seany65
Well-known
Just in case anyone is thinking of getting a fed 2, or indeed any fsu camera, and has heard about their poor reliability etc. I'd like to say this:
I have had 8 fsu cameras:
1) I've owned 1 Zenit C- after a few test-firings the shutter stopped working. I sent it back for repair and again it stopped working after a few test-firings so i got my money back.
2) I've owned 2 Fed 4's-rangefinder windows a bit too bright and built/felt like big bricks but the always worked.
3) I've owned 3 Zorki 4k's- 1 had a bit of 'de-silvering' in the viewfinder and its shutter dial couldn't be moved until I did the 'inching the wind-on lever forward and then firing the button' thing a number of times it worked after that, the other 2 always worked.
4) I've owned 2 Fed 2's- 1 has a shutter button and surround that won't stay down when re-winding so I hold it down with my thumb, the other always worked.
So out of 8, only 2 had a bit of trouble and 1 had to be returned.
I've owned 8 Agfa cameras from the 1950's:
1) 1 Super Solinette- which needed the grease in the lens changing and the rangefinder adjusting-works but cost extra money get it like that.
2) 1 Ansco Super Regent- which needed the grease in the lens changing and the rangefinder adjusting-works but cost extra money to get it like that.
3) 4 Super Silettes- 3 of which had sticky shutters and rangefinders which needed adjusting- decided not to bother as the cost of repairing the shutters was uneconomical, the 4th one works.
4) 2 Ambi Silettes- 1 has a shutter which has just basically 'died' during my first film through it and the other worked although wasn't kept as there may have been fungus in the viewfinder.
So out of 8, 6 needed repairs, the ambi silette "couldn't be repaired" according to a tech it was sent to, and 3 needed too much money spent on them.
And yet Agfa cameras are supposed to be well made and FSU are supposed to be a bit poop.
I have had 8 fsu cameras:
1) I've owned 1 Zenit C- after a few test-firings the shutter stopped working. I sent it back for repair and again it stopped working after a few test-firings so i got my money back.
2) I've owned 2 Fed 4's-rangefinder windows a bit too bright and built/felt like big bricks but the always worked.
3) I've owned 3 Zorki 4k's- 1 had a bit of 'de-silvering' in the viewfinder and its shutter dial couldn't be moved until I did the 'inching the wind-on lever forward and then firing the button' thing a number of times it worked after that, the other 2 always worked.
4) I've owned 2 Fed 2's- 1 has a shutter button and surround that won't stay down when re-winding so I hold it down with my thumb, the other always worked.
So out of 8, only 2 had a bit of trouble and 1 had to be returned.
I've owned 8 Agfa cameras from the 1950's:
1) 1 Super Solinette- which needed the grease in the lens changing and the rangefinder adjusting-works but cost extra money get it like that.
2) 1 Ansco Super Regent- which needed the grease in the lens changing and the rangefinder adjusting-works but cost extra money to get it like that.
3) 4 Super Silettes- 3 of which had sticky shutters and rangefinders which needed adjusting- decided not to bother as the cost of repairing the shutters was uneconomical, the 4th one works.
4) 2 Ambi Silettes- 1 has a shutter which has just basically 'died' during my first film through it and the other worked although wasn't kept as there may have been fungus in the viewfinder.
So out of 8, 6 needed repairs, the ambi silette "couldn't be repaired" according to a tech it was sent to, and 3 needed too much money spent on them.
And yet Agfa cameras are supposed to be well made and FSU are supposed to be a bit poop.
Ko.Fe.
Lenses 35/21 Gears 46/20
You forgot to put time slot for "have had". I got dozen on FSU RF in 2018-2019. Only one of them worked. FED 5B. Which was freshest among this FSU dozen.
On top of it two FED-2 I received from person known as Oleg here have shutters with uneven exposures.
I have Agfa Billy Record and it works. For 35 mm cameras I wouldn't touch AGFA cameras with ten feet pole.
On top of it two FED-2 I received from person known as Oleg here have shutters with uneven exposures.
I have Agfa Billy Record and it works. For 35 mm cameras I wouldn't touch AGFA cameras with ten feet pole.
Brambling
Well-known
You think too much and do not want to accept the generally accepted and popular opinions.)))
George Orwell wrote about this.)