Just a couple of questions

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Fed?, Kiev?, Zorki?

What are the differences, pros / cons etc. Is there site that gives a comparison?

As someone looking to buy my first FSU, what should I be looking for?

Also, I see on *bay that a lot of the source locations are in the Ukraine. I have read feedback etc but have no sense of the 'quality' of the sellers. Any words of wisom?

Many thanks
 
zorki 3 in maple ridge, bc

zorki 3 in maple ridge, bc

Hi Larry,
I have a very nice Zorki 3 body (54xxx) and a couple of FSU lenses; the one it came from the Ukraine with, a Jupiter 8/f2/50mm/55xxx and a collapsible Industar 22/f3.5/50mm/71xxx from another Fed. For sale!
Call me at 467-1950 if you want to visit and stroke; I'm having a big garage sale this weekend but should be able to help you. MR is just beyond Pitt Meadows.
Dave
 
Larry,
My only advice would be to buy from a reputable seller. IMHO you should stick to either FEDKA or Oleg Khalyavin.

As far as cameras themselves, IMHO the Zorki 4 is the best. That 1:1 RF/VF is hard to beat, and the J-8 is a sweet lens. Just make sure that you get a good one that has been properly serviced, because they are all about 40 years old now. My FED 5 works perfectly well, and has given me really good service. It's just really ugly!

Cheers,
Kent
 
kingster said:
Fed?, Kiev?, Zorki?

What are the differences, pros / cons etc. Is there site that gives a comparison?

As someone looking to buy my first FSU, what should I be looking for?

Also, I see on *bay that a lot of the source locations are in the Ukraine. I have read feedback etc but have no sense of the 'quality' of the sellers. Any words of wisom?

Many thanks
Click to expand...

Kiev cameras are copies of the early Contax cameras. The others are based on Leica cameras. This site http://www.fortunecity.com/marina/marine/569/rusrngfdrs/fed1zorki1.html#
lists the difference between the various FED and Zorki cameras.

This site http://www.kievaholic.com/35mm.html discusses Kiev cameras.

I would stay away from bottom loading cameras but other people have no problem with them. As to who to buy from, if you are buying through EBay, you just take a chance.

Dick
 
Hallo Kingster,

People tend to be very partisan over "the best" FSU RF - I personally dislike the Zorki 4 and like the FED 2 very much. If you search this forum you will find numerous threads debating such topics, generally in a good natured way 🙂

However, this list gives an objective and concise account of the various models and chief characteristics, except for the FED and Zorki 1, which are near-copies of the Leica II and delightful cameras in their own right, if possibly not the ideal beginners FSU RF: http://cameraquest.com/soviet.htm

I would also add that I think that Kent was probably unlucky: Alex-photo is generally very well-regarded and I have had nothing but excellent service and goods from him. Yet, as they used to say "even Homer nods". One always runs a risk.

Cheers, Ian
 
I have to agree with Jacko, I have purchased camera's and parts from Alex-photo and received just what I had purchased and at the right price + the delivery was super fast.( 9 days to NY from his location)
I guess there is alway a risk when you buy through the internet.
 
I have a zorki-4k and I haven't had any problems really.. although my pressure plate is a little off - i need to sort out a little scratch along the negs. dont have this put you off though, as otherwise the camera is brilliant, and scratching negs is rare on a cam that has been well looked after. Mine's 31 years old, so only a very faint hairline on half the negs is a pretty good compromise for a full functional otherwise excellent condition cam.


As for sellers, I had looked through sooo many different people to check for only positive feedback and a guarantee that the camera works.


A lot of people dont like the Zorki's although they're a lot prettier than the Fed's, and I've read very little other than avoid kievs as they can be verrry temperamental.
 
I bought a Kiev 4 in 1984 (made in ´66) and later in 2005 a Contax II made in 1937. Both cameras perform equally well and no regrets of any kind, unless the hard to find lenses here in Argentina.
The Kiev came with the usual Jupiter 8 which is very close to the original Sonnar f2/50mm designed for the Contax. This lens is superb an so should be others made in M39 mount.
The benefit of buying either FEDs or Zorkis is that LTM lenses are easier to find at good prices and that you can switch bodies and keep the lenses.

If I had to buy an FSU camera today I´ll probably stick to a FED 3 (the one with advance lever), rather than a Zorki, but that´s just my personal choice.

Ernesto
 
I suppose that I ought to expand on this a bit.

I bought a Zorki 4 from Alex-photo that had been described as being in excellent condition. The J-8 described as clean and without scratches and all speeds on the camera were described as working properly. Upon receiving the camera, it was painfully evident that the camera and lens had spent about 20 years in a damp drawer full of grit and that the front element of the J-8 had been cleaned with a lens-cloth with a surface somewhat similar to 60 grit sandpaper. There were also big pieces of dirt and lint between the elements, and the focus was terribly stiff. I had to tear-down both the camera and the lens to get them half decently working.

My advice...Go to Oleg, he's the only seller who seems to actually sell consistently good kit.

Just my $0.02

Kent
 
I guess I was ready for a gamble.

I was lucky. I took the chance with a non-photographer kind of eBay seller. Just someone selling the camera and described it accurately. I can't complain getting a Zorki-4k for about £20, but if you dont want to run the risk and pay a little more for a professionally serviced camera, no-one has ever said a bad thing about Oleg.
 
there's no accounting for tastes 😉 (so I only can speak for myself). Feds and Zorkis use a identical leica-type shutters, newer models have a wider range of speeds. Zorki 1,2,C & 2c are very good cameras (same counts for the Fed 2). Kievs are more advanced (totally different shutter, wider RF base - results in more accuracy, speeds from 1/2 - 1250) bayonet mount, very quiet at high speeds! IMO you can't go wrong choosing one of that.
 
Jocko said:
People tend to be very partisan over "the best" FSU RF
Click to expand...

Here, here! - Well put.

I've settled in to a Kiev 2a - the earler the better on these, as the build quality of FSU shooter became cruder and less consistent in the latter years. The camera is a bit quirky in use, i.e. the Contax grip and film winding at slow speeds isn't as smooth as the LTM cameras, but the RF is dead-on accurate.

I'm also keeping my FED 2e - it's funky, but with a collapsible Industar 50, it's very compact and quick to use. The FED 2e fits my hands perfectly and the film winding is very smooth.

I'll probably sell one of my Zorkis, as I don't trust their viewfinders.

If you are in the US - then Yuri at Fedka.com is the best source. I also use sovietcamera.com.ua/
 
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