Do you like your FED 2?

W

webb3201

Guest
As with many on the board, I bought not one but three Russian RFs to test the waters. I am in love with my Kiev 4am and like the modern attributes of my Zorki 6 (but the lens is very ugly). The last of my orders arrives today in the form of a FED2. The camera is very pretty, but the viewfinder seems very hard to use. It seems very small and cramped in comparison to the other two.

Do others feel it is hard to focus these cameras, or should I try a CLA?

Thanks, Kevin
 
I agree that the viewfinder is dim and difficult to use in lower light. I'm really enjoying using my FED2 with both a CV 25mm lens and a J12 35mm lens, as they both use separate viewfinders.
 
I like my Fed-2 very much.
I agree that the viewfinder very hard to use because its problem.
But still it bring a lot of prastice for using rangefinder camera.
And it looks just so pretty.
Hope you will like it too.
 
Kevin,
I agree that the FED2's viewfinder is abit "squinty" but I love other things about the camera well enough that I'll keep using it!
The other stuff I love about this camera are:
A-- it fits my hands almost perfectly.
B-- it is just the right size to fit into a pocket of my jacket.
C--it has one of the longer RF baselines so focus is accurate.
D-- the damn thing just looks way cool.
E-- mine has strap lugs.
If I could figure out a way to combine the best things about the FED2 and the Zorki 3m I would end up with the best camera for me.
Rob
 
Well, the FED2 viewfinder may be dark and squinty, but the rangefinder patch is very contrasty, so I actually don't find it hard to focus...
On the other hand, my favorite Russian LTM RF is still the Zorki 6 - almost as compact as the FED2, same long rangefinder base, but much brighter Viewifnder, lever-wind, and best of all, hinged back!

Roman
 
First, you can put a variety of lenses on your Z-6. As to the FED 2 - yours may need to have the glass surfaces of the viewfinder and range finder cleaned. I have a FED 2 and find it more than adequate for indoor shooting. It has a great handhold. It's quiet enought to use for candids.

My only beef is it seems a bit off balance with a J-9 and the lower right corner of the viewfinder gets blocked by the lens barrel. With either the J-12 or collapsible Industar, its much more balanced and quite easy to carry.

Framing is like any range finder without parallax frame lines, you fudge a bit. Here's one that was shot wide open with a collapsible Industar 50 from about 4 feet away.
 
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That's my Dad who is nearly blind - escaping the house with his two sons in tow and no wife to second guess his menu selections.

Wow - I just read Rob /rbiemer's post - I couldn't have described my opinions on the FED2 any better - I have the Zorki 3M and now a Zorki 3 - Their rangefinders patches aren't nearly as constrasty as the FED2
 
Andrew,
Great shots. I get the impression that your subject in the second picture is asking you something like "Geeze, do you have to play with that in public?" My family asks me that or some similar question but then comes to me later and wants pics from the last bday/holiday/dinner. Go figure.
Rob
 
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