first shots, 1941 FED NKVD

[claidemore]

How interesting that I got my first roll of film back from my pre-war FED NKVD, on the anniversary of the day that Germany invaded the USSR.
It's a 65 year old camera, but it still takes darn good photos.
Shot on Konica monochrome 400.
Can't wait to see what a roll of color film will do.

I think I'm gonna be packing this little gem with me a lot in the future.

[ZorkiKat]

Congratulations! Excellent camera you have there. For a camera of that age, do check its rangefinder's accuracy both at minimum and infinity focus settings. Often the infinity calibration is OK, but the near focus distance isn't. With a 3,5 lens, this doesn't matter much.

And DO try that thing with colour. Load up with a nice snappy colour film and see how the modern meets the ancient. Prepare for a lot of pleasant surprises.

Jay

[claidemore]

Camera came from DVD Tech, and looks like it was gone over before being offered for sale. Rangefinder is right on, as are the shutter speeds.
I shot a roll of good old fashioned Kodak 200 Gold which is at the lab now. Can't wait to see what they look like.

[lushd]

Congratulations on those pictures - look like they were taken in 1941 and I mean that as a compliment.

[morgan]

Great images, I wish they were bigger! They have a great period look to them.

[Valkir1987]

I have a post war Fed 1 from '54, it was left in parts in an old sigarcase somewhere in my fathers working room. I took the first two weeks of my vacation to repair it, making new curtains and placing them was a hard job but I have a working camera after all. I haven't corrected the focal length of the lense yet, but I have already tried a roll of fujifilm and the colors and effects where very good. Haven't got the time yet to upload a picture. Does anyone know how to set the correct tension of the curtain rollers to get the right exposure times?

[claidemore]

Got the roll of color film I shot with the Fed 1 back. I'm very pleased with all the shots. Color is slightly muted, giving it a soft feel, but focus is right on and everything looks plenty sharp. I think I like the B&W ones better, they give the 'period' feel, but I wouldn't hesitate to use color again either.

I gotta say, I am really impressed with this camera.

Oh yeah, and loading it has become easy! Took 3 tries on the first roll, third roll went in perfect and smooth on the first try. Practice makes perfect I guess.

[ZorkiKat]

I have a post war Fed 1 from '54, it was left in parts in an old sigarcase somewhere in my fathers working room. I took the first two weeks of my vacation to repair it, making new curtains and placing them was a hard job but I have a working camera after all. I haven't corrected the focal length of the lense yet, but I have already tried a roll of fujifilm and the colors and effects where very good. Haven't got the time yet to upload a picture. Does anyone know how to set the correct tension of the curtain rollers to get the right exposure times?


Valkir 1987

The tensioning is simple. See http://jay.fedka.com/index_files/Page510.htm (http://jay.fedka.com/index_files/Page510.htm)

Or click on the "FED Zorki Survival Site" link below my signature.

Jay