Thebes
Member
Years ago I had a Zorki 4. I got the impression that if the monkeys all did their jobs on a given day it might have been a good camera. The optics were fine, but the fit and feel of the body made me feel it might break midway through the roll. Sold it at a slight gain, but I probably wouldn't buy one again.
I presume the Fed series is about the same quality fit and finish, though maybe one day I'll try "Russian Roulette" again, I like the look of the fast Jupiter 50mm and its quite affordable compared to a real Sonnar on a real body. I have a high opinion of Russian (Ukrainian) glass, I have a 8x30 Zeiss design Russian monocular that easily lets me see more than any pair of binoculars I've ever owned... if only the quality control wasn't so random.
I presume the Fed series is about the same quality fit and finish, though maybe one day I'll try "Russian Roulette" again, I like the look of the fast Jupiter 50mm and its quite affordable compared to a real Sonnar on a real body. I have a high opinion of Russian (Ukrainian) glass, I have a 8x30 Zeiss design Russian monocular that easily lets me see more than any pair of binoculars I've ever owned... if only the quality control wasn't so random.
40oz
...
I like how people talk about quality control 30 to 60 years after the item was manufactured.
I also like the constant irrational insults that get thrown towards all FSU goods. It's funny that people try to excuse their own bad judgement by blaming the employees of the original manufacturer. It would be more legitimate for me to blame the upbringing of those who lack commmon sense. But I wouldn't do that because it would be rude to insult people I've never met. I was raised better than that.
Any guesses as to what country is going to be responsible for all travel to the orbital Space Station come the end of the year? A hint - they had the first satellite in orbit. Yeah, those crazy incompetent Russians.
Some people really need to get over their Cold War era prejudice. If the Eastern European and Russian people were so incompetent, why have they always been the only other game in town?
And seriously relax. If the original justification was "It's only $50, I won't care if it works or not," how does that turn into an irrational condemnation of the product of an entire region of the world? You bought a camera off a random seller on ebay for dirt cheap. Then you piss and moan to anyone who will listen about your ill-fated life at the hands of a capricious god? Really? Get over it already. You were too cheap to spend the money to buy a working camera. Nobody is surprised you aren't happy with the broken camera you willingly bought.
I also like the constant irrational insults that get thrown towards all FSU goods. It's funny that people try to excuse their own bad judgement by blaming the employees of the original manufacturer. It would be more legitimate for me to blame the upbringing of those who lack commmon sense. But I wouldn't do that because it would be rude to insult people I've never met. I was raised better than that.
Any guesses as to what country is going to be responsible for all travel to the orbital Space Station come the end of the year? A hint - they had the first satellite in orbit. Yeah, those crazy incompetent Russians.
Some people really need to get over their Cold War era prejudice. If the Eastern European and Russian people were so incompetent, why have they always been the only other game in town?
And seriously relax. If the original justification was "It's only $50, I won't care if it works or not," how does that turn into an irrational condemnation of the product of an entire region of the world? You bought a camera off a random seller on ebay for dirt cheap. Then you piss and moan to anyone who will listen about your ill-fated life at the hands of a capricious god? Really? Get over it already. You were too cheap to spend the money to buy a working camera. Nobody is surprised you aren't happy with the broken camera you willingly bought.
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colyn
ישו משיח
30-60 years old and still working.. Sounds like pretty good quality to me. Will the newest Japanese wizbang cameras be working 30-60 years down the road???
While I had my Zorki torn down I couldn't help but notice a lot of good build quality. Internal parts were well made but while not as smooth as say my Leicas they were still quality. External quality is still well up to standards.
Most FSU cameras today are purchased from Russian eBay sellers who don't care if you get a good working camera as long as they get your money. If these cameras were serviced it was usually done by a hack. Most are in all probability (???)serviced(???) by the seller who is trying to sell it on eBay.
With the right repairman a FSU camera can be made into a good quality camera capable of many more years of use..
I agree with you.. These people who constantly criticize FSU cameras should buy something else. I enjoy using mine... Kiev IIa, Kiev 4a, Zorki 4, Fed 1, and Fed 2.
All work fine and give me no problems except for the Zorki 4 which I have not fully tested yet since I just got it a few weeks ago..
visiondr
cyclic iconoclast
This thread is one of the funniest bits in show biz. You guys and your "fixer-upper" cameras crack me up!
BillBingham2
Registered User
BillBingham2
Registered User
When 95% of the oranges have bugs or are rotten I will go for a Fuji Apple every time.
BTW, many S2s, SPs, S3 were heavily used and still work great today.
Price, well after I tried a number of FSU cameras and glass and sent them like the OP for CLA to "Experts" the money I spent on my S2 and 50/1.4 was less. It's still working for a friend in Chicago.
B2 (;->
wolves3012
Veteran
You can't substantiate that. Funny how some people only contribute to the "let's bash FSUs" threads in a negative way. I don't doubt your experience but mine must have come from the 5% of apples. Minor work (if any) and they all work well. Nothing any other brand wouldn't need after 30-70 years of age.
The fact that FSUs still work at all at their age says they were sufficiently robust. I have several that show all the signs of heavy use and still work as intended. They may not have the finish of some brands but they still do the job. Simplicity of the design means there's not much to go wrong and they aren't hard to service (most models anyway). Best bought by those, like me, who are willing and able to tinker a bit to get the best out of them.
ZorkiKat
ЗоркийК&
I've had my share of bad oranges, about 10% of the time, with the good which I got 90% of the time. Just because I got a few bad Kiev would I say that the FED and Zorki and Zenit are bad as well.
From my experience, anything old will require to be repaired to work great today. An old S2 and a Kiev 2 will both croak today if used without some form of repair service.
Some Soviet cameras are so simple in design (Barnack FED and Zorki) that they can be easily fixed and made to be as reliable as any similar Canon or Leica. I have perhaps 60 of these, and they all work. I've even routinely bought dead cameras -Leica and FED in particular. After repair, both cameras are at par in terms of performance today as usable shooters.
I used to dislike Kiev for being so unreliable. But after finally getting to make them work I found some of them, particularly the old ones, as reliable, and perhaps even better, than the Contax IIa/IIIa.
FallisPhoto
Veteran
What's funny is that some people will pay a thousand dollars or more for cameras that some of us can equal or beat with $35 and a few hours of work. Before you laugh too much, check out our galleries -- you might just find out that the joke is on you.
SCOTFORTHLAD
Slow learner,but keen!
Relax everyone!!Steve has picked up his Bessa R in classifieds.Phew!
Magnamanious as ever he's offering his Fed 2's there in the Bessa advert as 'doorstops'.
Let's hope the Bessa hits the spot.
Brian.
Magnamanious as ever he's offering his Fed 2's there in the Bessa advert as 'doorstops'.
Let's hope the Bessa hits the spot.
Brian.
Jason808
Established
This. Talk about a crapshoot.
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visiondr
cyclic iconoclast
Well, since you brought it up, $35 + a "few hours of work" at my rate of pay would buy me a very nice, reliable ZI or Leica. Have fun with your screwdriver and spanner, I'll be out shooting.
Thebes
Member
I'm comparing my (former) Zorki 4 to other vintage camera gear, not my digital stuff or even my old N90. It, and its kin I have handled, did not feel well built. This is a separate matter from age, design, or routine service. I don't expect my D90 to work in 30 years, a CLA'd Zorki 4 might, but compared to its contemporaries its my opinion it might not be worth the hassle. I really like well collimated FSU glass, its the machining work and metal quality which has given me concerns. I've had other FSU optics (a spotting scope, a rifle scope) which had the same fit and finish issues. By contrast I've had no concerns over the quality of similar vintage fixed lens RFs from Japan, slrs, view cameras, etc.
Now, my FSU monocular (early 80s vintage IIRC?), that it is a nice piece. I suppose it probably gets better in certain years and models. But like I said, I consider it "Russian roullette". I understand the OPs frustration and it is my experience that I would have to try several FSU items to get one keeper.
rxmd
May contain traces of nut
If it has taken you all until now to realize that a hobby may not necessarily need to be economically profitable to be enjoyable, you've certainly taken your time.
Just imagine how many fine art prints that hour spent shooting would buy you at your rate of pay!
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J J Kapsberger
Well-known
I don't know whether it's ever been explained, but what is Former Soviet Union? Former? Where is the current Soviet Union? Can one buy Current Soviet Union (CSU) photography equipment somewhere?
And speaking of $35 better-than-Leica so-called FSU stuff, I've handled a variety of them. They're designed and built like the Russian tractors. Only a bit louder.
And speaking of $35 better-than-Leica so-called FSU stuff, I've handled a variety of them. They're designed and built like the Russian tractors. Only a bit louder.
brainwood
Registered Film User
This thread seems to be veering all over the place but I would just like to add that The humble Fed has proved a winner for me. Frustrated by Digital a few years ago I bought a FED 2 from ebay and logged onto Rangefinder. The camera worked straight from the ukraine package and the whole rangefinder experience well and truely hooked me. As other posters have said - these are not new cameras and should be treated as such. I would not expect a nice original unrestored 1960's Motorcycle to work perfectly after sitting in garage for 40 years but amazingly these cheaply made little cameras are sometimes able to do this. Sometimes the The cheap entry to rangefinders is the start of a journey ,sometimes the FSU cameras provide the end of journey . JUNK is entirelyt in the eye of the beholder.
Chris
Chris
visiondr
cyclic iconoclast
Yeah, yeah, I knew that my comment was full of holes... just like a FED shutter curtain, apparently.
rxmd
May contain traces of nut
$5 listing fee usually isn't worth it.
I got a FED-2 and a Zorki-3M from the classifieds here, both fine cameras, the FED-2 was from Fedka and I bought it from Mike over in Israel. Strange trajectory.
Other than that I'd never buy a FSU camera from eBay or so. (Steve says he bought from Oleg, but then he said he bought from an Oleg in the Ukraine, while "the" Oleg is in Russia about as far from Ukraine as Havana is from New York, so I guess it was a different Oleg.) I've seen plenty of old FSU cameras on flea markets in the FSU. Like in any yard sale, there are lots of junk. This is the same junk that gets sold over eBay after minor touch-ups. Those are cameras that I'd never buy unless I could either (a) look at it with my own eyes before, (b) be sure that they came from someone I trust knows what they're doing, or (c) be sure that I'd repair them myself.
If I charged my rate of pay of my "real Job" for working on lenses, I'd make DAG and Sherry look dirt cheap. It's fun, I don't.
J J Kapsberger
Well-known
His argument makes perfect sense to me. He values his time shooting pictures such that the opportunity cost of forgoing that time is greater than the pure dollar savings of buying and fixing up any of those hideous Russian contraptions.