Fed 3 Tips and Tricks

Frank Lambert said:
You might want to take a look at this website. It is a "pictoral evolution" of the FED 3 and the various lenses incorporated in each stage of production.

http://www.dvdtechcameras.com/collect/fed/1/9.htm

The following is a quote from the "Camerapedia Website", which may help explain what the L/D designation is all about.

"The Industar 61 L/D is possibly the most highly regarded lens for Ukrainian Leica copies. In an L/D or L/Z version of this lens, the L indicates that the lens has Lanthanum in it, and D indicates M39 mount while Z indicates M42 mount."

By the way, you will enjoy your FED 3.... Have fun!

Frank
Click to expand...

Thank you for the link and information. Looking forward to getting this thing in the mail (hopefully tomorrow).
 
I want to correct something I said in an earlier post. I got my Panda out last night and looked at it again. Hadn't done so in a while -- the lens has serious cleaning marks on the front element, so I don't use it often. The aperture does have click stops, as was mentioned above, and it also has the same number of blades as my 61LD. Aside from the different coloration, it is essentially identical to my two LDs, although I will say that its build quality is nicer and more solid.
 
brachal said:
I want to correct something I said in an earlier post. I got my Panda out last night and looked at it again. Hadn't done so in a while -- the lens has serious cleaning marks on the front element, so I don't use it often. The aperture does have click stops, as was mentioned above, and it also has the same number of blades as my 61LD. Aside from the different coloration, it is essentially identical to my two LDs, although I will say that its build quality is nicer and more solid.
Click to expand...

Thanks for all of your input. It's been helpful and informative.
I may hop on eBay after I get the camera and see if I can't find another copy or two of that lens and try them out to see what I get.

Regards,
M
 
You can't have too many 50's! I have one 61 and two 61LDs, but the lens I use most often with my FED-3 is the Jupiter-8. I like its images and greater aperture range.

While you're on ebay, you may want to pick up a cheap lens hood -- try seller Heavystar. The Industar 61 and the Jupiter both have 40.5mm threads for filters or screw in hoods. These lenses are prone to flaring, so a hood is a nice thing to have around.
 
Last edited:
matthewm said:
Thanks for all of your input. It's been helpful and informative.
I may hop on eBay after I get the camera and see if I can't find another copy or two of that lens and try them out to see what I get.

Regards,
M
Click to expand...

Consider looking at the goods that blyatnikov on ebay has to offer. He has some "new" Industar-61 L/Ds available. You can combine the shipping costs with the other FEDs that you'll end up buying for your collection...

😀
 
Mind if I pop my head in? I just got my Fed 3B in the mail today.

Time to rummage through RFF for more information. Cheers to a fellow Fed owner. 🙂
 
tpjkevin said:
Mind if I pop my head in? I just got my Fed 3B in the mail today.

Time to rummage through RFF for more information. Cheers to a fellow Fed owner. 🙂
Click to expand...

Just make sure you don't change the shutter speed before you cock the shutter. That was the first lesson I learned on here...and it was a good one. When I first got the camera, it wouldn't come off of the 1/30 shutter speed. I kept fiddling with it and advancing and firing it and finally it started to work just fine. I'm guessing the people I bought it from had maybe tested it and messed it up.

Also, people have been telling me to try out different lenses. I have the standard lens that comes on it, but I've been told by many people here that it's a good idea to pick up a few more and see which is the best. Then just sell off the rest. OR you can do what I'm going to do and fashion a "lensbaby" lens out of one of the not-so-good ones.

Best of luck to you and I hope your Fed3 works well for you and gives you many good rolls of sparkling photographs as only a FSU camera can do.

Cheers!
 
Last edited:
matthewm said:
Just make sure you don't change the shutter speed before you cock the shutter. That was the first lesson I learned on here...and it was a good one. When I first got the camera, it wouldn't come off of the 1/30 shutter speed. I kept fiddling with it and advancing and firing it and finally it started to work just fine. I'm guessing the people I bought it from had maybe tested it and messed it up. So I got it for only $18 US. And it shipped from Cali, not Russia so it was domestic shipping. Not a bad price for a working Fed3. Shipping from Russia alone is usually much more than that.

Also, people have been telling me to try out different lenses. I have the standard lens that comes on it, but I've been told by many people here that it's a good idea to pick up a few more and see which is the best. Then just sell off the rest. OR you can do what I'm going to do and fashion a "lensbaby" lens out of one of the not-so-good ones.

Best of luck to you and I hope your Fed3 works well for you and gives you many good rolls of sparkling photographs as only a FSU camera can do.

Cheers!
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tips! Was reading the manual and I was quite thankful I hadn't fiddled with it when I read the shutter change issue.

Mine was shipped from the UK, so it took quite a while for the package to arrive.

I've heard some good things about a Jupiter 8 lens, would that be advisable?
 
Hi Matthew congrats on a nice camera. You are lucky to have the 61 L/D already on it as many people buy Fed 5´s just in order to get the 61 l/D that comes with it ("as another FSU user once wrote "you may notice the oversize rear end lens cap that comes with the 61 l/D it is called a FED 5"). Enjoy it is quita reliable camera and the 61 L/D can turn out a really good lens. I am also adraid one 50mm just won´t be enough. As Lanthane is a element of the "rare earths" group it was also rumoured that the lens was radioactive...for details just google "Alfred Klomp" and FED or Zorki.
.....Oh yes "Pecker" I liked that little nice movie until I noticed how mauch it pushed the price for Canonets......so don´t remind anyone to watch it! European would be canonet owners will be very thankful!
Best regards
Des
 
tpjkevin said:
I've heard some good things about a Jupiter 8 lens, would that be advisable?
Click to expand...

Most of what you'll need to know about the care and feeding of your FED-3 is in this thread. 🙂 My Jupiter-8 on my FED-3 is my favorite FSU camera combination. I rarely use anything else when shooting FSU. The Jupiter-8 lens is a really great value and a solid performer. In addition to the FED-3, my J-8 spends a lot of time on my Leica IIIf and Bessa R.
 
Spider67 said:
Hi Matthew congrats on a nice camera. You are lucky to have the 61 L/D already on it as many people buy Fed 5´s just in order to get the 61 l/D that comes with it ("as another FSU user once wrote "you may notice the oversize rear end lens cap that comes with the 61 l/D it is called a FED 5"). Enjoy it is quita reliable camera and the 61 L/D can turn out a really good lens. I am also adraid one 50mm just won´t be enough. As Lanthane is a element of the "rare earths" group it was also rumoured that the lens was radioactive...for details just google "Alfred Klomp" and FED or Zorki.
.....Oh yes "Pecker" I liked that little nice movie until I noticed how mauch it pushed the price for Canonets......so don´t remind anyone to watch it! European would be canonet owners will be very thankful!
Best regards
Des
Click to expand...

I guess I was fortunate enough to get a great combination. I did notice that a lot of Fed3's don't come with that lens. But so far, it's working great. The focus is a little stiff, but I think with some tweaking and little TLC, I can have it moving as smooth as ever.

Yes, yes! The price of Canonet cameras has skyrocketed recently. I received a very nice one in the original packaging with all original paperwork, etc not too long ago (the QL17 model). It works like a charm and is one of my favorite film cameras to carry around because it's so small, quick and silent. Makes for a nice street shooter.

Best,
Matthew
 
Last edited:
brachal said:
Most of what you'll need to know about the care and feeding of your FED-3 is in this thread. 🙂 My Jupiter-8 on my FED-3 is my favorite FSU camera combination. I rarely use anything else when shooting FSU. The Jupiter-8 lens is a really great value and a solid performer. In addition to the FED-3, my J-8 spends a lot of time on my Leica IIIf and Bessa R.
Click to expand...

I've never used a Jupiter 8 on a rangefinder but it works wonders on my Canon EOS 5D with adapter. A sharp lens with beautiful bokeh.

A worthy companion to any great camera!
 
I've never owned a Fed 3b but looking at one on the web for about $60 nz. Comes with the standard Industar 61. Have a 4b (or c or d) with working lightmeter but they're a bit of a brick to drag around. Had an Industar 61 Ld with the rear lens cap (Fed 5b) but sold it. Images off that lens were damn sharp though.
 
I've never owned a Fed 3b but looking at one on the web for about $60 nz. Comes with the standard Industar 61. Have a 4b (or c or d) with working lightmeter but they're a bit of a brick to drag around. Had an Industar 61 Ld with the rear lens cap (Fed 5b) but sold it. Images off that lens were damn sharp though.... 😱
 
Kapa said:
I've never owned a Fed 3b but looking at one on the web for about $60 nz. Comes with the standard Industar 61. Have a 4b (or c or d) with working lightmeter but they're a bit of a brick to drag around. Had an Industar 61 Ld with the rear lens cap (Fed 5b) but sold it. Images off that lens were damn sharp though.... 😱
Click to expand...

Well I'm sure you'll like it. I'm actually thinking of selling mine as I don't really use it since I got a Bessa L. The easier use of the Bessa with more defined click stops and shutter speed selections is easier for me. Especially since Im new to the RF world.

Take care.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom