Let's create a FSU Frankenstein...

[Spyderman]

Hi guys.

We all know each FSU RF had its own pros and cons and there seems to be no perfect FSU camera. I mean that you cannot say about one camera model that it had all the positive things inherited from its ancestors. There seems to be some kind of lack of logic development in those cameras. An example could be the strap lugs 😀 or the step back from Zorki 4 to Zorki 5 etc.

What would be the camera that had all the pros of its ancestors?

My ideal FSU camera would be:
- body from Zorki 3
- with strap lugs 😉
- comfortable advance lever (like Zorki 6)
- viewfinder with framelines for 35 50 and 85 (like Leningrad)

PS: if you don't like this kind of dreaming, just ignore this thread :angel:

 

[Ash]

Mine:

Zorki 4k body, with strap lugs (hefty ones too).
A near-silent kiev 4 shutter
the speeds from both cameras (so there is a wide selection).
Kiev 4 style viewfinder length, but 1:1 with framelines.

So basically both my cams smashed together!

 

[Jocko]

A Fed 2 with the viewfinder of a Zorki 6 - or, in an ideal world the Kometa (with an added 35mm frame!), the Leica "roller" of the Drug, the focussing wheel from a Kiev and the TTL metering of a FED 6.🙂

And a Jupiter 3 that worked!😀

Cheers, Ian

 

[lubitel]

My ideal would be a Zorki 7 (a nearly identical copy of Leica M7 😀 )

 

[lubitel]

fed 6?

I found this about it

http://www.camerapedia.org/wiki/FED_6_TTL

 

[Spyderman]

And read this: http://www.camerapedia.org/wiki/Zorki_35M

I guess that is the camera that would have success even in the west, if only it made it to production...

 

[ErnestoJL]

As I didn´t have any experience with other FSU cameras, mi opinion and wishes will be based on what I know, it is a Kiev 4 / Contax II.

Then my choice for the perfect FSU includes the following items:

Body, shutter from a KIev4 (or Contax II)
RF from a Kiev4 with 1:1 ratio, framelines (35/50/85/135 mm) and diopter correction (like FED3).
If not TTL metering, at least a top mounted meter covering only the RF patch area and with needle/lights visible in the VF.
Advance lever (at least something like the FED3 or Zenith´s design).
An easy to set shutter speed dial.

Anyway, I´m fond of my Kiev and Contax II, and been living many years without the improvements mentioned, so they are just something nice to dream about!

Cheers

Ernesto

 

[Jocko]

fed 6?

I found this about it

http://www.camerapedia.org/wiki/FED_6_TTL

There's more about the FED 6 here, Lubitel http://www.nightphoto.com/fed6p.html

I remember the E-bay one. It was an "Improved" version of the above and looked very interesting - apparently they were shown at Photokina in 2000.

The intriguing thing is that the FED 6 (1992) considerably predates the Bessa R. In some parallel universe the RF Renaissance began in Kharkov...🙂

Cheers, Ian

PS, Although I can't recall the link - and I think it may be in the second edition of Princelle - there was also a striking looking TTL "Kiev 4" prototype...

 

[Spyderman]

What do you think about this ?

http://zenit.istra.ru/qa/tip-zorki-4-ttl.html

 

[pvdhaar]

What do you think about this ?

http://zenit.istra.ru/qa/tip-zorki-4-ttl.html

I think it's a secret prototype of a digital Zorki-RD1. They're still in the process of getting the pixel count up from 1..
😀 Well, you did ask..

 

[pvdhaar]

Oh, and while we're at it, a full frame digital FED1/Zorki1 would indeed be absolutely fab! But.. without the Bayer filter, i.e. black & white only. And none of that flip up LCD nonsens. Just a FED1/Zorki1 on the outside.. Merely a card and battery slot -bottom loaded of course to keep with the theme-..

 

[Jocko]

What do you think about this ?

http://zenit.istra.ru/qa/tip-zorki-4-ttl.html

I had a rant about that a little while back! I still think an Arax-style refurbisher could do it! 🙂

But there do seem a lot of wires....😱!

Ian

 

[rbiemer]

I'd be very happy with a Zorki 3m with the additions of: ttl light meter that worked similarly to the meter in the Bessa R (except that the J-12 wouldn't interfere) and, if done elegantly, an advance lever.
Zoom VF from 35 to 135? Nah, would ruin the beauty of the current top deck.
Rob

 

[Fedzilla_Bob]

I think it's a secret prototype of a digital Zorki-RD1. They're still in the process of getting the pixel count up from 1..
😀 Well, you did ask..

Sounds a heck of a lot like the digital Canonet I proposed a while back. 🙂

 

[lmd91343]

A FED 1, FED 2, or Zorki 1 that I don't have to work for a week to get it to work! 😉 Once they start working they are great!

A TTL meter would be nice too! I am trying to make a prototype for my non-functional FED3. My first attempt has electronics as big as a deck of cards. It is functional down to -4 EV asa 100 at f2.8. I am on attempt #2 now.

 

[comp_wiz101]

What sort of design are you using? Is it a basic comparator circuit?

A FED 1, FED 2, or Zorki 1 that I don't have to work for a week to get it to work! 😉 Once they start working they are great!

A TTL meter would be nice too! I am trying to make a prototype for my non-functional FED3. My first attempt has electronics as big as a deck of cards. It is functional down to -4 EV asa 100 at f2.8. I am on attempt #2 now.

 

[PetarDima]

Mine:

Zorki 4k body, with strap lugs (hefty ones too).
A near-silent kiev 4 shutter
the speeds from both cameras (so there is a wide selection).
Kiev 4 style viewfinder length, but 1:1 with framelines.

So basically both my cams smashed together!

I agree with this, only with Kiev4 body.

 

[comp_wiz101]

Hmm...
Zorki 3 body w/Vulcanite or soft pebbled leather w/ strap lugs
Rapid Lever Wind
Multi-Frameline parallax compensating 1:1 VF
Wide-Based rangefinder w/ Droug-style rounded cam
*M-Mount!* -> So we can use ANY Leica RF lens
Speeds from 1-1/1000 (Pick-your-poison for the shutter type)
Smaller internal flash synchro & hot shoe
Metering system: Either TTL (Without interfering with a J-12) or Reading through the Rangefinder housing with a measuring area the size of the RF spot.
Swing back, fixed spool
Stronger folding bottom foot
Folding rewind crank

Results: Almost more features than a Bessa series, with the ability to use a J-12 and the good looks of a Z3!

 

[PetarDima]

Digital Z orki1? Whitout lcd( only viewfinder)? It sounds fantastic ... Anyway, factory( Krasnogorsky Zavod) still works?

 

[Spyderman]

Here's another TTL attempt... (I think it was already mentioned here in the RFF) http://www.textklick.demon.co.uk/leicattl.html

A TTL meter would be nice too! I am trying to make a prototype for my non-functional FED3. My first attempt has electronics as big as a deck of cards. It is functional down to -4 EV asa 100 at f2.8. I am on attempt #2 now.

can you post a diagram of the circuitry? or at least email me? I too am trying to make a TTL meter for my Zorki 4. I plan to make the circuit just like the one on the russian site, but a different implementation - something simplier, with a potentiometer (variable resistor) with knob sticking out instead of selftimer cocking lever.