Two new FEDs "Edumacate" me.

[kb244]

So a little bit ago, I decided that two of my cameras were rarely getting any use (A Canonet QL-17 GIII and a Seagull SA85 6x6 TLR) since I got the Canon P and Yashica Mat-124G. I Figured I already had least two other TLRs (Mamiya C3 TLR + 2 lens , and duoflex), but I didn't have any other LTM capable rangefinders, the Canon P was the only one I had. So I set out to find a companion for this guy.

I basically did some research and found that I wanted a Fed, but not anything after the Fed3. I ended up trading my Canonet and Seagull (to two different users) for a Fed 2C Type 2A and a Fed 2A, which came with a Industar-26 50/2.8 and Industar-10 50/3.5.

The second one (2A) came from a repair tech who had maybe 40 or 50 feds he uses for parts for the good ones, and the other came from an avid user. I have not read up too much on the FED other than their history of production and so forth. A couple things I've learned (or made sure to figure out) in the past few days.

1) Always wind/cock the shutter before changing the speed. I read this can lead to damage of the Fed. The 2A I don't have to worry about, since I can change it at any time, except it'll be like an older Leica III, where you have no clue what speed you just set it on until after you wind/cock the shutter. The 2C is the one I have to make sure never to change before hand (I'm always turning the advance knob just to be sure before changing a setting).

2) The viewfinder is not broken... the lever next to the rewind knob is not a rewind release but rather a diopeter adjustment of sort. The 2A was already in an ideal position, the 2C was kinda funky looking but once I bumped the lever I realized what it was.

3) The knob pulls up for easy rewind. There also does not seem to be a rewind switch, attempt to use the rewind knob seems to sugest that you can rewind mid roll without warning. (ie: no prevention to rewind, or any kind of switch to release the gears to allow for rewind)

4) The counter on the 2A seems to count up from zero (or where ever you put it), the counter on the 2C counts down from whatever number you put it on.

5) The 2C Type 2A will not work with my Jupiter-12 35mm f/2.8 as it'll scratch up the lens barrel just before the RF coupler. (don't worry barrel still black) but works perfectly fine in the 2A without any resistance.

6) Both seem to need some attention to make sure you got the back plate securely in betfore fastening the lock on the bottom, least under the advance knob side.

7) Both can be just as heavy as my Canon P, but smaller width wise.

Two things to note

The lens I now have...
Canon 50mm f/1.8 (chrome)
CV 21mm f/4 Color Skopar
Jupiter-11 135mm f/4
Jupiter-12 35mm f/2.8
Industar-26 50/2.8 (aperture dot seems to be off by a few mm to the f-stop engraving)
Industar-10 50/3.5 (collapsible uncoated prewar elmar copy)


And some questions...
1) What is the approximate field of view in the viewfinder of these two cameras, I'm assuming 50mm, theres no guidelines or really a solid framing on the edge at all. But I assume that the viewfinder was in the roughest sense designed to show 50mm. I read online its a 1:1 Lifesize viewfinder like my Canon P, but with a 61mm baselength (my P has a 41mm baselength) but I'm having some skeptism as to the lifesize magification noted online compared to the view of my P.

2) What exactly is that "diopeter" lever doing.
3) Will the reccessed accessory shoe affect finder scopes and such accuracy?
4) I'm looking at getting a Jupiter-9 (?) 85mm f/2 , any issues with this lens on the P or Feds? Hopefully I can get one in trade for some of my other stuff.
5) Any tups you can offer me on these beauties?

At the moment I tend to like the older 2A, though some people seem to say the 2C has a better build and such, but I dunno, 2A feels better, and the viewfinder seems a lil less blurry and easier to see.

 

[RML]

The vf is indeed 50mm.

 

[Spyderman]

I read online its a 1:1 Lifesize viewfinder

I guess you read it at CQ , right? Then it's wrong. Stephen has there many mistakes...
FED-2 until 5 have about 0.7 VF mag., similar to Zorki 5 and 6.

I'm looking at getting a Jupiter-9 (?) 85mm f/2 , any issues with this lens on the P or Feds

please read this: http://www.dantestella.com/technical/compat.html
Basically it should be fine on the FED (as long as your RF is calibrated) but it might be a problem with the Canon... anyway - read that article.

 

[dazedgonebye]

The Diopter is to let you correct for your bad vision.
If anything, I'd think the recessed shoe would be a good thing...getting your accessory viewfinder closer to the level of the lens for reduced parallax error.
My J9 pretty much lives on my Fed-2. Copy variation is always an issue.

 

[kb244]

Hrmm, I know I want to get *something* in between the 135/4 and 50/1.8 / 50/3.5 / 50/2.8, and preferably faster than 3.5, but I have heard about the 85/2 being one of the most common ones that are odd copies off.

 

[dazedgonebye]

I guess I should have said that copy variation is an issue with ALL fsu lenses.

 

[kb244]

I guess I should have said that copy variation is an issue with ALL fsu lenses.

Can't speak much of the Industar-26 I have, but I know the repair tech checked the focus on the Industar-10 and such. I also think he checked the pitch or whatever it's called of the 2A's mount (registration distance I think).

But I know generally stated my Jupiter-12 works like a charm on my Canon P, if the Fed 2A is of the same registration distance of my Canon P, then it should be a charm on that as well. I'm not sure what to think of the 135/4 which is why I have it on the 2C right now and shall see if those seem any better than my past tested results on the Canon P. (But I do like how the J12 seems to be spot on, hopefully it shall be the same on the 2A)

 

[Jocko]

But I know generally stated my Jupiter-12 works like a charm on my Canon P, if the Fed 2A is of the same registration distance of my Canon P, then it should be a charm on that as well. )

Remember though, that even at 2.8 and at close focus, the J-12's depth of field will cover a multitude of sins. Experience suggests that without some adjustment to the lens itself, A J-9 or longer on the Canon would probably be a different story.

Cheers, Ian

 

[kb244]

Remember though, that even at 2.8 and at close focus, the J-12's depth of field will cover a multitude of sins. Experience suggests that without some adjustment to the lens itself, A J-9 or longer on the Canon would probably be a different story.

Cheers, Ian

When I first got the J-12, I tried everything from closest focusing distance to infinity, including the newspaper on the wall test. That was a lil while back. But yes wider DOF seems to make it negligiable. But ya, even at f/2.8 focused at say 1.25 meteres its still has 3.5 ft to 5.5 ft within the DOF.

 

[DaveP]

Turn the collar around the shutter button , thats the rewind release.

 

[mike goldberg]

Hi...
I have the same two Fed-2's in Karl's lovely photo above.
I'm going to try the CV 75/2.5 with them, using the
Voigtlander VF in the shoe.
mike

 

[kb244]

Hrm another thing I learned. The Leica Visoflex I (Oxynz or whatever its called), does not like the Fed 2A, basically goes on just fine, BUT when you go to take it off it gets stuck on the rangefinder cam. You basically have to flip the mirror up, get your finger in there and push back the rangefinder cam as you unscrew the viso I.

On a side note... could I not take a small peice of ground glass, put it to the back of the FED-2A (with the back cover off of course) focus on the Viso, and compare the focus on the Viso to the focus on the ground glass to see if the FED's registration distance is slightly off from a typical M39 mount rangefinder. (ie: the 'incompatibilties' mentioned above).