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Russian FED-2 rangefinder
Anybody used these before? I have found a place that seems to be giving
them away for round $100. -- Be careful what you wish for. |
"Roxy d'Urban" wrote in message ... Anybody used these before? I have found a place that seems to be giving them away for round $100. Int he mid 80's I worked in a photographic shop. We used to give people £5 for them trade in and then give them away to charity shops. Every month I would go round with a box load of them. If only I had kept them.... |
Roxy d'Urban wrote:
Anybody used these before? I have found a place that seems to be giving them away for round $100. $100 is a LOT for one. I also have some Zorkis (the other Soviet rangefinder brand) which I keep thinking I'll use for war zones, or something. In practice, given the availability of an M6 (won't mention brand), they never get used. Soviet stuff often has serious quality control problems, but if you get good (or repaired) samples, they can be very good. On cameras, you really need to be able to regularly check & adjust the rangefinder yourself. Several Soviet lenses see use on my M6 (via an adaptor); a great demonstration of what Zeiss was up to in the 1930's... |
Roxy d'Urban wrote:
Anybody used these before? I have found a place that seems to be giving them away for round $100. 100$ isn't "giving them away". Check eBay right now, there's a whole bunch for around 20-30 $ US See www.rangefinderforum.com for comments from many FED-2 enthusiasts. And finally, here is a picture of Picasso with a FED 2 (can't remember where I found it) http://nnphotoclub.dnsalias.com/wiki...icassoFED2.jpg |
On Mon, 25 Apr 2005 14:22:16 +0000, Peter Irwin wrote:
Roxy d'Urban wrote: Anybody used these before? I have found a place that seems to be giving them away for round $100. $100 is a LOT for a Fed-2 unless it is some unusual variety. It was made in Ukraine, not Russia. It could be called Soviet or Ukrainian, but it isn't Russian. Soviet rangefinders can actually be quite nice. Older ones are often badly in need of a CLA, and unless you are very handy, it is best to get one from someone who does a CLA on the cameras he sells. Oleg www.okvintagecamera.com currently lists a Fed-2 + I26 lens for $20 + $12 shipping. That is a very reasonable price given that a camera from Oleg is sure to be in good working order. Peter. Thanks for the heads up guys. Here is the place that is selling them: http://www.wholesaledigital.co.za/fedhome.htm On the financial side, with $1 = R6 I suppose I could get away with telling the seller that they are ripping us off, but then again, there are shipping costs (to get the cameras into SA), his time spent servicing them and of course that old thing called profit. R599 isn't a lot of money for a camera in SA. To put it into perspective, it's roughly equivalent to a month and a half's satellite TV subscription. I am looking at #1 on the site. It seems to be in the best condition. Thoughts? -- Be careful what you wish for. |
On Mon, 25 Apr 2005 14:22:16 +0000 (UTC), Peter Irwin
wrote: Roxy d'Urban wrote: Anybody used these before? I have found a place that seems to be giving them away for round $100. $100 is a LOT for a Fed-2 unless it is some unusual variety. It was made in Ukraine, not Russia. It could be called Soviet or Ukrainian, but it isn't Russian. Soviet rangefinders can actually be quite nice. Older ones are often badly in need of a CLA, and unless you are very handy, it is best to get one from someone who does a CLA on the cameras he sells. Oleg www.okvintagecamera.com currently lists a Fed-2 + I26 lens for $20 + $12 shipping. That is a very reasonable price given that a camera from Oleg is sure to be in good working order. I have many FEDs and I love them. The I-26 and early I-61 lens (all white) are both sharp lenses. When you get them make sure the range finder is on and about a quarter of them off eBay have off RF's. Another problem (with any of the old Leica types) is the shutter cloth leaking. I have had only one bad one and it has both of the problems you can get, a leak between the two sections of the cloth and the cloth itself leaking light thru the weave. Take the back and lens off and put the camera up to a light and then slowly wind the shutter to test it. the FED-2D is the classic and the best. It has 3 half balls on the winder knob for quick ID. The only version of the FED-2 that has a rapid wing arm is the FED-2e which is the FED-2D out in the FED-3B body and marked FED-2. Though the slowest speed is officialy 1/25th you can get a 4 second exposure by setting it on B and then firing it from the self timer. Most of the Ukraainian eBay dealers charge $14-15 dollars shipping, $20 with an original box. But there is a major problem... buy one and this desease called FEDOLOGY gets you and you must have more and more till you have every model!!! :-) Cheers THOM Peter. -- |
On Mon, 25 Apr 2005 17:24:20 +0100, "Gordon Hudson"
wrote: "Roxy d'Urban" wrote in message ... Anybody used these before? I have found a place that seems to be giving them away for round $100. Int he mid 80's I worked in a photographic shop. We used to give people £5 for them trade in and then give them away to charity shops. Every month I would go round with a box load of them. If only I had kept them.... Gods going to bite you for that! :-) THOM |
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