Legit, or not? Spot the difference

[Nickfed]

http://cgi.ebay.com/FED-1-Rare-Russ...ryZ15234QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[rbiemer]

Dunno, but looks like a FED to me?
Actually, Nickfed, I'm not sure what you are questioning. Is this not a FED1? Or are people starting to fake the earlier FSU cameras?
Or is this a Leica that has been re-engraved?😱
Rob

 

[Nickfed]

I think the main body is Zorki

 

[rbiemer]

OK. Much too sublte a difference for me to tell. I'd have thought that some one would go the other direction(Zorki top plate on a FED body) but I am(obviously!😀 ) no where close to being expert about these.
Does this make this a "pre-war FED" with modern lens flange and Leica standard flim to flange distance?
Rob

 

[Jocko]

I think the main body is Zorki

I'm certain you are right: another Frankenzork. It seems to be happening quite a lot. I wonder if this means that supplies are running short and parts cameras are now being cannablised in increasing numbers?

Cheers, Ian

 

[Nickfed]

Does this make this a "pre-war FED" with modern lens flange and Leica standard flim to flange distance?
Rob

No. Everything on the top suggests an ordinary post-war FED. I'm not so familiar with early Zorkis but my first guess was that the body was off a late Zorki-1. I now think it might be a Zorki-5!

The Z-5 was a throw-back to bottom loading, don't ask why, but the style is the same as my Z-6.

 

[vanyagor]

Makes me worrying if I got a fed, since I would not be able to tell the difference.

Here is mine:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...from=R8&satitle=130024908687&category0=&fvi=1

Can you determin what exact model is it?

Thank you.

 

[JonP]

Nickfed, I think you're right. looks very much like a Zorki 5 type I body, its the only one without s-t, but with lugs and the border round the lens mount. The other possibility would be the Zorki S but that has no lugs.
My question is Why?

 

[Jocko]

My question is Why?

Broken, unsellable camera + broken unsellable camera = working (?) sellable camera! 🙂

Cheers, Ian

 

[ZorkiKat]

No. Everything on the top suggests an ordinary post-war FED. I'm not so familiar with early Zorkis but my first guess was that the body was off a late Zorki-1. I now think it might be a Zorki-5!

The Z-5 was a throw-back to bottom loading, don't ask why, but the style is the same as my Z-6.

It's most likely a late Zorki-1 whose 'vulcanite' had been replaced by the later nylon trims.

A FED crate is quite impossible to fit in a Zorki-5 shell. The Zorki-5 shell is much thicker- the top plate won't be able to fit in. I tried doing this, as a means to replace the shell of a FED-1 which got badly warped- damaged in transit.

Plus, Z-5 have strap lugs on the sides. The shell shown in the auction doesn't have these.

Jay

 

[ZorkiKat]

Makes me worrying if I got a fed, since I would not be able to tell the difference.

Here is mine:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...from=R8&satitle=130024908687&category0=&fvi=1


Thank you.

That's a legitimate FED-2. Third variation in the production series.

Jay

 

[reagan]

It's most likely a late Zorki-1 whose 'vulcanite' had been replaced by the later nylon trims.

And the next question is, what were they thinking? Their wife didn't have any old purses laying around that could be butchered for a cover? I know a few folks like it, but the nylon is my least favorite cover. (I've presonally discarded two.)

 

[Stu W]

The body and controls look like a Zorki. The rangefinder cover is the only thing that looks Fed to me. But I've been wrong before. Stu

 

[ZorkiKat]

And the next question is, what were they thinking? Their wife didn't have any old purses laying around that could be butchered for a cover? I know a few folks like it, but the nylon is my least favorite cover. (I've presonally discarded two.)

Nylon covering stripped from another camera does have some advantages- no cutting involved. Trimming leather or leatherette to fit the body can be some effort. Those raised metal parts running around the edges and around the lens mount can make cutting even more challenging.

Got two skins from goats tanning in vats at the back of the house. If successful, they're going straight to a couple of FED, a Zenit-3M, and a Praktica Nova 1B.

Those nylon covers indeed have a funky appeal. I don't like them much either.
And they're not unique to FSU either. I've a Praktica MTL 5 whose nylon covering is even uglier. Fat embossed squares instead of some wierd looking pattern. 🙂

Jay