Opinions on the Fed 2 in the link.....

[2Monkees]

I've never bought one online, as I got my Zorki 1 from a person I know, and as the Fed 2 in the link below, has been painted.....

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=360019133838&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=023#ebayphotohosting

I'd like to know what the expereinced of thoos forum think of it. I admit to liking the paint job :o

Many thanks & HAGWE.

[giovatony]

The Fed 2 is a great shooter and dependable . The seller has been recommended to me before by an experienced collector friend.
I love the paint job on this one but for an everyday user I`d be afraid it will be very prone to chipping even with normal use. Unless the paint process is powder coat / oven cured it probably won`t last.
John

[januaryman]

To each his own. I prefer the standard looking Fed 2
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2157/2159675195_c05e59ba20.jpg

It's the best looking FSU camera out there, IMHO. In any color.

[giovatony]

A clean one does in fact leave little to be desired. The size is really nice with everything proportioned so beautifully.
The one I had was so darn smooth and pic`s from it just grand.
I regret selling it but thankfully at the present time they are abundant.
John

[PhotoJim]

I like the Fed 3a better than the Fed 2 for appearances, but the Fed 2 is a nice-looking camera.

This camera is pretty fun-looking but I like the worn patina of my plain black (or dark grey I suppose) Fed 2b.

The cameras are cheap enough - buy this one and a normal one for comparison purposes.

[januaryman]

The wider rangefinder base of the Fed 2 will make it easier to shoot correctly and in focus. Just needed to add that thought.

[Joao]

Hello
My experience with that seller was positive.
He usually has a lot of painted cameras, sometimes with very imaginative colours and the paint-job seems nice in the photos. However, I am not sure of its quality and if it stands a daily use...
My own FED-2 is already lacking some paint, but I like it that way
Cheers
Joao

[brachal]

He's also replaced the take-up spool with a fixed spool from a later model. Not a bad modification. Why not go for it?

[MartinP]

My single trade with that user was ok. The take-up spool modification seen in the link (swapped for the one from a Fed 3) is actually convenient, but the winding knob was very much improved when the design changed to the "mushroom" shaped one. The newer versions of the Fed-2 will also have the modern shutter speed progression and a modified shoe. The version on your link has the very low set accessory-shoe which can be a problem for some viewfinders etc.

There are plenty of these things around so I'd look for a later model and not worry about the paint-job. In fact, this is exactly what I did, and I can therefore confirm that the basic body size of the Fed-2 is the same as my M3 !

The seller "blyatnikov" often has cleaned up Fed-2, including black painted ones and that is the seller I used for my one, based on availability (mostly) and previous successful buys.

[Blake Werts]

The seller "blyatnikov" often has cleaned up Fed-2, including black painted ones and that is the seller I used for my one, based on availability (mostly) and previous successful buys.

I can second this recommendation for blyatnikov. I've had multiple transactions and have been quite pleased--ships fast, packages well, and, of course, great product. What you see in his great photos is exactly what you'll be getting.

- Blake

[spiderfrank]

that really ... UGLY !! ;-)

[2Monkees]

Think I will go for a regular flavoured Fed 2.....even if black and red is my favourite colour combo ;)

[jn053]

Do be careful with a camera like this. In many cases they repaint them
because of heavy, heavy use. Check the pivot holes in the shutter cage,
especially on the sprocket side.