FED 2 yes or no?

[orendanger]

hello! i just bought an epson R-d1 and some industar lenses a 50 2.8 and the J-12 there is a bronze FED 2 for sale and im not sure if it is a good buy, as for useing it i think ill be alright it cant be harder than an argus c3 right? it costs 70$ with a 50mm lens also bronze

YES or NO?

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

The important thing is the condition and at that price I'd hope it has been fully checked and so on. I'm not sure what you mean by bronze. Has it been recovered?

FED 2's can be picked up very, very cheaply - say a pound or two (USD 2 to 3 or a little more in Euros). I'd buy a good looking body cheaply and send it to Oleg* for some of his magic. It would probably cost the same but you'd know what to expect; meaning it would be silky smooth to use and work properly.

They are very easy, pleasant cameras to use, if you understand basic old-fashioned manual RF photography and have a light meter.

Regards, David

* http://www.okvintagecamera.com/repair.html

 

[ForestCap]

No if it's not tested. 70 is too expensive.
I take "bronze" as it looks different? There are quite some fancy looking FED-2s on eBay, colourful, re-painted, "special edition", and so on, but I dare not to buy them. I bought one once and it turned out to be crap inside. I wanted a working camera.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Bronze? $70?
Don't do it.
If you need FED-2, as working camera, but not shinny, distasteful and most likely dead inside item, do your homework. Where are couple of e-bay sellers who sell cameras after CLA, not claiming to have CLA (bunch of them), but after real CLA (just few of them).
This FED-2 is worth of $70.

Don't know anything about Argus, to me it is like Brownie with gears and lens glued to it in random places, but FED-2 is one of the finest fully mechanical classical RFs.

 

[mcfingon]

I have got good usable and rugged Fed-2s from this business:
http://www.ebay.com/sch/ussr_time_machine/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from=

 

[FrankS]

You can buy a serviced camera from Oleg I believe. Lots of time and energy is wasted trying to use Fed and kiev cameras that need servicing.

 

[ForestCap]

I have got good usable and rugged Fed-2s from this business:
http://www.ebay.com/sch/ussr_time_machine/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from=

This seller also sell them on etsy .com, a site which is considered to be more dedicated for hand-made/serviced stuff than eBay. The seller's feedback is good but I personally haven't bought any from them.

 

[wolves3012]

Bronze probably means brass-finish. i.e. it's been de-chromed. They can work well but most you see for sale have been de-chromed and polished up to look pretty in a display case, not to take photos. I just wouldn't buy one. Either take a gamble on a cheap *bay item, cross your fingers and send it for service or buy one from a reputable seller. A working & serviced FED 2 is a lovely camera.

 

[BillBingham2]

The FED 2 is a wonderful camera when it works. I've had less than acceptable success with FSU cameras, but from a feel/use perspective I loved the FED I had.

I had much better luck with a Bessa L and Ts that I owned (both rock solid). But the wasn't the same classic beauty the FED 2 has, IMHO.


Get one from Oleg or another known trusted source.

B2

 

[Ron (Netherlands)]

Keep it with original ones and yes USD 70 is way tooooo much

 

[Tompas]

(...) but FED-2 is one of the finest fully mechanical classical RFs.

You really think so?

I have two of them -- the worst cameras I have ever used: tiny, dark viewfinder without frame lines, wind and rewind knobs instead of lever and crank, a diopter correction lever that's involuntarily misadjusted far too easily, and a horrible film loading mechanism/method.

I'd recommend a Canon P instead. THAT's a fine fully mechanical classical RF!

 

[ForestCap]

With 70$ one can buy a user Canon-7 body without sniping on eBay all day long.

If you are lucky the built-in meter could be working and accurate, which would be a bonus.

Get a J-8 and J-12 (note that it's said some J-12 doesn't fit Canon-7, however mine does fit.) for the Canon-7 and you have a nice close range shooting kit.

It's a relatively large camera but FED-2 is not very pocketable either.

 

[johnbay]

I have a Fed2, Jupiter 8 and Jupiter 3 lenses all purchased from Yuri at Fedka, a very reputable dealer in NYC. His prices are higher but the goods have always been in perfect working order. I had a Zorki 3 with a shutter problem which was promptly fixed. He also offers repair services.

 

[Frontman]

I have bought a few FSU cameras, and not a single one has worked properly. The worst ones I simply tossed in the trash, the better ones, an FED S, a Zorki 2, and even a Contax II, I sent to Oleg to overhaul. They came back working li

You can find Oleg at okvintagecamera.com He sells fully serviced cameras, and his prices are good. His work is first rate,

 

[Axel]

In my opinion a FED 2 in good working condition is available for around $ 30.
A collapsible Industar will be $15-20 and if you want special versions like brass or painted prices will increase.
So the price will be okay but it must be sure that everything of camera an lens works well.

 

[rfaspen]

It was said above (more than once) but I'll say it again:

"Bronze" Fed-2 is suspicous and the price is too high for a camera that probably isn't in full working order. I would avoid like it was Rabies or the Plague. I've seen this kind of thing before....not what you're hoping for.

Also said above: the Fed-2 can be a quite nice camera. Simple, solid, and fun when its in working order. I think Fedka was mentioned earlier? I'll second that. You'll probably spend $70 for a Fed-2 with him, but this time its worth it. He will send you a camera ready to use and reliable. If it's not, send it back and he'll make it right. Most likely, he'll hand pick a very nice one for you and send it over. I've bought from Yuri (Fedka) in the past and can vouch for him and his business. First class.

I hope you get a Fed-2 and enjoy it. Oh, and if you decide to get a Canon P or Canon 7 as mentioned above, you'll like those options too. How do I know???? Hmmmm.

 

[gb hill]

I wonder if he bought the Fed 2? Anyhow I voted No.😀

 

[BillBingham2]

I hope not, so many better options.

Very nice little camera, but mine was a money pit. If you like to tinker it could be great, I just have no time for it.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

You really think so?

I have two of them -- the worst cameras I have ever used: tiny, dark viewfinder without frame lines, wind and rewind knobs instead of lever and crank, a diopter correction lever that's involuntarily misadjusted far too easily, and a horrible film loading mechanism/method.

I'd recommend a Canon P instead. THAT's a fine fully mechanical classical RF!

I'm not attracted by Japanese cameras design. At all.

FED-2 just not yours camera and you never had CLA'd one it seems.

Tinted VF is plus for me, I wear sunglasses if sun and see well in the dark.
Rewind is fast and light with FED-2 large knob, one stroke of index finger.
Film loading is next to perfect. Diopter lever never bothered me at all, despite easy fix applicable. Leica LTM and Nikon RF also don't have frames. So what...

 

[dubtom]

I had a look on Olegs site,he has two prices listed for cameras,new and used, The fed 2's second hand price were $22?? can this be correct for 1 assume a fully adjusted camera?