New to forum, Cameras, and my new camera

[RedSoldier]

Hello everyone! I just wanted to drop a quick hello to everyone. I just picked up my first Camera and got interested in shooting pics for fun. Of course, I'd used cameras before, but usually for a specific purpose, and usually for work, almost always done with cheap disposeable cameras as I only needed the picture of referance and not true "quality". Like my name implies, I've always been a huge fan of history, and that's what got me interested in these cameras - I've discvered that they have a huge history unto themselves, and in many ways they have effected the world in ways that I hadn't previously considered! So now I've gotten myself interested not only in thier history, but also in getting high quality photos, for fun and possibly for art.

My first real camera is a FED 1 [collectors seem to call this a FED1D model]. Dates to 1941, and it is in Excellant shape. F stops from 4.5 to 18, 50mm lens, and mechanically near new!

I 'm going to have to get myself a light meter in order to take anything even remotely resembling a decent picture. My problem of course being that I won't be making a living out of taking pictures, so I can't afford to buy a really expensive light meter. I'm thinking it would be best to avoid a light meter that takes a battery as I may use the camera a lot for a week or two, and then not use it for two months, depending on what my travel plans end up being. So evey time I use the camera I'd be putting new batteries in. I'd like to keep the price down to under $60. I'm not oppossed to something use, so long as it still takes an accurate reading. Right now a frien is letting me use his soktonics studio deluxe II, which works fantatic, but it is a somewhat expensive one new. My camera has no built in light meter, so no dice there. Is there anything that fits the bill that anyone can suggest? Thanks in advance, I hope to chat with you guys often as I lurk about looking for more info!

 

[Roger Hicks]

Looks like fun: welcome!

Given that you have the NKVD markings, and the grief that has been handed out to Luftwaffe Leica collectors in another thread, you may want to keep your head down in some quarters...

Learning to judge exposure ain't difficult. When the Fed was introduced, after all, accurate light-meters were very rare. As long as you err on the side of generous exposure (1-3 stops over your best guess) you'll probably do as well as the first owner of the camera. With ISO 400 film, assume 1/500 at f/12,5 on a bright, sunny day and 1/20 at f/3,5 (with slight underexposure) in artificial lighting at night, and everything else in between, and you'll be OK with a little practice.

You might also find the Photo School on my site of use.

Cheers,

Roger

 

[rbiemer]

Nice looking FED! And welcome aboard!
For no battery meters, there are lots but I have and use a Gossen Pilot2. Small and works pretty well. Other folks will have other suggestions, I'm sure. Not sure if the Gossen will fit your budget though; I got mine several years ago.
Couple of things you might consider; If you get a battery powered meter, you can always take the batteries out when not actively using it--they will last quite a while that way. I also have a Sverdlovsk 4 meter which does require a battery. The battery in this one lasts long enough that I can't recall the last one I bought. I use this meter like you may be using your camera:

a lot for a week or two, and then not use it for two months

So the battery "issue" might not be too much of one after all.
For a while I had a Leningrad meter. Battery-less and also FSU* made. There are several models of this meter, I think I had a Leningrad 7, and they should be well with in your budget.
Lastly, you could go with out a meter. It isn't impossible, though there is a learning curve! Try looking at this thread here at RFF:
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=34642
Good luck!
Rob

 

[RedSoldier]

Given that you have the NKVD markings, and the grief that has been handed out to Luftwaffe Leica collectors in another thread, you may want to keep your head down in some quarters...

Roger;

Thanks for the welcome!

The NKVD markings are on ALL FED-1 cameras, as I understand it. the reason being that the company FED was under direct supervision of the NKVD. The reason they were under the direct supervision of the NKVD was that as a children's commune, these were the first chldren to raised soelly by the state, and it was the NKVD's job to make sure things were being handled wel, fr better or for worse... kind of like a board of education. they were not involved in a secret police manner at all.

More inforamtion on these markings is available here;
http://www.russianplaza.com/fed 1 2 3 4 5 B C PG 1a.html

SO you see, EVERY FED camera that is a FED1 pat a FED1B will have NKVD markings. In no way would I try to rpesent this as something it isn't - no spy cameras here, ha ha!

I did a lot of reserach on these cameras so I didn't get ripped off. I also had Paul Schliesser, who has done some articles for the magazine "photo techniques" help me in teh purchase. The man has probably forgotten more about Leica and Leica clones than I'll ever learn!

I've been working the F stop bits, but I'm bit limited in my range of 3.5 to 18, but so far it actually has been taking some decent photos! I'll chekc out our school link in a few minutes, I need all the help I can get! thanks!

 

[jody36]

goggle search sunny 16 its easy to learn real easy and u will never have to use meter for the most part. Besides you will end up buying a camera that has meter eventually cause like the rest of us you just wont be able to stop at one. Have fun it looks like a fine one you have there.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Roger;

Thanks for the welcome!

The NKVD markings are on ALL FED-1 cameras, as I understand it. the reason being that the company FED was under direct supervision of the NKVD. The reason they were under the direct supervision of the NKVD was that as a children's commune, these were the first chldren to raised soelly by the state, and it was the NKVD's job to make sure things were being handled wel, fr better or for worse... kind of like a board of education. they were not involved in a secret police manner at all.

More inforamtion on these markings is available here;
http://www.russianplaza.com/fed 1 2 3 4 5 B C PG 1a.html

SO you see, EVERY FED camera that is a FED1 pat a FED1B will have NKVD markings. In no way would I try to rpesent this as something it isn't - no spy cameras here, ha ha!

I did a lot of reserach on these cameras so I didn't get ripped off. I also had Paul Schliesser, who has done some articles for the magazine "photo techniques" help me in teh purchase. The man has probably forgotten more about Leica and Leica clones than I'll ever learn!

I've been working the F stop bits, but I'm bit limited in my range of 3.5 to 18, but so far it actually has been taking some decent photos! I'll chekc out our school link in a few minutes, I need all the help I can get! thanks!

All I meant was the 'evil regime' stuff -- I don't regard cameras as inherently evil myself! And your point about 'no fake spy cameras' is well taken. I've never been sure why the children's home was named after Felix Edmundovich, though.

Yes, the aperture range is limited, the more so with no slow speeds, but HP5 Plus in DD-X is around true ISO 650+ and will be OK in a normally lit house interior wide open at 1/20 (as far as I recall, the longest shutter speed). Truly, practice is all you need to shoot without a meter. DON'T take notes: just try to remember. You'll remember enough, and get close enough, to take lots of good pictures, quite quickly, quite easily.

Have fun!

Cheers,

R.

 

[RedSoldier]

FED is indirectly named after Felix Edmundovich Dzerjinski, founder of the so called heka, which quickly bacame the NKVD. It was his name that was given to the labor commune at Kharkov whose manager,Anton Makarenko, encouraged a workshop education for homeless or parentless children. The commune was named after "Iron Felix" because he had just died, and he was considered a "great man to the revolution". Further, since the commune had just come under NKVD Supervision, it was a way of paying tribute to the NKVD AND the "great man" at the same time.

I'll work on the ruleof 16. I'm hoping I can slowly deleop the "feel" for it and be able to run with it. I LOVE the simplicity of this camera. Classic lay out and design, easy adn fast to use, and still quite portable, I'm really loving this little camera.

Thanks for all teh warm welcomes friends!

 

[sweathog]

With regards a batteryless light meter, I heartily recommend Leningrad 4.
Very easy to use, light, reliable in my experience.

 

[acheyj]

Welcome.
Great choice of camera, simple easy to maintain, all you need for great images its up to you.
Whilst I have a love hatred passion for the unmetered Kiev's (cos I like the challange of fixing them) for "street" I prefer the basic simplicity of the Leica 111 types. As for judging exposure "Sunny 16".

regards ron

I use MF rf and slr, 35mm OM, Nikon. Mostly digital now with Canon EOS

Ronald K. Johnson

 

[januaryman]

I picked up a Gossen Luna Pro for $60 last year. I like using it better than my CV II! It's a tad big, but fits fine in your pocket while you walk around.

 

[oftheherd]

Welcome to the forums. You can indeed learn to shoot without a meter. Inexpensive meters abound on ebay (buyer beware). As you probably know, ebay is always a crap shoot. Usually OK, but not always. Batteryless meters are also available, but I couldn't tell you how long the 9 volt battery worked in my Gossen Luna Pro SBC. Over a year, and it really seemed OK, I just thought a year was a good time to change. I have yet to change the battery in my Gossen Luna Pro. I have had it over two years. It doesn't get used as much which may account for that.

Looking forward to seeing some your photos with that old work horse.

 

[RedSoldier]

Thanks for the kind welcomes.

I actually went out last night and took two rolls of pics at night with very long exposure times, we'll seee what becomes of them. If I get anything good, I'll post them up.

 

[pauls52]

Welcome from another relative newbie to this site and congratulations on choosing an "interesting" camera. As you have already shot 2 rolls, you have obviously discovered the joys of the "Leica" pattern fim leader required for bottom loaders.

From a collector's perspective, there are many sites with relevant information and there are people here that know a thing or two as well. Trouble is that there is no consolidated source of information from within the FSU itself - its not the way things were done. Therefore, the history of the FSU camera industry and the FED in particular is built from diverse scraps of information and some of it is contradictory. This is what makes collecting FSU cameras addictive for some people and therefore the knowledge base continues to grow and evolve.

As there was only one camera model produced, it was simply called "FED" after the factory. There were no official factory classifiactions or model names (except the upspecc'd "S" and "B" types - not engraved) until a completely new body required invention of a new name - "FED-2". Collectors being collectors wanted to justify to their partners why they should have half a dozen FEDs on the shelf so they invented the "FED-1a to 1g" (after Princelle). Except for 1b and 1c, the classifications were mainly based on the changes in engravings.

This finally brings me to the point of this post. Only the 1b, 1c and 1d have NKVD engraved. All, except the 1g, have either "Labour Commune", "Kominat" or "Factory" of "F.E. Dzerzhinsky".

Happy shooting.