Nice video Brian I have a FED 2....had to get another back door... my one hadnt a tripod bush..on it,....like your FED 2 without D/A and simpler winder knob... again closer to Leica ii Also top plate cast not like the brass top plate of an original Leica ii I have a friend who has one and shows some wear and tear....i personally like brassing it's like a patina....it makes a statement....sez I am what I am.........
I got a really good deal on a Konica I marked "Made In Occupied Japan". it works great for the "rangefinder experience". It has a 50mm f2.8 Hexanon collapsible lens which is fixed. It is built like a fine watch and the lens is great. I see them all the time for under $100 and that includes the lens. And, since many of them were sold to US servicemen and brought home after the war, a lot of them come from US sellers.
Interested in a Canon P currently as an alternative to Leica for street shooting (on the cheap but love the styling), would love to hear more of your thoughts on that camera
Perhaps the most popular Canon rangefinder, and with good reason. If you can find a good one that doesn't need any work for under USD 200, you've found a good deal.
Brian's Photo Show it’s a shame it is so hard to find one without a wrinkled shutter curtain but it’s my understanding that’s a cosmetic issue only. I’ll probably try and pick one up soon and grab a cheaper Jupiter 50mm to start on it
@@codyallen3729 Only affects cosmetics unless severe. Rare to see a pristine shutter on metal focal plane shuttered late model Canon rangefinder classics.
All Russian M39 lenses use Zeiss work distance (like Contax cameras) for rangefinder coupling, which is incompatible with the Leica standard. But if you don't shoot wide open - it can be 'usable'. If you want to use them as intended - have a Russian camera body for a Russian lens and Leica lenses for Leicas.
I have 2 inherited Zorki's, Zorki 4 (from 50's I guess) with silver lens like yours and Zorki 4K from 1978 with Jupiter 8 in black. And while Zorki 4K and its lens is almost NEW, impeccable, in perfect working order, I wasn't so lucky with the other one. Actually, it's in so bad shape (both the camera and the lens) that it needs a complete overhaul. Now, while you can find a good mechanic here in SE Europe the such repair would cost several times over the price of a working one you can find either on ebuy or a local Craig's list...
Nice video, Brian. If you accept a fixed lens rangefinder, there are nice affordable alternatives with good lenses from Yashica, Konica and Minolta. Among them my favourites are Yashica Minister 700 (45mm 1.7) and Yashica 35CC (35mm 1.8).
However they are less robustly built, and less sealed from the outside world. Not knocking better ones with mechanical shutters and manual modes. On fixed lens rangefinders, the Retina IIa, and Iic are my favorites. I like the better Olympuses, the 35RC is an underrated favorite.
Is it really that expensive in US? You're getting screwed, here in Russia this stuff is dirt cheap. FED 2 with a lens can be had for 10$ any day. Lenses are priced way lower too. Jupiter 3 is around 40-70$ (I guess because it's rarer), but I've recently seen a zorkiy 1 with Jupiter 3 sold for around 35$ Jupiter 8 is around 7-10$ too Most other prices are waaaay different. Either shipping is expensive (it's probably not) or I should start selling my collection abroad, haha
it's because for westerners it's rare. for easterners every marketplace and home attic is flooded full of this junk ofc, most of it is junk, worth 20$. but, even in the east, some lenses in good condition are getting rarer and clean, working bodies are also harder to find. most have the shutter cloth broken and as is are just "nice antiques" or require repair before use. so i've seen people ask 60+ for quaranteed working and cla'd cameras. although if you are an experienced hunter, you can easily find a working one between the antiques for 20
I have been using soviet camera equipment for about 15 years and I have found the "quality control" issue to be mostly overblown and more political silliness then reality. I have had only two cameras that had any issues at all in that time. Actually I have had more issues with Japanese and West German made kit. I am guessing that had to do with the drive to cut corners to increase profit margins and for planned obsolescence. That being said I have found a few gems on both sides of the iron curtain. I love my FED 3 and my Pentacon Six fro medium format. And I do have one recommendation for a nice rangefinder system for cheap and that is the Braun Super Paxettes and for a nice point and shoot early Voightlanders are also very nice options.
Regarding the quality control issue, I think there's an inherent selection problem. That is, those cameras which survive to today are necessarily those which were well built and maintained. The really bad units wound up in landfills years ago. The old joke about Soviet cameras was that the first thing one did after purchasing a new camera was take it to a tech to have it fixed.
the quality was horrible, ask any working photog from the soviet union. they would drool over even the east german ones. and if asked, would easily take a smuggled nikon consumer body with a nifty fifty while leaving their whole "pro" slr and lens behind. because when working with those soviet cameras you had to learn how to be a tech at the same time. same with film. each batch had a slightly diferent iso and dev character, so you'd buy in bulk and run tests for each batch before using it. some of it was utter garbage, while the next run might have been competing with ektachrome. but this utter not caring about the end user was frustrating. and it's no big deal for a hobbyist, but try working with that, try giving any guarantees if even any state factory cant give one. there are rumours of an ukrainian landfill full of kiev rangefinders that, even by soviet standards, didn't pass, and were dumped right after production finished
Quality control is the only thing I have against FSU cameras, that is so iffy. Nobody's knocking their optics. Mechanically they're a bit crude, but well made when you get a good one. A Canon LTM camera or a Nicca is a better camera most of the time.
@@KentTeffeteller I have heard that for 20 years but have yet to see actual evidence to support the cold war cliche. And the Canon LTM cameras are kind of famous for wrinkling shutter curtains. At one time Canon and Nikon were seen as cheap knock offs of German cameras. Even the Kiev 88 which has some issues are the same as the Hasselblad 1600 series that it was based on which was a commercial failure because of those flaws. And as for crude I would say some of the popular Japanese cameras like the Yashica Electro has poorer build quality. And kudos to the soviets for getting rid of that stupid bottom loading nonsense with the Barnack Leicas. And I have seen a Nicca in person but it is about the same price as a LTM Leica III so kind of doesn't make sense. And in my own experience I have had more issues with "quality" Japanese and German brands. All this just to say I think alot of this is perception based on assumptions versus reality.
@@certs743 Metal ones do. But those shutters work for many years without issues too. More reliable than Leica's are, though like Leica shutters, best CLA'ed every 20 years.
I Ebay'd a Kiev-3A with filters, case and original box for $75+$25 shipping. Seller had good reviews so I pulled the trigger. Still in the mail, fingers are crossed.
My understanding is that the Contax-based Kiev rangefinders were the premium product back in the day, and considered an upgrade from a Zorki or Fed. Here's the Kiev 3A writeup at fedka; it looks like you got a good bargain on a somewhat rare and highly desirable camera: fedka.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=32&products_id=537
I couldn't agree more about the Jupiter lenses. I have several Jupiter 8 lenses, all excellent, one Jupiter 3 that is OK, nothing special. I bought a few cameras from Fedka, and was happy enough. I have bought quite a few from Alex in Ukraine on Ebay, all winners except one, which was a little rough, but works. His prices are very fair. I also like Kiev cameras, and all mine work well except one which has a light leak. The Helios 103 lens is shockingly good for the pittance it goes for.
You should try a Zorki 4K with the wonderful Jupiter 8, the black with green lettering lens version from the 1970s. Better than that silver one that you have there in mine, and other UA-camrs experience.
It's a cool version of this lens, but the front element on it spins while you focus, I hope you get what I mean, so it's kind of a disadvantage of black jupiters. But latest version with green markings surprised me, it's a-ma-zing. Also early versions are cool, one of mine gives effect of burning. If you have strongly backlit leaves on trees in the background, they look like they're on fire - very cool yet subtle effect.
Nice video Brian I have a FED 2....had to get another back door... my one hadnt a tripod bush..on it,....like your FED 2 without D/A and simpler winder knob... again closer to Leica ii
Also top plate cast not like the brass top plate of an original Leica ii I have a friend who has one and shows some wear and tear....i personally like brassing it's like a patina....it makes a statement....sez I am what I am.........
I got a really good deal on a Konica I marked "Made In Occupied Japan". it works great for the "rangefinder experience". It has a 50mm f2.8 Hexanon collapsible lens which is fixed. It is built like a fine watch and the lens is great. I see them all the time for under $100 and that includes the lens. And, since many of them were sold to US servicemen and brought home after the war, a lot of them come from US sellers.
That "MIOJ" mark is highly prized by collectors.
Interested in a Canon P currently as an alternative to Leica for street shooting (on the cheap but love the styling), would love to hear more of your thoughts on that camera
Perhaps the most popular Canon rangefinder, and with good reason. If you can find a good one that doesn't need any work for under USD 200, you've found a good deal.
Brian's Photo Show it’s a shame it is so hard to find one without a wrinkled shutter curtain but it’s my understanding that’s a cosmetic issue only. I’ll probably try and pick one up soon and grab a cheaper Jupiter 50mm to start on it
@@codyallen3729 That's an excellent choice. I just recorded a video about wrinkled shutter curtains in Canon rangefinders. It should be up by Friday.
@@codyallen3729 Only affects cosmetics unless severe. Rare to see a pristine shutter on metal focal plane shuttered late model Canon rangefinder classics.
All Russian M39 lenses use Zeiss work distance (like Contax cameras) for rangefinder coupling, which is incompatible with the Leica standard. But if you don't shoot wide open - it can be 'usable'. If you want to use them as intended - have a Russian camera body for a Russian lens and Leica lenses for Leicas.
Or use your Leica lenses on Canons or Nicca/Yashica, Leotaxes, Minolta Model 35 II, or M adapted on Leica M series cameras.
I have 2 inherited Zorki's, Zorki 4 (from 50's I guess) with silver lens like yours and Zorki 4K from 1978 with Jupiter 8 in black. And while Zorki 4K and its lens is almost NEW, impeccable, in perfect working order, I wasn't so lucky with the other one. Actually, it's in so bad shape (both the camera and the lens) that it needs a complete overhaul. Now, while you can find a good mechanic here in SE Europe the such repair would cost several times over the price of a working one you can find either on ebuy or a local Craig's list...
Nice video, Brian. If you accept a fixed lens rangefinder, there are nice affordable alternatives with good lenses from Yashica, Konica and Minolta. Among them my favourites are Yashica Minister 700 (45mm 1.7) and Yashica 35CC (35mm 1.8).
However they are less robustly built, and less sealed from the outside world. Not knocking better ones with mechanical shutters and manual modes. On fixed lens rangefinders, the Retina IIa, and Iic are my favorites. I like the better Olympuses, the 35RC is an underrated favorite.
Is it really that expensive in US? You're getting screwed, here in Russia this stuff is dirt cheap. FED 2 with a lens can be had for 10$ any day.
Lenses are priced way lower too. Jupiter 3 is around 40-70$ (I guess because it's rarer), but I've recently seen a zorkiy 1 with Jupiter 3 sold for around 35$
Jupiter 8 is around 7-10$ too
Most other prices are waaaay different.
Either shipping is expensive (it's probably not) or I should start selling my collection abroad, haha
it's because for westerners it's rare. for easterners every marketplace and home attic is flooded full of this junk
ofc, most of it is junk, worth 20$. but, even in the east, some lenses in good condition are getting rarer and clean, working bodies are also harder to find. most have the shutter cloth broken and as is are just "nice antiques" or require repair before use.
so i've seen people ask 60+ for quaranteed working and cla'd cameras. although if you are an experienced hunter, you can easily find a working one between the antiques for 20
I would definitely take some Soviet camera equipment off your hands.
What would really be interesting is a series on MF rangefinders.
I have been using soviet camera equipment for about 15 years and I have found the "quality control" issue to be mostly overblown and more political silliness then reality. I have had only two cameras that had any issues at all in that time. Actually I have had more issues with Japanese and West German made kit. I am guessing that had to do with the drive to cut corners to increase profit margins and for planned obsolescence. That being said I have found a few gems on both sides of the iron curtain. I love my FED 3 and my Pentacon Six fro medium format. And I do have one recommendation for a nice rangefinder system for cheap and that is the Braun Super Paxettes and for a nice point and shoot early Voightlanders are also very nice options.
Regarding the quality control issue, I think there's an inherent selection problem. That is, those cameras which survive to today are necessarily those which were well built and maintained. The really bad units wound up in landfills years ago. The old joke about Soviet cameras was that the first thing one did after purchasing a new camera was take it to a tech to have it fixed.
the quality was horrible, ask any working photog from the soviet union. they would drool over even the east german ones. and if asked, would easily take a smuggled nikon consumer body with a nifty fifty while leaving their whole "pro" slr and lens behind. because when working with those soviet cameras you had to learn how to be a tech at the same time.
same with film. each batch had a slightly diferent iso and dev character, so you'd buy in bulk and run tests for each batch before using it. some of it was utter garbage, while the next run might have been competing with ektachrome. but this utter not caring about the end user was frustrating. and it's no big deal for a hobbyist, but try working with that, try giving any guarantees if even any state factory cant give one. there are rumours of an ukrainian landfill full of kiev rangefinders that, even by soviet standards, didn't pass, and were dumped right after production finished
Quality control is the only thing I have against FSU cameras, that is so iffy. Nobody's knocking their optics. Mechanically they're a bit crude, but well made when you get a good one. A Canon LTM camera or a Nicca is a better camera most of the time.
@@KentTeffeteller I have heard that for 20 years but have yet to see actual evidence to support the cold war cliche. And the Canon LTM cameras are kind of famous for wrinkling shutter curtains. At one time Canon and Nikon were seen as cheap knock offs of German cameras. Even the Kiev 88 which has some issues are the same as the Hasselblad 1600 series that it was based on which was a commercial failure because of those flaws. And as for crude I would say some of the popular Japanese cameras like the Yashica Electro has poorer build quality. And kudos to the soviets for getting rid of that stupid bottom loading nonsense with the Barnack Leicas. And I have seen a Nicca in person but it is about the same price as a LTM Leica III so kind of doesn't make sense. And in my own experience I have had more issues with "quality" Japanese and German brands. All this just to say I think alot of this is perception based on assumptions versus reality.
@@certs743 Metal ones do. But those shutters work for many years without issues too. More reliable than Leica's are, though like Leica shutters, best CLA'ed every 20 years.
I received without the film counter.
I Ebay'd a Kiev-3A with filters, case and original box for $75+$25 shipping. Seller had good reviews so I pulled the trigger. Still in the mail, fingers are crossed.
My understanding is that the Contax-based Kiev rangefinders were the premium product back in the day, and considered an upgrade from a Zorki or Fed. Here's the Kiev 3A writeup at fedka; it looks like you got a good bargain on a somewhat rare and highly desirable camera: fedka.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=32&products_id=537
@@BriansPhotoShow well dang it I meant to write FED-IIIa but I appreciate the information. Still a cool camera.
In practise... I would say that sample variation is not wolf in sheep's clothing..... just makes these cameras really interesting...and unique...
I couldn't agree more about the Jupiter lenses. I have several Jupiter 8 lenses, all excellent, one Jupiter 3 that is OK, nothing special. I bought a few cameras from Fedka, and was happy enough. I have bought quite a few from Alex in Ukraine on Ebay, all winners except one, which was a little rough, but works. His prices are very fair. I also like Kiev cameras, and all mine work well except one which has a light leak. The Helios 103 lens is shockingly good for the pittance it goes for.
Could you share links to those sellers?
You should try a Zorki 4K with the wonderful Jupiter 8, the black with green lettering lens version from the 1970s. Better than that silver one that you have there in mine, and other UA-camrs experience.
It's a cool version of this lens, but the front element on it spins while you focus, I hope you get what I mean, so it's kind of a disadvantage of black jupiters. But latest version with green markings surprised me, it's a-ma-zing. Also early versions are cool, one of mine gives effect of burning. If you have strongly backlit leaves on trees in the background, they look like they're on fire - very cool yet subtle effect.
Nikon is the best