Fed 3b

[angusW]

Good day. I've the good fortune of just receiving a Fed 3b. Being new to the rangefinder world I wonder if any of you kind folk would have any helpful hints on how to use this magnificent piece of machinery.

From what I've read here, I should not attempt to change the shutter speed until after I've cocked it. Now changing the shutter speed does seem somewhat odd. While cocked, changing the shutter speed to one setting is quite easy yet there will be resistance changing it to another.

I was surprised to see the shutter is cloth. There seems to be two pieces. One cloth while cocked and another when a shot is taken.

I'm looking forward to using this fine camera but before I do I will have to load some film into it. Any tips would be appreciated.

 

[Spyderman]

From your post I guess you've never handled an old mechanical camera before....

Some time ago most cameras had cloth shutter curtains. It's natural that there are 2 curtains - that's the way it works.

The resistance of the wheel when changing shutter speeds is a spring, that's pushing it towards 1/30. BTW: you can only move it from 1/30 through B and all the speeds to 1s. Never from 1/30 clockwise to 1s.

Before use check if the rangefinder is aligned - at infinity when lens is focussed at infinity and at 1m (something exactly 1m from camera) when lens scale says 1m

 

[SimonK]

I was in the same boat as you a couple of months ago; I found this link very helpful.

http://www.fortunecity.com/marina/marine/569/rusrngfdrs/fed3.html

 

[fidget]

hi angusW, welcome to the forum and congratulations. The FED 3b is a fine shooter with classic lines, it makes a good start.
Before you load film, it's worth a quick check of the basic shutter function. Follow the sticky thread at the top of this FSU section on shutter tensioning. Not that you have to tension anything, just run through the preliminary checks.

Dave....

 

[angusW]

Ondrej, you saw right through me 🙂 . Ok, now I believe I fully understand how the shutter speed dial works and am not afraid I'll break it now.

I've focused on an object exactly 1m away and also an object a couple blocks away and the rangefinder seems to be in focus.


Simon, I found that site yesterday. Very handy indeed.


Dave, I will read that sticky before I put any film into it.

Thanks for the help everyone. I can't wait to start using it.