Leica Copies???

[Heath]

Hi. I have always drooled over the Leicas but cannot afford one at this point in time. I have seen many of you guys (and gals) use Russian made Leica copies. So I went looking on that evil auction site (evil because I spend too much mony when I visit there) and found a couple of Zorki's and a Fed. The Zorki's are 2 Zorki-4'a and a Zorki-2C and the Fed is a Fed-3.

Are these models any good and are there any aspects a potential buyer should be prepaired fo? I know some of these types of cameras use special spools for the film but I am unsure if these particular models need them. So far th above mantioned cameras are very low in price so what is a reasonable price to pay for one of these rangefinders?

Thanks in advance.

Heath

 

[captainslack]

Sounds like you might be better off trekking over to the Russian Rangerfinder Forum, my friend. All your questions will be answered there. 😉

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=34

 

[Krasnaya_Zvezda]

The Zorki 2C is a bottom loader, which can be less than convienient---- mine sits on the display shelf as "art" rather than being employed as "shooter" for that very reason. Can't go wrong with Zorki 4, I have two of them that get significant use. I don't have a FED 3 so I can't comment, but my FED 2 with its solid feel, long-based RF and smooth, quiet shutter is one of my favorites.

 

[kiev4a]

The Zorkis and FEDs can be good cameras. I think the Zorki 1s and FED 1s are the neatest looking but they are old enough they also have the most problems -- primarily light leaks in the shutter curtains. The curtains can be replaced. The cheapest way is to send them back to Oleg, a Russian repairman. You can do it yourself but unless you are REALLY into the cameras you spend a week or more doing it the first time. If you had to replace another set of curtains you could do it in an evening.

You are better off with a Zorki 4 or 4K or a FED 2 or later model. Most of them work right out of the box -- at least if you get one from someone like alex-photo or Oleg.

 

[Heath]

thanks for the info. I think i iwll keep watching the Zorki-4's this guy is selling. Only a few days left so heres hoping.

Heath