when you just not stare at your cameras...

[Carburo]

Just a little poll: wich of the numerous russian rangefinder and lenses you own (yeah: I now that there's only insane people reading here :D ) is the one you mostly USE for taking pics?
I mean: if you have to order them by comfort and by the way they *fit* in your hand, what's the order?

Mine
1. Kiev 4A + CZJ Sonnar f/1,5 (IMHO the best russian rangefinder, often in my bag when I'm around working)
2. Zorki 4K + black Jupiter 8 (the nearest to a modern compact reflex)
3. Kiev 4A + Jupiter 12
4. FED 5c + Industar 61L/D

[denishr]

Kiev 4A - the only one I regulary use for shooting. Then Zorki 4, then Fed 2. I also have Fed 3, but I shot only 1 roll of film through it...
Kiev 4A beats them all, hands down. It's a wonderful camera - isn't it?

joe? :D

Denis

[FrankS]

Fed 2e with collapsible FED (I-22) lens. Solid, capable, compact package.

[sockeyed]

Kiev-4a w/ any of my 4 lenses (J-12, J-9, J-8 or H-103)
Fed 3a w/ J-8 or J-12

[jdos2]

I'll take YOUR number one, except I like the look with the meter.
Number two for me is the Kiev 4 with a CV21mm ("CS mount") on it.

[GeneW]

For me it was:

1. Zorki 3M - Jupiter 8
2. Fed-2 - Jupiter 8
3. Zorki 4K - Jupiter 8

The Zorki 3M is the one I kept (it's currently enjoying a vacation at Oleg's Health Spa) :D

Gene

[phototone]

Zorki 1 (one) export.

Of course I have Fed2, Fed5, Zorki4, etc.

The Zorki 1 feels most like my belov'd Leica III, IIIc cameras.

[Gordon Coale]

FED 2 with Jupiter 8. Then Industar-50, Jupiter 12, and Jupiter 9, in that order.

[matu]

Zorki 4 with 3,5 and 9 cm Elmar
Personally I like it better my I-61 than the J-8
My Kiev 4a stays home

Pablo

[mac_wt]

Kiev 4a with jupiter-12, -8, -3, -9 or -11
Fed 4 with orion-15, jupiter-12, industar-61, jupiter-3, -9 or -11, with Fed 5, 3 or Zorki-6 as backup.
Choice of lens really depends on subject, light or my mood. They all get about the same use. The Fed 4 has a working meter that is handy in 'normal' light conditions.

Wim

[matu]

This is a Contax-Kiev gathering.

[Doug]

So it seems, Matu! I'm not sure that I'm qualified to say in this context because I have only two Kiev 4a with J8, though one is faked up to look like a Contax with Sonnar. I've used the other 4a for several rolls of film, and rather like it with the J12, but I think it will never be a regular user. I just received an Elikon (Oly XA copy) but I've yet to run a roll through.

[supermarcel23]

My beloved user : Kiev IIIa 1956 with relatively accrurate ightmeter (miracle !) and 1952 J-3, 1955 J9, 1958 J-12, 1962 J-11, 1956 J-8 and 1982 Helios 103 (Ever wonder to know what is a Contax III that have not made WWII ?)
A nice Kiev IIIa 1957 converted in IIa (removed meter and replace with top cover of a broken IIa)
A wonderful Zork 1b export wth a Ind-22
A cool Zorki 1d with its indy 22 too
A fed 5C for the day I will have to hit someone who will try to rob my FSU gear...with untested yet indy 61L/D
The last I hate : A mint Zorki 3M with a lot of factory troubles... Awful film flatness, etc...But have an extraordinary 1955 J-8 that can go on the other Zorkis...
Oh I forgot my only and preferate Reflex, A terrible Zenit S with indy 50 and macro rings and bellow...and MIR 1 B
And don't tell me I like FSU cameras !

[Pherdinand]

Are the Iskra owners/users all asleep?:D

[taffer]

1) GOI-Leningrad
2) Kiev TTL
3) Kiev 5 with 50/0.9
4) General's FED

...

You know I'm kidding, no ?

Now for real

1) Zorki 3M - Black Kiev 4a (they are on par)
2) Kiev II - Kiev 4am
2) Fed-2 (pity of the small finder... :()

[rbiemer]

I go through times when I use one camera exclusively and then I feel that this other one is being neglected, then that other one is...
Right now I actually have film in TWO at once-- not the way I generally shoot.
For now, I'm using the wonderful FED2 I just got and the Zorki3m. The Zorki has BW film in it and the FED has a roll of Fuji color film.
My Kiev 4a is looking reproachfuly at me from the shelf...might have to take it out this weekend. My Agat18 is most often loaded and in my pocket or backpack but not today.
About lenses:
I have only the 50mm lenses that came with each of the LTM cameras so I don't have alot of choice yet.
Of these, the J8 that was on the Zorki when I got it has been badly treated and doesn't focus well at all(I think it was taken apart and put back together poorly--two screws are missing and some of the others are banged up ) so I don't use that one. The Industar 26 that came with the FED2 is in very good condition but I haven't got any results back yet. I am hopeful about this lens,though(genew used it pretty well).
The J8m lens that's on the Kiev4a is very good indeed.
I have an Industar 50 collapsible on the way that I intend using as my walking around lens.
I ultimeately will get other lenses for these cameras--probably wide angles first then longer ones--but I have not felt short changed with my limited setup so far.
When I take my Arax60 out, generally use the 80mm std lens or the insanely wide 30mm arsat. The other three lenses I have in P-6 mount don't get much use(Telear 250mm, 45mm [mir?], and the 500mm Arax). I hope to find one of the "tourist" eye piece adaptors for the P6 mount--or a 42mm one and a P6 to 42mm adaptor--and use the 500mm lens as a spotting scope.
Rob

[Roman]

1. Zorki 6 w/ J-8
2. Kiev 4a w/ J-8m
3. FED 2 w/ J-12 or J-8
4. Iskra
5. FED 5V w/ I-61 L/D


Roman

[ikophot]

Kiev 4a J8
Zorki 4 J8

[back alley]

i only have 2 so i'm not an expert.

i like the kiev 4am that i have, the jupiter is good but i shot only one roll through it so far.

i have not used the zorki 4k yet.

my plan was to zorki it today but the 'p' was calling out to me.

joe

[3opkuu]

Fed-2e (Version 10) / Jupiter 12. My favourite shooter - usually loaded with fuji Neopan 400 PR, which goes just about everywhere with me. The Industar 26 that came with it is sharp. I must have been lucky...

Zorkii 6 / Jupiter 3 / Jupiter 8 ( I wasn't so lucky with the Jupiter 3...) Creates crazy effects with x-pro slide film...my expensive Holga?

Yashica Electro 35 GX - a truly beautiful compact shooter. The only camera I've managed to 'brass' in any meaningful way. Not Soviet, but we've done more miles together than any of the others. Razor sharp.

Yashica Electro 35 CC

Canonet GIII QL17

Yashica Electro 35 GSN - probably the 'best' lens of the whole mob.

Lomo Lubitel 166U - not a rangefinder, but it is Soviet (does that redeem me from including the Japanese RF's?)

[Stu :)]

I only have one Soviet RF, a Zorki 4 with a UBER mint condition black J-8.

I also have a Lubitel 2 somewhere and Smena-8M which jolly fun to use for some strange reason.

Stu :)

[wierdcollector]

Fed 2 (I have 3)
Fed5C
Zorki 4K
Zorki 4 (I have 2)
Mir
Fed 5B(I have 2)
Fed 3
Fed 4(I have 3)
Zorki C
Kiev 4 (most recent, haven't had a chance to use it yet)

[Solinar]

.... if you have to order them by comfort and by the way they *fit* in your hand, what's the order?


I think the way camera fits in your hand is important. For me its my FED 2, type e and a collapsible Industar 50. It replaces an Olympus 35 RC, that never seems to wear out. Though the Olympus is smaller, has a built in light meter and is quieter, its 45 degree focus ring is less precise.

I do have a better FSU camera, my Zorki 3 and jewel of a Jupiter 8. It's gets used mostly indoors and replaces my Olympus 35 RD. The Zorki 3 is nice. It has a larger viewfinder, a buttery smooth shutter release and it feels more balanced when using my Jupiter 9, but I'm hooked on the FED 2.

[wlewisiii]

I have 3 FSU cameras on hand and one more coming. I've become quite the little Kiev-ista.; I prefer them ergonomically to the L based cameras I've tried. My current order of preference is:

1) Kiev 5 - I have my SC Skopar 35/2.5, Jupiter-8nb and Jupiter-9 in the bag with it. It's new so it gets pride of place.That glorious finder and lever advance and rewind make it hard to set down. The just shy of one kilo wieght makes it a workout to pick up :eek: (980 grams according to one web page.). All I really need to find at the moment is a 49mm yellow for the two Jupiters.

2) Kiev 4a - with my pre-war collapsible Sonnar 50/2. Light, compact, excellent camera. This one has the red leather on it.

3) Iskra - haven't been using it as much lately as my scanner died. But oh, what an amazing piece of glass!

and I have a Kiev 2 (possibly broken, possibly the dude didn't know how to work it) coming on a slow boat from China (yes, literally... :D )

William

[Laika]

Equal first: (depends what focal length I want)
FED 2g (late FED 3b type) w/ J12 & external finder
FED 2d w/ J8

2nd: 'Red Logo' Zorki 5 w/J8 or J3

Equal third:
FED3a w/J8
Zorki 1 w/ Ind-22

My top shooters are the two FED2's I have worked over, they take great pictures and I feel more attached to them having spent some late nights getting them just right :D
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=681

The 'Red' Zorki 5 has got to be the nicest looking of all the Soviet RF's except for maybe the Zorki 3/3M but they are noticeably bigger, if we are just going for feel the Z5 might be number one for me. My third choice is a mix of cameras dependant on my needs or mood of the day.

[xayraa33]

(1). Kiev 4am with J-12 & Zeiss 3.5cm finder, loaded with HP5. ( 2) Kiev 4 with Helios 103 loaded with Kodak Gold 200, I love the meter, very usefull. (3) a 1965 Zorki 4 with a 1956 J-8 (the best J- 8 I ever bought) loaded with Tri X.(4) Zorki I with 1953 J -12 and homemade 35mm finder, loaded with HP-5.

[Schlapp]

FED 4 on it's way.
Hal, the Halina Rf is on it's way to Roman to see if he can do something with it :-)

[Rick Beckrich]

Zorki 1c w/J-12
Zorki 3M w/I-50
Kiev 4am w/J-12
Kiev 4m w/H-103
FED 5m w/I-26l/d
Zorki 1d w/ CV-24/4

Retro Rick

[kiev4a]

Zorki 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e, Zorki 2, C, 2C, Zorki 3m, 3C, Zorki 4, Mir, 4K, Zorki 5a, 5B, Zorki 6, FED NKVD, Fed 1, FED 2, FED 3A, Kiev 4A (2), Contax II, Kiev 17, Kiev 19M, Ansco Super Memar.

And I'm actually in a recovery phase right now.

[Roman]

FED 4 on it's way.
Hal, the Halina Rf is on it's way to Roman to see if he can do something with it :-)

Ah, nice to meet you here, too! :)

Roman

[impact07]

My grey Zorki-C with an I-22 collapsable.

[kiev4a]

The 'Red' Zorki 5 has got to be the nicest looking of all the Soviet RF's except for maybe the Zorki 3/3M but they are noticeably bigger, if we are just going for feel the Z5 might be number one for me. My third choice is a mix of cameras dependant on my needs or mood of the day.[/QUOTE]

I love the look of the "Red" Z-5 but have three and not one of them has an operable film advance. On two of them ( both early 1958 with vulcanite covering) it is obvious from the mechanics that they were making some changes during the production run. I've read they had some problems that were sorted up in the Z5B (Black) and the Z6.

[Kin Lau]

Current favourite shooter, Kiev 4a w/ J8, J12.... I have a J11 that I have tried out yet. Looking for a J9 to complete the kit, and may a J3 or Helios for available darkness.
Kiev 3a with a working meter, sharing lenses with the above... the meter makes it rather bulky.
Zorki 4K w/ J8, 2C w/ I-22 and 4, used in that order, but the 2C is a good pocket camera
Moskva 5 w/ 6x6 insert.

[nwcanonman]

I only have the Zorki 4K and mostly use the J12 (chrome), but like the J8 also.

[nwcanonman]

Oh, but the Zorki 6 (with Industar 50mm) is on it's way from Mother Russia. Get here, get here ......