fed 3 shakes

[eddie con]

should i be concerned with a viewfinder mirror that moves with the press of the shutter release button? the image just shakes just a wee bit every time i shoot. and it seems to get back firmly to its original position. is this normal?

 

[w3rk5]

I don't think that's normal Eddie. My FED 3A and my bro's 3B viewfinder doesn't move when you press the shutter release.

If you clean the viewfinder from the outside does it move at all? Can you hear it move? Is it possible the shutter curtains are closing very harsh which caused camera shake? and not the actual viewfinder moving?

 

[Duncan Ross]

When I saw the thread I though a new disease had emerged! My Fed 3 had a loose viewfinder diopter adjustment (which in itself seemed designed to grind spectacles, surprised they didn't make it out of carborundum). Could that be wobbling?

 

[eddie con]

hey bobby, hi!!!
that means i have to operate on this camera? or do i poke carefully through hole for adjusting viewfinder focus to see if the viewfinder lens is loose? the viewfinder does move a bit every time i shoot. it looks like it is the viewfinder lens. and, duncan, it is not the grinder-diopter adjustment that shakes which, by the way, is a big help in spite of. it feels snug. jay javier has a great website on the innards of fed 3. it's a website for feds and zorkis. can you guys recommend any other?
i hate to mess this camera up because its pictures are great. i just dont want the "shakes" to get worse. thanks again.

 

[eddie con]

and duncan, that loose grinder-diopter adjustment has a screw on the side for tightening. that adjuster is like a mean sawed-off drill bit. i will tinker with that thing to see if it is the culprit. thanks.

 

[ZorkiKat]

Its likely a loose VF prism block. Common problem with FED-2/-3/-4/-5 as well as Zorki-4 /-4K cameras. Won't be fixed by the diopter control.

The prism block is a rather hefty piece of glass which makes up most of the viewfinder. It's held in place with a metal brace, which in turn is fixed in place with screws.
Easy to fix, but complete top removal is necessary to access the parts.

If the shake is minor, best leave it. It won't affect the image on film. Plenty of vibration takes place on the top plate during shutter movement. It's this which causes the vf block to vibrate.

 

[eddie con]

thanks for the responses. and thanks, jay.
i can live with the shakes. the camera shoots great anyway. i got it for $7.50 and it is the best bargain i have ever had in my life! with more confidence, or perhaps, with another fed and/or zorki on hand, i might just do the quick fix you mentioned, jay.
have a great day, everyone.

 

[w3rk5]

$7.50! Nice buy.

Good luck with it Eddie.

 

[eddie con]

$7.50! Nice buy.

Good luck with it Eddie.

thanks bobby. and, i now understand why the fsu's have a strong following.