In further praise of Oleg

[kiev4a]

There was a surprise in the mail today. Only about two weeks after he notified me they were on their way, I received two cameras I had sent to Oleg for repair.

The early postwar FED 1 now looks AND operates like a new camera (new curtains). And I now have a RED Zorki 5 with a smooth film advance and shutter than purrs.

When I get some lenses on them I'll try to post some photographic results. I'm a happy camper 😀

 

[Jocko]

I couldn't agree more. Recently Oleg CLA'd and replaced the blinds on my "new" FED 1g and the camera is an absolute joy. I've just had the first test prints back and was very surprised by the excellent Industar 10 - a really good lens. The only worries are a few fine "tramlines"; I'm hoping the developer's to blame!


(And they were!)

 

[Gordon Coale]

And he does Barnack Leicas, too! I couldn't be happier with the work he did on my IIIc. So much smoother and quite. Not to mention the lack of pinholes in the new shutter curtains. Now I need to save up my pennies so that I can send him a couple of FED 2s and a J9.

 

[je2a3]

I just want to share a very positive experience buying from Oleg. Here is a Fed 1g with an I-10 lens acquired from him recently and a test shot from my back yard using a short roll of Tri-X 400, near focus @100/f4 IIRC. The camera works very smoothly and he rated it as "good" with no "never ready case" so cheaper shipping and total cost was $81. It actually looks much better than when depicted at his website. I emailed him and asked to choose which was my best bet from the three I was considering. Everything was in order when I received it, RF calibration was spot on and both RF and VF were bright and contrasty plus there was a proper spool and lens cap.

I got into early Feds and Zorkis recently and prices have gone up for these models without any assurance [from eBay] that I won't end up with a paper weight. If you want to start an FSU collection of usable cameras rather than conversation pieces, buy with confidence from Oleg. I actually have a couple of cameras lined up on his repair bench and eagerly anticipate their return hopefully before the holidays. This man is a class act!

 

[Jocko]

Newer forum members may not have seen this post and I'd like to add something more.

In March I bought a Kiev 4AM on e-bay - my first on-line purchase. An immaculate "all work perfect" camera arrived - complete with a wind-on and speed-setting dial that moved with the ease of an arthritic joint and sounded like a screaming cat caught in a Lada's gearbox. To add to my joy, the meter was defunct and the slow speeds barely operative.

A respected British repairman assured me that the camera had been so badly made that these problems could not be remedied.

Today the same camera returned from Oleg. For a minute or two I seriously wondered if he had exchanged it for another. All controls were beautifully smooth, the meter functioned and the shutter worked with a soft, exquisite "swish". The man is a true master of his art. If in doubt: Oleg!

 

[je2a3]

In time for the holidays I also received a few items CLA'd by Oleg aside from a few FSU bodies it included some Leitz items - Elmar 50/2.8, 90/4 and Imarect finder as well as a 'parts unit' IIIc bought by my then naive cousin at a camera show several years ago. He sent it to a couple Leica specialist repairers in the USA only to be sent back saying it wasn't restorable. Anyway as Oleg found out, it was definitely lacking a few bits like the slow escapement gear train but what was most surprising was that it had a IIIc-K chassis underneath a post WWII top. Oleg was able to make it work as IIc and my cousin was happy that it can be used.

The Leitz optics came out great, didn't realize that an Imarect can be bright enough to use and the lenses were smooth and clean of haze and fog. Can't beat his rates even with shipping factored in. All I needed was patience in waiting for the gear to come back.

Highly recommended!!!

 

[DaveP]

Whats amazing is that Oleg works a regular day job also!!

 

[Jocko]

Whats amazing is that Oleg works a regular day job also!!

That's astonishing! What does he do? Apparently a Russian local paper did a feature on Oleg - there was supposed to be an English version on the net, but I've been unable to find it; It would be good to know more.

 

[DaveP]

Heres the article : http://www.okvintagecamera.com/me.htm

Heres the translation: http://www.beststuff.com/forum/read.php?f=21&i=33292&t=33286

I was surprised that Oleg is a young guy, I always pictured him as an older gentleman retired from a camera factory or something.........

 

[je2a3]

Thanks DaveP for sharing the links. I've stumbled on that thread before but didn't bookmark. I always search the archives of Best Stuff for FSU info but you saved me time.

 

[pesphoto]

Thanks for those links, interesting articles. I didnt picture him as being to young. Im thinking of sending Oleg my Fed 2 to revive.

 

[Jocko]

Thank You Dave!

I was surprised that Oleg is a young guy, I always pictured him as an older gentleman retired from a camera factory or something.........

Exactly! Oh to have that much hair.... I feel old! 😀

 

[pedro.m.reis]

I've just received 2 packages from Oleg today with: one Leica IIIc, a zorky 4, a fed-2. And 3 lenses: I-61 L/D, J-8, i26m.
All this went to CLA (new curtains on the leica). I must say that i'me very happy with the results so far! All the items look and feel fantastic!
Better packaging i've received ever!
I must recomend his work.
And all this for the price of a leica III CLA in portugal (Without new curtains).....