FED Micron?

[oscroft]

Anyone know anything about the half-frame FED Micron? Am I right in thinking that it does not have a rangefinder but must be guess-focused? Any idea what they're like for quality? (I'm asking cos I've often fancied having a go with half-frame, but without spending much money).

[dOleg]

FED-Micron is a half frame viewfinder camera with manual override. Focusing is by distance scale on the lens or symbols in the viewfinder. Shutter speeds are visible in the viewfinder as is a parallax frame for close-ups. The back is removable and the FED-Micron camera has a jack for flash but no accessory shoe. FED-Micron camera has a soft black vinyl zippered case.
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Film - 35mm
Frame size - 24x18mm
Lens - Helios-89,
focal length - 30mm, f/1.9
Lens Mount - fixed
Filter Size - 46x0.75mm
Focus Range - 1 m to inf
Shutter Type - Central, behind the lens
Shutter speeds 1/30 to 1/800 (B and 1/30 in manual mode)
Aperture values - 1.9 to 16 (clicks)
Flash Contacts - X-sync
Picture counter - present, auto reset
height - 75mm
width - 111mm
depth - 51mm
weight - 445gr
Self-timer absent Dioptric adjustment absent

[Kat]

I considered this before, but I got the impression (could be wrong) it's selenium cell and purely automatic, so when the meter dies you're doomed...Have you considered a Chaika or Agat 18?

[ZorkiKat]

Agree with Kat here. Go get a Chajka (sp. var, Chaika, Chayka, Tchayka- "Чайка" ) instead. The first model, not models 2 or 3. The first Chajka has a clean, solid "build" and clean design which puts it at par with the inexpensive Japanese 24X18 'half framers'.

[thmk]

I think the Chaika-2 is still ok and similar in build quality to the first Chaika. The use of plastic started with the Chaika-2M.

[oscroft]

Thanks very much for the info and opinions, folks.