Your favorite FSU camera and why?

I have two favorite FSU cameras.

A FED 2 because it was my first camera (I got it at the age of 12).
I guess it made me a RF photographer.
It has a suprisingly good viewfinder and is a robust camera.
As I almost only work handheld I don not miss the long shutter times.

FED 2 I 61_a by Thomas Harwardt, auf Flickr

And the Zorki I because it is so small and compact:

Zorki Ic I 22 by Thomas Harwardt, auf Flickr

I think its the perfect Companion for an ORION-15:

Zorki Ie by Thomas Harwardt, auf Flickr


Unfortunately both Zorki I got lost on a trip to Ottawa...
 
My refinished FED 2 is my outright fav. I like the older models with the knurled winders and the more compact size. The Red Zorki 5's and the stepped FED 3's come close for looks. For a user i also like the late FED 2 (FED3 body) without the slow speeds.

fed2_black.jpg
 
Here's my favprite user FSU - a Zorki 1d w/J12.

med_U20714I1270219061.SEQ.0.jpg


The home-built 'speed-sling' eases carry, and works as promised.

But, my "best" FSU camera is this Kiev II,

med_U20714I1282259934.SEQ.0.jpg


Even with it's "manly" strap, it's really heavy (relatively) to tote all day. The Zorki is a breeze!
 
I will be very classical...
My best FSU camera is a wartime Fed NKVD S (with the 1/1000th). But with a 2/5cm Sonnar.
And don't tell me I am not playing fair: my Sonnar belongs to a series made at Jena by the Germans for the Soviets. So, it is "M" marked, like all the other lenses in the same case.

As for the body, I love the sound of the shutters at 1/20th of a second... And the viewfinder/rangefinder, very precise when accustomed.

Amitiés. Jacques.
 
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