Suddenly liking the FED-3b

[Spyderman]

Until now, I somehow didn't like my FED-3b. It had this dark and uncomfortable viewfinder that always put me off from using it...

But recently I played with it for a while and I find myself actually liking it 🙂 It has the quietest shutter of my cameras, also an advance lever, and is built like a tank... but not as huge as later FEDs.

I found that if I applied ruben's trick with ND filter (or a piece of unexposed developed B&W film) on the RF image, the two images in the VF would be more ballanced. IMO the RF image on FED-3b is too strong, and it is difficult to focus by overlaying the 2 images. But when I weaken the RF image with the ND filter (piece of film) it is again possible to focus by overlaying the RF image and the VF image.

I'd like to spray-paint my FED-3b satin black, and recover in black leatherette. Mmm... 😎

 

[nikola]

Nice one! 😉

I have same set like yours, but my Panda is little stiff.... 🙂

 

[Kim Coxon]

A re-lube will cure that very easily. 😉
http://www.pentax-manuals.com/repairs.htm

Kim

I have same set like yours, but my Panda is little stiff.... 🙂

 

[wolves3012]

Nice one! 😉

I have same set like yours, but my Panda is little stiff.... 🙂

Nothing worse than a stiff panda...

Re-lubing the helicoid is an easy job and pretty much the same on the I-26M/I-61/I-61LD.

 

[wolves3012]

I've just got a 3b and was quite pleased with it. I think it needs some minor CLA work but otherwise looks good. Next "user" is going to be the 3a though. I bought it several months ago and have yet to put film through it!

 

[nikola]

Thanks Kim...

...but I don't have idea what grease to use, and where to buy it. 🙂

 

[santino]

spyderman, seems like you're not a fan of self timers 😀

 

[POSTI-Tuomo]

Hi Nikola, I used some silicone grease for RC car differentials, works quite fine with lens helicoids as well. Did this treatment to a Jupiter 8 and an Industar-22 as well.

The brand is Ofna (3000 wtg grade grease), I bought the thinnest grease I could get. It still gets a bit stiff in very cold weather, -20 C or so. 😎 But it should work even at those temps. You get a hefty bottle of it for 7 euros in Finland...

 

[Spyderman]

I guess Nikola should use something thinner - he lives in Croatia 😀 I understand that in Finland it must get pretty cold in winter, but in Croatia the summer heat is more a problem 😀

Nikola: you should use some kind of synthetic grease. I would recommend that you go to a bicycle shop and get either a suspension-fork grease (which is very very thin), or a white lithium based grease. At least these are the ones I have. The advantage of the white lithium grease is that it doesn't "travel" or "leak". So it won't get inside the lens and on the aperture blades...

I used the fork grease on a J-9 to smoothen it because there are more helicals. Otherwise I use the white grease - I used it in 2 Oly Zuiko lenses that I relubed, as well as in one J-8.

PS: I-61 was the first lens I relubed. It was fairly easy. It improved my self-confidence and courage, and now I don't fear even the Oly Zuiko 85/2 with floating rear group!
As I said - it's really easy. If you're not certain you can take a small digicam and document important steps - like where the trhread starts etc.

 

[nikola]

Thanks Ondrej,

do you have some suggestions where to look for that lithium grease?

Tuomo I can't even imagine a temperature bellow zero!!! 😀

 

[Kim Coxon]

The grease I use is an aviation one. Try a bicycle repair shop. They should have something that will do. If you get really stuck, send me a PM and I will try and send some out.

Kim

Thanks Ondrej,

do you have some suggestions where to look for that lithium grease?

Tuomo I can't even imagine a temperature bellow zero!!! 😀

 

[lubitel]

I like fed 3b as well, it has this russian Leica look. 😀

 

[fotosniper]

On the subject of grease Kim..I searched the town up here in M'bro to no avail for a suitable lithium grease..(admittedly not too long a search..just enough to waste a lunchtime from work) then a freind suggested Air gun grease..so off to the local gunshop and bought a little tube...I did a relube (using your site info...many thanks!) on a rigid Industar off my Zorki 6..so far all seems good..the lens revolves super smoothly with just enough friction to hold at your focus point setting. Don't know how things will go if we get hot weather (That's a joke!) but I'll keep the forum posted if all goes 'pear shaped'.
Out of interest..Has anyone else used this grease before?