Hi, my name's Rob and I'm an FSUaholic

[rbiemer]

Folks,
Just a quick post to introduce my self and how I got here.
I'm a chef by trade so my work day is long and I spend my time doing what other people want(demand some days)--literally taking orders-- so photography is my release from that. Fairly recently I have been using FSU cameras. I got the FSU flu a few years ago when I bought a Fed 5c to use for 35mm pinhole shooting. I thought I got it out of my system , gave the camera to a good home and moved on to Yashicamat. Stupidly I traded that one for a Pentax Zx5 and was very unhappy with my pictures. I sold that at not too much of a loss and decided to simplify so I bought a Canonett GIII QL17. This one I still have and use. It was getting lonely so I bought another. The second canon is why I don't do e@@y any more. Bad camera,seller totally useless about making it right. Not a big pile of money so--lesson learned. Then decided I missed the big negative and bought a Kiev 60 from Arax. This one I'm very happy with. The camera has been overhauled and the company is very good.
I then wanted some thing I could carry easily but with more lenses than the Canonette. The LTM Canons are out of my budget so I got a clean 67 vintage Kiev 4a. I like it alot but the lens options don't seem as extensive as the LTM lenses out there.
Now I'm considering a Zorki 3m for my walking aroung camera. I bought a Zorki 10 from Oleg[url=http://okvintagecameras.com] I think I'm heading towards a relapse of my FSU flu. Oh well, at least my wardmates seem nice.
Rob

[rover]

Hey Rob welcome aboard. A chef, I love to cook (and eat) so feel free to occasionally share recipes. You are probably right, cooking for others all the time would be different than cooking for yourself. How do you like the Kiev 4a? I really love the look of the Contax IIa, so I am really tempted by the Kievs for budget reasons.

[rbiemer]

Overall I like the Kiev but there are some minor quibbles: the seperate take up spool haven't dropped it yet (but give me time).
The bezel around the viewfinder scratched the heck out of my glasses(easy fix tho--rubber O-ring from my harware store).
Because its almost forty years old I worry a little about unexpected failure. Not a deal breaker but I will be unhappy when It has to go away to be serviced.
These cameras are so much fun for so little $!
Rob

[Doug]

Welcome, Rob! Many of us here have FSU cameras, some caught up in them more than others! I try to be strong and resist temptation, so 'only' have two Kiev 4a cameras plus a Jupiter-12 which I like a lot. One of the Kievs is faked up to be a pretend Contax II.

[Honu-Hugger]

Welcome, Rob. I am relatively new here as well. I'm going to have to bring myself up to speed on all of the many rangefinders that are out there -- I've heard of many on this list that I am not familiar with, including the FSU's that you are using. I look forward to perhaps seeing some of your images soon? This is a great community, glad that you found it.

Cheers,

D2 (preceded by another Doug)

[peter_n]

Welcome Rob from another newbie. I only have an FSU lens but I am most impressed with it, an Industar-22 50mm/f3.5. The mechanics are a bit dodgy but the optics are brilliant! There are lots of Russian camera fans here so you will feel right at home.

[GeneW]

I'm an FSU newbie. Have just received a Zorki 4K with black Jupiter-8 lens and have really enjoyed the authoritative CHUNK of the shutter, the feel and weight of the camera, and my first roll of pics look very sharp. I'm impressed with the Jupiter-8!

Gene

[peter_n]

That Jupiter-8 lens seems to be a cracker. I love the pics that Remy has taken with his...

[Stanton]

I guess I fit in here too: 5!!! Fed 2's, in various colors, dark blue, dark red, green, gray, and my shooter, a common black one. All of the f2.8 Industars have been good and the bodies have been fine too. A Zorki 4K, which is very well behaved, and a couple of Zorki C's or S's, whatever. I have a set of the LTM lenses, Jupiter 12, 9, and 11 to fit these. I have two Kiev 4's, one with the meter and one without. All of these function very well with no real maintenance. Perhaps I have been lucky. But I purchased from numerous sellers on the auction site, most being in Russia or the Ukraine, with due consideration of their feed back ratings. Then there is the Zenit Photosniper from Cupog -- excellent. I think these cameras are seriously under-rated.

[RML]

Thanks, Peter.

[wierdcollector]

Count me in as a confirmed FSU camera believer. I have 3-Fed 4's,2 Fed 5B's, 1 Fed5C, 1 Fed3, 3 Fed2's, 2 Zorki 4's, 1 Mir, 11 Industars, and 3 Jupiter 8's. (and 13 various Zenits + 5 Smenas).

[Peter]

Welcome Rob! RFF is collecting a very diverse group of RF photographers!