Fed 3a Problem

[lawrence]

I recently purchased a nice-looking Fed 3a off eBay and it seems fine but for one small problem -- I can't get the bottom off. It is completely stuck and doesn't open even just a little bit. Has anyone else had this problem and is there any solution? I haven't forced it as experience has shown that this tends to break things even more...
Thanks
Lawrence

 

[mac_wt]

Lawrence, forgive me for stating something that might be obvious: on the fed 3a it should be the entire back that comes of, not just the bottom as on the Leicas, Fed 1 or Zorki 1, 2 and 5.

Wim

 

[lawrence]

Voila! Nothing so obvious about that! My previous Russian was a Zorki-5, so naturally I assumed it was the same...
Thanks a lot, Wim!
Lawrence

 

[kiev4a]

Sometime you have to apply a little pressure with your thumbs, right where the top edge of the back slides into the camera body. On a Kiev too much pressure causes light leaks. But the FED 3a back us made of sterner stuff.