Fed-2 Shutter dial: which way?

[mike goldberg]

Hi Fed fans,
I've got an early Fed-2c, 1961, with 1/25, 150, and 1/100, etc., speeds.

QUESTION:
When I raise and turn the knurled knob for speeds... than drop the knob into its slot, does it make any difference if I'm turning Clockwise... or Counter Clockwise?
The Fed-2c, recently arrived, works very well. A few test shots follow tomorrow; am bleary-eyed now 😱

Ciao, Mike

 

[wolves3012]

It makes a difference which slot you drop it into, that's all!

 

[ZorkiKat]

I doesn't matter whether you turn CW or CCW.

What matters is that you don't try to jump from "B" to 500 or 500 to "B".

 

[wolves3012]

I doesn't matter whether you turn CW or CCW.

What matters is that you don't try to jump from "B" to 500 or 500 to "B".

Interestingly Jay, on my example you can go from 500 to "B" or vice-versa, with no ill effect. I've never looked to see if the pin that should stop this is missing or broken. I was meaning to ask if anyone else had a FED 2 where they could do it...

 

[ZorkiKat]

B->500

B->500

Interestingly Jay, on my example you can go from 500 to "B" or vice-versa, with no ill effect. I've never looked to see if the pin that should stop this is missing or broken. I was meaning to ask if anyone else had a FED 2 where they could do it...

I've yet to look at my other FED-2.

But the usual design would have a relatively tall pin or screw stuck between the "B" and 500 slots on the shutter speed disc. This pin effectively prevents shifting between "B" and 500. On a couple of FED-1 I have, it's also possible to shift between 500 and "B" without ill effects, but on these examples, the stop pin is missing.

I would assume that the pin is placed there to prevent the speed selector from being stuck somewhere in that critical area. I had been observing what happens if the pin goes there- nothing bad usually happens but there were instances when the pin slipped to "B" (or shutter acted as if on "B").

The slot for the 500 setting is narrower than the others. This was done because there isn't much space to allow a hole of a similar size to be placed next to the 200 speed slot. The 200 and 500 speed slots are spaced quite tightly, so the next hole had to be smaller to prevent it from merging with the next one.

If the slot hole for 500 is smaller, the speed setting pin would not go in fully and instead just sit over it. Having a pin next to it would prevent the pin from slipping to the "B" slot.


Jay

 

[Ulrich Witte]

Interestingly Jay, on my example you can go from 500 to "B" or vice-versa, with no ill effect. I've never looked to see if the pin that should stop this is missing or broken. I was meaning to ask if anyone else had a FED 2 where they could do it...

I have a FED 2 where you can jump from B to 500 and vice-versa. I've opened it to see what's wrong, but I found nothing broken. It seems that some are designed this way.

Ulrich

 

[wolves3012]

Well, my curiosity got the better of me so I took the top off and looked. There's no evidence of a missing or broken pin, so it seems either the factory missed it out or it was not in the design. Mine's a 2b, with the flash socket on the body.

 

[ZorkiKat]

I checked my FED2's (just three) and none would allow shifting from "B" to 500 and vice-versa. The dial restricting pins in these cameras appear to be intact. These are FED-2 of several variants.

The same could be said of my Zorki-5 and Zorki-6.

The stop pin on the speed controlling disc looks like a normal screw. Removing it won't make the disc look broken at all. What would likely be found is an extra hole which looks like the slots for the speed setting pin, but only much smaller.

 

[350D_user]

The FED-2 I have is able to go straight from 1/500 to B, but there's a bit more friction on the dial at one point.
Suffice to say, I'm happy to drop through all the speeds, to get from one to another. 🙂

 

[mike goldberg]

According to several legacy sites on the Fed, I've got an early Fed-2c. It has speeds of B, 1/25, 1/50, 1/100, 1/125 and 1/500; it also has the Mushroom shaped winding knob. There does NOT appear to be any "stop" between 1/500 and B. Given the discussion above, it makes sense to take a little extra care here. It's a great shooter with a quiet shutter, and I want to keep it that way.

Thanks guys,
Mike

 

[wolves3012]

I checked my FED2's (just three) and none would allow shifting from "B" to 500 and vice-versa. The dial restricting pins in these cameras appear to be intact. These are FED-2 of several variants.

The same could be said of my Zorki-5 and Zorki-6.

The stop pin on the speed controlling disc looks like a normal screw. Removing it won't make the disc look broken at all. What would likely be found is an extra hole which looks like the slots for the speed setting pin, but only much smaller.

Jay,

There's absolutely no hole for a stop pin, I checked with an eye glass to be sure. In view of other people having the same, I think we conclude that at least some FED 2 examples came this way. My Zorki 2C, 5 and 6 clearly do have this stop.

 

[eli griggs]

Of my three Fed 2s, one will allow the speed selector dial rotate 360 degrees, two will not. I have not seen any sign that this has caused any trouble with the camera, but I'm relieved a bit by this thread as I had thought this was an indicator that something was wrong and needed to be 'fixed'.

Eli

 

[Blank288]

On one of my two Fed-2's (an older one with 1/50 - 1/100 settings) it is possible to turn the speed selector from 1/500 to B. On my newer one (1/60 - 1/125 setting) it isn't possible. I always considered it a consequence of an apparently slightly changed shutter mechanism.

 

[yek]

My Fed 2 is a late version. It allows the operation, but there is a friction. If the shutter selector was pulled higher than normal when it is turned, the friction dissapears. I openned the top plate and it looks like the spring which holds the shutter pawl touches the shutter speed lever. It's not a big issue, I think.

 

[mike goldberg]

I'm glad for the discussion this thread brought about.
CONCLUSIONS:

- There is NO friction or stop in my Fed-2c with the old style speeds of 1/25, 1/50.

- Some models have a stop device... and in some, one feels friction in going from 1/500 to B.

- In general in some FSU cameras, there is resistance in going to the slow speeds, according to Yuri from Fedka.

- To be on the safe side, I intend to avoid going from 1/500 to B. A newer version of the Fed-2c [1/30, 1/60] is in the mail, having been CLA'd by Oleg.
I don't remember about friction in this one.

Since the Fed-2's are good shooters, they deserve a little extra care.
Cheers, Mike

 

[dee]

Why chance it jamming ? Is there any need to go from !/500 to B ? - I have a habit now , on all Leica style cameras of winding first and never giong backwards on the shutter dial - 'cos i might just do it on the wrong one !
dee

 

[Sylvaticus]

I recall reading that the shutter dial could pass safely between B and 500 on the later FED2. I have a FED2e where this is possible. I suppose this should only be a problem if there are versions where the dial can pass through but not safely. There's obviously no problem if there's a physical stop. By the way, my dial drops into position on both 500 and 250 despite their proximity. I recall the design of the dial relative to the central post was involved in some way. Rotating versus stationary post? I don't know, I'll try to find the source I read.