Viewfinder FED2 Very Dark

[135formatuser]

Hello FSU Lovers..

I Have a FED2 with I-61 lens, i have had it for a while but the viewfinder is very dark wich is keeping me from using it al lot..
The rest of the camera works like a charm so i wanted to know if there is a simple fix for this..
Or at least something to make it better..

Thanks!

 

[wolves3012]

Hello FSU Lovers..

I Have a FED2 with I-61 lens, i have had it for a while but the viewfinder is very dark wich is keeping me from using it al lot..
The rest of the camera works like a charm so i wanted to know if there is a simple fix for this..
Or at least something to make it better..

Thanks!

Depends a lot if you have an early or later body. If the I-61 is the original lens, you have a later body. Early models do have a dimmer VF but later ones tend to be brighter, so it may just need a good clean. Not hard to do if you're willing to pop the top off or pay for the job; takes half an hour or so to do.

 

[Valkir1987]

Dear 135formatuser,

The Fed 2 viewfinder is indeed very dark, but when you remove the top plate and clean the most neccary parts with windex. The world will look a lot brighter in most cases.

Regards,

 

[135formatuser]

I do not know if the I-61 is the original lens..
The serial number of the body is 2352987
The Serial number of the lens is 6608011
I don't know if it will help to the age question i always wanted to know how old this set is..

I will try and clean the viewfinder if i can find the right size screwdriver..

 

[stevebrot]

I do not know if the I-61 is the original lens..
The serial number of the body is 2352987
The Serial number of the lens is 6608011
I don't know if it will help to the age question i always wanted to know how old this set is..

I will try and clean the viewfinder if i can find the right size screwdriver..

Your camera is probably a type D-6 and was most likely made in 1962. The lens probably did not originally come with the camera if the various Internet references have any credibility. I have the same version body (ser #3546375) and, yes, the viewfinder is pretty dim. (See the "Soviet and Russian Cameras" Web page for a good listing of FED versions.)

Take care when pulling off the top. The various screw threads are made of very mild metal and are easily stripped.


Steve

 

[wolves3012]

I do not know if the I-61 is the original lens..
The serial number of the body is 2352987
The Serial number of the lens is 6608011
I don't know if it will help to the age question i always wanted to know how old this set is..

I will try and clean the viewfinder if i can find the right size screwdriver..

It's hard to date a FED from the serial number, they don't seem to have used a system like Zorki and others did, where the first 2 digits is the year.

You'll need to clean the front, rear and right-hand side of the VF prism and also the dioptre correction and eyepiece optics. Be prepared to find it didn't make a huge difference, some FEDs just have dim finders.

 

[stevebrot]

BTW...My FED-2 D-6 also was attached to an I-61 of the same serial number range as yours (6695044) when I received it from a seller in the Ukraine, so it is possible that the lens did come with the camera.

I have generally been pretty suspicious that my lens was assembled from the parts bin and was not originally made in its current state. The I-61 in M39 LTM were made in several different versions with different construction ("panda", "zebra", and "black"). Mine does not look like any of the above. Can you comment on whether your lens looks like mine?




Steve

 

[mtargz]

BTW...My FED-2 D-6 also was attached to an I-61 of the same serial number range as yours (6695044) when I received it from a seller in the Ukraine, so it is possible that the lens did come with the camera.

I have generally been pretty suspicious that my lens was assembled from the parts bin and was not originally made in its current state. The I-61 in M39 LTM were made in several different versions with different construction ("panda", "zebra", and "black"). Mine does not look like any of the above. Can you comment on whether your lens looks like mine?

Steve

Mine looks like yours, except brownish-black in colour (don't know/can't tell between anodized, painted or whatever).

 

[stevebrot]

Mine looks like yours, except brownish-black in colour (don't know/can't tell between anodized, painted or whatever).

The lens is silver except for black focus ring and black face?


Steve

 

[135formatuser]

I wil clean the VF stuff tomorrow i have found a good guide on this forum so i think i will succeed..

It seems that the various ukrainian ebay sellers are doing good buissnes because i got mine from one too!
My lens does not look like yours steve i will post a picture tomorrow also..

Thanks for all the help guys!

 

[135formatuser]

This is my Industar lens... id dont know how they call tis kind of lens.

 

[wolves3012]

I call it a panda but there's no official name for them anyway, some call them zebra. If you have a nice example, they're a very sharp and contrasty lens. It'll benefit hugely from being re-lubed - every one of my I-26/I-61s has!

 

[135formatuser]

Soon the adapter for M39 to M43 will come then this lens will get a lot more use..
Have seen a lot of cool results from this lens!

 

[stevebrot]

I call it a panda but there's no official name for them anyway, some call them zebra. If you have a nice example, they're a very sharp and contrasty lens. It'll benefit hugely from being re-lubed - every one of my I-26/I-61s has!

...I call this one a zebra and the ones with black focus ring and aperture ring panda.😛 Who thinks these names up?


Steve

 

[kievman]

Some bored Russuki with too much time on his hands and a good imagination!!!!!!!!!!!!! -Kievman