Buying a FED/ Zorki 1

[matchat]

Hi everyone, I'm being seriously tempted by the Zorki & FED 1 series cameras (along with too many others also :p) so I thought I would ask for a little advice before diving in the deep end and buying one.

I would like to buy one of the earlier models with 7 speed shutter as opposed to the 5 speed but I'd better not buy one of the soft bodied examples as I'm quite heavy handed. Also I want to avoid the FED's that don't have the standard 28.8mm film to lens distance. I believe then that I would be looking for either a mid production FED or a Zorki 1C.

My question to you all is who would you recommend as a seller and how much should I be looking to pay for a fully functional example in good cosmetic condition? (i.e. fully CLA'd, accurately focussing and without too much brassing/ peeling vulcanite - a tall order I realise).

Regards - Mat

[wolves3012]

Go for a Zorki 1c or d or a FED 1 non-NKVD (maybe a 1-f or g). Brassing doesn't seem to be a major factor on the ones I've seen, the chrome seems pretty durable. Unlikely you'll get a CLAd one unless you buy from someone like Oleg (OK camera). Off Ebay you'd expect to pay£30-50 for a decent one. The dual-engraved (Latin/Cyrillic) Zorki-Zorki would be a nice choice. By the way, there's no real advantage to the 7-speed over a 5-speed later model. Oh, and if it matters, the FED 1g has a locking shutter release. No other FED has that and all Zorkis *except* the 1 have it.

Good luck...and welcome to RFF

[payasam]

I got a fine Zorki 1C from Oleg K. at www.okvintagecamera.com (http://www.okvintagecamera.com). Price was reasonable. Had you been in the US, www.fedka.com would have been another option.

[matchat]

Thanks for your replies everyone, I had been a little unsure of Olegs store as the pictures aren't entirely flattering shall we say?
Having other serious users vouch for his cameras is great so I will have a good look through his site and undoubtedly end up with something in the mail shortly :D.


I'd also like to thank Wolves3012 for his warm welcome (I've been very impressed by his excellent stickied threads) and will no doubt enjoy perusing these forums and learning about my FED2 and Zorki 3 as much as everybody elses experiences.