morgan
Well-known
So I've had my fed5 for a few weeks. The first roll was fine, then on the 2nd roll several frames looked like the winding mechanism wasn't working correctly. Like it wasn't forwarding all the way, but the end of the roll was ok. The next roll seemed ok. But now last week's roll is bad. The first few frames were ok, but after that nothing for most of the frames, one frame in the middle that looked about only 1/3 of the frame was exposed.
So something is up I guess with at least the shutter but what else? I'm not too much on DIY end of things, but I could probably give it a shot, if someone can direct me a bit. Is there somebody stateside who could fix it? I could send it to Oleg but for the shipping and repair cost, I might as well just buy another one from him that's already been gone over. I love this thing (it's my first rangefinder), and it's red, which I like. But is worth getting it fixed...I don't know. I have a Kiev 4 (from Oleg) and a Yashica GSN inbound, but I really like the feel of the fed.
Just looking for a little advice.
So something is up I guess with at least the shutter but what else? I'm not too much on DIY end of things, but I could probably give it a shot, if someone can direct me a bit. Is there somebody stateside who could fix it? I could send it to Oleg but for the shipping and repair cost, I might as well just buy another one from him that's already been gone over. I love this thing (it's my first rangefinder), and it's red, which I like. But is worth getting it fixed...I don't know. I have a Kiev 4 (from Oleg) and a Yashica GSN inbound, but I really like the feel of the fed.
Just looking for a little advice.
comp_wiz101
Compulsive Tinkerer
Well, you could try to fix it yourself. It sounds like the shutter might be capping (closing before it has finished the frame) ... So, I would try giving it a simple Clean Lube and Adjust, and then check it again. If it is still is capping, the shutter curtain tension might be off; you can adjust this yourself as well. I just had that problem with my Zorki 3 and a CLA & Curtain adjust fixed it, as well as making it easier to wind!
Here, try this site for some helpful information: Fed & Zorki survival site
The great thing about these old FSU cameras is that you can do a lot of the repairs yourself, if you like to DIY.
Here, try this site for some helpful information: Fed & Zorki survival site
The great thing about these old FSU cameras is that you can do a lot of the repairs yourself, if you like to DIY.
fidget
Lemon magnet
Have you tried winding and firing the shutter with the camera back and lens off? You would be able to see if it is winding all the way and if the shutter fires nearly right. There is a nice test for the higher shutter speeds here:
http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-135.html
Using this simple procedure will show up all sorts of problems, try it out for several shots at each speed.
From your description so far, I would guess that it may not be trapping the second curtain, allowing it to travel across the film aperture with the first. The first sometimes pulls away from the second giving an effect which looks like capping (where the second catches the first) except that the unexposed portion will be on the left of the picture, thus the right of the film aperture. These effects are real easy to see in Rick Olsens test.
If this is the case, you wouldn't be surprised to learn that it's a simple clean and lube of the release mechanism that will cure it, just as comp_wiz suggests.
Lets us know what you see.
http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-135.html
Using this simple procedure will show up all sorts of problems, try it out for several shots at each speed.
From your description so far, I would guess that it may not be trapping the second curtain, allowing it to travel across the film aperture with the first. The first sometimes pulls away from the second giving an effect which looks like capping (where the second catches the first) except that the unexposed portion will be on the left of the picture, thus the right of the film aperture. These effects are real easy to see in Rick Olsens test.
If this is the case, you wouldn't be surprised to learn that it's a simple clean and lube of the release mechanism that will cure it, just as comp_wiz suggests.
Lets us know what you see.
morgan
Well-known
Thanks guys, I'll check that stuff. I did email fedka for an estimate on a CLA and he cited $60. But for that I could buy another fed5 (probably even 2). So I think I'm going to go the DIY route to start with. I missed delivery of my Yashica on saturday, but I'll have it in my hot mitts tomorrow morning to hold me over while I mess with the Fed. Thanks for the info.
comp_wiz101
Compulsive Tinkerer
If you are going to CLA it, send it to Oleg. He is very well known as the best man for the job.
Spyderman
Well-known
I don't think FED 5 is worth sending to Oleg. Probably just buy another one from him (Oleg) or go the DIY way. I think it's quite easy. And even if you mess it up - FED 5 are cheap. And you will learn a lot. Give it a try. If it goes wrong - you will at least have a "donor" for your next cameras 
PS: If you want to buy another one - try something different - not FED 5... maybe FED 2 or Zorki 4 or 6. The FED 5 is just sooo big. a FED 2 is much smaller and nicer.
PS: If you want to buy another one - try something different - not FED 5... maybe FED 2 or Zorki 4 or 6. The FED 5 is just sooo big. a FED 2 is much smaller and nicer.
comp_wiz101
Compulsive Tinkerer
Good point, that would make more sense.
morgan
Well-known
That was pretty much my point, that it's not really worth getting fixed unless I could do it super cheaply. The thing I like about this Fed is that the body is red. I'd love to try fed2 or 3 (and eventually I'm sure I will), but I really like (and need) the built in light meter still at this point. I was hoping to use the Fed5 as a launching point, and once i got better with metering, pick up a 2 or 3, which i definitely like more than the 5, cosmetically speaking. I seem to consistently underexpose when i go sans meter.
comp_wiz101
Compulsive Tinkerer
well, you could try fixing this one yourself and if you do not succeed, buy a new one!
morgan
Well-known
Yep, that's my plan. I'd like to be able to do minimal maintenance and the fed5 seems like it would be a good one to learn on.
fidget
Lemon magnet
morgan said:
I recently gave in to the urge to get a FED5, I thought that i was safe, very safe from FED5 GAS when I saw the (original) red bodied model, still being sold on thE bay. I just had to have one. As I had heard, the metalwork and covers are a lot poorer than all FEDs that went before, but it looks fine and the meter works accurately. Do you find that the red covering comes away from the body easily? Must be the effect of age (94) on the glue.
I had to clean the inside, the shutter curtains were set with so much tension, it could have been use to chop carrots, the rf was off (aren't they all when you get them) but the camera was without doubt, new as in 94 that is.
morgan
Well-known
Mine is pretty much dead mint. It was super clean. I'm so bummed, the first few rolls shot so well, and now I feel stuck. So the earlier feds are that much a better build than the 5? I'm tempted to send it Oleg, but it just doesn't seem worth the cost. I have another roll of film out from it that was sent out before i got the last bad roll back. I'm hoping that maybe it was just a fluke or something, although I doubt it, since I've seen capping-like effects on a few frames on the roll previous to the bad one.
On another topic, do you guys use an external light meter with your non-meter cameras, or just wing it?
On another topic, do you guys use an external light meter with your non-meter cameras, or just wing it?
rbiemer
Unabashed Amateur
Yes.morgan said:
I have a couple of meters and some times I will take them with me and sometimes not. For me it depends on: How much stuff I want to carry along, what the weather/time of day is, what film I'm shooting, and did I remember it anyway.I mostly shoot 400 speed B&W, so if that's what is in the camera, I'm fairly confident about my ability to get a good exposure under most daylight conditions. That is subject to some caveats: if the weather is nice(I'm lucky in that "sunny 16" works well for where I live) and it's not too close to sunrise/sunset then I'm OK without a meter. If, however, the weather is changing or poor, I will try to remember to bring the meter. If I'm shooting something other than 400 speed, I find it easier to use the meter at least for the first shot or two and then I can go without it(mostly). If I'm shooting indoors, I definitely need a meter. Same for slide film of any speed. And I shoot at night quite a bit so I try to have a meter then.
Except for those times, I don't feel naked with out a meter, though.
Rob
fidget
Lemon magnet
morgan said:
The build quality of earlier FEDs is much better than the FED5, they went cheap on that, using plastic parts, thinner metal top with a strange finish.
You will be buying more, may as well learn how to get the top off, you'll be doing it every time you buy one, if only to clean the optics and light lube the bits under the top. Have you tried the test yet? The first step is to understand what's going wrong.
morgan
Well-known
I finally got to try that test linked above. It's really tough to say. From what I can tell, the shutter movement doesn't seem exactly consistent, although pretty close to what I should be seeing according to the test. Sometimes it looks like the curtains are dragging, others not, mostly from the right side. But it is really tough for me to tell.
fidget
Lemon magnet
Sounds like your CLA is needed. If this FED5 is a keeper, you could buy any older FED cheap to practice on. The disassembly process and shutter release mechanics will be very similar. A FED 4 would be cheap and FED3's are not going for much and can (IMHO) be very good performers.
Good luck.
Good luck.