Dralowid
Michael
For an earlyish (pre war) Fed should the lens cap be so called 'satin chrome' or something that looks like black resin or plastic?
David Hughes
David Hughes
Hi,
In the "Miniature Camera Magazine" of November 1941 there's an article about the FED and Leica model II. The pictures includes one of the FED with the standard lens and the 100mm and it looks to me as though they are the satin chrome.
I hunted for one for ages and then found this:-
But, here it comes, in the magazine's photo the 100mm lens had the version with the step down round the edge. Here's a photo showing the Leitz and KMZ version of the shape of the cap but with the newer FED logo.
So you pays yer money and makes yer choice.
Hope this helps; regards, David
PS Trivia like this drives you mad. I'd love to know when the red paint was dropped from the word "Leica" on the lid of the FILCA tin...
PPS And when did the paint on the Leitz cardboard boxes change from "gold" to black print or vice versa?
PPPS And my 100mm FED lens came with the first version mentioned...
In the "Miniature Camera Magazine" of November 1941 there's an article about the FED and Leica model II. The pictures includes one of the FED with the standard lens and the 100mm and it looks to me as though they are the satin chrome.
I hunted for one for ages and then found this:-
But, here it comes, in the magazine's photo the 100mm lens had the version with the step down round the edge. Here's a photo showing the Leitz and KMZ version of the shape of the cap but with the newer FED logo.
So you pays yer money and makes yer choice.
Hope this helps; regards, David
PS Trivia like this drives you mad. I'd love to know when the red paint was dropped from the word "Leica" on the lid of the FILCA tin...
PPS And when did the paint on the Leitz cardboard boxes change from "gold" to black print or vice versa?
PPPS And my 100mm FED lens came with the first version mentioned...
johannielscom
Snorting silver salts
Used to have a FED Komandirski (with the 1/1000 top speed and the 2.0/50mm Summar clone lens) and it came with a flat-faced lens cap for the lens. Later I found the 6.3/100mm lens and when I sourced a cap for that, I looked for the flat-faced type again.
David, the setup in the first picture is not original. The Summar clone lens was supplied with FED cameras with the old script, not the big curly-swooshy logo.
David, the setup in the first picture is not original. The Summar clone lens was supplied with FED cameras with the old script, not the big curly-swooshy logo.
David Hughes
David Hughes
Thanks, I've managed to sort them out since then but it was an old photograph of mine. I never have the time to do all these things...
Also people will play "mix and match" with them. :-(
Regards, David
Dralowid
Michael
georg16nik
Member
satin chrome cap with the classic typeface, first photo from David's post above.
Johan, the Komdandirskie lens elements use different glass, thickness, curves; and most samples I've seen, exhibit strongly pronounced iridescent blooming, got 10 blades instead of 6, longish barell, different wide open rendering etc.
Keep both caps
David Hughes
David Hughes
Hi,
Interesting about the f/2 FED, one of mine is quite clearly uncoated and the other is nicely blue in colour on the front element.
They have two numbers on the base of the flange to add to the puzzle; one could be the serial number and the other the last three or two digits of the body, perhaps.
Regards, David
Interesting about the f/2 FED, one of mine is quite clearly uncoated and the other is nicely blue in colour on the front element.
They have two numbers on the base of the flange to add to the puzzle; one could be the serial number and the other the last three or two digits of the body, perhaps.
Regards, David
georg16nik
Member
Sounds like one of your lenses was non-factory coated at some point.
I got 2, one exhibits very strong iridescent blooming on all elements surfaces, the other shows weaker blooming, likely due to a particular climate environment worked the less bloomed glass differently.
I got 2, one exhibits very strong iridescent blooming on all elements surfaces, the other shows weaker blooming, likely due to a particular climate environment worked the less bloomed glass differently.
Dralowid
Michael
OK, I'll keep both caps!
It would be great too see some pics of early Feds with low serial numbers, say four figures and below if anyone has any?
It would be great too see some pics of early Feds with low serial numbers, say four figures and below if anyone has any?
David Hughes
David Hughes
Hi,
I'll second that.
I think FEDs, and Leicas too, suffer because parts are interchangeable and that's just what people do. Especially the wicked dealers; so you never are quite 100% certain about anything. Especially since ebay is the biggest resource for pictures of them.
Regards, David
I'll second that.
I think FEDs, and Leicas too, suffer because parts are interchangeable and that's just what people do. Especially the wicked dealers; so you never are quite 100% certain about anything. Especially since ebay is the biggest resource for pictures of them.
Regards, David
Dralowid
Michael
OK David, I'll start a thread but only have one to contribute. I tend to use teh Sovietcams website as a starting point...
Michael
Michael
David Hughes
David Hughes
Right, I'll get my Anti-GAS suit on...
Seriously, I look on the internet from time to time but never can be sure about anything as no two people agree. Worse still, that's really no 200 people agree.
Also, I doubt if the cameras are completely as per the spec. as, like a lot of others, I guess they were improving the design and modifying bits but not introducing them consistently. So the variations sort of merge into each other. Especially the unseen ones which are what trip us all up at times. Not that I can swank about the obvious as I've a Standard Leica with a IIIa shutter speed dial and heaven knows what else "wrong" on it.
Ditto my CCCP Kombinat's and so on.
Regards, David
geoffox23
Member
More interesting details and photos at the ussrphoto dot com website. See also the dvdtechcameras site.
Probably a flat satin lens cover as in David's shot would be correct for pre-war.
Cheers
Geoff
David Hughes
David Hughes
Hi,
Interesting two sites, thanks.
I figured the flat satin cap was right as there were so few seen on ebay; rarity meaning old age as I saw it...
Regards, David
David Hughes
David Hughes
Hi,
I've been searching for and then through some notes I made years ago when starting to get a few FEDs and so on.
It seems from my anonymous note that metal caps were pre-war and used for Khrakov and Berdsk's cameras; with - obviously - the Siberian ones being pre-war stock salvaged/rescued from Khrakov in 1941/42.
Then the new FED production of 1948 or 49 used the Bakelite caps. I also found and read the article I mentioned from 1941 and an indignant letter to the editor of 1942. Point being that the Leica and FED shown for comparison both had the flat metal caps, as in my first photograph.
Regards, David
PS So when did Leica start using the Bakelite caps? More worries...
I've been searching for and then through some notes I made years ago when starting to get a few FEDs and so on.
It seems from my anonymous note that metal caps were pre-war and used for Khrakov and Berdsk's cameras; with - obviously - the Siberian ones being pre-war stock salvaged/rescued from Khrakov in 1941/42.
Then the new FED production of 1948 or 49 used the Bakelite caps. I also found and read the article I mentioned from 1941 and an indignant letter to the editor of 1942. Point being that the Leica and FED shown for comparison both had the flat metal caps, as in my first photograph.
Regards, David
PS So when did Leica start using the Bakelite caps? More worries...