fed2+Nokton50/1.5: good friends?

[spiderfrank]

Hi guys, I recently bought a very nice Fed2, and decided to test it with my beautiful Nokton 50 f1.5: I must say it's a well balanced combo, and the 67mm base of the rangefinder (plus dioptric correction) is really a great "bonus" for critical focusing at full aperture. Also, the camera is very smooth, and my impression is that shooting in low light should be easier than with the Bessa R... Is there anyone who tried to use the same combo? Any comment / consideration ?

 

[jarski]

do you have pics of this combo to share ?

I have few Ruskie Jupiter lenses, but no body yet. been reading good things about Fed-2, and sent queries to Fedka about some cameras they have on sale. would like to avoid buying "ready for sending to CLA" body, and buy instead "ready to use" one 🙂

 

[spiderfrank]

in this old thread some shots:

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=77217&highlight=spiderfrank

 

[Denis M.]

I used a Fed 2 and 50 Nokton combo for some shots wide open at the slowest speed pushing to 1600 (I have two in the gallery).

The rangefinder, while accurate and bright (for a FSU RF) doesn't have the contrast that I'd like for low light shooting.

The FED 3, while heavier with a dim rangefinder and a short throw, actually works better for the same situation because it has more contrast. Being heavy also helps in keeping it stable at 1/30, and I can get some shots at 1/15 once in awhile (I can't get anything at 1/10 though). There are other thing against it, it's not as ergonomic as the FED 2, etc, but in my opinion I found it to work better.

Of course I just realized that I don't have any shots in my gallery with the FED 3 + Nokton, so take this with a grain of salt!

 

[brachal]

Contrast in the viewfinder can be increased by putting a small circle of tinted film or plastic in the rangefinder window. I think some people have actually used exposed film for this.

 

[Denis M.]

Taking the idea, I took some left over film clips and cut them so I could slide them in to the Fed 2 viewfinder window. Worked pretty well for contrast.

But of course now it's darker, but you can't have everything I guess, though I could easily take it out again.

 

[brachal]

Taking the idea, I took some left over film clips and cut them so I could slide them in to the Fed 2 viewfinder window. Worked pretty well for contrast.

But of course now it's darker, but you can't have everything I guess, though I could easily take it out again.

Did you put them in the rangefinder window (on the left as you look at the front of the camera) or the viewfinder window (the larger window on the right as you look at the front of the camera)? I think if you tint the rangefinder window it will increase the rf patch's contrast without darkening the overall view ... which is already pretty dim on a fed.