Newbie here - lens questions

[SimonK]

Hello everyone, newbie here. After 20 years of unswerving loyalty to my Nikon FE I have finally decided to give range finders a try. Of course, lured by the ridiculously cheap prices on e-bay of FSU kit, this seemed a good place to start.
So, a couple of questions, if you don't mind.
I've read the threads on this forum going back a ways, and you folks are 90% FED 2 and ZORKI 4 oriented. Practically no mention of FED 3, 4 or 5 or ZORRKI 6 - how come?
The cameras I bought have come with a Jupiter 8, Industar 61L/D and Industar 26m. Is one of these lenses considered better than the others? Also, there is no click-stop for the aperture on the Jupiter and the 26M - is this normal or are they broken?
Thanks for your help.

 

[ZorkiKat]

Welcome Simon K.

All the 50mm lenses you mentioned are superb. Click stops were never installed in Soviet LTM lenses, it is only the I-61 L/D which has this.

I'm not a FED-2 user in particular- many find it rather convenient, ergonomic, and user-friendly so it's a natural favourite. I don't like the Zorki-4 too. I find it too big, and the finder is a pain for me to use. My personal favourites are the FED-1, Zorki-1, Zorki-5 and, occasionally, even the Zorki-6. The Z-6 is worth noting for having a quality not normally found in other FSU rangefinders- a fixed takeup spool (there are other RF so equipped too), separate synch contact for FP and X, and a hinged back cover. IMHO, the Z-6 is the best Zorki for one weaned on more conventional cameras since its features are more "familiar".

Jay

 

[giovatony]

FSU rangefinders`s are no different than any other camera . Each model and brand exibit one or more unique aspects of handling and or features than the other. The best or favorite camera can be purely subjective as preferences are obviously of a personal nature.
The reality is that to fully enjoy and experience what each particular camera has to offer it must be in perfect working order. Every little nuance this camera has built into it must be at it`s best . There is no room for anything less than how it was originally designed to operate. Every facet of operation should be at 100% or it will only serve to diminish the user a full appreciation or enjoyment of it`s original potential. Same for the lens attached to it.
And most of these old cameras and lenses will require some degree of refurbishing to get them in their original operating condition, no different than what the Leicas and Nikons of the same period also require..
John

 

[mcgrattan]

Personally, I started with a Fed-4. I still have it. However, more and more I've found myself using my Zorki 2c as I prefer the compact size and the handling is nicer. I have no idea if the Zorki had a CLA before I bought it, but it feels like it. The wind action and shutter are both smooth and slick in a way that my Fed isn't.

Some of my favourite photos were taken with the Fed-4 but increasingly I find the bulk of it and the relatively dark viewfinder a barrier to use.

I suspect a big part of the preference for the earlier FSU models is that they are smaller.

 

[PhotoJim]

I'll give you a little summary of the FSU cameras I own:

Fed 2b - one of my favourites. Nice wide rangefinder for focusing accuracy. The viewfinder is a bit dark though. A real pleasure to use overall, as long as you have decent light.

Fed 3a - my favourite one in terms of appearance. Knob wind (which I like). Hard to find, but quirkily wonderful.

Fed 3b - a really good user, especially if you prefer lever wind (which, strangely, I don't on these cameras). Probably one of the most underrated bodies. Quite handsome-looking.

Fed 5c - probably the ugliest of the Soviet rangefinders, but who cares? A built-in selenium meter that can be handy. Very clunky and chunky but it does the job. If you want to be noticed, this is your camera.

Zorki 4 - my co-favourite along with the Fed 2b and Fed 3a. Cheap and cheerful, easy to find. Knob wind. Try to get an older one (1950s or early 1960s) that has engraved shutter speeds and name instead of silkscreened. These older cameras also have vulcanite instead of vinyl (or whatever it is that Zorki used) which is a much more pleasant camera covering. However, the newer ones work just as well.

Zorki 4K - like the 4 but with lever wind. My least favourite of the bunch.

Jim

 

[fanshaw]

Welcome Simon K.

All the 50mm lenses you mentioned are superb. Click stops were never installed in Soviet LTM lenses, it is only the I-61 L/D which has this.

Jay

Some Industar-26M have click stops. I know because I have two.

Fanshaw

 

[rbiemer]

Welcome!
I have used a few of the various FSU cameras and have found which ones work well for me.
I currently own FED 3b, Fed 5, Zorki 3m, Zorki 10 (and some other non-rangefinder cameras). I have had FED 2, Kievs (4a, 4, and 2), Agat 18k, and FED Micron2.
I got the Kiev 4a as my first FSU camera and liked it quite a lot but ultimately decided I wanted more lens choice so started looking at the FED cameras. Tried the FED2 first and liked most of it except for the VF. It didn't work well with my eye glasses. And I did have a very good sample. Tried the FED 5 next and I still have and use one--though not the same one as I first had--it isn't my main user for a couple of reasons: no strap lugs and no 1/1000 shutter speed. Other wise I like it just fine.
I seperated the top half of the ever ready case and that works well enough.
Came across a picture of the Zorki 3m and got very interested: it has all the things I want and is, to me, as pretty as any camera gets. Nice big VF, strap lugs, and both fast and slow shutter speeds.
The Zorki 10 and FED 3 were impulse buys and not quite so sucessful for me; the Zorki 10 I have is immaculate but huge and heavy for a fixed lens camera. Nice pictures, though, and looks pretty cool.
The FED 3b could be very good, I think, but my sample isn't working(ebay dissapointment, one of my few) right now. It is outwardly pretty so I will get it serviced before I give up on it.
My main feeling about any FSU camera is that finding or, if you're handy, making a good example of whichever particular model you like is much more important than finding some theoretical "best" camera.
Rob