Fed-2 Self Timer Lever Position

[farlymac]

I was gifted a FED-2D with a busted shutter curtain, and got to looking at others for sale, and wound up with three total. I figured I might need parts if I screw up repairing the first one.

So, each one of them have the self timer, but the lever is not always in the same position. On two of them it points up, and on the other it points down. I always saw this in photos of the little beauties, and just thought they had either been wound, and the seller didn't know how to release them, or were busted.

My question then, was there a position they were always set at the factory, or did they come both ways? I also suppose that owners could have swapped them around to their liking, like the shutter cocking lever on an Argus C-3.

PF

 

[Robert Lai]

I had one that pointed up at rest. But, have you tried to cock them? The ones that point up have to be rotated counterclockwise (as you look at the camera) in order to set them. The ones that start pointing down clearly would have to be set in the opposite direction, otherwise the lever would hit the lens.

 

[farlymac]

I had one that pointed up at rest. But, have you tried to cock them? The ones that point up have to be rotated counterclockwise (as you look at the camera) in order to set them. The ones that start pointing down clearly would have to be set in the opposite direction, otherwise the lever would hit the lens.

Both of mine rotate in the same direction, clockwise to set, counter on run. Clears the lens mount fine.

PF

ps: Well, if one looks at the FRONT of the camera, it's counter-clockwise to wind, and clockwise to run. Stupid me.

 

[geoffox23]

Cameras shown on the front covers of my instruction manuals for FED 2,3,4,5 all show the lever pointed down.

The cutaway in the ever-ready case may give a clue, too. (I don't have one handy to check)

Cheers

 

[wolves3012]

From the factory FEDs point downwards when not set. Zorkis point upwards. Nothing to stop you removing the lever and turning it 180 degrees though, as plenty seem to have done.

 

[farlymac]

Thanks, Wolves and Geof. That's what I suspected. I took one of the FEDs out on a test run today (the D export model) with an I-26M attached. It sounds terrible, and someone has rotated the internals 180 degrees, so that the drive pins wind up towards the front of the camera, not the rear. There's no holes in the shutter, and all the speeds work fine, so I'm not going to kick too much about it.

BTW, Wolves, I also got a Zayra. I couldn't get the shutter release button, and winder/frame counter off even after removing the set screws completely. None of the instructions that I have (Meyzenberg, and a couple of web sites) actually show how to get them off. Unless I have to read up on the older FEDs, as I suspect Meyzenberg was not too keen on having to repeat himself.

PF

 

[wolves3012]

Thanks, Wolves and Geof. That's what I suspected. I took one of the FEDs out on a test run today (the D export model) with an I-26M attached. It sounds terrible, and someone has rotated the internals 180 degrees, so that the drive pins wind up towards the front of the camera, not the rear. There's no holes in the shutter, and all the speeds work fine, so I'm not going to kick too much about it.

BTW, Wolves, I also got a Zayra. I couldn't get the shutter release button, and winder/frame counter off even after removing the set screws completely. None of the instructions that I have (Meyzenberg, and a couple of web sites) actually show how to get them off. Unless I have to read up on the older FEDs, as I suspect Meyzenberg was not too keen on having to repeat himself.

PF

Re the self-timer, most people make little use of it and many of the FSU timers don't trip the shutter anyway. If that's the only feature not working, I'd be inclined just to ignore it.

On the Zarya, I have no experience of it but I understand it's a FED 2 with the RF mechanics missing and a different VF/top-plate. That being so, it ought to dismantle pretty much the same way. Ought being the operative word!

 

[gb hill]

The self timer on the fed worked fine when I used it. Now the self timer on my Canonet...I'll never try it again.😀

 

[farlymac]

Re the self-timer, most people make little use of it and many of the FSU timers don't trip the shutter anyway. If that's the only feature not working, I'd be inclined just to ignore it.

On the Zarya, I have no experience of it but I understand it's a FED 2 with the RF mechanics missing and a different VF/top-plate. That being so, it ought to dismantle pretty much the same way. Ought being the operative word!

Yes, all it's missing is the rangefinder, and a self timer. But what I need to know is just how the knobs are supposed to come off after removing the set screws. From the poor photos I see in the Meyzenberg book, it appears the shutter button collar screws off, but I can't get it to do more than rotate a few degrees from rewind to lock. And the winder feels like it's on really solid. Neither one of them wants to budge in the vertical.

The self timer on the 2D Export is in the down position, and I'm always pushing it a bit with my fingers while gripping the camera, so I'll go ahead and rotate that.

PF

 

[farlymac]

The self timer on the fed worked fine when I used it. Now the self timer on my Canonet...I'll never try it again.😀

Yes, Greg, it still works, as does one of the others I got.

PF