Entering the world of Soviet Rangefinders...

Ara Ghajanian

Ara Ghajanian

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Hi gang,
I have been contemplating buying Russian rangefinder. Does anyone know of a website I can go to that will give a run down of all the available cameras with features and info? Basically, I want to get a Leica copy and get into the world of rangefinders rather cheaply. What would you recommend?
Ara
 
Basically in a nutshell, I want to know which Russian RF is closest in features and lens quality as a Leica M. There are so many to choose from that I don't know where to start.
Ara
 
Get a Fed 2 and a Jupiter 8 lens. The viewfinder will be darker but not that much of a problem as the contrast is very high.
 
Ara Ghajanian said:
Basically in a nutshell, I want to know which Russian RF is closest in features and lens quality as a Leica M. There are so many to choose from that I don't know where to start.
Ara
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That would be a Kiev 2 or a Kiev 2a, which are a unique lens mount. One feature that you won't find on any Russain RF is the Leica M rf/viewfinder with variable frame lines.

The Kiev comes close in precision focusing with its wide RF base, but as a rule Kievs are more fiddly than their LTM brothers. The Kiev that is the least fiddly would be the last the line, the Kiev 4am. Unfortunately, their build quality had been cheapened. The Kiev 4am is still worth a look and will accept early Kiev glass which I feel offer better coatings than the later lenses.
 
DaveP said:
Get a Fed 2 and a Jupiter 8 lens. The viewfinder will be darker but not that much of a problem as the contrast is very high.
Click to expand...

The FED 2 keeps you honest with its limited number of shutter speeds and is a very reliable shooter.
 
DaveP said:
Get a Fed 2 and a Jupiter 8 lens. The viewfinder will be darker but not that much of a problem as the contrast is very high.
Click to expand...

I totally agree. The Fed 2 is an excellent start. Ara, unfortunately anything approaching a Soviet "M" simply does not exist. The most you can expect is a rugged, enjoyable, entirely adequate but relatively unsophisticated camera, matched by lenses capable of splendid results.

Don't worry about Leicas. The FED 2 was Picasso's camera of choice. He could have bought a boxload of Ms - and he knew about pictures! Mind you, for that Barnack moment, what you really want is a FED or Zorki 1 - the lenses are as good as HCB's elmar...

Have fun, Ian
 
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Ara Ghajanian said:
Basically in a nutshell, I want to know which Russian RF is closest in features and lens quality as a Leica M. There are so many to choose from that I don't know where to start.
Ara
Click to expand...


Leica M ist quite difficult, I would go for a Zorki-4 (or 3).

The Zorki-4 has got a bigger and brighter viewfinder than the FED-2 and it has got speeds from 1-1/1000sec (FED-2 only from 1/30 to 1/500). The FED-2 has got a bigger rangefinder base, but up to 85mm lenses this won't be a big problem.

The Kiev-4 has got a totally different mount, it is a quite exact Zeiss Contax copy, the big rival of Leica. It is my favourite FSU camera, it has got the best rangefinder and delivers long times. Therefore the viewfinder is quite small, but it has got a very high contrast, so you can work very well in low light suituations. If you spend a little bit more money you can get the rare Kiev-5 with an excellent big and bright viewfinder.

Regards,
Andreas
 
I will voice support for the Kiev. I have several FSU cameras and the Kievs are the best of the lot. I have a Kiev 3 that is simply marvelous. Not a Leica copy but a capable camera none the less.

The last four photos in my gallery are with the Kiev 3 and Jupiter 8 lens.

Remember, FSU cameras are a bit of a crap shoot. Some of them left the factory in bad shape. You may have to kiss a lot of frogs before you find a princess.
 
I support the Kiev too, or the Fed-3, an often underestimated camera which an advance lever smooth like satin ;) I'd be curious to see your Kiev-3, Kevin!
 
The Zorki 3 is fantastic, and it looks like a Barnack thrown at high speed against a later M. For shooting 50mm lens that 1:1 finder is really incredible.
As for the lens the Jupiter 8 is great (altho it DOES have noticeable barrel distortion) and the Jupiter 3 too (abeit more expensive)
If you want the tiniest camera, pick a Zorki 1d with an Industar 22 or 50 collapsible. Smallest package !
 
I dunno if you really want to do that Ara; I'm warning you right now, back away from your web-browser. Do not start into FSU RFs :D

It's a very slippery slope.

What I can tell you is that my Canonet led me to a FED 5V which led me to a Zorki 4 which is now leading me inexorably toward a Bessa R3A.

It's like a sickness, only a lot more fun! :D

Kent
 
Ara Ghajanian said:
Basically, I want to get a Leica copy and get into the world of rangefinders rather cheaply. What would you recommend?
Ara
Click to expand...
The FED 2 is a good choice, but I would recommend the FED 3a. I prefer the 3a because of the extra weight and a little more flexibility in shutter speed selection. You can't go wrong with either.

I know you mentioned that you want a Leica copy but I wouldn't write off a Kiev. They're great cameras with a nice selection of lenses too.

Check out these sites also....
http://www.btinternet.com/~stowupland/index.htm
http://www.tomtiger.net/
http://homepage.mac.com/mattdenton/photo/cameras/rangefinders.html
 
For a Leica M approximation, the Zorki 3M is about as close I could imagine. The finish and fit are very good in a well cared for example. The viewfinder is big and bright and while it doesn't have framelines, it is very nice and in no way squinty like a FED 2. The body is also very close to a Leica M in size though laid out like an older Leica-type camera.

The Jupiter 8 50/2 that came with these cameras is a very good choice. It's a Sonnar-type lens which is nothing to sneeze at. My example has its own kind of old-school signature.

Zorki 3M's aren't the cheapies though. Being known as a cut above, they can command a premium price-wise, but still some less than a Bessa R, which a good value in of itself.

And since these cameras are 50 years old, I'd recommend buying from reputable source like Oleg or Fedka if you decide to jump in. Oleg did the CLA on my cameras and I would have saved some money buying from him in the first place.
 
kmack said:
You may have to kiss a lot of frogs before you find a princess.
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Ho kmack, with a poet like you, who needs to be King ?
 
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"Remember, FSU cameras are a bit of a crap shoot. . . You may have to kiss a lot of frogs before you find a princess."

"The bodies are basically all "barely this side of the junk line".
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A lot of later Zorki.4s and 4Ks were made in rapid/cheap mass production. And many were, as mentioned, problematic from Day 1. For me, I've gone after the older models; nothing made after 1959. I have eight pre-1960 Zorkis. 8 out of 8 - All shooters - no frogs. Even a Zorki.1b I purchased to use for spares is too smooth to part out. I'm waiting on a pressure plate and springs that didn't come with it and it will be in service.

The Zorki.3Ms are great for reasons mentioned above. Mine is from Oleg... a great source.

The Zorki.3s have a rep for slow-speed problems. Mine has worked fine and I trust it as much as the 3M.

I shoot my Leica.III the most and therefore often use the Zorki.1s along side it, with either a different lens or film, since they're very similar to the L.III in size and VF/RF.

Works for me.

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Good luck, Ara.
 
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