Selecting an FSU camera: Beginner's Guide

[Spider67]

"I didn't want to go into buying caveats, I wanted to keep it as brief as possible (it's already quite long). To be honest, buying is an area where common sense should prevail - if it's going cheaply then there's probably a reason for it! The aim was a resume of the common models and their features. The pitfalls of buying are not unique to FSU cameras!"

Great idea wolves! Just include zhose thoughts in a sntence, as beginners tend to get very enthusiatic and nearly blind ("Great a Leica like camera fro only 10$)
Also some advice on the Turret viewfinders:
After a first check it seems that the Kiev and the Zorki turret viewfinders can be used on both Cameras, as the Viwefinder itself is in the same position on both of them. BUT: You can use a Zorki Vf on a Kiev rewwinding film will get a bit more difficult, but using a Kiev VF on a Zorki make changing speeds a pain.
Also there is the quality issue with the Kievs as a great number of the 4AM's compared with the earlier Kiev Versions show bad finish and sometimes even impaired function. That's an advice I tend to give personally, when I tell someone what to expect and that he has to have a good look at a camera, but once written it could lead to a run on every Kiev produced before f.e. 1962 or stupid generalizations like "All $ AM's are crap"

 

[fidget]

nice work Wolves, could this information also be presented in a chart style? You know the sort, with columns for various features, ticked off for the models. Sort of slow speeds, strap lugs, 1/1000th top speed, 1/4 inch mount, etc....... for us lazy types. Many thanks for producing this.....Dave

 

[julio1fer]

Excellent introduction; wish I had something like this when I started on FSUs!

Only suggestion would be to add a few links to FSU reference sites, for instance:

Antique Russian Cameras

Russ Pinchbeck's Kiev Survival Site

Soviet and Russian Cameras

Oleg Khalyavin's site

KMZ site . (they have manuals for several Zorkis, some in English, the others may be used with automatic translation and patience)

 

[reagan]

Excellent work, wolves & co. Well done and much needed. I agree this would be a great thread for others to add their "IMHOs" about particular models, links to other model variation info, etc. It's a good thread to be referenced by many for some time. I certainly wouldn't mind it being stickied as well.

Thanks all!

 

[reagan]

Zorki.3

Zorki.3

Okay, I'll have a go at tossing in a comment on the popular-to-look-at-but-not-use Zorki.3. As Wolves notes, the slow speed shutter mech. is often noted for being troublesome. Because of always reading that, I bought mine with the idea that it might get extremely limited use so as not to break the fragile little thing.

However, I've had no problems with mine in the approx. 2 years of occasional use and don't recall ever reading here [at RFF] of others with first-hand troubles. I might have just forgotten, so maybe someone who has had difficulties with their slow speeds will jump in. But mine seems to work well at all speeds and is quite enjoyable to use.

My Zorki.3 owner's manual has this caution: “The front dial can be turned only from Д to 1,10, 2, 5, 25 and back. The user should not attempt to force the dial to shift between ‘Д’ and ‘25’ or damage to the camera will result.” That and the usual FSU Golden Rule, "Wind on before changing any speeds" is easy enough to remember.

So I have no hesitation in encouraging someone whose head has been turned by one of these striking scalawags to, hey, go for it.

 

[Fabrice2]

Got mine today from alex photo, Z3 (N°5441427)with a J8 (n°5312052), i also got the ready case with a plastic tablet inside, with what seems to be the hyperfocal lenght written in russian by someone years ago.
The problem with this zorki3 is that speeds are crazy,i have to check the speed mecanism,but i need a zorki 3 repair manual, i've ordered one of the Maizenberg's repair book but i have to wait it come from russia.
I think that the front slow speed mecanism is not working.
The rangefinder is accurate, i cleaned the viewfinder, here's the picture of the announce but now i've cleaned it, it's in a lot better shape.

That is the card that was inside the ready case:

 

[wolves3012]

Since the Zorki 3 is the one model FED/Zorki I don't own (yet)...I think you're both cruel to post pics!
;-)

 

[misok]

Since the Zorki 3 is the one model FED/Zorki I don't own (yet)...I think you're both cruel to post pics!
;-)

how could that happen ..? 3 / 3m is a jewell among fsu-rfs. not just my opinion. ;;

all the best,
m.

 

[wlewisiii]

Of the LTM cameras that I have had the pleasure of using, my favorite remains the Zori 6. With the amenities of the swing back, a decent finder & a lever film advance combined with the added reliablity of no slow speeds 😉 you have, in my mind, the best of the FSU LTM cameras.

In the end though, this is a really good start at what it proposes being. Thank you for creating it.

William

 

[zhang xk]

Hi,

Don't forget the most "Soviet" rangefinder, the Zayar. It is light, simple and reliable.😛 With a J-12 set at F8-11, you can shoot almost anything without focusing.

Zhang

 

[wolves3012]

how could that happen ..? 3 / 3m is a jewell among fsu-rfs. not just my opinion. ;;

all the best,
m.

There's a simple reason I don't own one - they're pretty rare beasts in the UK, I haven't found one yet in the condition I'd like for a sensible price!

 

[wolves3012]

Of the LTM cameras that I have had the pleasure of using, my favorite remains the Zori 6. With the amenities of the swing back, a decent finder & a lever film advance combined with the added reliablity of no slow speeds 😉 you have, in my mind, the best of the FSU LTM cameras.

In the end though, this is a really good start at what it proposes being. Thank you for creating it.

William

I love the Zorki 6 too and I tend to agree. Sadly the one combination that never appeared was a model with all the best features - like a wide-base RF, slow speeds, hinged back, lever-wind etc. Meaning, we have to choose amongst the features we want and need...or have a few cameras! A Zorki 6 with slow speeds would have been superb...and I don't think they make a camera unreliable if it's serviced properly (emphasis on the IF).

 

[julio1fer]

Let's keep bumping this thread, maybe it gets sticky!

Of the LTM cameras that I have had the pleasure of using, my favorite remains the Zori 6.

(Zorki 6)

I fully agree. I've tried a few and the Z6 is my favorite among M39 rangefinders. I don't really miss the slow speeds for what I shoot.

It helps that I used for years a Zenit 3M, which is a very similar camera.

My second favorite is Fed2.

 

[rolleistef]

My two euro-cents : for the kievs, it's better avoid cameras made fom the late 60s to the early 80s (It's a long time for sure) since they tend to be randomly working and may plunge the owner into GAS (gear acquisition syndrom). The best values are Kiev II/IIa (Kiev II with a КИЕВ engraving are really rare and sought) and early 4. Kiev III/IIIa are nice too but not as pretty and pocketable...
Kiev 4am/4M are newer cameras with a hot-shoe, and newer winder/speed selector.
The Kiev 5 is an ugly attempt to turn the original Contax into a more modern camera, with reflected bright lines in a really big finder, and an external bayonet for the lens. They're quite rare and expensive though no one (except the collectors) wants it.
There was also a prototype Kiev TTL, quite pretty actually, and I once saw a CdS Kiev with a CdS cell instead of the selenium one, but I reckon it was never commercialised.

 

[mac_wt]

You might consider adding the Orion-15 28mm lens to the list. It's not as common or as cheap as the other lenses that you mention, but I think it's still the cheapest 28mm in M39 or Contax/Kiev mount available. Quality is excellent, but it's not a fast lens.

 

[reagan]

Orion.15

Orion.15

"You might consider adding the Orion-15 28mm lens to the list."

I would agree. Orions are often inquired about and for FSU enthusiasts, are quite attractive. The slow f6 has never been a problem for me since a rarely shoot wider than that with any lens, but it's a deterrent to some. The Orion's compact size is a plus as well, IMHO.

 

[wolves3012]

You might consider adding the Orion-15 28mm lens to the list. It's not as common or as cheap as the other lenses that you mention, but I think it's still the cheapest 28mm in M39 or Contax/Kiev mount available. Quality is excellent, but it's not a fast lens.

I did think about including the Orion but decided not to as a deliberate thing. It isn't a common lens, sadly, and I wanted to keep the introduction as short as possible and include only the most commonly found gear. Likewise I didn't include the 100mm f/6 (I think) lens and a few other items.

 

[Spider67]

I concur...

I concur...

My two euro-cents : for the kievs, it's better avoid cameras made fom the late 60s to the early 80s (It's a long time for sure) since they tend to be randomly working and may plunge the owner into GAS (gear acquisition syndrom). The best values are Kiev II/IIa (Kiev II with a КИЕВ engraving are really rare and sought) and early 4. Kiev III/IIIa are nice too but not as pretty and pocketable...
Kiev 4am/4M are newer cameras with a hot-shoe, and newer winder/speed selector."

As you pointed out the degrading quality of the finsh in the FED's it would also be quite reasonable to do the same thing with the Kievs.
Put a Kiev from the sixties beside a late Kiev and the differences are really obvious.....As I already mentioned several times before my first Kiev bought as new in the eighies had to be given to repair immediately, but then it did quite OK.
But still I think it is good advice to a prospective buyer not to overhaste things and to feel regret at home when he takes a closer look at his treasure.

Wolves the older Canons have a certain similarity to Zorki 3's. It should be possible to convert them.....now that the Zorki 3's prices are skyrocketing....😛 😉

 

[mac_wt]

I did think about including the Orion but decided not to as a deliberate thing ... Likewise I didn't include the 100mm f/6 (I think) lens and a few other items.

I think the Orion is different from the 100mm f6,3. The Orion is post war (production started in 1960), available for both Kiev/Contax mount and LTM and is a general usable lens. The 100mm f6,3 is a really old design (<20.000 made, starting 1938, according to Princelle) and, at least the one I own, is more of a curiosum. It flares like crazy.

But even more important: if you consider 85/90mm and 135mm as alternatives for a 100mm lens, you have plenty of options in that range. You could even find a 90mm Leitz lens for less than the FSU 100mm. In the 28mm range you don't have that many options. I would never advise someone to buy a FSU 100mm f6,3, but I do advise anyone looking for a cheap 28mm solution to consider the Orion 15, alongside the offerings from Voigtländer, or some Canon RF-lenses.

But these are just my 2 Eurocents.

Wim

 

[mac_wt]

Example from my 100mm f6,3 attached.

I just realized that I didn't compliment you on the excellent post. I think it's a very good idea to make this beginners guide. Certainly as many of the sites that were usefull to me when I started my collection are no longer on-line or no longer maintained.