finder for the new field of view, to frame your shots, though.

daniel buck said:
Thanks!

yea, I ifgured a hotshoe finder would be needed for something wider or longer.
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No it isn't.

For starters, the chances off getting a finder for a 53mm are zilch and/or nil.

For seconds the 53 is just a number. The standard focal length of these lenses is 52.3, irrespective of their being labelled 50, 52, or 53mm

For thirds, this is the rangefinder world, so don't kid yourself things are that accurate. If there was any difference between the on-board finder and an accessory finder, it would be down to luck, not design.

Clearly, if you were getting a tele or a wide angle, say an 85 or 35, an accessory finder would be warranted. Further, you may get value from a 50mm finder that has a suspended frame and hence is used differently from the standard finder. The Leitz SBOOI is one example. Another is the Voigtlander Kontur finder, which uses both eyes open viewing. The former is expensive, the latter is cheap. I use the Kontur regulalrly on the FED-1 but you will likely find the FED-3 finder quite satisfactory.
 
The concept of interchangeable parts is an old one and surely pre-dates FSU cameras, since it is attributed to Eli Whitney of cotton-gin fame, and/or Winchester rifles. (You've heard the one about Whitney telling his friends to keep ther cotton-picking hands off of his gin.)

But apparently the aparatchiks (comrades) were less fastidious about such things. Somehow bodies and lenses of both Zorki and Kiev derivations sometimes have problems fitting together and working as expected. Especially with FED/Zorki, there seem to be some differences among the various models of how the lens flanges and connections met with each other.

Maybe that's why SLRs eventually won the popularity contest.

My own take on this is that how things worked out depended on how much vodka the boys consumed the night before. It seems to be a crap shoot whether or not a given body and a given lens will be happy together.
 
mabelsound said:
The OP wasn't looking for a 53mm finder, I don't think, only doing some contingency planning for lenses of other focal lengths.
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yes, indeed :) However, I do think I'd like another 50mm, possibly with a larger aperture, but more importantly, with a lighter focusing ring. The focusing ring on my lens is stiff and has different levels of resistance depending on where in the focus range the ring is. It requires effort to turn it, and it takes a bit longer to focus that I would like. Since I kind of wanted this to be a somewhat fast/snapshot camera, assuming I already have my exposure dialed in, I'd like to whip the focus ring faster.

Are most of the focus rings stiff? I mean, I can see that stiff might not really be bad, the focus wouldn't move on you why composing, but I think I'd like something easier to turn. Maybe I should try and clean the lens, maybe it's just gunked up around the focusing ring?
 
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daniel buck said:
Are most of the focus rings stiff? I mean, I can see that stiff might not really be bad, the focus wouldn't move on you why composing, but I think I'd like something easier to turn. Maybe I should try and clean the lens, maybe it's just gunked up around the focusing ring?
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The FED 3 should come with an Industar 26m lens (50mm f/2.8). All the I-26m examples I have or have had have needed a relube for exactly the reason you give. It's not a difficult lens to relube either, if you're prepared to dabble. The original grease hardens to a sticky mess (usually referred to, unkindly, as yak-snot) which gives the stiff, uneven effect you describe.
 
wolves3012 said:
The FED 3 should come with an Industar 26m lens (50mm f/2.8). All the I-26m examples I have or have had have needed a relube for exactly the reason you give. It's not a difficult lens to relube either, if you're prepared to dabble. The original grease hardens to a sticky mess (usually referred to, unkindly, as yak-snot) which gives the stiff, uneven effect you describe.
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I didn't pay much for the camera, so I wouldn't mind opening up the lens to attempt a little CLA. Are there any write-ups on doing this for the industar lenses? Or is it fairly self explanatory once you've started removing the screws?
 
The best site for DIY lens maintenance is:

http://www.pentax-manuals.com/repairs.htm

Your Fed should have come with an I-26 or I-61. These are very similar, and the instructions for the I-61 should be good for either. The focusing problem you describe is very common with FSU lenses. If you are looking for a faster 50, the f/2 Jupiter-8 is common and affordable. Not too hard to find a good sample; try fedka.com. The f/1.5 Jupiter-3 is faster, and some would say better overall, but more expensive and definitely harder to find one in good order.
 
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Thanks Bill, that looks easy! I'll try it out tonight! What type of grease would you suggest? i didn't see a mention of that in the pdf
 
Got my first roll back, looks like for close-up shooting (2 meters or so) the lens is focusing closer than the range finder is. Seems to do fine at infinity, but I can't tell for sure since I was stopped down for the infinity shots. I see a PDF about adjusting the rangefinder for FED-2 cameras, will that PDF give me enough of a guide when I open up my FED-3 to try and adjust the range finder?
 
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daniel buck said:
Got my first roll back, looks like for close-up shooting (2 meters or so) the lens is focusing closer than the range finder is. Seems to do fine at infinity, but I can't tell for sure since I was stopped down for the infinity shots. I see a PDF about adjusting the rangefinder for FED-2 cameras, will that PDF give me enough of a guide when I open up my FED-3 to try and adjust the range finder?
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Here is another Industar cleaning tutorial:
http://mattdentonphoto.com/cameras/industar_relubing/index.html

and how to adjust the rangefinder on a Fed-5. The 3 is more or less the same:
http://mattdentonphoto.com/cameras/fed_5.html

Edit: the above is for making horizontal and vertical adjustments to the RF. If you need to adjust close focusing, I believe it is done by manipulating the wedge-shaped cam on the end of the RF arm.
 
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