Show Off Your FSU

[dee]

Oleg did a great job on my Fed Leicas - and apart from a broken spool , the Fed 2 i bought from him is excellent .
i am begining to wonder if the cost of Olegising should be added to any ex-USSR camera bought on e-bay !

 

[Joao]

Joao

The Fed 5 looks black - maybe, is it and is a repaint?

Noel

No, it is a standard chrome FED-5. I see what you mean, but this is caused by insufficient light, I guess - not to mention my lack of skills with digital photos.
Regards
Joao

 

[manfromh]

1981 Kiev-4m with a 1973 Jupiter-8m

 

[payasam]

Industar 61 L/D on Zorki 1C body, both bought from Oleg Khalyavin but at different times. Oleg also adapted the 35-50-100 turret finder, made in Liechtenstein and marked "Argus", so that it goes in the shoe and stays there. The Industar is used on a Leica IIIc as well, and other lenses used on the Zorki are a Summaron 35/3.5, a Steinheil Culminar 85/2.8 and a Summitar. Function is important here, not appearance.

 

[Welsh_Italian]

It's time for a laugh I think, so here are a couple of photos.

It's my new (to me) Fed-2! It came with the Fed-50 lens which was a bit stiff (mostly arperture), so I working it while watching a movie and it's much better now. It still really needs a CLA though to make it operate really smoothly.

But the screws in the lens were filthy - lots of blocks of dried lube which had to be cleaned out. The difference afterwards was a revelation! Now it moves smoothly and easily, better than some new lenses I've had! I've taken a test roll but need to get it developed first to see if it's ok. Looking through it, it seems alright, but the acid test is the quality of pics.

The camera itself showed capping but after running a spare film through and a brief CLA, it seems to be working absolutely fine. I had to clean some grime and dirt off, but it was fun (and surprisingly easy compared to Japanese cams) to take the top off. Curiously, the limits (lack of slow speeds and no exposure meter) seem to add to its charms.

But - a question for Fed-2 owners - I keep on picking it up and playing with it - just focusing on something, winding on and hearing the shutter release, or just handling it. Is this wierd or does every Fed-2 owner do this? Although the camera is awkward and old, it just feels so nice?!

btw - the pictures were taken with an old Praktica SLR with a Pentacon 1.8 lens and extremely poor light (just one floor lamp and the main light in a lampshade) so the lens was wide open - hence the enormous DoF (partially intentional as I haven't used the camera for years and wanted to find its limits) and poor exposure (all my fault). Apologies!

 

[HuubL]

I have succumbed to a Zenit-S, a classic SLR built on the body the Zorki-1. So not a RF in the strict sense of the word, but still having a fair share of Leica II genes. It'l be here tomorrow hopefully. Mind if I post its picture here??

 

[wolves3012]

I have succumbed to a Zenit-S, a classic SLR built on the body the Zorki-1. So not a RF in the strict sense of the word, but still having a fair share of Leica II genes. It'l be here tomorrow hopefully. Mind if I post its picture here??

Huubl,
I found the tempation too much as well. I have a Zenith C and a Zenit C. They're really cute! By the way, they're derived from the Zorki 2C not the Zorki 1 AFAIK. I posted a pic on here and no-one complained, I think they're a sort-of honorary RF! I'd certainly like to see it...

 

[HuubL]

As promised, my Zenit-S. Unique SLR on a Zorki (2C, thanks Wolves) body frame.

 

[Xmas]

Welsh
A Fed 2 is nice but if you had a Fed 1 it would super glue itself to your hand.
Noel

 

[Welsh_Italian]

Huuble - that is a beautiful example.

Noel - please don't start me dreaming of a Fed 1! Oops, too late - my gf is going to kill me. Oleeeeeg! :bang:

 

[zhang xk]

A group of Jupiter-9s

A group of Jupiter-9s

Hi,

I decided to show off my J-9 collection that I assembled over the years. So far I have M39, M42, Kiev-Contax, and LTM mount J-9s. The movie mount J-9 and Kiev 10 mount J-9 are still at large. Like everything else of Russian gears, the early J-9 are somewhat closer to their Zeiss cousin IMHO. The 3 black ones are M39 J-9s. They are much harder to find than M42 version. I saw some silver M39 mount J-9s, but they are often in worn condition.

Cheers,

Zhang

 

[zhang xk]

Kiev II collection

Kiev II collection

Hi,

Here is my Kiev II collection(1950-1955). 1947-1949 and 1953 Kiev 2s are missing. I bought them when they were still cheap. The 1950 Kiev II with ZK 50/2 cost me about $20 in early 1990's. A good investment, isn't it? The most expensive one is a 1955 version with a J-3. The lens alone is worth the $50.

Cheers,

Zhang

 

[physiognomy]

Hi, Here is my Kiev II collection(1950-1955)...Cheers, Zhang

Nice!!! I feel lucky to own one Kiev II let alone a collection of them... Thanks for sharing.

Peter

 

[wolves3012]

As promised, my Zenit-S. Unique SLR on a Zorki (2C, thanks Wolves) body frame.

HuubL, that looks a very nice example. My Zenith C is in similar condition (photo on this thread somewhere). The cyrillic-lettered Zenit C I got recently is much tattier and needs some TLC, though it was cheap and it works. Do you find it easy to focus or not? I wear reading glasses and can't focus the cyrillic one very easily without them, though my distance vision is perfect. I'm wondering if there's any adjustment in the optical system and it's off a bit at the infinity end. I have no such trouble with an RF or with my Minolta SLR.

 

[wolves3012]

Hi,

Here is my Kiev II collection(1950-1955). 1947-1949 and 1953 Kiev 2s are missing. I bought them when they were still cheap. The 1950 Kiev II with ZK 50/2 cost me about $20 in early 1990's. A good investment, isn't it? The most expensive one is a 1955 version with a J-3. The lens alone is worth the $50.

Cheers,

Zhang

And a rather nice Zorki 2 in the foreground! Not very common either. I presume the rewind is by twisting the collar, as per later FED/Zorki models?

 

[zhang xk]

And a rather nice Zorki 2 in the foreground! Not very common either. I presume the rewind is by twisting the collar, as per later FED/Zorki models?

Hi,

That is right. It cost 2-3 times of my rare Fed C with 50/2 lens.:bang:

 

[zhang xk]

Nice!!! I feel lucky to own one Kiev II let alone a collection of them... Thanks for sharing.

Peter

Hi Peter,

I see that you have a rare Kiev 2a. I think they are much less often seen than a Kiev II, and was made for a shorter period (1956-1958) IIRC. I have 6 Kiev II and only a lonely Kiev 2a.

Cheers,

Zhang

 

[physiognomy]

Hi Peter, I see that you have a rare Kiev 2a. I think they are much less often seen than a Kiev II, and was made for a shorter period (1956-1958) IIRC. I have 6 Kiev II and only a lonely Kiev 2a. Cheers, Zhang

Hi Zhang,

I assumed the II was rarer because the earliest models were made in lower quantities. Princelle quotes production figures around 5000/yr for the early 1950's, but by the time they were making the Kiev 2a in 1955 production had increased to ~15,000/yr. That increase would more than make up for the shorter time that the 2a was made ('55-'59). Either way, the early Kievs are a magnificent camera & I only wish I could afford more than one of each model!

Here are pics of my Kiev 2a...

& 3a

Peter

 

[zhang xk]

Hi Zhang,

I assumed the II was rarer because the earliest models were made in lower quantities. Princelle quotes production figures around 5000/yr for the early 1950's, but by the time they were making the Kiev 2a in 1955 production had increased to ~15,000/yr. That increase would more than make up for the shorter time that the 2a was made ('55-'59). Either way, the early Kievs are a magnificent camera & I only wish I could afford more than one of each model!

...

Peter

Hi Peter,

I agree to your assumption. The production number of Kiev 2 and 2a may be roughly the same. However, I saw more Kiev 2 than 2a in Beijing.

I noted that you have a very early Jupiter 8 with that ears on the front ring.
I have a same J-8 made in 1950. It is rarer than a ZK.

Zhang

 

[zhang xk]

Hi,

Here is a close look at details of a Chinese Leica, a Shanghai 582. This is the 3rd version, and the camera is in LN condition. It has a very shining chrome plating.

Zhang