First pix! Pre-1958 Fed-2

[mike goldberg]

Hi All,

Well, here they three pix, followed by two more.

A WORD ABOUT HARDWARE:
We know my Fed-2 is a pre-1958 model, because of the older
speed designations of 1/25, 1/50, 1/100.
See the CQ Soviet page as well as Fedka on Leica copies.

The J8, 50/2 on the Fed-2 was from an early 1950's production run
at the KMZ factory.
By the way: My 2nd J8 bought from Brian Sweeney, collimated for the
Bessa R, is a 1976 lens from the same KMZ factory; it is much, much better!

Nonetheless, the earlier J8 came through and did quite well.
For convenience, Kodak 400 C41 was used for the test 🙄
Anyhow, RF and shutter speeds are right on, although 1/500 may
be a little slower, as is often the case.

NOTE: Please click on the thumbnails a 2nd time to bring them up to size...
They look much better, large!
- All 3 pix were done at f4.
- The flash shot was at 1/25 for sync.

OK... on to the 2nd Post.
Mike ;-)

 

[mike goldberg]

First pix! Fed-2 continued...

First pix! Fed-2 continued...

Ok, here's two more pix.

Both the Honda Civic detail and the Watering Can were done close-in,
probably around f 5.6-f4. With no click stops on the J8, I find I'm
often in between the marked stops.

So then, I learn from the test that:

- There are no light leaks.

- All shutter speeds work, more or less, as marked.

- The RF at Infinity, and when the lens is racked out to max close focus...
is right on!

- The Kodak 400 B/W C41, exposed at 200, does NOT like overexposure.

- Although this Fed-2, like any camera 45-50 years old could profit from CLA,
this really might not be necessary. With Spring here, it is warming up, and
USING the Fed-2 on warm days will do camera and photographer a lot of good.

NOTE: Please remember to click on the Thumbnails a 2nd time to
bring them up to size.

Cheers, mike 🙂

 

[iml]

Good tonality. That lens seems pretty sharp, too. Looks like a camera to have fun with.

Ian

 

[TVphotog]

Wait, I have a FED 3 with a serial number starting with 55, when did they start production of the FED 3???? Sorry to highjack your thread. The pics look good. I have always heard that the FED 2s were good shooter. I will have to break down and buy one eventually...

 

[mike goldberg]

Hi All...

This for Tvphotog: you'll find more detailed info in the Link below.

http://home.att.net/~wayne.cornell/camera/fedlist.html

Cheers, mike

 

[januaryman]

Funny, I just got mine back as well. A black Fed 2b from Fedka. Works fine. I love it.

http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=fed2b&w=36584127@N00

Done without a meter! Sunny 16ed my way through the whole roll with maybe one real fault.

 

[mike goldberg]

Hi there...
Looks like I've got a new Fed-2 buddy!
And I've got a Fed-50/3.5 Elmar type on the way...
Cheers, mike

 

[januaryman]

Mike, I really like that lens, nice and compact, it has a good tonal quality and decent contrast. I think you'll love it. It makes carrying your Fed 2 around a real breeze.

Let's see some shots ASAP!

 

[gb hill]

Nice shots Mike, but how did you expose the bw400cn at 200 when there is no asa settings on the camera?

 

[arbib]

The Fed and Zorki are really nice compact RF's...After the Leica 2 of course.

Those are great pics, I have a Zorki 1e with a J8. But I haven't got my 1st roll though it to the lab yet. Next week,

The J8 that I had in a Kiev mount was very sharp and had good contrast too. Looks like your J8 is a keeper too.

I too am planning to get a 50/3.5 Collapsible, I think I will get an Industar 50. I hear it is a better lens than the Industar 22

You can get a med size "Lens case" that has a belt hoop, and have a very accessible Fed with small normal or Wide ready to go. I got one from Tenba for $13.00 USD

Enjoy the Fed2..it is a fun camera, Plus the "Thwack" of the cloth shutter is a cool sound.