DVDTechnik products [Archive] - Rangefinderforum.com

ray*j*gun

01-08-2008, 06:00

I am looking at various FSU's and I see that DVDT has a great selection of equipment. I'm looking for feedback on experience with them or any other main stream dealer. I will not do the ebay shuffle for cameras unless its a real retailer (or RFF member) that is using ebay as a way of moving some goods.

Thanks in advance!! This forum is outstanding and I feel fortunate that I stumbled onto it.

Ray

M. Valdemar

01-08-2008, 06:08

I'm very annoyed at this DVDTechnik guy.

Under an eBay buying ID, he bought a somewhat rare Russian lens from me and I shipped it to the Ukraine. (I'm in USA)

30 days later, out of the blue, he did a PayPal chargeback on me for the lens, claiming non-receipt. Since it was a non-confirmed address PayPal would not contest it. I had shipped it to him out of courtesy because I felt he was a reliable buyer.

I then see my item, same serial number, same item, appear on his selling website for 5 times what he paid for it. Basically, he stole my lens for resale.

I don't object to someone marking up an item, but I have since learned from other sellers that he habitually does chargebacks under various buying ID's for his "inventory". LOTS of them, it seems.

A real jerk, in my opinion, and I've blocked him. Can't wait to return the favor to him with one of MY buying ID's. Revenge is a dish best served cold, as they say.

ray*j*gun

01-08-2008, 06:17

Wow!!! Thanks for the info......I hate the whole way that ebay works. All the risk is on the honest guy.

Is there a str8 shooter in the FSU business?

Thanks again!!

Santafecino

01-08-2008, 07:00

SCOTFORTHLAD

01-08-2008, 07:16

Straight shooters? I can only tell you my experience: leon photocameras and alex-photo-goods and cupog collectible cameras seem honest and have good products. I have not had to return anything from any of them. Remember that we are talking of items that are maybe 25 years old, minimum, were used under unknown conditions, and probably need some TLC, but can be very rewarding. Tread cautiously.
--Lindsay

I can also quote good experience with the above,plus Oleg of OKPhotocameras,who is a direct seller in Russia.Fedka in the US is highly thought of here,although I have no direct experience with him myself.

Good luck,
Brian.

ray*j*gun

01-08-2008, 08:32

Thank you Brian and Lindsay. I will check out those vendors.

rxmd

01-08-2008, 08:37

I then see my item, same serial number, same item, appear on his selling website for 5 times what he paid for it. Basically, he stole my lens for resale.
You make me feel bad. I bought a J-3 from him once in Kiev. Now I wonder who had that lens before him.

Philipp

dpap

01-08-2008, 09:02

I have heard that fedka is fairly reliable, although have no experience with them...

M. Valdemar

01-08-2008, 09:05

Fedka is a good guy and absolutely reliable.

I have no idea where DVDtechnik gets ALL his stuff, but he behaved like a complete thief with me.

brachal

01-08-2008, 09:32

Yuri at fedka.com is outstanding. Replies quickly to emails, easy to deal with, offers a warranty, and inspects items before they're sold. I've bought something like 9 lenses and 3 bodies from him. Everything was as described. I had trouble with one body (Kiev 4am, ribbons broke 2nd day I had it), and he quickly and cheerfully arranged an exchange.

niblue

01-08-2008, 10:33

I bought a Pentacon to Pentax 645 adapter from DVD Technik recently and that all went fine with a decent item and prompt postage.

ruben

01-09-2008, 01:37

i have had some purchases from DVD. I would summarize my small experience as follows:

a) He will not sell you defective equipment. He is prompt for shipment

b) He seems to be well connected with sources for equipment.

c) He is not gifted with award winning good manners when dealing with custormers, but there are worse than him. However, given a) and b) and his competitors - he should be taken into account

Cheers,
Ruben

wotalegend

01-09-2008, 02:59

I have bought several items from DVD Technik and can not find fault with his prices or service. Quite frankly I was shocked to read M Valdemar's story about him. I also have good experience with the 3 sellers mentioned by Santafecino.

On the other hand, I bought a Kiev body from Fedka in the US at a premium price compared with FSU prices. It turned out to have a defective shutter and all he offered me was a 15% discount on a CLA. No offer of exchange at all. Won't be buying there again.

So I guess we all have different experiences with different sellers.

Juancho

01-09-2008, 03:14

I have had good experiences with DVD Technik. In the recent past I have bought J3 (Leica), J12 (Leica and Contax), J9 (Contax), and few bodies (Kiev 4am, Fed2, Fed 3, Zorki 4):
- Fast shipping
- Well packaged products
- Items as described
- Good price
- Webpage and link to payments works properly
The only minor problem is that he takes some time to answer e-mails.

By the other hand , at www.okvintagecamera.com Oleg sells and repairs, has an excelent client service, products, and I definitely recommend him. I have bought a J8M, Fed 5B and Zorki 5.

I have bought also at Fedka (filters and sunshades), is excellent, first class service, but more expensive than the two above.

ray*j*gun

01-09-2008, 04:26

Thanks all.

I had sent an email to DVDT over a week ago asking some basic questions about a Kiev and have not heard from him as yet. So, I have run into the "email" issue myself.

Well, at least I have logged some resources for FSU's and I will report back with my ultimate experience.

Thank you all very much!!!

Ray

jamiewakeham

01-09-2008, 05:01

Didier

01-09-2008, 05:17

What I am concerned, I've had positive experiences with Yuri. I bought several times from him, not at ebay, but at his dvdtechnik website, paid with 2checkout.com, and was well served. Once a Kiev camera had a minor film advance issue - he took it back, repaired it and sent me the camera a few weeks later, with some goodies to refund my postal costs. His email correspondance wasn't turbo fast, but usually he answered in a timely manner, eg. a few days.
Didier

ruben

01-09-2008, 07:00

.......
On the other hand, I bought a Kiev body from Fedka in the US at a premium price compared with FSU prices. It turned out to have a defective shutter and all he offered me was a 15% discount on a CLA. No offer of exchange at all. Won't be buying there again.

So I guess we all have different experiences with different sellers.

Hi wotalegend,

Could you give more details about the techical problem in that fedka Kiev, and what happened afterwards with that camera. I am very much interested in understanding this case.

Cheers,
Ruben

ruben

01-09-2008, 07:36

I've bought a few bits and pieces from DVDTechnik with no trouble; a Leica-fied Zorki 1, a couple of J-3s. The latest J-3 isn't brilliant, and I'm going to have to open it up to relube it, but generally my experience has been very good.

Jamie

Hi Jamie,
Regarding the J-3 which wasn't "brilliant", do you remember at which cathegory it was qualified (exc+ etc) and how much did it cost ?

I will appreciate your info

Cheers,
Ruben

MartinP

01-09-2008, 10:05

SCOTFORTHLAD

01-09-2008, 10:19

I have bought from 'Cupog' (excellent, good CLA on medium format too), 'OKVintageCameras' (good, via his website) and 'blyatnikov' (good, if you want a serviced FED-2 look here).

So far no terrible experiences - thanks largely to tips and recommendations from here I think. I am expecting a package from 'asterliks', so may comment on that when it arrives.

Has anyone used 'gold-camera' ? They have a selection of Flexarets that looks interesting....

Hi Martin,
I bought a nice Flexarete 111 from gold camera.The 3 slowest shutter speeds were slightly off/sticky,everything else about the purchase was fine.The shutter was later serviced and was A+thereafter.
Brian.

MartinP

01-09-2008, 10:34

Scotforthlad - thanks for the message ! I'll see what they have towards the end of the month, and will also bear in mind Cupog too.

Dogman

01-09-2008, 11:02

I've been very happy with DVDTechnik. I've only bought from his website--I've never bought anything through ebay. I've bought a black paint Kiev 4A that was lovely and a chrome 4A that looks and works well--both exactly as described. I've also bought a J-12 and a turret viewfinder. On one occasion, I received an email shortly after placing an order advising me that shipping would be a bit late since he was away. Very nice of him I thought.

You do have to take into consideration the cost of shipping in the overall price of equipment purchased from DVDT. I would recommend him.

jamiewakeham

01-09-2008, 13:17

Ruben - $70. I don't remember the rating.

I've yet to actually take any photos with this lens, so I'm going only on appearance. The body is a little scruffy, and there are a couple of small marks on the front element; they may have no effect on picture quality. The focus is a little stiff and I intend to relube the lens (hoping that it's as easy as an I-61 L/D!) before use.

To contrast this, my first DVDTechnik purchase (Zorki 1 made up to appear as a Leica II) was absolutely excellent, cosmetically and functionally. I only sold it to help pay for my M3...

I'd certainly risk more purchases from them. Don't think I'd ever try to sell them anything, given what I've learned on this thread, though.

Cheers
Jamie

ruben

01-10-2008, 03:19

Thank you Jamie

Nando

01-10-2008, 03:39

On the other hand, I bought a Kiev body from Fedka in the US at a premium price compared with FSU prices. It turned out to have a defective shutter and all he offered me was a 15% discount on a CLA. No offer of exchange at all. Won't be buying there again..

That is different from my experience with Yuri at Fedka. I purchased a Zorki 1c from Yuri. The rewind lever on the camera was very loose and did not work. He took it back and had it fixed at no charge except I had to pay for the shipping back to him. He also had his repair man check the camera over for any other problems and when I received it, the shutter was smoother and I could smell the 'camera oil'. The curtains were still the same though. I was very pleased with the service.

This camera has since then developed a light leak and the focusing is off at close distances. I probably will be sending the camera to Oleg for the CLA.

Marsopa

01-10-2008, 04:00

I've bought from fedka many items (zorki, filters, lightmeter...) and it's been perfect, he answered all my questions and communication was fast and agreable.

In ebay I bought a new in the box FED35A from Asterliks (don't remember if this was the exact name), another good exprience.

Nando

01-10-2008, 04:44

Also wanted to add that I bought a Helios 40-2 85mm f/1,5 from DVDTechnik and it was a perfect transaction. The lens was in better condition than I expected and shipping was very fast.

ruben

01-10-2008, 17:31

Hi Nando and Marsopa,
The case of Watelegend with Fedka is indeed curious. But we will need a more detailed info, since we are not assuming he has invented the story.

There are other star sellers held as such by most of us, while experience of others is different.

As for Fedka my impression and experience is that he is a keen selector of the gear he sells, but not a refurbisher.

Cheers,
Ruben

ruben

01-10-2008, 17:38

Hi Santafecino,

Regarding Alex photo goods, I can say on his behalf that he is an extremely accomodating seller, which will work for the most cheapest item you ask him. But I have had a bad experience with a Kiev from him.

Nevertheless, it may be of our interest to know that I have asked him if he can take care of a CLA for the cameras he sells, and his answer has been positive, but price will increase by 50%. Still a bargain.

Cheers,
Ruben

P C Headland

01-11-2008, 01:31

I've bought from several sellers of FSU gear. The ones I can remember and that are still in business:

- CUPOG: good transaction, and answered all the questions promptly
- Gold Camera: Pentacon 6 lens, had some marks on the front element that had no effect on the pictures, and they gave me a decent discount
- Arax: couple of lenses and accessories for the P6. Excellent service.

wotalegend

01-11-2008, 03:15

Hi wotalegend,

Could you give more details about the techical problem in that fedka Kiev, and what happened afterwards with that camera. I am very much interested in understanding this case.

Cheers,
Ruben

Hi Ruben,

The bottom shutter curtain drags when cocking the shutter, so that the film is partially exposed before the shutter is released. It is a Kiev 4A of 1977 vintage, cosmetically very nice, and it now sits in my display case. As you will have noticed, I am on the other side of the world from fedka and it just wasn't economically viable to pay for shipment back to the US, then 85% of a CLA, then shipment back to Australia.

Cheers, Peter.

ruben

01-11-2008, 11:47

Hi wotalegend, thank you very much for the info.

Cheers,
Ruben

ray*j*gun

01-14-2008, 06:19

Thank you all for yourn input!

Yesterday I ordered a Fed 1d (NKVD) from fedka, a Helios 103 lens (contax mount) and a 36mm lens filter. I have great expectations from Yuri as he has been very communcative and seems to be a great guy as well. I will report back once it arrives and I shoot some with it.

Again....thanks.

Ray

Mael

03-03-2008, 10:42

My first experiences with them were really great, 2 years ago. One 1949 Kiev 2 and a true Mint 1955 Kiev II with its box. Since then, my two last cameras coming from them were some pieces of junk : A "mint" kiev 4a with 4 missing screws, dead shutter, and a Moskva 5 with bad RF alignement, hole in the bellow. Never again !

Rey

03-03-2008, 12:34

I purchased a Kiev 88 WL finder from DVD Technik, through his web site. He didn't confirm shipment of the item by e-mail until I e-mailed him, then he was very prompt. The finder was as described, so I have to give him a positive recommendation.

Semushkin

03-03-2008, 15:46

My first experiences with them ...

With whom?

Mael

03-03-2008, 23:34

With whom?

This thread's tittle is : DVDtechnik products ;)

Bill58

03-04-2008, 00:07

I've bought 4-5 lenses from Yuri and had nothing but excellent products/ service from him. He's been 110% honest and prompt w/ me. You may pay a little more than fleabay, but you get no fakes or lies, and reliable service.

Mael

03-04-2008, 00:33

There will always be someone who's been lucky even in the worst camera shop...:D

What I find a shame, is what dvd tech pretends about moskva 5 they sell "We check each of these cameras twice: first time before selling and second time before sending to buyer. We pay special attention to possibility of focusing on infinity, smooth movement of distance adjustment scale, absence of holes in bellows, shutter speeds' accuracy, lens cleanness and work of flashlight."

These are lies !:bang:

giovatony

03-04-2008, 03:52

I bought a Droug from DVD and after a week I emailed him regarding the shipping status. A few days later he replied he had just been notified of payment and he shipped it that day.
I have to wonder if I didn`t email him would it ever have been shipped?

Semushkin

03-04-2008, 06:44

This thread's tittle is : DVDtechnik products ;)

Indeed, but many messages in this thread have been about other sellers ;)

I bought a Droug from DVD ...

Any news on that ? Please let us know how it turns out

Semushkin

giovatony

03-04-2008, 08:13

Any news on that ? Please let us know how it turns out

Semushkin

Yes I will. If it ever arrives.

Semushkin

03-04-2008, 11:56

There will always be someone who's been lucky even in the worst camera shop...

True, but the opposite is true as well. I have no personal experience of DVDtechnik so far myself

ruben

03-04-2008, 14:46

Dear Ray, Valdemar and giovatony,

I don't think DVD is a thief, but certainly there are problems in communication sometimes and as I said, other times he sounds to be stressed.

And on this basis, if you happen to have a problem, the situation becomes very complicated.

Nevertheless, I happened to buy from him, among other things, an Horizon 202, in which no comunication was needed, and no problem arised. The camera very much OK.

Cheers,
Ruben

Mael

03-04-2008, 22:35

I don't think DVD is a thief, but certainly there are problems in communication sometimes and as I said, other times he sounds to be stressed.

I think you misundertands the situation. I'm a camera repair. I buy, repair, and sell vintage cameras with warranties. Speaking of dvd technik, when they say their cameras are checked twice before sending, and when you receive a camera that needs extensive service, this is not a communication problem. This is just a thief.

I spend hours overhauling cameras, trying to deliver the best looking and working ones. For example, when I sell a a moskva, you can be sure every shutter blades from shutter and aperture were removed,and cleaned, the shutter has been electronically tested and adjusted. You will not have to check pinholes in the bellows because it has been checked or replaced. You will not have to worry about anything because this is just standard work when pretending a camera has been repaired or CLA'd.

When you just take a camera from a closet where it has spent twenty years at least, just dropping oil on the focusing mechanism just to allow it to move, and putting this camera for sale announcing it has been checked twice, this is not the truth. Servicing a camera, even a humble russian RF folding, needs time for adequate work.

I don't know why people want to protect this kind of seller reputation, just because they have "positive" experience. If you would have received a piece of junk, first you will be as angry as I am, and second you will be complaining about them here. It is not just a bad and isolated experience in the middle of a lot of superb and pleasing transactions. :mad:

wotalegend

03-05-2008, 01:57

There will always be someone who's been lucky even in the worst camera shop...

And conversely, there will always be someone who has been unlucky in the best camera shop.

I have bought several times from DVD Technik and have had nothing but good experiences.

On the other hand, I have had a less than positive experience with Fedka, who most others on this and other forums rave about.

ray*j*gun

03-05-2008, 03:50

I know that this thread is about DVD but i have read too many references about Fedka to let my experience pass with out comment.

Well, I am one of those folks that has had a dissappointing experience with Fedka. First let me point out that I did not get hurt financially (well mostly) dealing with Fedka but it WAS VERY dissappointing and VERY frustrating. This was my first attempt at using an FSU.

I bought a very expensive (for a russian camera) Fed 1 (NKVD) for $180.00 supposedly completely restored and refinished in black. It looked beautiful in the pics. It was so poorly "restored" that it would not accept a film canaster. The insides were so malformed that the film canaster bound up and would not slide in even under pressure. It went in about half way (not a spindle issue!).

I returned the camera and of course paid the frt. Weeks later the camera was returned and now it was PERFECT!! Well i took a roll of film and had it developed and the shutter was capping so badly that the pics were about half missing. I should point out that in both cases Yuri tried to make me feel that I was doing something wrong even though I told him I had 40 years experience with cameras and was a combat photog in the Marine Corps.

This time I returned tha camera and demanded a refund which Yuri provided but more time and more frt cost wasted.

This Also happened with a lens that was "brand new" (Helios 103). It didn't fit either my Nikon, Contax or Bessa. Returned for an exchange and more frt costs.

What can I say? How can you claim that you have CLA'd a product or restored and refinished a product and then have this happen??? It's BS and in any other business would be a terminal mistake.

M. Valdemar

03-05-2008, 04:26

If you go back and read my original post DVDtechnik clearly STOLE my lens with a bogus PayPal chargeback, then sold it on his website after claiming he never received it from me.

That's not a "communications" problem, that is outright theft by manipulating the eBay/Paypal system with fraudulent IDs, which is no better than the most common Russian scammers you encounter daily on eBay.

Once he has a lens, he's untouchable legally, and if his eBay buyer ID is cancelled by eBay due to complaints, he can create as many more buying IDs as he wants to and steal items over and over again on a whim.

He's quite clever and well educated on how to work the eBay/PayPal complaint system, and I believe it was no fluke, he does it regularly.

Dear Ray, Valdemar and giovatony,

I don't think DVD is a thief, but certainly there are problems in communication sometimes and as I said, other times he sounds to be stressed.

And on this basis, if you happen to have a problem, the situation becomes very complicated.

Nevertheless, I happened to buy from him, among other things, an Horizon 202, in which no comunication was needed, and no problem arised. The camera very much OK.

Cheers,
Ruben

ruben

03-05-2008, 04:45

Hi Ray,
About your experience and that of Wotalegend, we can learn Fedka is great but not 100% safe. Let's say that the many folks very happy with him have created a legend giving the feeling he is unfaulty.

Hi Valdemar,
I do believe you. But do you claim that DVD systematically steals cameras and money rather than selling ? i,e, that stealing is his food source ?
If you re-read my post you quote, I am trying to say that being a stressed personality and having communication problems makes a dangerous cocktail, exploding when trouble arises.

Am I defending DVD or providing him cover up or recommendation ?

Hi Mael,
Your story with those 2 bad cameras you got from DVD is not ended. Would you like to describe what happened afterwards ? Did you complain ? Was you compensated ? Was you refused any compensation ?

Cheers,
Ruben

PS
Overall, I think this is a very good thread, a mytos breaking one.

Macka

03-05-2008, 04:52

Setbacks of course, there are. Even iPod has some share with that.
But to say someone "stole" something from another.. :rolleyes:

M. Valdemar

03-05-2008, 05:00

Macka

03-05-2008, 05:08

ruben

03-05-2008, 08:44

For a while I was angry about what he did and tracked his buying on eBay.

It seems that he constantly created buying IDs and made many similar purchases. The IDs were frequently thrown off of eBay and he'd just start again with a new one.

It seems to be systematic.

PS: He stole my lens. He bought it on eBay, claimed he didn't receive it, did a PP chargeback (which could not be contested because he has a non-confirmed address), then sold the exact lens on his website (same serial). I would call that stealing.

.

Sorry Valdemar but I must at this point of the discussion to do what was used here to call "hijack the thread", a virtue adding further fame to our friend bmattock , and ask what the hell is going on with your new baby, your Japanese wife and you. Why aren't we seeing any pics ? Please act.

These are the finest moments of our life and I guess we all would like to recover them a bit through you. A good photographer.

Cheers,
Ruben

M. Valdemar

03-05-2008, 09:19

Baby is enlarging much more rapidly than camera collection at the moment:

http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/3628/babybathcv9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

He is in very unpleasant mood following his first vaccinations:

http://img238.imageshack.us/img238/8506/1010702kx7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

ruben

03-05-2008, 10:40

Just as a quicky,

a) Kindly post more photos. I still want to see the mother rejoycing and all the three of you.

b) If your baby has been born as a natural candidate for the Red Japanese Army (second pic), I don't think you have to apologize right now. People change.

Cheers,
Ruben

M. Valdemar

03-05-2008, 13:53

Red Japanese Army?

He's a a Japanese Jew.

Intelligent and refined. He's no doubt going to be a great philosopher, artist or scientist.

ruben

03-05-2008, 14:14

Red Japanese Army?

He's a a Japanese Jew.

Intelligent and refined. He's no doubt going to be a great philosopher, artist or scientist.

The photos never lie, as you know. There is a raised fist out there.:)

Cheers,
Ruben

Mael

03-06-2008, 01:30

Hi Mael,
Your story with those 2 bad cameras you got from DVD is not ended. Would you like to describe what happened afterwards ? Did you complain ? Was you compensated ? Was you refused any compensation ?

Cheers,
Ruben

Afterwards, I sent my old retired KGB pals, and now DVD technik's owner must be somewhere on the bottom of the Danube with his feet in a concrete block.

Well, more seriously, I do not have time anymore spending days complaining about bad cameras and bad sellers. I don't want to wait an hypothetic refund, or an hypothetic better camera. I'll never buy form him anymore, that's all.

I restored the moskva, fully. I have lot of parts. Same thing for the Kiev.