Fed 1 / Zorki 1 - Am i mad?

stevelmx5

stevelmx5

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Steve
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Firstly, don't answer that. Secondly, I don't even really get on with 35mm or rangefinders but having seen a Leica 1 posted by Hamish at 35mmc.com looking like a cross between an antique and a rat rod I've decided I quite like the look of them after all as a slightly different style to my normal projects;

IMG_1472250598.369979.jpg

Being the pauper that I am, I've naturally started looking at the nearest equivalent which brought me to the Fed/Zorki 1's. I've been reading a few threads on other forums suggesting that they're essentially the same as each other as far as any Soviet clones go but I wondered if anyone here has shot with either of them for some genuine feedback?

I'm expecting the usual Soviet caveats and possibly flaky mechanics but other than that, what's the feeling towards them?

Cheers
Steve
 
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Made from scrap tanks.
 
OH, and noisy.
 
Don't have a long strap on one, if it swings between your legs................................................
 
Must admit though I do like the look and style of them!
I will follow this thread with great interest. (y)
 
I assume you'll be converting it to take sheet film/medium format/digital (delete as applicable).
 
wontolla said:
Made from scrap tanks.
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And here was me thinking that they machined the cameras down to make turrets for T34s!

The one I have came to me borked by incorrect winding/shutter speed setting procedure (apparently.) It doesn't work and was cheaper to replace than repair. If you want it for spares, do a wanted ad and PM me that such an ad has been placed. Not sure which model it is TBH.
 
Dunno never had one and don't think I will unless I see one at the bootie with a collectable lens ;)
 
Nod said:
And here was me thinking that they machined the cameras down to make turrets for T34s!

The one I have came to me borked by incorrect winding/shutter speed setting procedure (apparently.) It doesn't work and was cheaper to replace than repair. If you want it for spares, do a wanted ad and PM me that such an ad has been placed. Not sure which model it is TBH.
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I have a Zorki and a Leica 111, I may have a good one as there is little to choose between them, both work fine, only real difference I can see is the Leica has slow speeds, if Steve isnt interested in your broken one I would be interested having it for spares.
 
Thanks for the offer @Nod, that's very generous but I'm happy for @dizidav to have it instead. I'll keep an eye out for a working one.

@RaglanSurf I was planning on fitting a roll of 35mm and just using it but now you mention a MF conversion you might be on to something (joke!)
 
So let me get this straight ... you actually want to take pictures with one?
Good on yer, and post when you've bought on and if it works or not.
I couldn't afford the very early models...
 
That's the plan, ridiculous for me I know ;0) I'll update the thread if i come across a bargain.
 
I've got a FED 2 which does work but is fairly agricultural in build quality. I have a collapsible Industar 10 lens (Elmar copy) which is very soft indeed and fiddly to set the aperture. I have a rigid F2.8 which is a lot better. The weak point of FEDs of that age is the rubberised fabric of the shutter curtains, which tends to spring holes in itself; fortunately my shutter is OK. As with all cloth shuttered rangefinders, it's most important not to leave them focused on infinity and take them out in the sun. Alternatively get a lens cap; I have a nice Leica lens cap for my collapsible lens, which would fool an easily impressed idiot at twenty paces into thinking that I had a good camera. It is a good camera to take out after dark, not because it would take great photos but with a wrist strap fitted it would make a good cosh if you were going to a rough area.

This is a comparison of the Industar 10 against a decent lens, probably a Canon FD or Zuiko 50mm f1.8.

[URL=http://s984.photobucket.com/user/NickBT1/media/Comparison.jpg.html][/URL]
http://[URL=http://s984.photobucket...bums/ae326/NickBT1/Comparison.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
Taken from Richmond bridge towards the office buildings on the North bank. (The FED lens is the very soft focus one, of course)
 
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Thanks for that. Pretty much what I expected from what I've read about soviet quality!
 
Threre are a few excellent Russian lenses about, the biggest problem with the FED/Zorki early models was the lens has to be matched to the body and the rangefinder adjusted to suit, the initial build was not as good as Leitz, but with a a bit of patience they can be a decent camera.
 
stevelmx5 said:
Thanks for that. Pretty much what I expected from what I've read about soviet quality!
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There are quite a few Russian lenses that are excellent and some are copies of Zeiss as they captured the company in WW2 and the Zeiss workers who couldn't flee\escape carried on working under communism. :eek:
 
Also the Industar 10 is really a Tessar not as would appear an Elmar, still should give much better quality than the sample you have.
 
David, I'm a bit busy for the next 3 weeks or so but will dig it out after ten and post it in the freebies section - if I forget, prod me via PM and I'll get it sorted!!!
 
Nod said:
David, I'm a bit busy for the next 3 weeks or so but will dig it out after ten and post it in the freebies section - if I forget, prod me via PM and I'll get it sorted!!!
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:ty:
 
Nod said:
David, I'm a bit busy for the next 3 weeks or so but will dig it out after ten and post it in the freebies section - if I forget, prod me via PM and I'll get it sorted!!!
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I'm all for the prod bit! :p
 
I've a Fed 5 with an industar lens , can't remember which, but I haven't used it yet. Looks very eell made and feels like it will be nice to use, I'll try and run a film through it sometime soon.
 
stevelmx5 said:
Thanks for that. Pretty much what I expected from what I've read about soviet quality!
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Not all Soviet cameras are bad, depends a lot of the year of manufacture, the quality of the material and assembling of the KIEV cameras and lenses from the 50s or 60s, even 70s, are much better than the ones from the 80s. As you can see in my avatar, I own a KIEV 4M from 1977, with Jupiter lenses from the 60s and 70s, and a Helios from the 80s, all very good and gave me excellent results so far, the Helios is the 'ugly' one but it is really sharp.

Soviet cameras are some kind of a lottery, you could get one from the final days before the falling and will work for life with sharp lenses, or maybe will give you the same results as a disposable camera, will depend of how much vodka Ivan had drunk that day. :p

In my experience so far, if I have to go for a soviet camera today, I will not take anything from after 1979.
 
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I had a Kiev 80 for a while and to be fair, the results from the Vega 128 were actually really good once I'd stripped/cleaned it. Not sure if I'll actually a end up getting another 35mm but the rat rod styling could be a nice change.
 
stevelmx5 said:
I had a Kiev 80 for a while and to be fair, the results from the Vega 128 were actually really good once I'd stripped/cleaned it. Not sure if I'll actually a end up getting another 35mm but the rat rod styling could be a nice change.
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You might have a problem there, as the Fed and Zorki cameras were virtualy copies of the Leica 11, they never made a Leica 1 copy, there are some about on Ebay that have been 'remanufactured',http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Art-Camer...962304?hash=item4b024a2b00:g:oD0AAOSwepJXaBnT
 
I like that. So it's possible to remove the rangefinder from the top plate then. Interesting.
 
Its possible to remove the rangefinder, but you would have to make the housing for the timing mech, as its all part of the top plate.
 
Whats inside the top plate incase its of interest.
Leica.jpg
 
My first 'real' camera was a Zorki 4K with Jupiter lens. Birthday present in 1974 and it's still going (or should be.... I've not used it since moving house). Weighs a tonne, focus is blob on despite it being dropped down Cenotaph Corner, bounced along the M6 for several hundred yards (it's case survived whereas my leathers and other clothing didn't) and other assorted beatings back in the day.
Purchased from Fishwicks in Haydock I subsequently bought a Jupiter 135mm lens (made a welding rod viewing frame rather than invest in the proper turret finder) and some close up adapters.

I've always fancied a Zeiss Ikon Contax II but now that I have the 'spare' money I don't seem to see them.

So, to the OP - Go for it. The older Soviet rangefinders don't seem to have the quality issues they developed later. Far better value for money than Leica...just don't have the same snob value (and that doesn't make photos any better)
 
dizidav said:
You might have a problem there, as the Fed and Zorki cameras were virtualy copies of the Leica 11, they never made a Leica 1 copy, there are some about on Ebay that have been 'remanufactured',http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Art-Camer...962304?hash=item4b024a2b00:g:oD0AAOSwepJXaBnT
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I've been looking at this listing again today and the conversion that's been done looks pretty straightforward. Apart from disconnecting the link for the rangefinder, it looks like the whole top unit containing the viewfinder/hotshoe etc separates from the main camera as one unit;

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/282151397055

Once that's removed, there's just a spacer added below the shutter speed dial.

The question then is, do I really want to use a camera that's hyperfocal/zone focussing only? I'm not entirely sure but it would make for an interesting conversion.
 
I've decided that right now I probably don't need another camera (do we ever!) so I'm going to be sensible for once and stick to what I've got. I don't shoot enough film through my current kit so adding another camera probably won't help!

I finished the roll in my Yashica 44 yesterday so will get that sent off to FilmDev this week to see if I get any results. I also need to spend some time making some changes to the InsTLR parts to get that finished so I've got enough on the go already!

If anyone's interested in what appears to be a good condition Zorki-1/Industar 22, I made an offer to this seller of £25 and they settled on £30 plus £2.80 postage;

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/252491392985?_trksid=p2060353.m2763.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

Cheers
Steve
 
I've Just been in every charity shop in west Scotland! now you say you don't want one! (Well a couple anyway) Didn't find any tho. Seems to be a shortage of cheap film cams up here.
 
Sorry Baz, I didn't know I'd started you on a mission. Thanks for trying though :0)
 
wontolla said:
I've Just been in every charity shop in west Scotland! now you say you don't want one! (Well a couple anyway) Didn't find any tho. Seems to be a shortage of cheap film cams up here.
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Almost impossible to find a camera of any sort in charity shops now, they all seem to put them on Ebay
 
dizidav said:
Almost impossible to find a camera of any sort in charity shops now, they all seem to put them on Ebay
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Got a couple of decent ones last year in Kendal, a Canon Ixus and a Yashica 35ME. The latter I love! Canon was 2 quid and the Yashi was £4.50. Went in an antique shop in Moffat and all they had was a pile of over priced c**p, so have to agree with you!
 
stevelmx5 said:
Sorry Baz, I didn't know I'd started you on a mission. Thanks for trying though :0)
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No problem buddy, it was mostly for myself anyway!
 
dizidav said:
Almost impossible to find a camera of any sort in charity shops now, they all seem to put them on Ebay
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For years I haven't seen anything decent in charity shops.... a good place is still the bootie but you have to be lucky as quite a few times someone has beaten me to a camera\cameras by as little as a few minutes and very annoying if you had paid £3 entrance fee......but one small one I like it's £1 after 8:00 (£2 before)
 
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