FSU vs Russian Leica copy

[Jocko]

Hallo shadowfox! Bottom loading is a lot less trouble than you think! I dreaded it, but it really isn't so bad. Again, my experience with e-bay FSUs has been pretty good, particularly if you intend to get the camera serviced: they are old and could usually do with a good going over 🙂

As for cameras - I love FED 1s, but the Fed 2 is a wonderfully sound design and the Kievs have an passionate following, Neither of the latter should pose any problems. The Zorki 6 is perhaps the least eccentric of all the FSUs, with a swing rear door - it was in fact the basis for the Zenit SLR and is a thoroughly good camera, combining the Fed long-base RF with a elegant, modern Zorki design
Cheers, Ian

 

[vanyagor]

Yes, films have leaders already cut, but the bottom loading cameras need an extra long leader.

Hm. Could be. But I'm using my bottom loading fed 1 from 1937 with standard fim without cutting anything extra. (1 time film got stuck probably because I did not cut more, but on all other ocasions it worked fine)

 

[shadowfox]

Gas attack! you guys have pushed me over the edge! My interest has been more than piqued 🙂

I just won a bid for a clean looking Zorki 4 with Industar 50mm/3.5 (a bit slow lens compared to my Olympus SPn, but at least I can replace it).

Anybody likes Zorki 4? what are yer experiences and where to get it CLA'd (I live in Texas).

 

[Jocko]

One of us! one of us!

The only people who don't like Zorki 4s are those who wear glasses, can't see all the viewfinder and are eaten up with insane jealousy. I wear glasses - I hate 'em!

The Zorki 4 is a very sound choice 🙂.

Many people here habitually get cameras CLA'd by the much praised Oleg - incidentally, it's also often a good idea to get new shutter blinds...

This is Oleg - http://www.okvintagecamera.com/address.htm - but there have been recent reports of e-mail troubles....

Fedka, a respected camera dealer in the USA, has apparently started offering a similar service - http://www.fedka.com/catalog/default.php?cPath=48 - but i've not yet seen comments on this.

Cheers, Ian

 

[Tarzak]

One of us! one of us!

The only people who don't like Zorki 4s are those who wear glasses, can't see all the viewfinder and are eaten up with insane jealousy. I wear glasses - I hate 'em!

The Zorki 4 is a very sound choice 🙂.

Many people here habitually get cameras CLA'd by the much praised Oleg - incidentally, it's also often a good idea to get new shutter blinds...

This is Oleg - http://www.okvintagecamera.com/address.htm - but there have been recent reports of e-mail troubles....


Cheers, Ian

I like my Zorki 4 but my Zorki 3 is more pretty.

I just did a purchase (Iskra) from Oleg a few days ago and the camera is very good, his email response were (mostly) prompt. He is in a different time zone after all. I'd go through him again without reservation. The mail arrived within a week and that's to a town in Australia.

With your Z4, I hope that it has the engraved shutter speeds. If it does not, take care with them as they will (eventually) wear off.
Was the take-up spool mentioned in your ebey ad?

FSU is FUN!

squinty though

 

[David Murphy]

I recently picked a Mir body on eBay for $20 -- it's pretty impressive for the money. The Mir is a Zorki 4 without slow shutter speeds. It is not as well made as a Leica, but its easier to load and certainly a serious effort at a camera. However, if you can afford a Voigtlander Bessa R (about $180 used, $250 new) that's the best starter RF in my opinion. It's easy and reliable with modern conveniences and it works well.

 

[kmack]

You poor SOB, the Z4 is a good choice, It was also my first FSU camera, then came the Fed 2, then the Kiev 4, then the Zorki 1, the Kiev II, Kiev III ...

Next thing you know you are looking at FKD's

It never ends...

 

[oscroft]

But I'm using my bottom loading fed 1 from 1937 with standard fim without cutting anything extra

Hmm, that's interesting. I've always cut long leaders because "you're supposed to" - I might try without.

 

[oscroft]

Industar 50mm/3.5 (a bit slow lens compared to my Olympus SPn, but at least I can replace it)

Try it before you replace it, and you might be pleasantly surprised - it's a good lens.

 

[vanyagor]

Hmm, that's interesting. I've always cut long leaders because "you're supposed to" - I might try without.

Be carefull though. I did run into problem onece when film would not engage. Might be because I did not cut it. On other ocasions it worked fine though.

 

[lushd]

Hi - Zorki 4 is an excellent choice. As enjoyable to handle as a Bessa R.

As to the film leader thing - I have tried without cutting a leader and no joy at all. It just wouldn't work.

I might be slightly worried that the film is going through the camera OK but losing bits of itself inside the camera. The reason for the extra leader is to get over tearing the film and having to fish bits out of the mechanisam.

 

[shadowfox]

Try it before you replace it, and you might be pleasantly surprised - it's a good lens.

I'm glad to hear this. I usually use faster lenses because of my photography style. I don't use flash and I often shoot b&w indoor in my church. That's why I'm worried that 3.5 may not be big enough aperture.

 

[shadowfox]

Hi - Zorki 4 is an excellent choice. As enjoyable to handle as a Bessa R.

As to the film leader thing - I have tried without cutting a leader and no joy at all. It just wouldn't work.

I might be slightly worried that the film is going through the camera OK but losing bits of itself inside the camera. The reason for the extra leader is to get over tearing the film and having to fish bits out of the mechanisam.

Hi lushd, are you referring to the Z4 (hah, the camera hasn't arrived yet, and I already have a pet name for it 🙂 ) when you say that it sometimes "eat" the film? from other folks in this thread, I got the impression that you only need to make extra leader for bottom-loader cameras, not back-opening ones like Zorki 4.

 

[wolves3012]

Hi lushd, are you referring to the Z4 (hah, the camera hasn't arrived yet, and I already have a pet name for it 🙂 ) when you say that it sometimes "eat" the film? from other folks in this thread, I got the impression that you only need to make extra leader for bottom-loader cameras, not back-opening ones like Zorki 4.

You're right, he wasn't referring to the Z4 when mentioning cutting film. The Z4 has a removeable back and doesn't require cutting film leaders. FSUs don't generally "eat films" but the bottom loaders are more of a problem for removing chippings if a film does lose fragments.

The Z4 is a great choice, it has a nice big bright finder. They usually have the Jupiter 8 lens, which is f/2 and a fine lens; you may find f/3.5 limiting for interior scenes. I think the consensus would be that one FSU leads to more, beware

If the camera needs some tlc and you're adept with jewellers screwdrivers, do it yourself. It's not hard to pull a Z4 apart, clean, lube, adjust it and get it all working nicely - just needs some time to spare! I'm most of the way through DIY CLA article on the 4K, which I'll be posting soon for anyone interested...

 

[lushd]

Hi lushd, are you referring to the Z4 (hah, the camera hasn't arrived yet, and I already have a pet name for it 🙂 ) when you say that it sometimes "eat" the film? from other folks in this thread, I got the impression that you only need to make extra leader for bottom-loader cameras, not back-opening ones like Zorki 4.

Hi

Sorry for being vague - yes I meant the bottom loaders eat film if you don't cut a leader. The Z4 will take it as supplied. I really hope you enjoy the Zorki - I started rangefinder photography with one and now I have two crates full!

 

[Sylvaticus]

As to the film leader thing - I have tried without cutting a leader and no joy at all. It just wouldn't work. ..... I might be slightly worried that the film is going through the camera OK but losing bits of itself inside the camera. The reason for the extra leader is to get over tearing the film and having to fish bits out of the mechanisam.

There is a classic check you can do on any film camera with a rewind knob - once the film is loaded, gently wind the rewind knob until it tightens, then it will rotate every time you wind on, showing that that the film is moving through the camera.

My first FED was a botom-loading 1, bought from a pawnbroker in 1958 (Russian seamen used to trade FEDs and Zorkis for local cash). Can't remember now who told me about cutting the longer film leader, but it wasn't difficult with a pair of scissors, start with a rounded corner between two sprocket holes then snip snip and your done. Never cut through a sprocket hole, that will leave a jagged edge that will catch inside the camera and tear the film.