john neal
fallor ergo sum
I have a lovey Fed1 that has new blinds, but has developed the "1 speed" syndrome. I know what causes the problem, and how to fix it on a Leica, but can I get the Fed to play ball? Can I ****!
I found Oleg's details and will contact him - it has to be worth $48 plus post to keep it going, and the lens is super clean (uncoated).
I found Oleg's details and will contact him - it has to be worth $48 plus post to keep it going, and the lens is super clean (uncoated).
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goamules
Well-known
Personally, I love the old Fed1, and it's story of being built by the orphans in the first Soviet commune to make cameras. The pre WWII ones are actually very nice. Here are two I got once, with the rare lenses. I kept one, and still have 2 more. I sell most of the Leicas, they are too much money to keep, and the cost of repair is too much.
David Hughes
David Hughes
Hi,
I know the problem, once I passed 300 I decided to sell a few off and that funded some repairs and so on.
Here's one of mine that's staying here...
Regards, David
Dez
Bodger Extraordinaire
I really like my FED 1S, and it seems to be in excellent working condition, but I almost never use it, because of the squinty viewfinder without diopter correction. Can't see the whole frame with glasses, too blurry without. My near-mint Leica II suffers the same fate, adorning a shelf most of the time.
But what a lovely piece of work it is! The case that came with it is gorgeous, easily better finished than anything I have seen for a screwmount Leica. I have since found a fourth lens, the rather scarce 50mm macro lens, which is uncoupled, and guess-focuses down to 15cm (1:2)
Cheers,
Dez
But what a lovely piece of work it is! The case that came with it is gorgeous, easily better finished than anything I have seen for a screwmount Leica. I have since found a fourth lens, the rather scarce 50mm macro lens, which is uncoupled, and guess-focuses down to 15cm (1:2)
Cheers,
Dez
rfaspen
[insert pithy phrase here]
Ooo. I'm envious of those lenses Dez, David, and goamules so cruelly flaunt here. I have been hoping to run across that Summar clone, and that 100 too. But, in meantime I enjoy my early Fed 1 NKVD with an I-10 (engraved Fed 50 on it). One thing about my early Fed is the non-standard lens registration distance. Put a later lens on it and it becomes a guessing game, not to mention the "odd-o-clock" position of the infinity stop. My memory is awful, but I might have gotten this one from David. Did I? It ran a little rough when I received it, but it was in nice condition. A little TLC and now it works as nice as one of my Leicas from the same vintage. Seriously.
I guess I should feel bad about fixing my own cameras. As David said earlier, I really do want to keep our extremely skilled and friendly repair experts around. I'm in Leica too, and I've been sending businiess to Don and DAG Camera Repair. No FSU though... Besides, most of those repairs are just things I can do here at home...so far. Oh, and I enjoy it (most of the time).
I guess I should feel bad about fixing my own cameras. As David said earlier, I really do want to keep our extremely skilled and friendly repair experts around. I'm in Leica too, and I've been sending businiess to Don and DAG Camera Repair. No FSU though... Besides, most of those repairs are just things I can do here at home...so far. Oh, and I enjoy it (most of the time).
David Hughes
David Hughes
"I might have gotten this one from David"
Hi,
I've only ever sold one FED I and that was here in the UK, ditto a FED 3 that disagreed with my glasses (the usual problem).
They are nice lenses, aren't they? I think the answer is to keep looking and one day one will drop in your lap for a pittance... People have found IIIc's with Summitars on them for UKP10 in charity shops.
Regards, David
Hi,
I've only ever sold one FED I and that was here in the UK, ditto a FED 3 that disagreed with my glasses (the usual problem).
They are nice lenses, aren't they? I think the answer is to keep looking and one day one will drop in your lap for a pittance... People have found IIIc's with Summitars on them for UKP10 in charity shops.
Regards, David
newspaperguy
Well-known
In reference to some earlier comments - the only way to actually see what you're really including in your composition with any of the Barnack types - is to add a bright line finder like this CV from our chief barkeeep;
(See att.)
IMO, the fabled Leica IIIG, and its clone the Zorki 3M, are not that much better than the little squinters (and yes, I've owned them all.)
PS - Yes, That is a Zorki, not a FED pictured. Specifically, it's a near-mint Zorki 1E (or 1e, if you prefer.) Another gem from Oleg.
(See att.)
IMO, the fabled Leica IIIG, and its clone the Zorki 3M, are not that much better than the little squinters (and yes, I've owned them all.)
PS - Yes, That is a Zorki, not a FED pictured. Specifically, it's a near-mint Zorki 1E (or 1e, if you prefer.) Another gem from Oleg.
Attachments
snapper78
Established
Hi newspaperguy
My IIIg is a lot better than my Fed 1 and a lot better than any of my other Feds or Zorkis but I still like playing with them, and I have a nice Canon brightline finder that i could use on a functional Fed 1 or Zorki 1 ( I have one of them lying around somewhere, but it will probably turn out to be no better than my Fed 1 when the time comes to test it).
Actually I don't find the squinty viewfinder too offputting, but it is nice to have a nice, bright combined range-viewfinder. One of these days I may rise to an M Leica but it would call for a serious cull to fund it.
Of course the quality of the pictures I take doesn't warrant the expense - not even the expense of the film, but it keeps me amused.
I took some pictures of the Fed 1 today and may get around to posting them if i find how it's done.
My IIIg is a lot better than my Fed 1 and a lot better than any of my other Feds or Zorkis but I still like playing with them, and I have a nice Canon brightline finder that i could use on a functional Fed 1 or Zorki 1 ( I have one of them lying around somewhere, but it will probably turn out to be no better than my Fed 1 when the time comes to test it).
Actually I don't find the squinty viewfinder too offputting, but it is nice to have a nice, bright combined range-viewfinder. One of these days I may rise to an M Leica but it would call for a serious cull to fund it.
Of course the quality of the pictures I take doesn't warrant the expense - not even the expense of the film, but it keeps me amused.
I took some pictures of the Fed 1 today and may get around to posting them if i find how it's done.
snapper78
Established
A progress report
I managed to load a film into the Fed and shoot a few frames before loading the film into my Bessa R to finish it off. The results were actually not too bad, bearing in mind that I have since discovered that the rangefinder adjustment was way out. I have now adjusted the infinity setting and will do some work on the close up settings soon.
I have also dug out my Zorki 1, which seems to be working, although I'm fairly sure that when I first shot a test film with it a year or so ago the dreaded black shadow appeared in all the shots . The shutter speeds all look and sound fairly convincing, so maybe it's worth shooting a half dozen frames. When I first started getting seriously interested in photography the cameras were hideously expensive and the film was relatively cheap - or so it seemed, now it seems to be the other way round: you can buy a lovely looking Pentax for a few pounds sterling but you'd be lucky to get two or three films for the same amount. I used to buy bulk film and I still have the loader and if I could only find it, the changing bag. One can still buy changing bags, of course.
I must learn to be more discriminating in what I shoot
I managed to load a film into the Fed and shoot a few frames before loading the film into my Bessa R to finish it off. The results were actually not too bad, bearing in mind that I have since discovered that the rangefinder adjustment was way out. I have now adjusted the infinity setting and will do some work on the close up settings soon.
I have also dug out my Zorki 1, which seems to be working, although I'm fairly sure that when I first shot a test film with it a year or so ago the dreaded black shadow appeared in all the shots . The shutter speeds all look and sound fairly convincing, so maybe it's worth shooting a half dozen frames. When I first started getting seriously interested in photography the cameras were hideously expensive and the film was relatively cheap - or so it seemed, now it seems to be the other way round: you can buy a lovely looking Pentax for a few pounds sterling but you'd be lucky to get two or three films for the same amount. I used to buy bulk film and I still have the loader and if I could only find it, the changing bag. One can still buy changing bags, of course.
I must learn to be more discriminating in what I shoot