Ned
Ned
Any thoughts on Fed or Zorki Cameras, ie: Leica copies - I have four, a couple of Fed's, a Fed 2 & 3 + a couple of Zorki's, a Zorki 3 Olympic version & a Zorki 4. All are in full working order and used with a Weston Light Meter & Tmax 400 B&W film
Anybody else got one or any other Russian Camera?
Anybody else got one or any other Russian Camera?
TXForester
Well-known
Fed, Zorki 4k, Zorki 6. The Fed has a light leak and the Zorkis work fine.
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
I'm sure many here have Russian RFs ... in fact the chat about them was constant when I first joined RFF.
Sadly those days seem to be over.
Sadly those days seem to be over.
farlymac
PF McFarland
I think they've been moving on from the FSU stuff, Keith. Seems a lot of folks got one to see if they liked using a rangefinder, then went upscale from there.
Right now, Ned, I've got a Zorki 1D that has been retired (it's worn out), and three FED 2's that need work. The Zarya works now, but needs light seals somewhere.
What I like about the FED 2 is the wide rangefinder base combined with the viewfinder, and the built-in diopter adjustment on the viewfinder so I can use it without my glasses on. It looks much better than the original Leica copy, and if I ever get one of the three to work right, could be my everyday user. I really like the results from the lenses I have for it, and plan on getting more to fill out the kit.
PF
Right now, Ned, I've got a Zorki 1D that has been retired (it's worn out), and three FED 2's that need work. The Zarya works now, but needs light seals somewhere.
What I like about the FED 2 is the wide rangefinder base combined with the viewfinder, and the built-in diopter adjustment on the viewfinder so I can use it without my glasses on. It looks much better than the original Leica copy, and if I ever get one of the three to work right, could be my everyday user. I really like the results from the lenses I have for it, and plan on getting more to fill out the kit.
PF
AndersG
Well-known
I have a FED 2 loaded with TriX, a FED 3 (out of adjustment), a Zorki 1 (works well), a Zorki 4 (out of adjustment) and a Zorki 6 (light leaks). I usually use my Canon 7 due to its much better finder.
Ko.Fe.
Lenses 35/21 Gears 46/20
Where are still talks about them. Mostly how to fix them, because most of them never seen CLA 
Family FED-2, using it regularly. Zorki-6 which I CLA_ed few days ago.
Working Z-4, which I received as J-3 rear cap, it is missing film spool, need to get one.
Restored two Z-1 with dead curtains in the past and owned/used Moskva-2 and 5 6x9 RFs.
My 50mm RF most used primes are I-22 and J-3. I-26M on FED-2 is very nice lens as well.
I'm re-shimming J-3 to make it only one 50mm lens for my M4-2.
Family FED-2, using it regularly. Zorki-6 which I CLA_ed few days ago.
Working Z-4, which I received as J-3 rear cap, it is missing film spool, need to get one.
Restored two Z-1 with dead curtains in the past and owned/used Moskva-2 and 5 6x9 RFs.
My 50mm RF most used primes are I-22 and J-3. I-26M on FED-2 is very nice lens as well.
I'm re-shimming J-3 to make it only one 50mm lens for my M4-2.
KnipsOmat
Established
Zorki 3 Olympic? Hardly. The Zorki-3 were produced from 1951-1956. The Olympics were in 1980...
There's a couple of FED Olympic versions around, one of which is a FED-3 late style.
But no Zorki-3. In fact, no Olympic Zorki at all, as the only one being built long enough for this would be the Zorki-4K, but I'm not aware of any Olympic version of that camera.
Yep. Just short of 100. From a 1937 Trudkommuna FED to a 1990 FED-5V. At least one of each major FED or Zorki model. Some of which are being used regularly.
Is that a Honda VFR 750 on your avatar?
batterytypehah!
Lord of the Dings
Sure, we're still around! See my signature.
I never warmed to my Zorki-4 (a very tired sample, to be fair) and gave it away, but the FED-2 is working so well it's boring
Plus a Zorki-1 in pieces, waiting for new curtains when I finally work up the nerve to tackle that job.
I would much rather keep a couple of FSU cameras than work around the compatible-but-not-quite issues with FSU lenses on Leicas. And you gotta use FSU lenses!
I never warmed to my Zorki-4 (a very tired sample, to be fair) and gave it away, but the FED-2 is working so well it's boring
Plus a Zorki-1 in pieces, waiting for new curtains when I finally work up the nerve to tackle that job.
I would much rather keep a couple of FSU cameras than work around the compatible-but-not-quite issues with FSU lenses on Leicas. And you gotta use FSU lenses!
goamules
Well-known
I have a couple of pre-war Fed 1s, that I keep for collector purposes. I've shot them, but don't any more. I do use a lot of Soviet lenses still.
ray*j*gun
Veteran
I have 2 Zorki's a I and a 4 that were both professionally refurbished and I love using them plus they are a real conversation starter. I confess I dont use them if the shoot is critical but thats only because of some bad experiences with other somewhat abused Fed's
Fotohuis
Well-known
Zorki-4K, Zorki-6, FED-3, FED-5b.
Lenses: J-8, J-12, I-61 Zebra, I-61 L/D.
I prefer the FED-3, a 50 years October Revolution model and the Zorki-6. In lenses I think the best 50mm is the Jupiter-8.
I am also working with a Leica M7 and some (4) Leica glass, so I can say the price quality for these Ukraine and Russian cameras are extremely good.
Greetz,
Robert
Lenses: J-8, J-12, I-61 Zebra, I-61 L/D.
I prefer the FED-3, a 50 years October Revolution model and the Zorki-6. In lenses I think the best 50mm is the Jupiter-8.
I am also working with a Leica M7 and some (4) Leica glass, so I can say the price quality for these Ukraine and Russian cameras are extremely good.
Greetz,
Robert
02Pilot
Malcontent
I still use my FED-2 every now and again, especially in winter, since with the collapsible FED 50 it fits easily in a coat pocket. It's a handy street photography camera.
btgc
Veteran
Not exactly russian, though, as they were copied, developed and manufactured by Soviet people and that included russians, ukrainians, belorussians and many more.
I have poor FED, 5 that is, and while it doesn't have long RF base nor it is made from German made parts, mine works OK. Cleaned and relubed Industar-61 L/D. Not the thing I'd like to have as only rangefinder but it works and gives feeling of late Soviet era photographic gear.
I have poor FED, 5 that is, and while it doesn't have long RF base nor it is made from German made parts, mine works OK. Cleaned and relubed Industar-61 L/D. Not the thing I'd like to have as only rangefinder but it works and gives feeling of late Soviet era photographic gear.
tunalegs
Pretended Artist
I've got a Fed 3 and Zorki 4, plus two malfunctioning Kievs I need to get rid of. Previously had a Fed 4 and a Fed 5, but prefer the earlier model 3 greatly.
The Zorki 4 has a great VF, whereas the Fed 3 has a good smooth feel in use. I don't use RFs much these days, but I use the Zorki occasionally.
The Zorki 4 has a great VF, whereas the Fed 3 has a good smooth feel in use. I don't use RFs much these days, but I use the Zorki occasionally.
xayraa33
rangefinder user and fancier
I been using my Zorki 4k with a J-3 lens for a few weeks now.
I do enjoy using this set-up.
I do enjoy using this set-up.
lukitas
second hand noob
a fed, a fed 2, a fed 3, a zorki and a zorki 6.
the fed 3 is a dud, the fed has a gummy lens, and the zorki 6 is a maniac exhibitionist whose back has fallen open on two out of three films I put through it.
The fed 2 is lovely, accurate rangefinder, diopter adjustment, reasonable viewfinder.
But the russians made me realise that an old leica isn't all that expensive : about the price of a mid-range tourist grade DSLR. And I fell in love with the viewfinder of an M2, an event that forced me into a bigamous relationship with an M3, and I feel my fed 2 must feel extremely jealous. I don't dare approach it for fear of a tizzy fit.
In the mean time, I'm having a quite amazing triangular relationship with my two M's, a summitar and an ultron 28.
the fed 3 is a dud, the fed has a gummy lens, and the zorki 6 is a maniac exhibitionist whose back has fallen open on two out of three films I put through it.
The fed 2 is lovely, accurate rangefinder, diopter adjustment, reasonable viewfinder.
But the russians made me realise that an old leica isn't all that expensive : about the price of a mid-range tourist grade DSLR. And I fell in love with the viewfinder of an M2, an event that forced me into a bigamous relationship with an M3, and I feel my fed 2 must feel extremely jealous. I don't dare approach it for fear of a tizzy fit.
In the mean time, I'm having a quite amazing triangular relationship with my two M's, a summitar and an ultron 28.
David Hughes
David Hughes
Hi,
They are all nice (especially the FED 2) but like all old cameras etc just need a bit of TLC in their old age. F'instance, I've a Leica (from the period before they had model numbers) with a stiff or gummy lens that makes it very slow to focus but it's nearly 90 years old and so to be expected.
Regards, David
They are all nice (especially the FED 2) but like all old cameras etc just need a bit of TLC in their old age. F'instance, I've a Leica (from the period before they had model numbers) with a stiff or gummy lens that makes it very slow to focus but it's nearly 90 years old and so to be expected.
Regards, David
Kekoekoo
Member
I did as farlymac said. Bough a zorki 4, then a fed 2 (wich I'm totally in love with) loved the rangefinder experience but...I wear glasses and i don't like too much to pull the shutter dial each time to change shutter speed so I changed to a canon 7.
I used to have film loaded in the canon 7 and the fed 2 but the shutter died on fed and on zorki...Hope to replace the fed (or maybe try to fix it...) someday.
Anyway I'm still enjoying the jupiter 8 and an industar 61 almost everyday!
I used to have film loaded in the canon 7 and the fed 2 but the shutter died on fed and on zorki...Hope to replace the fed (or maybe try to fix it...) someday.
Anyway I'm still enjoying the jupiter 8 and an industar 61 almost everyday!
rbiemer
Unabashed Amateur
Welcome aboard, Ned!
Hmmm, I currently have FED 3, 4, 5 and Zorki 1--the Zorki Zorki one (maybe a 1d, not quite sure). And a Zorki 4. And an Agat 18k. And a Kiev 4--that one was repainted black and marked "Contax" at some point. And a few lenses; J-8, J-11, Industar 50 rigid, I-22 collapsible, I-26, I-61 L/D. And a turret finder.
Previously owned and used (and liked) a couple of Zorki 3m cameras. Had a Kiev 60 for a while. That one I bought from Arax and liked it pretty well also.
I am idly looking to get another Zorki 3m and another J-12 lens. And thinking about an Arax Kiev 88.
The main 50mm lens I use on my primary camera--a Bessa R--is the 1955 Jupiter-8. I like my results with that lens quite a lot. If the J-12 I had would have fit my Bessa, I wouldn't have sold it. And, the J-9 I owned was, fortunately, well sorted for use on western LTM cameras but I wanted a CV 75mm and so I sold a few things.
There are more than a few of us FSU gear folks around, I think.
Rob
Hmmm, I currently have FED 3, 4, 5 and Zorki 1--the Zorki Zorki one (maybe a 1d, not quite sure). And a Zorki 4. And an Agat 18k. And a Kiev 4--that one was repainted black and marked "Contax" at some point. And a few lenses; J-8, J-11, Industar 50 rigid, I-22 collapsible, I-26, I-61 L/D. And a turret finder.
Previously owned and used (and liked) a couple of Zorki 3m cameras. Had a Kiev 60 for a while. That one I bought from Arax and liked it pretty well also.
I am idly looking to get another Zorki 3m and another J-12 lens. And thinking about an Arax Kiev 88.
The main 50mm lens I use on my primary camera--a Bessa R--is the 1955 Jupiter-8. I like my results with that lens quite a lot. If the J-12 I had would have fit my Bessa, I wouldn't have sold it. And, the J-9 I owned was, fortunately, well sorted for use on western LTM cameras but I wanted a CV 75mm and so I sold a few things.
There are more than a few of us FSU gear folks around, I think.
Rob
pete hogan
Well-known
My routine camera is a Zorki 1c with an Industar-22 or Jupiter-8, and occasionally a Jupiter-11. Tri-X, though they do fine with Fuji Superia color too.