the Fed5B shutter speed dial

[jag]

Hi,

I just bought a Fed5B as a gift for someone, and I noticed when looking at it for the first time that the shutter speed dial is positioned between 500 and B. I don't know very much about cameras, but I did read that the shutter speed dial should never be positioned between speeds. Is this something that will be corrected once the shutter is cocked, or do you think there is something wrong with this particular camera? I'd like to find out before I give this as a gift (to someone who knows MUCH more about cameras than I do!).

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Max Power]

As soon as you advance the frame, the shutter speed selector dial will stop at whatever speed was last selected. After the shutter has been released, the shutter speed dial seems to stop at a random spot.
The critical thing here is to not adjust the shutter speed selector until after you have advanced the frame; otherwise you risk doing damage to the works.

Hope that this helps,
Kent

 

[pshinkaw]

The shutter speed dial on the Fed-5B does not show the correct shutter speed (nor is it algned) until the shutter is cocked. Once it is cocked, it might still be off a few degrees from the markings. If that occurs, there are 2 set screws in the side of the dial that can be loosened and the dial can be more closely aligned. If you do that, do it only when the shutter is cocked.

These cameras are not very precise, and being off a few degrees is normal. As long as you can tell what the shutter setting is, it is probably as good as it gets.

-Paul