Quietest and fastest focusing FSU RF?

[paradoxbox]

Hey all,

I used to have a Kiev 4 and I loved that camera, the shop I bought it from had ensured it was functioning perfectly before I bought it.

Anyway, I bought it, traveled around the world with it and took lots of pictures, and sold it back to the camera shop that sold it to me in the first place so that some other person can someday go do the same thing - hopefully that camera will get around the world a few more times.


Now I'd like to get another FSU rangefinder. These days I think I want to be able to take quick snapshots, sometimes from the hip, and I want a decently quiet shutter. Ideally it won't take a million turns of the lens to get from closest to farthest focus (Lens limitation?)

The Kiev 4 was remarkably quiet at most shutter speeds, but advancing the frame was pretty noisy. I did like the bright rangefinder too. Downside was that most lenses for the Kiev are more expensive.

Lastly, I do have a thing for the more retro looking ones i.e. fed2 or leica iiif. People seem to be more friendly when you take their picture with something that looks like an antique, but I think one of those late 80's feds or zorky's would freak people out.

Anyone have any suggestions?

 

[Dave Wilkinson]

Why punish yourself?

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

If you liked the Kiev 4, stick to it. Definitely quieter than most Contax RFs out there.

And: Only post in the past year and a half?

 

[Steve M.]

I have to agree w/ Dave. Sounds like you want a lever advance, not knob wind. Just buy a Bessa R and be done w/ it. If you want a quieter shutter, you'll have to go up to a Leica CL w/ a dead meter (cheaper that way) and use your LTM lenses w/ an inexpensive adapter. The FSU cameras w/ lever wind tend to be big, heavy, and unreliable.

 

[Spider67]

If quietness is important stick to the Kiev.
Screwmount Leicas can also be quiet sometimes.
Bessas give a mechanical "Klack" M's are rather quiet and have a lever.

 

[paradoxbox]

keep in mind guys, i said fsu, i'm not going to go out and spend a ton of cash on a leica or bessa or something.

i'm not opposed to going back to the kiev, but i've never tried the fed or zorky's so i don't know about how their shutter sounds compare or the viewfinders either.

i've heard that feds and zorky's from the 50's are ok, when does the quality start dropping off ?

ideally i'd just buy one of each, but the fsu cameras and bodies are not as cheap as they were 5-10 years ago..you could buy a dslr and a fast lens for the same as bringing in 3-4 decent condition fsu cameras

 

[Jockos]

The Zorki 4 has a very noisy shutter imho. Seemed reliable enough tho - in a Soviet T-34 kind of way.

 

[Spider67]

Sorry I forgot the original question of the post.
The Kiev is the quietest among the FSU's Try to get a specimen from the 50's or 60's (the 80's quality is pathetic) on the other hand 50' and 60's cameras could need a CLA.
To my mind there is not a great difference concerning quietness when it comes to quietness between Zorki one and Zorki 4 for example (framing with the Zorki 4 can be difficult) . the Zorki C and the Zorki 4 are in most cases cheaper than the Zorki 1 and also newer. You could also go for a Zorki 4K which has a transport lever.

 

[wolves3012]

My quietest FSU, shutter-wise is a 1955 Zorki 1 - it's quieter than my Leica IIIC. If you want a lever-wind, the Zorki 5 has an excellent finder, as does the Zorki 6 (along with a hinged back). As for how loud the shutter is, that's a lottery and depends partly on how recently (if ever) it's been serviced. The Kievs' shutters are usually no quieter really, just a different sound, less noticeably "camera shutter" - especially the "wheeze" on slower speeds. Speaking of which, if you need those then a Zorki 5/6 will not do.

As far as the build quality goes, my experience says it's ok until late 70s but the earlier the better is still generally true. As with any make, you can still get a lemon (possibly more so with FSUs).

With the speed-of-focus, that's more dependent on the lens than body. Kievs are possibly the slowest, since they take 270 degrees and screwmounts mostly take less than that. Personal opinion, the collapsible Industars are possibly the quickest but they're not all that fast a lens optically.

 

[apodeictic]

This might sound out of left field, but if you want quiet and unobtrusive, why not an Olympus XA? Or with a some extra cash a Hexar AF? Those are dead quiet cameras, and you wouldn't be fiddling with the *ahem* quirks of an FSU.

If that's not your thing then disregard this post. 😛

 

[shadowfox]

Check out Zorki 6. If you managed to find one, have it serviced and you'd be surprised how quiet it is and how 'retro' it looks.

 

[former member]

I can wind my Zorki 3M with one finger, and it is not loud. I use it in it's leather case, helps dampen the sound.

A Kodak Retina is quieter. If you want interchangeable lenses, the FSU cameras are inexpensive compared with others. For one lens- a Retina is quiter, and folds up.

 

[stratcat]

For quick focus a lens with focusing lever is what I need. I agree that the shutters are more or less equal in loudness between my FED (2 and 3) and my Kiev 4 but produce different sounds.

A couple other options that are out of what you specified:
1) my FED 4 is large and clunky but it's shutter is quiet and it has lever advance (the same goes for the late FED 2 and 3 models). Bad looker, great user. 🙂

2)The quietest shutter I've personaly used is the leaf shutter in my fixed lens rangefinder Yashicas and Canonet

Good luck

 

[Thomas78]

...

2)The quietest shutter I've personaly used is the leaf shutter in my fixed lens rangefinder Yashicas and Canonet

Good luck

Yes, leaf shutters are in most cases much quiter than focal plane shutter.

 

[rxmd]

If you don't need interchangeable lenses, I suggest you get a Sokol-2, which has an OK CdS lightmeter, an Industar-70 Tessar-type lens in 50mm, a good viewfinder with an accurate long-base rangefinder, and a very quiet leaf shutter.

 

[paradoxbox]

The pull was strong...I've got a bid on a 1965 Kiev 4 up on ebay with a Jupiter 8 lens. Never tried the Jupiter before, my last camera had the helios. Maybe I'll order another lense with it if I win..!

 

[rclrcl65]

Paradox,Good choice...stick with what works for you!

Will, I have a really clean, 1965 Zorki 6 and I have to laugh every time I hear the shutter..."Ka-doink"! I'd like a quiet copy because I'm really satisfied with the body otherwise.
Rick

 

[Coldkennels]

Will, I have a really clean, 1965 Zorki 6 and I have to laugh every time I hear the shutter..."Ka-doink"! I'd like a quiet copy because I'm really satisfied with the body otherwise.
Rick

I don't have a Z6 - Mine is a Zorki 5, which I understand to be fundamentally the same - and I know what you mean. My Zorki 5 is one of the noisest things I've ever used. I think only Zenits and Prakticas beat it; the metallic thunk of the shutter next to my ear sounds like a gunshot, and the wind lever has a horribly loud ratchet noise.

Other than that it's bloody lovely, though... 🙄

 

[rclrcl65]

Tony,

I'm lucky, in that the winder is very smooth and quiet on mine. Will may have convinced me to give a Kiev a try. Ahhh, the sound of silence.

Rick

 

[Ron (Netherlands)]

If you don't need speeds under 1/30 sec then you can stick with a more simple Zorki 5 or 6 or a Zorki 1 (or 2, which is very rare btw). If you want slow speeds as well then I would go for lever advance and try a late Zorki 4K with a late lens.

cheers from Holland