What you should know about FSU’s that nobody told you about

[David Hughes]

Originally Posted by KoNickon

Another thing (alluded to above) -- you'll never have a Russian/Ukrainian seller saying (as sellers do here on RfF, I'll point out) "Never checked the meter since I don't have a battery for it." At least you don't have THAT bit of BS to deal with, since they don't have battery-powered meters.

The main issue with these cameras seems to be the fact they have been sitting around, so things get gummed up. The basic designs are good. I've never had Oleg or other repairers work on any of mine, but I'll bet using a truly CLA'd FED/Zorki/Kiev is a revelation.

Hi,

There's little difference between an early FED and a Leica II (apart from age as early FEDs go to the 50's and have coated lenses). But only when both have been looked at and everything brought back to how it should be.

You'll mainly notice the difference when paying the bill for the work. Looking at prints and handling them is the real test.

So, yes, it is a revelation.

Regards, David

[wolves3012]

Originally Posted by KoNickon

The main issue with these cameras seems to be the fact they have been sitting around, so things get gummed up. The basic designs are good. I've never had Oleg or other repairers work on any of mine, but I'll bet using a truly CLA'd FED/Zorki/Kiev is a revelation.

Amongst my collection, I have a Zorki 1 that developed a fault due to a worn bearing. As a result, it was stripped completely to fit a bush. In the course of that, it was cleaned and re-lubricated to component level. That camera is quieter than any other focal-plane shuttered camera I have (including the Leica IIIC). It falls short of Leica in terms of smoothness because the gears aren't quite as well cut but the difference is small.

I've also re-curtained a FED NKVD, likewise CLA'd alongside and that is actually every bit as smooth as a Leica , although not quite as quiet as one.

However, it's primarily the lens that is responsible for image quality of course. Personal opinions abound there but I think the FSU lenses can hold their own against their peers.

[Bill58]

IF you buy a CLA'd Camera from Fedka, it HAS been CLA'd. I wouldn't buy anything Russian from anyone else.

[john341]

several FSU cameras I have bought have gone over to Oleg K for a CLA. He never disappoints and the money spent means that your (currently) favourite camera will be good for years. I had a job done on two Kievs and years later, they are running like new - makes you forget what they really cost. Cheers from a FSU camera fan.

[David Hughes]

Originally Posted by john341

several FSU cameras I have bought have gone over to Oleg K for a CLA. He never disappoints and the money spent means that your (currently) favourite camera will be good for years. I had a job done on two Kievs and years later, they are running like new - makes you forget what they really cost. Cheers from a FSU camera fan.

Hi,

May I be the first to second that?

Regards, David

[raid]

The shutter speed marks on the dial will vanish one day, unless the camera arrives to you alreday in such a state. Do something about remembering which part of the speed dial corresponds to which speed. Sometimes, when the shutter actually works correctly, you can "hear the speeds".

In case of a burglary, use an FSU camera as your defense weapon.

[goamules]

Originally Posted by texchappy

...What are the peculiarities, surprises, unexpected bonuses that you wish you’d know about before using your first FSU rangefinder?...y

At the end of the Cold War, Russian cameras were used to smuggle diamonds out of the country. The idea was you could fill the film compartments with diamonds, but the cameras were not worth enough for thieves to target the carrier. Sometimes when the border checks were getting too hot, the carrier would hand the camera to someone nearby and ask him to mail it to a USSR address, to be retrieved latter. Of course, he would not say anything about the diamonds, and sometimes the helper got too busy to ship the camera. Later, these same cameras end up for sale on Ebay, and if the seller is not inspecting them, some buyers have discovered a great windfall! Be sure to check yours right away, with a full disassembly. Of course, the above is all made up, but it should become an interesting bit of Internet history now.

[David Hughes]

Originally Posted by goamules

... (Snip) ... Of course, the above is all made up, but it should become an interesting bit of Internet history now.

Hi,

Along with the illegal seizure of Contax by the USSR, of course...

I oftem wonder if they teach history in schools these days. I guess it's gone the way of maths, geography and reading & writing.

Regards, David

[texchappy]

Originally Posted by goamules

At the end of the Cold War, Russian cameras were used to smuggle diamonds out of the country. The idea was you could fill the film compartments with diamonds, but the cameras were not worth enough for thieves to target the carrier. Sometimes when the border checks were getting too hot, the carrier would hand the camera to someone nearby and ask him to mail it to a USSR address, to be retrieved latter. Of course, he would not say anything about the diamonds, and sometimes the helper got too busy to ship the camera. Later, these same cameras end up for sale on Ebay, and if the seller is not inspecting them, some buyers have discovered a great windfall! Be sure to check yours right away, with a full disassembly. Of course, the above is all made up, but it should become an interesting bit of Internet history now.

No such luck with the Zorki but maybe on the next one, buying it from a Nigerian prince.

[reagan]

Originally Posted by goamules

At the end of the Cold War, Russian cameras were used to smuggle diamonds out of the country. The idea was you could fill the film compartments with diamonds, but the cameras were not worth enough for thieves to target the carrier. Sometimes when the border checks were getting too hot, the carrier would hand the camera to someone nearby and ask him to mail it to a USSR address, to be retrieved latter. Of course, he would not say anything about the diamonds, and sometimes the helper got too busy to ship the camera. Later, these same cameras end up for sale on Ebay, and if the seller is not inspecting them, some buyers have discovered a great windfall! Be sure to check yours right away, with a full disassembly.

I plan on reading this to my wife later. Yet another in a long line of justifications for continuing to invest in old Russian cameras.





(thanks ol' bud! )

[Keith]

My early Kiev II has worked flawlessly since I got it from Fedka. The shutter speeds appear perfect and the camera is extremely smooth. I don't think I would buy an FSU shooter from anyone else now.

Oleg is a nice guy and his cameras are very cheap but the CLA'd Fed 2 I got from him has had several problems with not a lot of use ... fortunately if you can use a toaster you can probably repair a Fed 2! .

[texchappy]

Finished my first roll on the Zorki last night. Tried my hand at fireworks. It is a lot of fun to play around with. Now I'm hooked on rangefinders.

[RFH]

You got me there with the title. I thought you were gonna enlighten us all with some arcane info from behind the iron curtain

[Frontman]

I like FSU cameras as well, and I enjoy collecting the less common models. Oleg has done good work for me, I sent him my busted Contax II, and the work was done with better attention to detail than I expected. I rechecked the settings on my own testing equipment and found everything to be spot-on.

A few of the Zorki cameras I have bought have had rotten shutter curtains, but a little rubberized paint made them useable until I could fix them. Replacing the curtains is not a beginner's repair, but with a $20 you don't have much to lose.

[David Hughes]

Originally Posted by Keith

My early Kiev II has worked flawlessly since I got it from Fedka. The shutter speeds appear perfect and the camera is extremely smooth. I don't think I would buy an FSU shooter from anyone else now.

Oleg is a nice guy and his cameras are very cheap but the CLA'd Fed 2 I got from him has had several problems with not a lot of use ... fortunately if you can use a toaster you can probably repair a Fed 2! .

Hi,

Your toaster must have a wider slot than mine but it does explain a lot of things. How long do you leave them in for?

Regards, David

[David Hughes]

One day later and I still can't get this picture, of FED's being repaired by putting them in an electric toaster, out of my head. It's worse than the Hallo Kitty Leica.

What can I do?

Regards, David

[Dralowid]

Just remember to remove the lens cap first, they melt.

Michael

[Martytoof]

#1 surprise for me was that my Z6 (and most FSUs I guess) don't have framelines.

Is it safe to assume that the whole viewfinder frame is roughly 50mm?

[KoNickon]

That's not only an FSU rangefinder issue -- older rangefinders (like the Leica and Canon bottomloaders and older Japanese ones) don't have framelines either. It's more a function of the age of the camera than its national origin.

Originally Posted by Martytoof

#1 surprise for me was that my Z6 (and most FSUs I guess) don't have framelines.

Is it safe to assume that the whole viewfinder frame is roughly 50mm?

[Martytoof]

Sounds good. Thanks for the info

[KoNickon]

I don't think I answered you about the viewfinder -- yes, assume the whole finder is 50mm. Bear in mind that the framing isn't especially precise even on cameras with framelines!

[fanshaw]

Originally Posted by camperbc

I too must respectfully disagree with the poster who stated that a "CLA'd" camera from Russia/Ukraine will not be properly CLA'd. In recent months I have had both a FED 2(D6) and Zorki-4 properly CLA'd in Ukraine. Everything was fully documented and explained to me in detail. Both cameras are as new, cosmetically and mechanically. They even came with a warranty; almost unheard of for 50 year old cameras.

There are in fact many reputable Russian and Ukrainian sellers who know how to properly and completely CLA a camera.

Glen

Perhaps you would let us know which sellers do this.

[farlymac]

I used fabric paint when I found the holes in the shutter of my Zorki 1 D/B. But it didn't last long, and I'm not really into doing a replacement, so it will eventually head to Fedka, as I would like to use the I-26M again. And I didn't find any diamonds, either.

PF

[wolves3012]

Originally Posted by raid

The shutter speed marks on the dial will vanish one day, unless the camera arrives to you alreday in such a state.

Since most of the FSU cameras have engraved speeds, that's not entirely fair. Admittedly, the later Zorki 4 and Zorki 4K models are very prone, and some late FEDs were printed too.