Moscow has its advantages...

[Armoured]

I've been meaning for a while to get another FSU body. I like my old FED-2 (picked up years ago for twenty bucks or so and then forgotten about, until relatively recently), but I now use it primarily for extra-wide lenses (Voigtlander 21mm and 15mm), with the occasional use of a standard or an 85mm. I've been meaning to write a review of using these wide lenses on the old FSU bodies - given the depth of field, the lens register and even focussing is not really an issue - and one of these days will get get my thoughts down.

One big problem with my FED-2, though not all, is that the accessory shoe is recessed down from the top plate and 'crimped' - so it won't accept some, or even most, external viewfinders. When it does, they're kind of awkwardly hanging off - maybe the big FSU multifinder fits better, but I don't have one. Also the Fed folding lens (fed version of the Industar-22) flares like that was its one goal in life, and it long ago fulfilled and surpassed its own five-year plan.

So today after a long walk near the Arbat, I dropped into one of the old-school used camera shops still functioning. What appears to be a highly serviceable Zorky 4 free of any obvious damage - with the accessory shoe well up and happy to take external viewfinders - cost me 1000 rubles (about $33). And that was with a Jupiter-8 (well used but not much more than cleaning marks), lens cap and leather case (of roughly the same supple high quality leather that one would use to attach a plough to oxen). No complaints - Moscow has its advantages, particularly if you like FSU equipment.

Looking forward to giving the kit a try - and most of all to using my viewfinders. So far the Fed-2 fits marginally better in my hand, as it's a bit smaller, but I'm perhaps just used to it.

 

[payasam]

Just an hour back I arranged to buy -- at long distance from a Ukrainian seller, alas not in person at a Moscow shop -- a FED 2 with 85mm and 35mm finders. I made a big noise about the top plate of the camera and am now hoping for the best. Yuri Boguslavsky (www.fedka.com) told me, when I asked, that the Soviet finders had sometimes to be filed before they fit the FED 2. The camera's relatively long R/F base was the chief attraction.

 

[julio1fer]

Entering one of those old camera shops in Moscow is one of my dreams...

 

[ethics_gradient]

Just an hour back I arranged to buy -- at long distance from a Ukrainian seller, alas not in person at a Moscow shop -- a FED 2 with 85mm and 35mm finders. I made a big noise about the top plate of the camera and am now hoping for the best. Yuri Boguslavsky (www.fedka.com) told me, when I asked, that the Soviet finders had sometimes to be filed before they fit the FED 2. The camera's relatively long R/F base was the chief attraction.

I don't know if you're going to like that 85 finder, I had one and it was basically a pinhole you squint through. Sent it back with the lens (non-functional)

 

[rxmd]

One big problem with my FED-2, though not all, is that the accessory shoe is recessed down from the top plate and 'crimped' - so it won't accept some, or even most, external viewfinders.

There are different FED-2 versions around. I have one here that found its way to me via the US and Israel that has the recessed shoe (#610295) and another that a friend in Tashkent sold me that has the raised shoe (#3417455). You could just try and see if you get one with the raised shoe.

I "solved" the problem by dropping another camera on the ground with the 21 finder on it (I think it was a Zorki-1). The shoe broke off the finder, and I epoxied the finder on another flash shoe I had lying around so that it just clears the surface of the FED with the recessed shoe. This is now the perfect combination for using the CV 21 (and a CV 15 if I had one).

Which of those shops did you go to?

The 85 finder sucks, I agree. The best way to use a 85 on an FSU camera is by using it on a Drug, which has a 85 frameline and a much better 1:1 finder. Also, it's more balanced on the heavier body.

 

[Armoured]

I did in fact have someone suggest that I file down or otherwise surgically operate on the Fed-2 (or even do something to the finders to raise them a bit). Given the cost of a 'back-up' body, I decided buying one was a better solution.

@rxmd: Thanks, I was dimly aware that there was another Fed-2 accessory shoe style, I'll now keep my eyes out for that. Does anyone know if the 15mm VC finder will fit on any of the fed-2s? The viewfinder has an unusually deep and wide front.

My impression of the Zorky 4 after half a roll is that it may be in many ways 'better', but it is noticeably bigger in the hand and heftier. I have no problem carrying the Fed-2 around just in my hand, fits well with a certain hand grip, and does not feel particularly heavy with modest lenses - I can carry it for hours with no strap. It'll even fit a cargo pocket easily, albeit you end up with an odd gait - wouldn't want to run. In short, the Fed-2 is far more ergonomic. (My biggest complaint about the Fed-2, apart from the accessory shoe issue, is that the diopter moves too easily - I really need to weld that in place).

Oh, and the shop is on the (old Arbat), number 12 I think, second floor, hidden next to a tattoo parlour and other sundry. Seems to have extremely irregular hours. An eclectic mix of stuff for sale, but I'd guess he always has some FSU rangefinders in, as well as some more collectible e.g. 'foreign' stuff (at corresponding prices). The owner told me he has a repairman he uses who used to work at the Zorky (KMZ) factory. I'm sure there are better shops in Moscow, but I haven't looked so very much.

 

[NIKON KIU]

I like to take a long walk around Arbat. Be nice if you posted a picture of the area.

Thanks for sharing.

Did you try to bargain, 750 Rubles would have been nice...

Kiu

 

[Armoured]

Not far from Arbat...

Not far from Arbat...

No, didn't negotiate this time around. Price seemed reasonable and I was in a hurry.

 

[rxmd]

Does anyone know if the 15mm VC finder will fit on any of the fed-2s? The viewfinder has an unusually deep and wide front.

Well it will fit on the variant with the raised shoe of course. On the one with the recessed shoe it will fit barely. You have to jam it in and will be tilted upwards slightly, for which you need to compensate. It's not a good idea.

Incidentally the 21 and 15 VC finders are identical mechanically (and arguably optically as well, it seems, except for the framelines)

Another option for the recessed FED-2 is to make an intermediate piece, a kind of accessory shoe extension. Take one of these hot shoe cables or flash shoe adapters:

Take off the top part and saw off the lower half so that you get something 3 to 4 millimeters thick. Put that in the FED hot shoe and you can mount viewfinders to your heart's content. Fix it with a little nail polish if it's loose, the FED-2 shoes sometimes are.

It's worth getting a couple of these shoes for butchering, you'll never have need to buy something like double accessory shoes again.

Philipp

 

[relistan]

I recently acquired both a 1957 Zorki 4 and a Voigtlander Heliar 15mm and have really loved the resulting combination. The Heliar fits perfectly on the Zorki, lens hoods at 12 and 6 o'clock positions (I had heard claims otherwise). The Viewfinder fits the accessory shoe without issue, as well. Personally I find the weight quite minimal compared to SLRs. Never had a Fed-2 to compare. The ergonomics of the Zorki 4 are IMHO also very nice. Here are a couple of shots:





The camera came with a pristine Jupiter-8 as well, which has turned out to be an incredible lens!

Would be great to be in Moscow to drop in to a shop, though!

Cheers,
Karl