Fed 3 strap lugs (?)

[wamjam]

hi,

are there any Fed3 models that come with strap lugs?

thanks.

 

[gb hill]

How good is the vf on a fed 3?

 

[wamjam]

Hi. The first model Fed 3a has strap lugs. The 3a is the model with a stepped top plate and knob winder.

thanks pixtu. what about the 50th Anniversary of October Revolution edition? did they come out with strap lugs?

thanks.

 

[brachal]

How good is the vf on a fed 3?

It's OK, I guess. Not as bright as my Kiev's or Leica IIIf's, but more contrast than the Leica. Better all around than my Fed2, but my 2 is really old (somewhere between preseries and first production models) and I suspect it could use a cleaning.

Perfectly usable, but if you're used to a Bessa R or similar it will feel really dim and squinty. I enjoy the Fed 3 a lot; I think it's ergonomics are excellent, but the viewfinder is just adequate -- IMHO.

 

[wolves3012]

The 3a has strap lugs, the 3b does not, as has been said. They have otherwise identical bodies (I'm fairly sure of that) so it should be possible to "transplant" body shells if you really must have lugs.

My experience of the VF is that my 3b has the brightest of all my FEDs but I may just have been lucky with my example. They certainly vary though, I don't think quality control of the VF/RF glass was very tight! And yes, they have all been cleaned so I'm not just comparing dirty with clean.

Of my FEDs, the 4 has the dimmest finder, followed by the 2. That's not counting the 5C, which has a clear VF with a small RF spot so it's not a fair comparison, it's constructed differently. If you want a big, bright, 1:1 finder get a Zorki 4k (one with the shutter speeds not worn off though!). Cheap, capable, lever-wind and it'll do all that a FED 3 will do.