Zorki/Fed/Kiev---Part 3.

nzeeman said:
it was very interesting - but i dont know why that guy soooo hate fsu cameras.
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I wrote a couple of pieces for AP in the late 80s/90s and contributed to several other British photomags, so I believe I can tell you the answer, dear Nzeeman.

FSU cameras don't buy advertising space :)

Simple as that!

Cheers, Ian
 
Maybe also because he had some cameras that were in extra-bad shape, and which had been sitting on a shelf of a shop for pretty long time... If he could hold some cameras that had seen Oleg's treatment his verdict might be different.
 
This is so typical of ignorance of what [ some ] Russian cameras can do - a tired Leica IIIc could give equally poor results . i did not get on with my new Zorki 4 from TOE in the 70s , but could not complain about the quality of the slides [ J8 ].
 
Amen to all you have said.The article was tasteless in parts
I can only assume that these comments were the author's attempt at humour.No doubt he was also handling freebie examples of the latest gear at the time.

We all know better,my 5 FSU cameras,plus assorted lenses give me more fun than I could ask for.:)

Brian.
 
The most interesting thing for me was not the ignorance of the writer about his subject, and more than a bit of ignorance about cameras history in general, but his point of view, fully disconnected from the needs of his readers. Meaning this article is not only a master piece of ignorancy, but a master piece of disregard towards photography itself, which is not just art and gear, but common people too, perhaps first of all.

As a good comparizon, I do remember extensive articles about Kiev medium format cameras and Fed rangefinders, published at Popular Photography, much more balanced in their approach, showing problems but advantages too, and among the advantages, making the issue of price as the decisive weight in the balance.

The price factor was fully appreciated at Popular Photography, for its service in allowing entry level positions for the consumer and aficionados to a format no one else is offering alike at similar prices. The case of the Horizon cameras today being another example.

Ignorance of Soviet cameras history, and Soviet cameras in general ("Kiev 5"), doesn't automatically qualify you for an ignorant of Photography, of course. But addressing any issue with such level of disregard and lack of curiousity, while publicly posing as a lecturer on the matter, speaks a lot about the writer, more than about his subject. And certainly such pose does qualify you for award wining status in your cathegory.

Cheers,
Ruben
 
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Ruben,
Your points are well made.

More recent articles in the same magazine by Ivor Mantanle, in his series on called 'Classics To Use',cover the complete range of Fed,Zorki,and Kiev rangefinders,and have been much more detailed ,well balanced and informative.A much more fruitful exercise in every way.

The author of this article from 2000 is now the magazine's Editor,no less!!

Provided he leaves the work of this nature to Mr Mantanle,it is to be hoped that the more balanced views will prevail.

Brian.
 
The only fact I can derive from the article is that Ffords of Southend has big windows; they saw him coming...
 
Duncan Ross said:
The only fact I can derive from the article is that Ffords of Southend has big windows; they saw him coming...
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You could derive too how to become a magazine editor. :D

Just kidding Brian, any magazine is much more than its editor. And any function is not necessarily filled by the one who occupies the formal chair, of course.

Cheers,
Ruben
 
And the old media world is wondering why they're losing viewers to the Internets. Someone should explain the acronym "CLA" to the author. Most of the posts on this site and APUG are better researched. Makes one wonder, "...don't fool with these old cameras, buy one of these bright shiny new ones here from our sponsor."
 
dee said:
This is so typical of ignorance of what [ some ] Russian cameras can do - a tired Leica IIIc could give equally poor results.
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Any camera can give poor results. Such results can be attributed to a lack of experience.
 
SCOTFORTHLAD said:
The author of this article from 2000 is now the magazine's Editor,no less!!

Provided he leaves the work of this nature to Mr Mantanle,it is to be hoped that the more balanced views will prevail.

Brian.
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I have ceased to buy the AP every week, it has become another victim of the general tendency to "dumb down" magazines. Poor Ivor is now relegated to a single page when he appears, Roger Hicks now only appears occasionally. A bit sad
I always have a flick through a magazine to see whether it is worth buying, and have only bought one of the new style AP, my newsagent says his sales are down to about three per week from twelve plus a year ago!!!
No doubt the mag will claim increased sales, well they would wouldn't they, a bit sad. Its giving me more money for films though!!
 
John Robertson said:
I have ceased to buy the AP every week, it has become another victim of the general tendency to "dumb down" magazines. Poor Ivor is now relegated to a single page when he appears, Roger Hicks now only appears occasionally. A bit sad
I always have a flick through a magazine to see whether it is worth buying, and have only bought one of the new style AP, my newsagent says his sales are down to about three per week from twelve plus a year ago!!!
No doubt the mag will claim increased sales, well they would wouldn't they, a bit sad. Its giving me more money for films though!!
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Hello John,
Your experience exactly matches my own!Sad really.
 
SCOTFORTHLAD said:
Hello John,
Your experience exactly matches my own!Sad really.
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Hi Brian
I thought it was just me, over the last 2 years I have ceased buying Popular Photography, Practical Photography, and Photography, all for the same reasons. They contain virtually the same articles over and over again, just slightly "tarted" up to make them appear different. I was looking at some National Geographic magazines from the 1970's which I have kept, comparing them with todays. It has turned into a not very informative picture magazine, with the information reduced to a few "sound bites" and graphics. It used to take me days to read one, now an hour is all it takes!!!
The last magazine I regularly subscribe to the the redoubtable "Scots Magazine" a bargain at £1.75, and full of information. Its even produced in Dundee with sales worldwide!!
BTW I see you are three weeks younger than me, kid!!! I have one son(40 this year) and four grandchildren, and on my own now.

You live in a lovely area
all the best
John.
 
John Robertson said:
The last magazine I regularly subscribe to the the redoubtable "Scots Magazine" a bargain at £1.75, and full of information. Its even produced in Dundee with sales worldwide!
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And that, John, is because it's published by D.C. Thompson, the last genuinely independent, family-owned magazine publishing house, which in true Scots style has always maintained the supremacy of content over gloss.

I can even forgive them for dropping Biffo the Bear:)

Cheers, Ian
 
Jocko said:
I can even forgive them for dropping Biffo the Bear:)

Cheers, Ian
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No Biffo Ian but Dundee does have this!!
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Where else would you find a statue of Desperate Dan??
 
Not for nothing is it Bonnie Dundee! And John, isn't that Beryl the Peril*?! I could just do with a cow pie and a few dozen Lees's Snowballs :)

"Oh for a beaker full of the sweet North,
Full of the true, the blushful Irn Bru...."

*but no - surely it's Minnie the Minx? Memory fails :( !

Cheers, Ian :)
 
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John Robertson said:
Hi Brian
I thought it was just me, over the last 2 years I have ceased buying Popular Photography, Practical Photography, and Photography, all for the same reasons. They contain virtually the same articles over and over again, just slightly "tarted" up to make them appear different. I was looking at some National Geographic magazines from the 1970's which I have kept, comparing them with todays. It has turned into a not very informative picture magazine, with the information reduced to a few "sound bites" and graphics. It used to take me days to read one, now an hour is all it takes!!!
The last magazine I regularly subscribe to the the redoubtable "Scots Magazine" a bargain at £1.75, and full of information. Its even produced in Dundee with sales worldwide!!
BTW I see you are three weeks younger than me, kid!!! I have one son(40 this year) and four grandchildren, and on my own now.

You live in a lovely area
all the best
John.
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Hello John,
Yep we are of the same vintage---didn't we also share some time in Lancaster way back when we were in short trousers:)

We have a lot in common--my eldest lad is also 40 this year,there is also a younger son,and the youngest of all my daughter is 33.
Didn't we start our families young in those days!!I also have four grandchildren---all girls!!,and a fifth,sex unknown,due in December.

Very hard to believe when I see it in print!

Talking of comics and such,I notice that on BBC Radio 7,they are replaying episodes of 'Journey into Space'---does that ring any bells?
Take care,
Brian.
 
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