FSU Dealers

ray*j*gun

ray*j*gun

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A while back (over 2 years now) there were members here that felt comfortable with an E*ay dealer named "The best from Russia and Ukraine" also known as confdntart. He has a camera that interests me and I was hoping to get some current feedback on his products and service. Any comments would be appreciated!! Thanks!!
 
I would give it some time. I have seen that seller on ebay, but never bought anything. I do seem to remember good feedback numbers. I don't remember what, but I also seem to remember whenever I read the listings by this seller that there were some flags. I just can't recall what they were. Anyway, as I said, the feedback seemed OK, and you say members here used to speak favorably, so perhaps OK to buy.
 
Thanks for the reply. The feedback in the *bay is good but I tend to discount that whole system anymore. I actually found the vendor thru recommendations from RFF folks but that was a while ago.
 
I think this seller has been discussed previously on here. IIRC, there were a couple of dissenters but most said they were happy. This is only my recollection, I've not used them myself. Maybe searching the forum will turn up the posts?
 
I have bought a FED5c, two Kiev 4am and a Jupiter-12 lens from him. The Kievs were nice, the Fed had a light leak at slower speeds (below 1/30). He offered to replace it, but I got it fixed locally. I wouldn't blame him for that specifically, the FSU cameras are always hit-and-miss. Hope you have good luck with your purchases.
 
Drago said:
There's no right feedback with fsu cameras. Always expect the unexpected :)
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Really? and you have all the experience in the world to know huh:bang:
go read the Leica threads and count all the repair issues then count em then and get back with your findings.:rolleyes:

For the OP. I have just recently purchased a Moskva from this seller. Camera arrived in better condition than the pictures, communication was very good.

Far too much angst with FSU sellers, I mean really, I get ripped off often by my own countrymen and I am sure the same happens with you guys.Lawyers, accountants, investment advisors,electricians, plumbers, mechanics..yet we are so worried about the pitfalls of purchasing a 60 year old camera from `the others`....`the others` are capitalists now:D
 
DO remember that these are elderly cameras, in many cases, and they will occasionally have some issues. I would recommend fedka.com for a reliable source in the US. Yuri not only stands behind his stuff, but he gets back to you very quickly, as well.

With best regards.

Pfreddee(Stephen)
 
Far too much angst with FSU sellers
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My own experience is the same. I have bought maybe 20 or more items from unknown FSU sellers with little feedback. Never got a misrepresentation. Most of the cameras, and all of the lenses, worked right out of the package; all items worked nicely after the regulation CLA for these old items.

This average is way better than what I got from other countries when buying old, mostly unattended and cheap gear.

Fear not.
 
Thank you ........... I have dealt with fedka (NY City) in the past as well as other FSU dealers from the eastern bloc with good results but I was hoping to get some current feedback which you have provided. Thanks again!
 
pakeha said:
Really? and you have all the experience in the world to know huh:bang:
go read the Leica threads and count all the repair issues then count em then and get back with your findings.:rolleyes:

For the OP. I have just recently purchased a Moskva from this seller. Camera arrived in better condition than the pictures, communication was very good.

Far too much angst with FSU sellers, I mean really, I get ripped off often by my own countrymen and I am sure the same happens with you guys.Lawyers, accountants, investment advisors,electricians, plumbers, mechanics..yet we are so worried about the pitfalls of purchasing a 60 year old camera from `the others`....`the others` are capitalists now:D
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I'm not bashing the fsu stuff. In fact i'm from east europe and here they'r so common you can buy them basicly for free. I myself have used zenits , zorkis , kiev and so on and while they'r good cameras - yes, they could always break in the middle of the film and the quality is not so good :) I'm just saying to the OP , that he should have in mind that a CLA would be probably needed, no matter of the condition
 
I bought a lens directly from fedka in July. Yuri was very helpful with immediate delivery, and the Industar-22 was in great condition. I have no reservations in buying from him again, as I will soon.

Pete
 
Drago said:
I'm not bashing the fsu stuff. In fact i'm from east europe and here they'r so common you can buy them basicly for free. I myself have used zenits , zorkis , kiev and so on and while they'r good cameras - yes, they could always break in the middle of the film and the quality is not so good :) I'm just saying to the OP , that he should have in mind that a CLA would be probably needed, no matter of the condition
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yes I could work out from your user name where you are from in the same way that I could work out from ray-j-gun that with 1354 posts he has probably heard it all before, as I am sure he has heard that yuri `stands behind his goods`.

regards
 
Over the past few years I have bought several pieces from "Asterliks", and have been happy with all purchases..good luck!
 
Yes John, Asterliks is one of my saved sellers. Another vendor that is great and only sells refurbs is Synoptics Camera (hero4g) I have 2 of his cameras and they are truly special.....however limited selection and poor communicator.

Very helpful responses thank you all!
 
Talking of communication, has anyone tried writing to a dealer in the English speaking world in Russian, Ukrainian and so on? We need the facts for a valid comparison...

Regards, David

PS More than happy with my purchases from overseas, btw. And FEDs etc are cheaper to repair...
 
I would like to add a some updated information for an FSU dealer trading as 'moscowphoto' on eBay. Before buying from Eastern Europe I spent quite some time reading comments on this site and elsewhere about dealers in Eastern Europe. Most of what I found was quite old. Comments about 'moscowphoto' criticised him for never showing serial numbers in photographs questioning whether this might be a ploy to use photographs that were not of the actual item. However, when I went back to eBay I found that most of his items were listed with serial numbers in both decriptions and photographs. The main exception was some lenses in only reasonable condition which were listed generically and were shown with several being available thus making it obvious that the photographs could only be typical. I eventually took the plunge and ordered a Kiev 4A from him along with a Jupiter 12. My parcel arrived two days ago, exactly 14 days after the purchase was made.

The camera is of 1968 vintage and came with original Jupiter 8M & cap, reloadable cassette, takeup spool, manual (in Russian), ever-ready case, original box and the original 'Passport' which shows that the lens is the original. All items are very clean and in superb condition and the shutter speeds sound good. The rangefinder is clear and contrasty with perfect vertical alignment.

The Jupiter 12 (a black variant from 1985) is virtually mint - I say virtually because two of the ridges on the knurled focusing ring have slight amounts of bright metal where the paint has rubbed. When I say slight I mean just the tops of the ridges and less than half a millimetre in length - in other words two tiny bright spots!! The lens came with its' original bakelite container, both caps and its' 'Passport'.

The parcel was despatched two working days after I placed the order and Mika from 'moscowphoto' emailed me to inform me. Delivery was promised within 15 working days and a tracking number was given. The items were well packed with bubble wrap and foam sheet in a stout box that appears to be one supplied by the Russian Post Office.

I'm just waiting for some film now to give the camera a trial, but impressions so far are that I could not have done better. Based on my experience I would recommend this dealer to anyone.
 
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