Gold FED-2e Update

[Hussard]

Hi all,

It's been a busy month or so with the gold FED-2...

I ran a few film through it and after adjusting first the alignment infinity then the focus at close range (+infinity again), I found a halo right in the center of the frame which I assume to be a pinhole in the curtain. I've applied a couple of layer of black fabric paint on both sides of both curtains.

I thought I should try it again and took it for a week-end in Paris with a couple of roll of Kodak BW400CN.

Having relied on automatic Reflexes and Digital P&S for a while I have to relearn the aperture/speed business so the result are a bit of a mixed bag and not of a great artistic merit!

Here are the results anyway.

As you can see, I still have a problem of light leak in the centre. Some photos also have a vertical "ghost", any idea what that might be? I'm thinking light leak in the seal? However the camera has been in it's case during the whole length of the film...

The few scratches on the last few prints I can live with. 🙂

Thanks in advance for any idea on how I can sort the leak(s) problems?

 

[kiev4a]

If the baseplate of the camera has been stripped down to brass you might want to check and see if the inside of the baseplate has some spots here the black paint has been removed. If there is even a slight gap between the plate edge and the body light could be sneaking inside when the camera is oriented a particular way from the sun. Had a problem like that on a Zorki 2 baseplate. I don't see any consistant light leaks in your shots. Also, if your FED is pre war the lens is uncoated and very prone to flare without a lens hood.

Hi all,

It's been a busy month or so with the gold FED-2...

I ran a few film through it and after adjusting first the alignment infinity then the focus at close range (+infinity again), I found a halo right in the center of the frame which I assume to be a pinhole in the curtain. I've applied a couple of layer of black fabric paint on both sides of both curtains.

I thought I should try it again and took it for a week-end in Paris with a couple of roll of Kodak BW400CN.

Having relied on automatic Reflexes and Digital P&S for a while I have to relearn the aperture/speed business so the result are a bit of a mixed bag and not of a great artistic merit!

Here are the results anyway.

As you can see, I still have a problem of light leak in the centre. Some photos also have a vertical "ghost", any idea what that might be? I'm thinking light leak in the seal? However the camera has been in it's case during the whole length of the film...

The few scratches on the last few prints I can live with. 🙂

Thanks in advance for any idea on how I can sort the leak(s) problems?

 

[Fedzilla_Bob]

Hi - I think the vertical ghosts are from the shutters not synching with each other or "capping."

Painting black paint on the curtains is the most straight forward and inexpensive solution to pinholes.

The scratches are kind of quaint, but it is worth hunting down the source and eleminating them.

The photos are very nice. Makes me want to go there, especialy the cobble stone street in shadow.

Bob H

 

[Pherdinand]

The Luxembourg park is a wonderful place, isn't it?

 

[captainslack]

Good pics, overall. I'd find the source of those scratches, though.

Your FED is doing better than mine. We got ours about the same time, if I recall correctly. Mine has a problem with the shutter dial and consequently most of my pics come out shaky. Guess I need to send it back to Mother Russia and Oleg's Camera Clinic for a CLA.