He Who Buys a Fed Buys Junk!

So what have people got against trolls?

I think Steve is missing a point here. FEDs and Zorkis are really interesting, innovative designs manufactured by people unfettered by crazy capitalistic ideas like quality control. A lot of them are junk for sure, but some of them work really well, and a few are just great. The trick is paying the smallest possible amount of money, and lucking into one of the gems.

The other important thing to realize is that the cameras are easy to set right, if you have a few others to cannibalize. That only matters if you really like tinkering.

You really ought to try again, preferably with an older Kiev. I think the Kiev 2 and 3 without sync are the best. They typically work very well- until the Zeiss-designed shutter breaks, of course. If what you are looking for is a totally dependable camera capable of amazing results, get a Nikon or Canon digital SLR.

Cheers,
Dez
 
My Fed 2 has a capping shutter at 1/500. (but it has sentimental value ... the first rangefinder I owned that I actually used)

My Iskra has a light leak ... occasionally. (but the lens is stellar)

My Kiev II has the most atrocious viewfinder I've used ... ever! (but seems bullet proof otherwise ... purchased from Yuri)

They definitely have their charms and are capable of very good results when right ... but I've learned not to trust them so consequently they stay in the cupboard.
 
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While I find the Russian cameras crude and unrefined, I've had decent luck with working examples. I've used several Kiev rangefinder models, including a very rare "No-Name Kiev." One of the nicest cameras I have used was an Iskra, but apparently it's very difficult to find an Iskra that works perfectly. However, I would NOT recommend these things for serious use where it's absolutely necessary for your equipment to function. Use them for fun, use them for a casual stroll in the city burning some film frames, whatever... but I sure wouldn't want to trust my life to one!
 
Well, looks like a Bessa R is in my future once again! After giving up on the FSU cameras (better late than never w/ ill advised and wasteful purchases), I received an estimate on tuning up my newly purchased M3. $125 to bring the shutter speeds up, and $315 for a full CLA. This was from a prominent repair shop, so I guess the prices are about standard. I paid $500 for the M3, which would mean I'd have over $800 in a user M camera. We're getting close to M6 money at this point.

I thought this out and saw I could have $800+ in an old, ugly M3; or endless amounts of money and time in a FSU camera that even if I finally found a working one would surely die suddenly and badly one day; or a Bessa R w/ a meter and loudish shutter for less than $300. NOW a Bessa R makes sense. So I ordered an R from KEH for $280 shipped. It won't be as nice to look at or use as the M3, but it will be reliable and have a good meter and higher shutter speeds. Noisy, but you can't have everything. My apologies to Mr Gandy for unfairly maligning the Bessas. You have to see them in context, and for someone like me who is more interested in having a reliable camera at a good price they are a good deal.
 
I have 8 FEDs, 6 Kievs, 6 Zorkis, 2 Zenit SLRs, a Horizon panoramic camera, and even a Moskva 5 (6x9 folder), most of them delivered in brown paper and yak hair string from Russia or Ukraine. Only about 3 of them don't work, and if they only cost about $20 it doesn't worry me. The one which does peeve me is a Kiev which I bought from Fedka in the US for much more and which had a defective shutter. I was not offered a replacement, just a 15% discount on repairs, and it really wasn't worth the shipping cost to send it half way round the world again.

I don't think the OP is a troll, just unlucky and understandably p....ed off, but I do think that the title of his post is a bit over the top.
 
Is this FED JUNK enough? :)

MG_61151.jpg


after fixing:

_MG_6222.jpg


The Barnack FED and Zorki I have used are no Leica, but they're not far behind. Reliable as any Leica III I've ever used. And shoots much in the same way.
 
I feel your pain, Steve

I had three of the buggers (non-working) before finally deciding buying a real Leica was a cheaper solution.
 
The shutter curtains on the three Fed 2's that I bought all need to be replaced. The material is not as good as that in my Leica III's, Leica IIIa, and Leica IIIf's. I had all 5 of my Barnack Leica's sent in for CLA, and four needed new beamsplitters.

The shutter curtains in my Leotax D-IV and Nicca III also had to be replaced, again not as good as the Leica's.

I do not have good luck with Kiev's, gave up after the third. The only FSU cameras that I've had luck with are the Zorki 3M's, KMZ logo, all made in 1955. Two of those had been CLA'd, one with new curtains. I fixed the capping problem on the latter.

Quality control is all over the place on the Russian cameras. The material is not as good as what Leica used. Some "German over-engineering" was simplified.

These are 40~50 year old cameras, and they usually need to be rebuilt for proper operation. Pass the beer nuts.
 
And another thing:

9 in 10 FED/Zorki Barnack types I've had had intact beam splitters- snappy rangefinders. The 'bad' ones had mostly hazy RFs but still useful. Only 2 of them had to have beam splitter replacement, of a total of 60+ cameras. Even the junk FED shown in an earlier post had one of the most brilliant RF's I've ever seen.

In contrast, almost all of the Leica Barnacks I got had hazy RF. Five of them needed beamsplitter replacements. I thought that this was from the local tropical humid climate. But after seeing 2 Leicas with RF in the same state from the US, it appears that Leica mirrors are less durable than the gold-coloured mirrors which the Soviets used.

The shutter curtains on the Russian/Ukrainian Barnacks are no worse than those in Leica or Canon I've seen. I've replaced the shutters in many of the FED and Zorki I have, 50-70 years is too long for rubberised fabric. Leica IIIf and IIIc shutters don't appear to be any better. Same could be said of Canon shutters which tend to get sticky then harden and then crack.
 
My experience with buying FSU gear has not been good either but I knew what I might be in for before buying. It was a learning experience, interesting and not too expensive. Buying old Barnack Leicas is no guarantee against problems. Two of the three Barnacks I have needed beamsplitter replacement to be useful and one needed new curtains. Discarding poor quality control with FSU gear, these are all old cameras and are likely to need some work to get them up to snuff. That said, a friend of mine has had nothing but good luck buying FSU gear, go figure. At any rate if you can get FSU gear working properly they give surprisingly good results. That must be the reward for having patience.

Bob
 
Steve M. - Look up. Is there a black cloud directly above you? Sorry, could resist. Too bad about your experience with FSU. Many here have had good Leica copies without major problems, or problems at all. I have a Kieve 4am that worked perfectly out of the box, and an ebay purchase at that. So have all the lenses I purchased for it. Just a different roll of the dice for you and me I guess.

Hope whatever camera you decide on works well for you for many years to come.
 
Consider a Canon P. Likely to work out of the box, not expensive, very robust and usable. Get a Canon, Nikkor or CV LTM lens to go with it and you are set.
 
ferider said:
Consider a Canon P. Likely to work out of the box, not expensive, very robust and usable. Get a Canon, Nikkor or CV LTM lens to go with it and you are set.
Click to expand...

I 100% concur w/ this opinion. Add an inexpensive Canon 50/ 1.8 lens and you got one, fine rig for the rest of your life.

With respect to the FSU crap, is it any wonder why the former FSU folded--sh***y quality of mfg. goods (except for their beloved Vodka) and corruption at every level of business/ gov't? RIP.

BTW-I've bought several LTM lenses (NO bodies!) from Yuri and they've ALL been hand-picked, higher priced than the normal, and CLA'd by him. Never a problem w/ any of them. He's tops in my book.
 
Steve,

I had much the same experience sending money down the FSU Rabbit Hole. I too was seduced by the looks and what was promised by a Fed-2 only to come up frustrated. Keith said it best "but I've learned not to trust them". No, I was not looking to find a Leica for $25, but I was looking for something as reliable as a Kodak Pony! While I think I might be able to work on one, I do not have the time to take as many pictures as I want let alone fix and adjust cameras and lenses. The guy I sold my Fed-2 to tried again to get it fixed and spent way more that he paid for it and it was still a dud. I felt so bad that I split the cost of his attempt with him. (read more money down the Rabbit Hole, but the right thing to do)

I tried the Keiv route too, found I really liked the grip. Only positive thing that came out of the experience, I switched to Nikon rangefinders. It should be noted that at the time I had a few Leica Ms and way too many Bessas. I was looking for a camera to take into places I would not cry if I lost her (read on a boat, left out over night for some star shoots).

I too spent way too much money trying to get the beautiful little cameras to work. I too have been labeled by the FSU crowd as a non-believer, I can live with it. I loved my Nikon S2 and love my S3-2000. I've decided to stop trying to throwing money away.

Sorry to hear your pain. Hang in there. While the Bessa is no Leica M, they are very fun cameras with lots of great pictures waiting to be released from inside of them.

B2 (;->
 
I've had about a dozen FSU rangefinders,mostly Feds,plus a couple of Zorkis and A Kiev or two_Only one had light leaks,none had shutter problems so I must have been lucky.:)

My original,a Fed 4, was a gift which had been hammered by two other users,it took my abuse then after lying unloved in a box for over 10 years,went along the line as a 'gift' to someone with the ability to service it.To my knowledge it still works as it should.

I should also mention the three trouble free Zenith SLR's which have passed through--one of which remains with me and is in use.

I like 'em,they coincide with my own lifetime,and the FSU was a major part of the landscape for anyone growing up in Europe in the '50's and 60's,so I guess a certain fascination was the result.

Having said all of that,I am only a very 'happy snapper'.;)
 
I've had 3 FSU's a Fed 2c, a Kiev and a Zorki 3 (the one with the slow speed dial). The Kiev was impossible even after getting it serviced. The Fed and the Zorki work well however.....I don't work them hard and always carry a back up camera. I truely enjoy the look and feel of these beasts but I'm careful to watch for problems before I take them out.
 
Count me in the group of those that has made mistakes but by no means money down the hole. I've got/had four FSU rangefinders, only one has developed any real issues (and I got it for $30); the others work fine when I don't screw up using an old camera. Kiev 4 probably works the best of the lot but I don't like the grip (and the Jupiter wide it came with is far better than I expected), so stick with my Zorkis.

My Kiev 88 works fine but has light leaks and will until I get around to fixing them (light trap seal replacements are dead easy); until then, gaffer tape works.

I think even my Fotokor works but haven't tried it with actual film; just a $10 conversation piece.
 
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