Fed-2c mushroom knob + flash

[mnmleung]

I normally don't use flash at all, but in the past I have used a mecablitz 32CT3 with my Nikon FM2n.

If I attach the same flash to my Fed-2c and set shutter speed to 1/25, will it work? Or do I need some attachment? Sorry, very basic questions here. Ming

 

[pshinkaw]

If the flash connector fits, it should work. Verify by setting the shutter at 1/25, attaching the flash, removing the back, look through the film gate while releasing the shutter and flash. Don't point the flash at the camera. point it a light colored wall. If the shutter speed is too high, you will see only a part of the full film gate lighted up. If it works you should dee the entire rectangle illuminated.

On some Soviet cameras like the Zorki-4, the flash sync switches remained closed after the film was exposed. Thus, the flash would go off again by itself immediately after it sufficiently recycled. I don't know if a Fed will do that. If it does, and to prevent that, advance the film immediately after the flash goes off.

-Paul

 

[ZorkiKat]

.

On some Soviet cameras like the Zorki-4, the flash sync switches remained closed after the film was exposed. Thus, the flash would go off again by itself immediately after it sufficiently recycled. I don't know if a Fed will do that. If it does, and to prevent that, advance the film immediately after the flash goes off.

-Paul

Hi Paul

The synched Zorkis used a rather complicated flash circuit (at least two contacts) which prevented flash from going off when the shutter is wound. One contact is connected to the release button which would only close the circuit if the button is depressed. So when the shutter is wound, the circuit remains 'open' even if the second contact pins on the rotating shutter disc come engage with each other. I think you must be referring to the Kiev which used a single, simple contact pin in the shutter.

Some FED-2 would fire when the shutter is wound when a charged flash is connected to it.

FED-2 were also wired so that the flash doesn't fire at "B".

Jay

 

[mnmleung]

Is the flash connector the bit at the bottom of the flash that fits into the accessory shoe on the Fed-2c , or are talking about a little wire/cable that goes to the front of Fed-2c , next to the RF ? Thank you!

Ming

 

[ZorkiKat]

All FED-2 (unless one is found with a modified one) had "cold shoes". Won't link the shutter to the flash firing circuit and instead will just short the flash's hot foot. You need to use a flash which connects with a PC cord.

Some flash automatically disconnect their foot contacts when a sync cord is plugged in. Others remain "hot" even if a cord is in place. In the case of the latter, you would have to insulate the FED-2's cold shoe by placing a bit of vinyl tape on it so that the centre pin on the flash's foot does not go in contact wth the camera body.

For flash without cord connection provision, a foot to sync cord adapter is available. These have hot shoes and cold feet so that they can be safely put into the camera's accessory shoe. A cord dangles from it which in turn can be plugged into the camera's PC (=Prontor-Compur) terminal.

Jay

 

[wolves3012]

On some Soviet cameras like the Zorki-4, the flash sync switches remained closed after the film was exposed. Thus, the flash would go off again by itself immediately after it sufficiently recycled. I don't know if a Fed will do that. If it does, and to prevent that, advance the film immediately after the flash goes off.

-Paul

As Jay has said, this is not true for the Zorki 4. It has a "proper" flash-sync switch that works correctly at ALL speeds of 1/30 or less, including "B". I'd guess that the 3C has the same. For FEDs, flash-sync is ONLY correct at 1/30 (or 1/25, whichever). FEDs with slow speeds do NOT sync correctly at ANY speed other than that, even though the flash fires on speeds other than "B".