farlymac
PF McFarland
I gave this camera one more chance to show what it can do, and to try and determine where the light leaks are coming from.
I’ll have to put some seals in the film door channels, and I put some blacking on the edges of the rear lens elements where it looked to be worn off. I don’t care for the way the J-12 drags on the rangefinder follower cam arm. And I’ll never get the vertical setting on the rangefinder to be right. But I like the fact I now have slow speeds on an FSU camera, so I can live with all the other stuff. Well, at least once a year for International Commie Camera Day.
Three different days to shoot the roll of Ilford HP5 Plus 400, and a lens change in the middle of the roll (so I could determine which lens did what) gave me enough information to go on as to whether the camera was worth using. It will do in a pinch.
With the Jupiter-8 50/2
The J-8 performance is okay.
Entanglement by P F McFarland, on Flickr
The focus is good.
Maybe Someday by P F McFarland, on Flickr
If I ever learn how to judge exposure in the winter…
Roadside Ruins by P F McFarland, on Flickr
Faults include:Light leaks, underexposure, and a dragging first curtain.
Fixing A Leak by P F McFarland, on Flickr
With the J-12 35/2.8
Close on the exposure
Buckingham Branch Railroad Bridge over the James River by P F McFarland, on Flickr
A little back lighting
Buckingham Branch RR Trestle at US-15 2 by P F McFarland, on Flickr
A fine ruin
Empty Service Bays by P F McFarland, on Flickr
See all the rest at https://flic.kr/s/aHskSSUa6Y
PF
I’ll have to put some seals in the film door channels, and I put some blacking on the edges of the rear lens elements where it looked to be worn off. I don’t care for the way the J-12 drags on the rangefinder follower cam arm. And I’ll never get the vertical setting on the rangefinder to be right. But I like the fact I now have slow speeds on an FSU camera, so I can live with all the other stuff. Well, at least once a year for International Commie Camera Day.
Three different days to shoot the roll of Ilford HP5 Plus 400, and a lens change in the middle of the roll (so I could determine which lens did what) gave me enough information to go on as to whether the camera was worth using. It will do in a pinch.
With the Jupiter-8 50/2
The J-8 performance is okay.
Entanglement by P F McFarland, on Flickr
The focus is good.
Maybe Someday by P F McFarland, on Flickr
If I ever learn how to judge exposure in the winter…
Roadside Ruins by P F McFarland, on Flickr
Faults include:Light leaks, underexposure, and a dragging first curtain.
Fixing A Leak by P F McFarland, on Flickr
With the J-12 35/2.8
Close on the exposure
Buckingham Branch Railroad Bridge over the James River by P F McFarland, on Flickr
A little back lighting
Buckingham Branch RR Trestle at US-15 2 by P F McFarland, on Flickr
A fine ruin
Empty Service Bays by P F McFarland, on Flickr
See all the rest at https://flic.kr/s/aHskSSUa6Y
PF
ProSimex
Member
Im sorry you've had such poor luck with these, of all my Nikons and Pentax gear Ive got its almost always the Zorki that goes out with me. I didnt even think it was possible for them to have light leaks.
farlymac
PF McFarland
Oh, don't feel sorry for me. I think we FSU shooters have a secret masochistic streak that makes us want to come back for more tribulations.
PF
PF
ProSimex
Member
I'll say, just developed my second roll out of my new to me Zorki 1 and it seems my shutter was starting to hang up wah wah wah waaaaaaahhh.
and yet I'm worried that my Nikon F90x will let me down
and yet I'm worried that my Nikon F90x will let me down
Fixcinater
Never enough smoky peat
I had a Fed 3b (flat top version) and while I never really enjoyed using it and it came to me with holes in the curtain, for some reason I miss it.
pschauss
Well-known
I prefer the bottom loading FEDs and Zorkiis because they are much less likely to have light leaks.
nukecoke
⚛Yashica
True story.
Dez
Bodger Extraordinaire
If I had one of those I would probably miss it too, but then again I'm not a good shot!😁
Cheers,
Dez
rbiemer
Unabashed Amateur
I am not sure that "masochism" is exactly the right word but it'll do til I think of some more heroic rationale...
Any way, I haven't used an FSU body in a couple of years--my J-8 is still doing well on the Bessa R--and decided I really missed the Zorki 3m. And the J-12. So I've one of each on the way to me. Will see how my latest go at FSU roulette works out...
Rob
Ko.Fe.
Lenses 35/21 Gears 46/20
It all depends on service availability or capability. I'm capable of CLA FSU lenses and FED-2 and I have access to Kiev service in Kiev. So, my FED-2 and Kiev-2 works.
But my M4-2 went for expensive and long waiting service only to have another problem to be discovered within couple of weeks. So, it is at the second service since March. This is were masochism is.
Deklari
Well-known
I have FED1 (NKVD, 1937).
This picture I got after I buy it
I order new curtains kit from A-A and try re-place it by myself
This picture I got after my "work"..)
I have found light leaks between curtains during film winding. I make curtains too short ..ah.. After 20 hours work.. I get it right....
Just telling my story with FSU. It could be done... good luck
This picture I got after I buy it
I order new curtains kit from A-A and try re-place it by myself
This picture I got after my "work"..)
I have found light leaks between curtains during film winding. I make curtains too short ..ah.. After 20 hours work.. I get it right....
Just telling my story with FSU. It could be done... good luck
David Hughes
David Hughes
Hi,
It's a gamble with any old camera but they only rant about the Soviet ones. I can't think why...
You can read about expensive disasters for all makes but no one seems to notice that they are all the same. Neglect them or buy someone else's trouble and the result will be the same for all makes.
Regards, David
David Hughes
David Hughes
I have FED1 (NKVD, 1937).
This picture I got after I buy it
I order new curtains kit from A-A and try re-place it by myself
This picture I got after my "work"..)
I have found light leaks between curtains during film winding. I make curtains too short ..ah.. After 20 hours work.. I get it right....
Just telling my story with FSU. It could be done... good luck
Hi,
Nice. It just shows how good they are when treated properly.
Regards, David
Ko.Fe.
Lenses 35/21 Gears 46/20
I just don't understand why buying unknown condition FSU cameras is called as "lottery/gamble" and why using of un-serviced FSU cameras is called as "masochism".
While it has to be called politely western way as "not wise buying and less smart using". Well, in Russian is it called much more harsh...
Yes, FSU cameras are not Leica. But if you will buy one which works and from actual user (not collector, speculant) hands (just like buying used Leica) where is almost no lottery, masochism to be involved in the use until next CLA is required. Just like with film Leica. And I'm the one who not just using it for May 1st only and maybe.
In fact, if you know how to service (like example above) or have access for service it is way cheaper comparing to Leica. Where are plenty of FSU users who are using FSU cameras right now and see no practical reason to buy Leica cameras.
rbiemer
Unabashed Amateur
I have been pleased with the FSU gear I've owned over the years and have said (and still say) that well serviced cameras/lenses from the FSU are absolutely capable and a good value.
My experience with previous Zorki 3m cameras has made that camera my favorite un-metered LTM mount camera. I've had two of them before, had them sorted by Oleg at OK Vintage camera, and they were excellent.
Referring to "FSU roulette" was, in fact, meaning that until I get this latest camera I won't know what condition it is actually in. And, if it is worse than it appeared on the listing, I will ship it off to Oleg. I do not have the skills nor willingness to attempt anything more in depth than exterior cleaning. And I know that if I send it to him, very quickly and at a very reasonable cost, he will have it well sorted and ready to use for a long time.
Rob
My experience with previous Zorki 3m cameras has made that camera my favorite un-metered LTM mount camera. I've had two of them before, had them sorted by Oleg at OK Vintage camera, and they were excellent.
Referring to "FSU roulette" was, in fact, meaning that until I get this latest camera I won't know what condition it is actually in. And, if it is worse than it appeared on the listing, I will ship it off to Oleg. I do not have the skills nor willingness to attempt anything more in depth than exterior cleaning. And I know that if I send it to him, very quickly and at a very reasonable cost, he will have it well sorted and ready to use for a long time.
Rob
farlymac
PF McFarland
Well, I did once buy a FED2 from a reputable dealer, and when I went to pick it up, the shutter release was sticking intermittently. When I opened the back, it reeked of WD-40, and there was so much heavy grease on the gearing the shutter release shaft was sticking to the sprocket. When questioned about the odor, the dealer said he had used a special lubricant, and it shouldn't be sticking. Realize now, this dealer has been in the camera repair business for over forty years.
So yeah, it is a crap shoot whenever you buy an FSU camera or lens. I got taken by a member here who promptly took down the listing as soon as he mailed the item (Zorki-6 with Jupiter-12) so I wouldn't be able to leave negative feedback, and from what I can tell he is no longer on the forum either. He apparently worked on the camera and lens himself, and totally buggered the job.
My Zorki-3 came from a dealer with a 100% rating on eBay, and I still had to glue the rangefinder prism back together. I figured it just needed an adjustment, I had already left positive feedback, and it had been a while since I received the camera, so I didn't have much recourse than to fix it myself.
I too got into FSU cameras because I felt like the older Leica's were overrated, and overpriced. There is one thing though that you can't separate from Leica and FSU: "You have to send it in for a CLA as soon as you get it."
PF
So yeah, it is a crap shoot whenever you buy an FSU camera or lens. I got taken by a member here who promptly took down the listing as soon as he mailed the item (Zorki-6 with Jupiter-12) so I wouldn't be able to leave negative feedback, and from what I can tell he is no longer on the forum either. He apparently worked on the camera and lens himself, and totally buggered the job.
My Zorki-3 came from a dealer with a 100% rating on eBay, and I still had to glue the rangefinder prism back together. I figured it just needed an adjustment, I had already left positive feedback, and it had been a while since I received the camera, so I didn't have much recourse than to fix it myself.
I too got into FSU cameras because I felt like the older Leica's were overrated, and overpriced. There is one thing though that you can't separate from Leica and FSU: "You have to send it in for a CLA as soon as you get it."
PF