Leica copies ?

[dee]

I keep returning to my '' twin '' black Leica copies which Oleg sorted for me , and confirmed as ID stolen Fed 1 gs ...

I have '' nickelled '' the chrome with paint to complement my real twin '33/34 Leica IIs .... and they are well and truly touched up as they don't do patina too well !

But ... i somehow still keep coming back to the pretenders ... my 1st Leica tributes ... there's just something about the Feds which the Leicas lack ...

Maybe it's sympathy with the fact that they work despite the compromises , that they are rejects subjected to the final indignity of ID wiping , the Iron Curtain facsination , the uncertainty , or simply that I have been able to make them truly MINE , whereas I feel more like-a carer for the Leicas !

 

[giovatony]

Could it be the fact that for all these years the Russians were perceived as inferior craftsmen who made inferior cameras and that you discovered that to be untrue? I know I did.
Additionally you have a camera that is built almost as good as a Leica at 10% of the cost and it creates pictures as good as any overpriced Leica. I know I do.
John

 

[csaunders]

So... in that case, if I was looking for a cheaper bulletproof alternative to a Leica to mount a 35mm Zeiss Biogon, which Russian body would I buy? Any of them have AE?

 

[giovatony]

So... in that case, if I was looking for a cheaper bulletproof alternative to a Leica to mount a 35mm Zeiss Biogon, which Russian body would I buy? Any of them have AE?

None of my FSU`s have AE but I wouldn`t hesitate to mount Zeiss glass on them . But since my $39.00 35mm Jupiter 12 (Kiev mount) is plenty sharp and contrasty on my Kievs I never wanted for anything better but I would like to get one for my screw mount FSU`s.
I`m not sure any camera is bullet proof.
However the two Leicas I`ve owned had to be serviced as well as a few of my FSU`s and in the end they weren`t able to produce pictures that were noticeably better than my FSU`s. That`s basically what I based my previous above remarks on.

 

[payasam]

No FSU body has AE. Besides, they have screw mounts. Staying on topic, I have little preference for my M2 over my Zorki 1C. Each has a different kind of film in it, that's all.

 

[dee]

It's a little strange that now I have an M 8 and Leica Digilux 3 , that my Leica pretenders and Kievs / Zenits .. even , to a lesser extent , the Fed 2s still retain the '' magic ''

I also have what I call mika-mouse cameras - heavily revised 3x Zorki 1 and 3x Zorki S with imaginative German markings , superlatively finished like new , which work perfectly ... roll on summer !

Heck , I have just indulged in a Voightlander 35mm f 2.5 Classic [ dee'scontinued , I understand ] for my screw adapted M 8 ...

My little Leica pretenders are awaiting their 1st wide angle lense !!!

I guess it's a bit like , I am imperfect [ ASdee and boy / girl / me stuff ...] and have severe IDee issues ... so I can relate especially to the pretenders . I love the fact that these are the bitsa rejects too - and are given a new beginning .

But ... I have a real Zorki 1 and Fed 1 ... and much prefer my black babies ... cyrillic script sends my ASdee screaming in trying to resolve it , so a familiar Leica inscribed Fed is better for me .