This is why you buy from someone who stands behind their product

[Martytoof]

Just arrived from Fedka. Two hours after I unpack it, this happens:

Upper shutter ribbon explodes. What can I say: a letdown, but on a 50 year old camera it's almost surprising that a cloth shutter HASN'T broken, so I consider this par for the course. The good news? Fedka customer service going to make everything right with a replacement 😎

I guess my first photos with an FSU camera will have to wait until my FED-2 arrives from the Ukraine. A little waiting never killed anyone 🙂

A shame because this camera was quite literally pristine. I've never seen a 50 year old camera this clean before!

 

[skibeerr]

Funny reading this after the Leica m8 shutter thread.

 

[Moto-Uno]

Would also like to give a thumbs up to the service from USSRonline,First Mockba-5 was missing a part and they sent another entire replacement
camera and I kept the first one also!!! For some "bid with confidence" is their
mantra.
Regards,Peter

 

[pakeha]

It is not `their' product. It is an old second hand camera that they on sold as used goods.
Great that they are doing this.please report on the Ukranian Fed 2 as well.
In the interest of `balance' of course

 

[zvos1]

Another thumbs up for Fedka, he's done complete overhaul on my Zorki 4k before he mailed it to me.

 

[Martytoof]

It is not `their' product. It is an old second hand camera that they on sold as used goods.
Great that they are doing this.please report on the Ukranian Fed 2 as well.
In the interest of `balance' of course

Well, I mean it's "their" product in the sense that he is the distributor, not that I was implying he had any hand in building it or anything 😉

 

[Valkir1987]

Looks like a broken ribbon, even Fedka could not forsee this. This does'nt happen very often, not even on 50 year old ones.
Have your Zorki 6 fixed by the way, its far better then the Fed 2.

 

[wolves3012]

Looks like a broken ribbon, even Fedka could not forsee this. This does'nt happen very often, not even on 50 year old ones.
Have your Zorki 6 fixed by the way, its far better then the Fed 2.

Agreed on both counts...well, perhaps without the "far"

 

[Valkir1987]

I like the Fed 2 as well, but the Zorki 6 became one of my favorite cameras after years of repairing and taking pictures. I can still use its viewfinder when its still dark, and changing film is a little easier.

 

[Martytoof]

Looks like a broken ribbon, even Fedka could not forsee this. This does'nt happen very often, not even on 50 year old ones.
Have your Zorki 6 fixed by the way, its far better then the Fed 2.

Yuri is sending me a replacement Zorki-6. I handled it and LOVED it. I was a little worried because at first after I ordered it I wasn't terribly pleased with how it looked and I thought it would be top heavy or something, but handling it convinced me that it is an AMAZING camera.

The only reason I picked up the FED-2 was that it was $17 on the 'bay and I figured I'd try something with a wind knob as well 🙂

Can't wait to get my hands back on a working Zorki though. My (albeit brief) time with it was fantastic. Felt very natural in my hands.

 

[Vince Lupo]

+1 for Fedka. I would feel totally confident in any of their products, but good to know that he stands behind something when it doesn't quite work out.

 

[Dez]

Zorki 6 vs FED2

Zorki 6 vs FED2

Agreed on both counts...well, perhaps without the "far"

There seems to be a consensus in this string that the Zorki 6 is a significantly better camera than the FED 2, and I am wondering what the differences are. Although I have had a couple FED 2's and really liked them, I am not familiar with the Zorki 6.

Looking at pictures of the Zorki, it looks like a FED 2 with lever wind and an extended, rather heavy-looking top cover. It would appear to be quite a bit taller than the FED. Does this indicate a much improved range/viewfinder?

I have tended to discount this camera, as it looked to me as if features had been stripped off since the Zorki 4, and that one of the kinder things to say about its styling was that it was a lot less ugly than the FED 5. I also tend to subscribe to the idea that the quality of FSU cameras gets better the older they are. Am I making unfair assumptions about a really good camera?

There are lots to be had cheap on ebay; should I be looking to get one?One nice thing is that it is covered with that black fabric stuff which can easily be stripped off and replaced with good leather. I have done this on FED 2's and Zorki 4's and it really improved the feel.

Cheers,
Dez