"modern" Fsu cameras?

[OldNick]

Just to show that there were American-made single-frame 35 cameras at one time. I have a Universal Mercury II with a very sharp 35mm f/2.7 lens. I have the same problem expressed above when I take film to a 1-hour lab, but, with some hints from me, they are able to scan them so that two images fill one frame most of the time. I split them apart in PhotoShop and print them as I like. The link below shows a selected section from one of my images, showing the sharpness of this lens.

 

[Jar]

I think that optimal by integral parameters were FED micron-2 and Electra-112, both have useful exposure automatic and latest Tessars (Industar-81 38/2.8 and Industar-73 40/2.8). Sokol(2) is more perfect optically (Industar-70 50/2.8), but very heavy and complicated mechanism inside. Elicon-4 (Industar-95) allow take contrast and sharp images but it not flare resistable w/o hood and havent hood screwmount. This camera is very simple, weak, byt no automatics, no rangefinder and no metal parts 😉
IMHO our latest rangefinder cameras cant make competition to japanese and european ones. There are no latetest serial cameras with built-in Planars.

 

[raftman]

Hate to revive an old topic, but seeing as I still plan to get the Fed Micron 2, but does anyone happen to know what kind of battery it takes? Is it one that's commonly available in the west or some odd Soviet variety that's not around much anymore?

 

[rbiemer]

Raftman,
I wondered about this when I bought mine and asked the seller. He was a little surprised(especially when I asked if he could send me a picture of the battery). I was oncerned wether it uses a mercury battery or not. Apparently it did. But this seller told me that modern alkaline replacements worked fine.
Mine came with an alkaline PX625A. Close enough for color print(and C-41 BW) film.
But: a couple of issues with mine: The advance lever is not held in place very well; I've had to tighten the screw a few times and the screw isn't straight or phillips but uses pinholes(?). I used a compass.
The rewind crank is very wobbly not a real problem yet but it bugs me.
And lastly--the leaf shutter on mine has decided to stop working for no obvious reason. I'm guessing it is because of not being used enough but don't really know.
I want to like and use it but have, instead, found a Vivitar 35EE. Functionally almost identical--the main difference being that the Vivitar uses "ASA" instead of "GOST" film speed numbers.
Rob

 

[raftman]

I'd still go with the Fed, because novelty's important to me.

 

[rbiemer]

I like the "form factor" of the Micron2 and don't dismiss the whole breed based on my single sample. I just have found some other choices that work well for me(the Vivitar and, just recently, a lovely XA).

...novelty's important to me.

I completely understand that! It is a big part of why I use the FSU cameras I have. Though, honestly, any RF camera is unusual where I live.
Rob

 

[lubitel]

if somebody wants to tryout a good looking, modern, manual FSU camera as an alternativ to the good old RFs. Then try the Lomo 135.

http://cameras.alfredklomp.com/135vs/

It heavy, it has a wonderfully loud release, you can shoot up to 8 photos without cocking the shutter, the 40/2.8 industar lens is very sharp and its all manual and...
it was my very first camera.

 

[Joao]

Hi
Coming back to the original post, I second the positive opinions about the FED-50. I use it for long country walks and it has survived jumps, some falls, crossing over walls and fences (and crawling under fences), mud, rain, wet hands, etc. No batteries needed, very nice Industar-81, bright viewfinder and possibility of being used as a point-and-shoot (in Abtomat mode) which I seldom use. It is more heavy than others of the same size (metal body!) but for this purpose it is my favourite. Only unreliable part: the strap lugs – they come out very easily (I carry my FED-50 in a belt bag).
Regards
Joao

RF: Zork(1, 4), Fed(5, 2), Sokol (Automat, 2), Junost, Iskra, Kiev-4,
TLR: Komsomolyets, Lubitel (2, 166B), Flexaret
SLR: Zenit (3M, E, EM, ET, TTL, 12XP, 122K,19, Photosniper), Kiev-10, Olympus OM-2
Other: FED-50, Kiev35A, Smena (7, 8M), Estafeta