pmu
Well-known
So, which one is the best* of them all?
* = Biggest, brightest and most accurate viewfinder, most reliable in operation, most accurate shutter speeds etc....those are the things that interest me the most
* = Biggest, brightest and most accurate viewfinder, most reliable in operation, most accurate shutter speeds etc....those are the things that interest me the most
Pickett Wilson
Veteran
Zorki 4, but only if you spend the money to have it CLA'ed and properly adjusted. FSU's are a crap shoot.
pmu
Well-known
Any stores / reliable places where to buy them already CLA'd (EU area preferred)?
W
wlewisiii
Guest
Kiev. Especially a late '50's made Kiev 2. Good design, german made production line & german trained workers plus the demand for quantity had not yet outstripped quality. Combine with excellent lens designs by CZJ and it's the best available from the FSU.
EU - try oleg http://www.okvintagecamera.com
William
EU - try oleg http://www.okvintagecamera.com
William
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dee
Well-known
Depends upon how much you wish to spend and if it's for using or something attractive .
Leica fit cameras accept more lenses , but an early Kiev - up to around 1960 , is a quality camera with an excellent lense . Don't sneer at a Fed 5 which is dirt cheap and works well , with the excellent I61LD lens .Being much later cameras , they usually work well . It's hardly pretty though .
A UK sourced Zorki 4 / 4k will usually work OK and will be inexpensive - look out for English ' Jupiter 8 ' lens - a sign of a camera originally imported into UK and checked over by the importers TOE Ltd ... even then , any 30 year old camera may need a service .
Oleg has some cameras and all will be checked or CLA with warranty .
For me , a Kiev IIa is maybe the ultimate equation between cost and quality [ 1955-1960 ] A Kiev IIIa with meter will be cheaper - but top heavy . The meter is unikely to work .
For early cameras , check out ' http//cccp:alienplanet.net/index.htm ' for properly CLA cameras with warranty .
Let us know how you proceed .
Leica fit cameras accept more lenses , but an early Kiev - up to around 1960 , is a quality camera with an excellent lense . Don't sneer at a Fed 5 which is dirt cheap and works well , with the excellent I61LD lens .Being much later cameras , they usually work well . It's hardly pretty though .
A UK sourced Zorki 4 / 4k will usually work OK and will be inexpensive - look out for English ' Jupiter 8 ' lens - a sign of a camera originally imported into UK and checked over by the importers TOE Ltd ... even then , any 30 year old camera may need a service .
Oleg has some cameras and all will be checked or CLA with warranty .
For me , a Kiev IIa is maybe the ultimate equation between cost and quality [ 1955-1960 ] A Kiev IIIa with meter will be cheaper - but top heavy . The meter is unikely to work .
For early cameras , check out ' http//cccp:alienplanet.net/index.htm ' for properly CLA cameras with warranty .
Let us know how you proceed .
FS Vontz
Aspirer
The answer is no. My Zorki 4k is a piece of ****.
W
wlewisiii
Guest
That is certainly true for screw mount - a Canon IVSB is a great camera that can be easily found for less that $200. Combine it with a 50/1.8 and you have the equal of anything made in the 1950's.
OTOH, you can still get really great values in Kiev cameras while Contax bodies are going up in price. A quick glance at Oleg's shows several for $50 and that's a pretty good deal as well.
William
OTOH, you can still get really great values in Kiev cameras while Contax bodies are going up in price. A quick glance at Oleg's shows several for $50 and that's a pretty good deal as well.
William
ray*j*gun
Veteran
I do love my Zorki 3 but it had to go to Eddy Smolov for new curtains and a CLA.......if you want a good working camera I think a Canon is a safer bet. I have a Canon 7 that is truely wonderful.
Try Fedka.com he is in NY and sells CLA'd gear but is a bit pricey.
I have had terrible luck with Kiev's and I own a Contax IIa and IIIa that are wonderful
Try Fedka.com he is in NY and sells CLA'd gear but is a bit pricey.
I have had terrible luck with Kiev's and I own a Contax IIa and IIIa that are wonderful
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pakeha
Well-known
so there you have it , if you want a FSU go buy a canon?:bang:
PMU wants to buy a FSU for his/her own reasons, ALL cameras give problems, go look in the leica section under , bit fell off, adjustment needed, winder not working etc etc etc etc.
do as much research as you can, decide on one you want then buy from a good source, and I would recomend UK based dealer/sellor for the reasons DEE stated and because these cameras were often owned by carefull , fussy, eccentrics, so were well looked after and used correctly. All of mine have come from UK, all work well and are in ex condition.
Oh, the best? ,for me Keiv, for others Zorki/Fed, good luck with whatever you decide on, regards
PMU wants to buy a FSU for his/her own reasons, ALL cameras give problems, go look in the leica section under , bit fell off, adjustment needed, winder not working etc etc etc etc.
do as much research as you can, decide on one you want then buy from a good source, and I would recomend UK based dealer/sellor for the reasons DEE stated and because these cameras were often owned by carefull , fussy, eccentrics, so were well looked after and used correctly. All of mine have come from UK, all work well and are in ex condition.
Oh, the best? ,for me Keiv, for others Zorki/Fed, good luck with whatever you decide on, regards
mh2000
Well-known
You can get Leica IIIc's for $200 or less... why mess around with FSU copies?
(Ok, I'll admit having a shelf load of the beasts collecting dust and waiting for another shot at working correctly... none of mine have ever worked 100% correctly).
(Ok, I'll admit having a shelf load of the beasts collecting dust and waiting for another shot at working correctly... none of mine have ever worked 100% correctly).
pakeha
Well-known
fussy, eccentrics - a good thing ,so if you happen to be one , no offence given
oftheherd
Veteran
I don't have a Leica copy, so I can't comment on them. I like my Kiev 4am and Helios 53mm. It has worked correctly since purchasing it off ebay from a US seller. I got a 135mm and 35mm lens from a local seller, again off ebay. The 85mm and aux finder came from a korean ebay seller. All are good. Whatever your choice, I wish you the same fortune.
If you read the forums, you will know that you may or may not get a good working copy. You just have to accept that.
You may have better luck purchasing from an RFF member if any are for sale.
If you read the forums, you will know that you may or may not get a good working copy. You just have to accept that.
You may have better luck purchasing from an RFF member if any are for sale.
iamzip
Ambitious, but rubbish
Biggest? How 'bout a Moskva 5? Gotta learn to shoot left handed, though.
jarski
Veteran
So far, I've had the best luck with Zorki 3M's. My Kiev's (three of them) and Fed's (two) lasted about 1 roll each before shutter problems. I have two Zorki 3M's that were both fixed via Oleg before getting them. One Zorki 3M was bought off of Ebay for $35, needed the slow-speed escapement to be flood cleaned, did it myself.
Roger Hicks
Veteran
First, you need one that works.
Assuming it does, I'll back a Zorkii 4K every time (lever-wind Zorkii 4). And I've had quite a lot of FSU cameras in the last 40 years. Kievs can be good if you can stand the handling and the very limited choice of lenses. I can't. Dee can -- in fact. loves 'em.
But if you want a reliable camera with a bright finder and accurate shutter speeds, I'd agree with others: maybe you don't want FSU. They're fun, and when they were cheap, as in the 70s and 80s, that was one thing. Once they stopped being cheap, they suddenly looked a whole lot less attractive to me.
Cheers,
R.
Assuming it does, I'll back a Zorkii 4K every time (lever-wind Zorkii 4). And I've had quite a lot of FSU cameras in the last 40 years. Kievs can be good if you can stand the handling and the very limited choice of lenses. I can't. Dee can -- in fact. loves 'em.
But if you want a reliable camera with a bright finder and accurate shutter speeds, I'd agree with others: maybe you don't want FSU. They're fun, and when they were cheap, as in the 70s and 80s, that was one thing. Once they stopped being cheap, they suddenly looked a whole lot less attractive to me.
Cheers,
R.
ray*j*gun
Veteran
I know I wouldn't re-buy my Zorki 3 at today's prices, too many better choices including IIIc's in very good condition.
dee
Well-known
The concensus ? - Buy a proper camera ! LOL .
Ex-USSR cameras are for masochists ! I have bought mainly restored / cla cameras which are fun to use , but probably not when it really matters . I would not dream of using a non serviced camera .
You will find a different response from just about anyone who persists with these compromised cameras .
Kiev ? A properly serviced and adjusted Kiev IIa / IIIa will be a lovely , if awkward vintage experience ! [ My Kiev 4m , the latest and most crude of them all takes lovely photos ]
It happens to suit me well . At least it will be a lot younger than a Contax !
... then , my Contax III is ... just a Grande Dame of 35mm photography ... and is therefore somewhat demanding . Heart overuling head here .
Yes , the dumb choice can be rewarding !
Ex-USSR cameras are for masochists ! I have bought mainly restored / cla cameras which are fun to use , but probably not when it really matters . I would not dream of using a non serviced camera .
You will find a different response from just about anyone who persists with these compromised cameras .
Kiev ? A properly serviced and adjusted Kiev IIa / IIIa will be a lovely , if awkward vintage experience ! [ My Kiev 4m , the latest and most crude of them all takes lovely photos ]
It happens to suit me well . At least it will be a lot younger than a Contax !
... then , my Contax III is ... just a Grande Dame of 35mm photography ... and is therefore somewhat demanding . Heart overuling head here .
Yes , the dumb choice can be rewarding !
pakeha
Well-known
perfectly summed up dee
Frontman
Well-known
My first FSU camera was a Zorki 1C which cost me about $40 (including a lens) It's previous owner had thoughtfully installed a flash sync to it, but unfortunately the shutter was junk.
I followed some advice I heard on the internet about painting over the holes in the shutter curtain with black paint, and that worked as a temporary fix. Once the shutter was more or less working, I was surprised at the quality of the pictures I was able to get.
But, as I didn't want the shutter to go bad again (I wasn't sure how long the paint would hold), I bought a replacement set of shutter curtains/ribbons on Ebay for $6.50 ($11 including shipping to Japan). I also bought a set of micro screwdrivers from the local 100 yen shop for, you guessed it, 100 yen.
I found the instructions for replacing the shutter and setting the shutter speed timing on the internet. The entire job took about an hour. While the camera was apart, I cleaned and lubricated all the moving parts.
Yes, you can get a Leica III or an old Canon for under $200, but you'll have to add another $200 for a Canon or Leica lens. I have less than $60 into my Zorki 1C (with lens) at the moment, and when I compare the images I get from it to those I get from my Leica, Canon, or Nikon cameras, more often than not, I can tell no difference between them.
For ease of maintenance and simplicity, I prefer the old Barnack style Zorki and FED cameras. They are a bit pricey on Ebay, but can usually be found cheaply if you look around hard enough.
I followed some advice I heard on the internet about painting over the holes in the shutter curtain with black paint, and that worked as a temporary fix. Once the shutter was more or less working, I was surprised at the quality of the pictures I was able to get.
But, as I didn't want the shutter to go bad again (I wasn't sure how long the paint would hold), I bought a replacement set of shutter curtains/ribbons on Ebay for $6.50 ($11 including shipping to Japan). I also bought a set of micro screwdrivers from the local 100 yen shop for, you guessed it, 100 yen.
I found the instructions for replacing the shutter and setting the shutter speed timing on the internet. The entire job took about an hour. While the camera was apart, I cleaned and lubricated all the moving parts.
Yes, you can get a Leica III or an old Canon for under $200, but you'll have to add another $200 for a Canon or Leica lens. I have less than $60 into my Zorki 1C (with lens) at the moment, and when I compare the images I get from it to those I get from my Leica, Canon, or Nikon cameras, more often than not, I can tell no difference between them.
For ease of maintenance and simplicity, I prefer the old Barnack style Zorki and FED cameras. They are a bit pricey on Ebay, but can usually be found cheaply if you look around hard enough.