iphoenix
Well-known
Hi, has anyone yet discovered one of the first 30 Feds that were copies of the Leica 1(a)? I'd love to see a picture of one.
Fed - first 30
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Jacques M.
Established
Alas no. None of them reappeared.
Just a photo in Princelle's book, from a Fricke's document.
Tell me if you find one!
Amitiés. Jacques.
Just a photo in Princelle's book, from a Fricke's document.
Tell me if you find one!
Amitiés. Jacques.
Dralowid
Michael
I did find a picture of one on the internet...somewhere...ah, here it is!
http://www.fedka.com/Useful_info/Commune_by_Fricke/commune_A.htm
Scroll down a bit and you'll find it.
The earliest I have is s/n 8344 which is a well made and useable camera.
www.sovietcams.com has them all nicely catalogued.
http://www.fedka.com/Useful_info/Commune_by_Fricke/commune_A.htm
Scroll down a bit and you'll find it.
The earliest I have is s/n 8344 which is a well made and useable camera.
www.sovietcams.com has them all nicely catalogued.
iphoenix
Well-known
Thank you, you have answered a question which I have been unable to answer from any other camera website.:bang:
I have a 4 digit camera (9153) which appeared to be a Leica I(c), (with no hockey stick and a no number Elmar); and has the s/no. of a I(a), but it's black body had been stripped back to almost a galvanized finish.
The picture shows 3 screws on the front of the top plate; my camera has one in the centre, as should a Leica.
A couple of years ago I had it serviced, but there was no confirmation that it was a Leica. They simply charged me twice the price I'd paid for it.
Again, thanks. 😀😀
johannielscom
Snorting silver salts
To rule out any obvious fakes, try my page here: http://johanniels.com/camera-gear-articles/61-leica-true-or-fake
After that, it gets less obvious, the first FED's (according to forum members on ussrphoto.com) allegedly had a wheel rangefinder coupling like the Leica's, later ones had a pointed rangefinder coupling, or a block-shaped one. So a FED from the first 30 should have a wheel shaped rangefinder coupling and could be mistaken for a Leica II.
After that, it gets less obvious, the first FED's (according to forum members on ussrphoto.com) allegedly had a wheel rangefinder coupling like the Leica's, later ones had a pointed rangefinder coupling, or a block-shaped one. So a FED from the first 30 should have a wheel shaped rangefinder coupling and could be mistaken for a Leica II.
Dralowid
Michael
Johan, I think we are talking about a camera without a rangefinder.
If we are, it sounds like an early 'I' that has been modernised to a certain extent and I assume 'standardised'. Is there an 'O' on the camera's lens mount?
Most of the 'I' fakes I have seen have been pretty obvious apart from the beautifully crafted Anastigmat ones.
With that low a s/n does it have a 'mushroom' shutter release and what does the catch on the bottom look like? Black in the middle? Mind you, these often do get changed.
If the OP would like to post a few pics of theirs it would be interesting to have a look, the 'galvanised' finish sounds odd, should be brass if stripped, maybe it was someone's attempt at a chrome type finish.
Here's a pick of a 'converted and standardised' 'I' that I used to have...leather covered (no comment!) Note the lens flange is smaller than the camera flange, which is usual on a conversion and you can just see the top of the 'O' appearing at 12 o'clock
IMG_0666-001 by dralowid, on Flickr
If we are, it sounds like an early 'I' that has been modernised to a certain extent and I assume 'standardised'. Is there an 'O' on the camera's lens mount?
Most of the 'I' fakes I have seen have been pretty obvious apart from the beautifully crafted Anastigmat ones.
With that low a s/n does it have a 'mushroom' shutter release and what does the catch on the bottom look like? Black in the middle? Mind you, these often do get changed.
If the OP would like to post a few pics of theirs it would be interesting to have a look, the 'galvanised' finish sounds odd, should be brass if stripped, maybe it was someone's attempt at a chrome type finish.
Here's a pick of a 'converted and standardised' 'I' that I used to have...leather covered (no comment!) Note the lens flange is smaller than the camera flange, which is usual on a conversion and you can just see the top of the 'O' appearing at 12 o'clock
IMG_0666-001 by dralowid, on Flickr
johannielscom
Snorting silver salts
Ah Michael, of course you're right! :bang:
Once it comes to the pre-RF camera's, I'm as ignorant as most so I'd better leave this to those in the know and read along so I might get educated! 😉
Once it comes to the pre-RF camera's, I'm as ignorant as most so I'd better leave this to those in the know and read along so I might get educated! 😉
Dralowid
Michael
Johan,
I too have a habit of replying to emails from my own perspective, often ignoring the content! Must be age.
Some of the early Fed Is have collimation holes in the back and a scallop in the viewfinder window exactly like a Leica II. Very early Feds are rare and desirable. I'm sure they are now worth much more than the camera on which they were based.
The world of early Leicas is full of mangled and modified cameras that have suffered from generations of people trying out their own 'good ideas'. Having said all that they can be fun but are now too expensive to be fun...
The OP is from Melbourne, isn't there a camera shop there (Elizabeth Street???) with a reasonable collection of Leicas in its museum upstairs?
I too have a habit of replying to emails from my own perspective, often ignoring the content! Must be age.
Some of the early Fed Is have collimation holes in the back and a scallop in the viewfinder window exactly like a Leica II. Very early Feds are rare and desirable. I'm sure they are now worth much more than the camera on which they were based.
The world of early Leicas is full of mangled and modified cameras that have suffered from generations of people trying out their own 'good ideas'. Having said all that they can be fun but are now too expensive to be fun...
The OP is from Melbourne, isn't there a camera shop there (Elizabeth Street???) with a reasonable collection of Leicas in its museum upstairs?
iphoenix
Well-known
Thank you Michael and Johan,Johan, I think we are talking about a camera without a rangefinder.
If we are, it sounds like an early 'I' that has been modernised to a certain extent and I assume 'standardised'. Is there an 'O' on the camera's lens mount?
Most of the 'I' fakes I have seen have been pretty obvious apart from the beautifully crafted Anastigmat ones.
With that low a s/n does it have a 'mushroom' shutter release and what does the catch on the bottom look like? Black in the middle? Mind you, these often do get changed.
If the OP would like to post a few pics of theirs it would be interesting to have a look, the 'galvanised' finish sounds odd, should be brass if stripped, maybe it was someone's attempt at a chrome type finish.
Here's a pick of a 'converted and standardised' 'I' that I used to have...leather covered (no comment!) Note the lens flange is smaller than the camera flange, which is usual on a conversion and you can just see the top of the 'O' appearing at 12 o'clock
My camera seems to have a mild dose of schitzophrenia:
-The shutter release is identical to that in your photo.
-The accessory shoe is the plain rectangular type, not shaped.
-The camera flange has an "O" at 12 o'clock.
-The lens flange is the same size as the camera flange.
-The lens has infinity lock, with infinity at the 7 o'clock position.
-The finder has the word "Germany" stamped on it, on the accessory shoe side.
-Inside the baseplate is scratched the name and address of a Munich resident.
-The camera has a collimation hole at the back.
I have visited that particular camera store in Elizabeth St. some years ago and seen their excellent museum. Unfortunately health problems prevent me from travelling the 75 km into the city and back, to do so again. I hope also, to eventually learn how to post a picture on this forum. At present though, it is beyond me.
If you can give me your thoughts based on the above, I would greatly appreciate it.
Kind Regards,
David
RichL
Well-known
David From your description it appears you have a Leica I that was factory modified to accept interchangeable lenses. The 'O' means it will correctly focus any of the Lecia screw mount lenses. A modified camera without the "O" means that each lens has to be culminated for that particular camera. RichL
Dralowid
Michael
David,
Think we are there, all I'd add is that the square accessory shoe is later than the shaped one. It seems to appear on a I at the introduction of the Leica Standard (E). This, the seven o'clock and the same size lenses flanges suggests a later conversion, mid thirties maybe? Who knows for sure...
Is the rewind knob small or large like my pic?
The word 'Germany' implies an export model.
As to posting pics, forget the method on the site. Load your pic up onto Flikr or something similar, copy the BBC code and paste that into your message.
This thread should really be in the Leica ltm section now!
Think we are there, all I'd add is that the square accessory shoe is later than the shaped one. It seems to appear on a I at the introduction of the Leica Standard (E). This, the seven o'clock and the same size lenses flanges suggests a later conversion, mid thirties maybe? Who knows for sure...
Is the rewind knob small or large like my pic?
The word 'Germany' implies an export model.
As to posting pics, forget the method on the site. Load your pic up onto Flikr or something similar, copy the BBC code and paste that into your message.
This thread should really be in the Leica ltm section now!
David Hughes
David Hughes
Hi,
Dralowid, it's interesting that on your one the lens was not upgraded by having the DoF scale added, that was a standard thing at one time but perhaps not an automatic standard thing...
At the rate things are going, Leicas will soon be used as the basis for early FED fakes!
Regards, David
Dralowid, it's interesting that on your one the lens was not upgraded by having the DoF scale added, that was a standard thing at one time but perhaps not an automatic standard thing...
At the rate things are going, Leicas will soon be used as the basis for early FED fakes!
Regards, David
Dralowid
Michael
Now that is a a great idea. But trying to match the scary finish both of chrome (or what looks like galvanising) and those early Fed coverings, some shiny, some like hard textured tar, would be worse than matching vulcanite!
Michael
iphoenix
Well-known
The rewind knob is large, like your photo, and like yours, has 8 rows of knurrling .
As to posting pictures, I think I would first have to get a Digital camera, second, relate to it, third, find out how to get its' images onto my 4 Y.O laptop, so I could send them.
Rest assured, I'm trying to understand how to send pictures through this infernal machine:bang::bang:!!
Regards, David
Dralowid
Michael
David,
75k outside Melbourne? You have electricity? Or is there an old generator in a tin shed?😀
We spent an enjoyable 3 months+ working and living in Melbourne (and Willy), tried to make every weekend an adventure. Hope the weather is shaping up now.
You could just plonk the camera on a scanner if you have one.
Michael
75k outside Melbourne? You have electricity? Or is there an old generator in a tin shed?😀
We spent an enjoyable 3 months+ working and living in Melbourne (and Willy), tried to make every weekend an adventure. Hope the weather is shaping up now.
You could just plonk the camera on a scanner if you have one.
Michael
iphoenix
Well-known
Actually Michael, my generator is under a "lean-to" at the back of my humpy.😀
In fact I live in Rosebud, on the Mornington Peninsula. I just use Melbourne as my location because more people know where Melbourne is, than Rosebud.
We've had a cool change, so today should get to only 22 degrees C. Yesterday was 29.
Thank you to you and to everyone else, for answering my questions about why this camera is as it is.
Rgds, David
In fact I live in Rosebud, on the Mornington Peninsula. I just use Melbourne as my location because more people know where Melbourne is, than Rosebud.
We've had a cool change, so today should get to only 22 degrees C. Yesterday was 29.
Thank you to you and to everyone else, for answering my questions about why this camera is as it is.
Rgds, David
Dralowid
Michael
David...I had to look up 'humpy'.
Great place to live, good luck with the camera
Michael
Great place to live, good luck with the camera
Michael
David Hughes
David Hughes
Hi,
It's not the age of the laptop but the memory that you should worry about if using digital. A few pictures at 12 megapixels and the memory's filled. Better to buy an elderly one for a couple of pounds and post 1 or 2 megapixel pictures. It's all you really need. You could even find one that takes AA's and recharge then from a small solar panel...
Regards, David
It's not the age of the laptop but the memory that you should worry about if using digital. A few pictures at 12 megapixels and the memory's filled. Better to buy an elderly one for a couple of pounds and post 1 or 2 megapixel pictures. It's all you really need. You could even find one that takes AA's and recharge then from a small solar panel...
Regards, David
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