Which camera in LTM?

[Jim H.]

I know there probably as many opinions out there as there are people in this forum. I've never owned or played with any Russian RFs but they seem to have quit a following and are inexpensive. I have a CV Bessa R and have just ordered an L. I also have a J-8, 35/2.5 classic, and ordered a CV 21/4 all in LTM. Which of the Russian RFs is the one to own. I mean the smoothist in operation, best metering, easiest handling, ect... I can't see my way into a Leica just yet. I haven't even decided I like FRs over SLRs yet. But I really like new toys. I do want a coupled RF with good on board metering (ttl or otherwise). I'm not looking for a camera to work on either.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Have you considered a Canon7? They hover around $200 (cost less than a Canon P), have a built-in meter (mine are accurate), projected/parallax-corrected framelines for 35-50-85/100 and 135, metal shutter curtains. One glaring error is lack of an accessory shoe, will hurt for the 21. It is possible to improvise, the original accessory shoe is way too expensive. It is smoother and better made than the FSU cameras.

 

[sockeyed]

Hi Jim,

It doesn't sound like you're really looking for a Russian rangefinder. None of them even have TTL metering, and most don't even have meters at all, except for some later model Feds and some Kievs, and those are all selenium cells. And working on a russian camera, well, that's half the fun.

But shooting with them is a whole lot of fun, and harkens back to the 40s and 50s, when folks ran around with Leica IIIs.

If I had to recommend a FSU LTM camera, it would be a FED 3a or a Zorki 4. The 3a is my favorite user, just because it's so pretty and feels good. The Zorki 4 is more common and often comes with a nice Jupiter 8 lens (but you already have one).

I've attached a picture of my FED 3a

 

[Roman]

Like 'sockeyed' said, there are no Russian TTL metering LTM RFs, and the only ones that have a meter at all are the FED 4 and 5 - but those only have an uncoupled selenium cell meter - you might just as well use a more accurate handheld meter.
As for recommendations, my favorite is the Zorki 6 - has a hinged back, lever wind, the same wide rangefinder base as the FED 2, and a nice big, bright viewfinder (but no speeds slower than 1/30).
The FED 2 is also nice but has a bit darker, smaller (but very contrasty) viewfinder, knob-wind, and a back that comes off.
The Zorki 3m is also a great model (which I don't own myself) - bright, big finder, very classy looking, but no flash synch.
Here are some sites to fin out more:

http://www.geocities.com/fzorkis/
http://www.commiecameras.com/
http://cameras.alfredklomp.com/index.htm


Roman

 

[r-brian]

I'm going to throw in a recommendation for a FED 3b. This camera seems to be overlooked by everyone on this forum. My has a nice smooth shutter and nice smooth film advanced. I has a lever advance not a knob winder. It may not look like a classic Leica but it seems to be well built.

Brian

 

[Solinar]

I have a FED 2 and a Zorki 3M. I'm happy with them both. The shutter release on both is in a nice close to the body location, the camera bodies have a natural hand-hold to them and the knob winders aren't crowded by the top cover. The viewfinder on the 3M is a 1:1, which is large.

As mentioned above, the Zorki 6 and the Fed 3b are a bit more modern in use. They have lever winders and fixed film spools. A tip of the hat to the Zorki 6, which seems to be a better design, though with fewer shutter speeds.

 

[tedwhite]

I've been using a Kiev 4A. Very classy looks, but I can't recommend it, even though it works perfectly. Body fits my hands (medium-sized hands). But, smallish viewfinder, difficult to focus in not-so-bright-light, very difficult to change film. OTOH, the Helios 103 is a damn good lens. Others will know which lens mount.

 

[Jim H.]

Thanks everyone. I have a bit more homework to do before deciding on a model. Roman, thanks for the links. I don't understand why they would build the Z-6 with slow shutter speed limited to 1/30th. Doesn't make any since. The Canon7 sounds interesting. You guys know if there any sites that review or show the highlights of this camera? Thanks.

 

[Solinar]

Jim, the longer based rangefinder extends into the space where the slow shutter speed escapement would be located on a FSU 35mm rangefinder. If you look at all the FSU RF cameras with slow shutter speeds, you'll notice that their RF base is much shorter.

 

[back alley]

You guys know if there any sites that review or show the highlights of this camera? Thanks.

try cameraquest to start.

 

[Roman]

Karen Nakamura at www.photoethnography.com has also something about the Canon 7, IIRC.
Andrew, good explanation about the lack of slow speeds - I never thought of that, always thought that was only due to reducing complexity (-> production costs).

Roman

 

[Laika]

.... I don't understand why they would build the Z-6 with slow shutter speed limited to 1/30th. Doesn't make any since.

All these cameras (FED's & Zorki's) are based around the Leica cloth shutter design. The first models (FED 1, Zorki 1) are very close copies of the Leica II and at that time it also lacked slow speeds, it wasn't till later that they incorporated a slow speed mechanisms into them and I guess the Soviets often couldn't justify the extra work with the quantities of cameras they produced.

Soviet RF's without slow speeds:
FED 1, FED2, Zorki 1, Zorki 2, Zorki 5, Zorki 6, MIR (Zorki)

With slow speeds
FED 3(a & b), FED 4, FED 5, Zorki 3, Zorki 3M, Zorki 4, Zorki 4K

Also if you going to have a shutter problem with a slow speed equipped Soviet RF it’s almost always with one of the slow speeds.