FED 5 - Opinions?

[SimonK]

Among the FEDs, it seems that a brand spanking still-in-the-box new FED 5 B or C can be had fairly cheaply; around $40. Obviously there will not be any abuse issues with one of these (I guess) but are there any other issues to be aware of?

 

[Spyderman]

Poor assembly and finish ? Dried grease from non-use ?

(Horror story: fungus and rust all over the body ? 😱)

I don't know, but as you said: at least you know it hasn't been abused. But I'd choose a Oleg CLA'd FED-2 over brand new FED-5 anytime.

 

[xayraa33]

Roughly made, but with a great lens, the sharpest FSU 50mm around.
Since they are found new, they are the least troublesome.
I found the Fed 5 to be very reliable and rugged.
its film lever wind mechanism puts the one on the Zorki 4k to shame.

All that a Fed 5 out of the box seems to ever need is an RF alignment.

 

[wolves3012]

As spyderman says, congealed grease due to age and poor finish on many. The "new" ones should really be regarded as "unused". I've yet to find an Industar 61 that didn't need a clean and re-lube, not that it's hard to do. The looks of the beast are, of course, subjective but most think them ugly. As a user they're competent, however.

 

[timmyd18]

if you're going to get one, go for the C version. that meter is mighty nice sometimes. plus it looks cool

 

[PhotoJim]

I wouldn't get it as your only FSU shooter, but these cameras are worth owning. They work as well as any of the others, but don't give that tactile pleasure you can get from a nice Fed 2.

Still, I put a roll of Superia 400 into mine and shot most of the roll with my Industar-61LD yesterday. My niece still thinks there should be a preview LCD on the back, but...

 

[SCOTFORTHLAD]

I have a nice one,purchased from Cupog for practically nothing.🙂
Not a pretty camera,but certainly does the job,with it's I61L/D.No yobbo is ever going to want to snatch such a utilitarian machine out of my hands.

Besides which, I enjoy people looking at me as an eccentric when they see it around my neck.😉

Brian

 

[newspaperguy]

As said - great lens - worth the price just for that. Good ghetto carry.

Be careful if you wear eyeglasses... the viewfinder surround (diopter

adjustment) has VERY sharp edges and will ruin a pair of glasses in one

outing. (Don' t ask.) :bang:

 

[kievman]

My Fed 5-b suffers from none of those fore -mention problems. The finish is fine, Rangefinder patch lines up fine. It works realtively smoothly. It built like a russian tank and quite heavy. only complaint is the viewfinder. definitlely not as good as the kievs But a lsm Rangefinder for 12.00 W/ case! who can beat it? Maybe I got lucky?!?!? - Michael

 

[moretto]

Got a Fed 5 and a 4 too. Perfect condition, both with I61. 5 has a L/D. I like to use them, but don't like to look at them. Still haven't decided which one is more ugly.