Your best russian Rangefinder ??

[bgb]

My only FSU camera is a Blue Fed 2 which i think is wonderful, takes good photos too.
Might like a Jupiter 8 and a 85mm lens for it, a full CLA by Oleg would be the icing on the cake.
I only lust after a Fed 1 but it's only a matter of time.
My only other FSU camera is a Lubitel 2 which is cute but i don't use it

 

[wlewisiii]

Currently I have a Zorki 6 with a collapsible I-50 on it. It suits me when I want that kind of camera and it may get a trip to Oleg's someday. I do regret selling my Iskra & I have to get another someday.

William

 

[Stan]

re FSU cameras

re FSU cameras

I'm on my second Zorki 4K, the first having succumbed to shutter problems. I have 50mm and 85mm Jupiters, but most of time it wears a 28mm Canon lens.

 

[jlw]

I don't have it anymore, but my favorite was the Drug. [For my "Drug user" webpage, click here.]

The Leningrad was the most frustrating, in that it seemed like it would be a cool, useful camera, but none of my non-FSU lenses would mount on it because of the @#$% ridge above the lensmount.

My least favorite was the Fed 5c, which (in addition to feeling like an incompetently-made tractor transmission) smelled so bad that I could barely stand to bring it up to my face!

The one I'd most like to have would be, of course, a Kometa. Doesn't everyone want a Kometa? Too bad Princelle says only two were made! Maybe we could all take turns...


[I'll bet you that NOBODY in this survey says, "I want a FAG"...]

 

[physiognomy]

My favourite fsu camera is definitely my '56 Kiev 2a. I have a few others that aren't really getting that much use... Fed 5B, Fed 2e, Kiev 4 (light leaks), Zorki 4... I feel like I'm forgetting at least one.

My most wanted fsu is a Kiev II (KNeB)... Eventually I will have one.

Peter

 

[fraley]

I like my Fed 2 for its compact size and smooth film advance. I like my Zorki 4's for the 1:1 life size magnification and bright viewfinder, and clear yellow rangefinder patch. I also have a black Fed 5c and sometimes it's my favorite, with a black Industar-61 L/D mounted on it.

I had a Kiev 4AM which I sold here. I'd like to replace it with a Kiev 2 someday.

 

[vanyagor]

I don't have it anymore, but my favorite was the Drug. [For my "Drug user" webpage, click here.]

The Leningrad was the most frustrating, in that it seemed like it would be a cool, useful camera, but none of my non-FSU lenses would mount on it because of the @#$% ridge above the lensmount.

My least favorite was the Fed 5c, which (in addition to feeling like an incompetently-made tractor transmission) smelled so bad that I could barely stand to bring it up to my face!

The one I'd most like to have would be, of course, a Kometa. Doesn't everyone want a Kometa? Too bad Princelle says only two were made! Maybe we could all take turns...


[I'll bet you that NOBODY in this survey says, "I want a FAG"...]

Thanks for the link. I was looking for a Drug for a while now, but they are costly!!! Not as expensive as TSVVS though 🙂

I have to admit I want a Kometa as well, so there are 2 of us. Since there were 2 cameras made I guess it's enough for both of us as long as no one else knows about it 😉 So let's keep the secrete.

Btw, I would also like to take a look at Drug 2 😉 And yes, I'd like to have a FAG. But first I want my TSVVS! 🙂

 

[physiognomy]

... I'll bet you that NOBODY in this survey says, "I want a FAG"...

I never even knew such a camera existed until I started to read Princelle the other day... The TSVVS was another new one to me.

 

[arbib]

I only have one. A Kiev 4a. it has been CLA'd. and I own a J8m, J9, and J12.

By far the J9 is the sharpy. the J12 comes in a close 2nd, leaving the J8m in 3rd, but still good.

In my RFF gallery, I have listed the lens used. "Grave Yard" is with J9.

I like the Kiev size. and that long RF is great for F/2 lens's.

I keep the J12 on as a standard lens. love the receased lens too. one less hood to lose.

So far good experience's with Kiev 4a. (retired because of winter weather, will resume shooting with it outdoors in the spring).

EOS 1 is my Winter Film camera until I get my "EX-" Black Nikkormat FTn with Black 35/2 Nikkor-O lens in the mail next week.

 

[Keith]

It would have to be this gem that I got from Fedka recently ... I think I'd have to rate this camera as highly as any other I own. I love it!🙂 🙂

 

[jean-marc B.]

My best rangefinder today :

1) Fed 3 first version

2 ) Leningrad, I am still looking for, but there are very expensive.

You can see more soviet rangefinder and slr here with manuals :
http://sovietcamera.site.voila.fr/index.html

best regards

 

[rolleistef]

Beautiful Kiev, Keith...
My favourite FSU is the Kiev IIIa.
Kievs are wonderful machines. Very accurate rf (when correctly set), the rf patch is much more clearly visible than on other fsu cameras (for example, my other FSU Rf, a Zorki 4, on which it is a kind of yellow shapeless ghost); the shutter is very silent; it feels heavy and metal, I like having a cold camera in my hand that then gradually warms up; operations are smooth when well oiled, it is a pretty, though, as I lately discovered, as pretty and COMFORTABLE as the IIa... Rewinding the film is a real pain in the neck because of the lightmeter!
The only thing I don't like is the VF. It's so small and dark! Oh and also, the focusing is very long compared to other RFs.

(oh, et salut jean-marc.... ça fait un certain temps que je ne suis pas allé sur le collection-appareil...)

 

[jean-marc B.]

Tu es sur Collection-appareil ( on this french forum my pseudo is jean-marc b.) !!! A bientôt, see you soon.
Have you seen my new Kiev 19 on my website, it's terrific !!

Best regards

 

[rolleistef]

oui je suis sur collection appareil. Mon pseudo dessus est rolleistef 😀 You Kiev is absolutely wonderful, I love it!
cheers

 

[darkkavenger]

c'est quoi le lien ? 😉

 

[jean-marc B.]

You are speaking about my red Kiev ?? You are the only one to love it ( except me ...) . 😉
The link for my website is : http://sovietcamera.site.voila.fr/index.html

For the camera go to "matériel photo ", you will see some beatiful rangefinder and fine SLR.
Best regards

 

[darkkavenger]

I meant the link for the collection photo site you talked about with rolleistef 🙂

 

[rolleistef]

the lien est : http://www.collection-appareils.com/phpBB2/index.php.
A very interesting site about vintage camera. The guy who created the forum has a petite 3000 cameras... but he claims he hasn't any leica, and that every single of his cameras cost less than 200€. There are (quite clumsy sometimes) English translations for the msot important ones. The link for the site itself is http://www.collection-appareils.com
J.M : I was talking about the Kiev 19, it looks as new!!
Cheers

 

[darkkavenger]

I joined up, with my real name, as seen under darkkavenger 😀 cheers

 

[ErnestoJL]

Definitely, my Kiev 4.
I´ve shoot with Fed3, and Zorki 4K. I preferred the Fed over the Zorki, but none of them was the kind of camera I was looking for. I´m a Contax fan ...

This means I was biased in my decision.

Ernesto