great vid- I have a love for old cameras, I collect and use them as much as I can- since I am not made of money, my collection consists of old feds, zorkies, zenits, retinas as well as pentax and argus, leicas that function are beyond my grasp. I enjoy learning as much as I can and have learned much from you. Many thanks-
Thanks so much for your comment, very glad you're enjoying the videos. That sounds a very nice collection you have, and I'm glad there like minded people who appreciate these old machines. Many thanks for watching.
Hi again, I've sort of been using SLR's for a while but I have a fed 2 which I love and really want a Fed-1. There's something almost romantic about using the antiques and getting good results and having to really work out exposure, which Fed1 would you recommend!
HI Gary, I would definitely advise the later Fed models, made after about '48. Before this time, Feds and their lenses were individually matched at the factory, so today, almost 70 years later, you can never really be sure whether an early camera and lens combo are right for each other. Alternatively, any Zorki 1 will accept any FSU lens (apart from early, pre '48 Fed 10 lens) and will give you excellent results. I agree with you about using old tech today, very satisfying, simple and uncomplicated to use, and a refreshing change from automation - the processing power is all in the photographer's heart and mind, rather than microprocessors!
@@zenography7923 it’s embarrassing to say, as a man, but your voice is dreamy🌙, and I love the subject📷, so, yes, I close my eyes and just drift away.😴 (I do watch your videos all the way first for the info)
Zenography's videos have the same effect on me! This one is not the first I have had to pause halfway though for a nap, even though I love the content. It is so peaceful and calming to watch these videos about old cameras, etc. I see many positive comments about them, with which I wholeheartedly agree.
Something like this perhaps? www.ebay.co.uk/itm/303825615287?hash=item46bd6af9b7:g:wzQAAOSwOXBf53Zs&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA0Pmg%2FlkjclGoFWGHyAhgVKQbu1Vav3Lc6e1xr0zrfaXkYczJpD5OA242B1%2F7%2FXAanWmdTenP%2FAnU6thLSTbiW%2Bv2Jct1vvguKFHK5CiFW9ig96nSOvU0gNNtgFo2APNl1pwLwqnJ613QbXbPXY0B3JK%2Fod7E3npvksV7pVkiBLtYChvhkqhjGGXy2pR4EWBPFP3OP1Ilq5H2lF7aUTc7bAioXzwEAuMj5I2rRoWIUMDXvO7O%2BKl8cVm41BgoyDxmotxwwtXKM1F5TgGctKAFIc8%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR-KR6IS-Yg This is for the Leica iii but they may do one for the ii as well, which would work better for your Fed.
Dear Stephano Passar, try lexol leather conditioner. Most tack shops should carry it. That's if the leather isn't too far gone. Just dainty light applications don't drown it. Moisture may ruin it so go easy. Use at own risk. Level is lanolin. Text has been altered. Hope this helps.
I've just made a remarkable experience with my Fed 1: The viewfinder totally scratched my glasses! So, I really advise to be carful using this marvelous camera...
My favorite over the Barnack Leica is the Fed1 because the rangefinder patch is a lot easier to see. The Zorki 1 equally fabulous. But I won't be parting with my Barnack any time soon :)
Dear, I have the Zorki 1 and FED 1 with the same lenses as on your tutorial. Very nice. The are very beautiful cameras to use. Sometimes you will need a lens hood and ND filteras well. Which one does it needs? How do I get one and where. It's very hard to find them. And what are the meassures of them to fit on? I hope you can help in this. Kindly regards
Got my hands on a Fed-1 made sometime in 1941, currently learning how to operate it without causing damage to it. Feel like a robust camera as any Soviet equipment I've had, cameras is a new arena for me though but I have high hopes and looking forward to use it. How you describe your camera is how mine feels like. The "that will do" thinking behind it, doesn't have to look pretty, just work as intended.
Sounds like it could really do with cleaning, lubricating and adjusting - as a great many of these old cameras do by now, whether made by Russians or Germans... Although I love the couple of old Leicas I've managed to collect, I also love the Russian copies; hope you're enjoying yours, it's great there are people out there still using these ancient machines as intended! The most important rule to avoid damage is to NEVER turn the shutter speed dial until you have wound on. Also, because the shutter is made from cloth, don't point the camera towards the sun or you may burn a hole in the shutter. Enjoy your camera, and thanks for watching!
Your fed probably was never lubed. So it all dried up now. You can reconstitute that old oils and grease with like watchmakers oil or something similar. WD-40 can work if you don't have anything else, but it's got dissolvants in it so it's not recommended. Though I have a lot of these Russian cameras (40-50, I lost count) and I fixed a lot of them with slow curtains simply using WD and a syringe. And I made a lot of them quieter with this method too. Some are now quieter than your leica :)
The Fed was sold a while back to buy more photo gear - I still have quite a few FSU cameras though, some of which are a bit sticky. Thanks for the tip!
Dear o4cast! Thanks for lube tip. Wish I'd known about syringe sooner. I used ronsonol on my rollers and it seeped into my range prism. It's OK but a bit mirky. Shoots ok too! Hope to find pluss X for fine grain photos.
Dear o4cast seems to me I read Ansel Adam's recomended only a slight trace of graphite for luring shutters as oil may cause seepage or desalination the elements. Even graphite will get into a lens so use at own risk.
Thank you very much for you, that explain comparison between Leica and Russian copy. I have both (Leica IIIF and Zorki 1) and live them by using. So usually i use VisoflexII (L mount) it is very interesting.
+福田達也 HI there Thanks for your comment, and glad you enjoyed the video. It's great to keep these old cameras working, and the only way to do that is by using them! I've never used the visoflex but heard it's very useful for close focus - which these old rangefinders are definitely not good at! As long as there are enthusiasts the cameras and the film will not die out!
Ouch that poor FED badly needs a CLA, the shutter sounds painful. With proper care they're lovely smooth cameras too, I've had an NKVD FED that I've bought for a friend that was very nice, and I own a Zorki 1d that's every bit as smooth as that Leica III, maybe even quieter. Give that FED some care, it can surprise you :)
I'm sure you're right Wojciech, the Leica has I think been CLA'd shortly before I bought it, whereas the Fed I don't think has had any attention. Sadly I no longer have it, having sold it some time ago - though I often wish I hadn't! I've noticed the Fed/Zorki rangefinder mirrors have often held up much better over the years than many Leicas, so I know they are quality cameras! Thanks for watching!
Why do I have to teach Ukrainains their history every time about this subject? 1. After the Revolution, the Ukrainian Popular Republic was founded. The Soviet Republics of Donetsk-Kryvyi Rih and of Odessa were founded and merged into the Soviet Republic of Ukraine with capital Kharkov. Let's fast forward to the end of 1936 when the Constitution of the Soviet Union was adopted and subsequently the territory was renamed Ukrainian Socialistic Soviet Republic (УССР). That is how the first FEDs were marked: Трудкоммуна НКВД УССР им. Ф. Э. Дзержинского Харков or in the "long" form "Трудовая коммуна Народного Комиссариата Внутренних Дел Украинской Советской Социалистической Республики имени Феликса Эдмундовича Дзержинского - Харков" and translated for those who are not familiar with Russian in "Labor commune of the People's Commissariat of Internal Affairs of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic named after Felix Edmundovich Dzerzhinsky - Kharkov". Felix Edmundovic was the founder of Ceka which transformed into the NKVD. Please note that immediately afterwards FED cameras were marked НКАП-СССР Ордена Трудового Красного Знамени завод им. Ф. Э. Дзержинского where you can see that the "U" of Ukraina was replaced by the "S" of Soyuz - Union (СССР = USSR) If you ask me, the camera was built in USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics). 2. If you read the story of the FED factory, you will know that the "Labor Commune" was created in 1927 on the outskirts of Kharkov and named after Dzerzhinsky. The first director of the Commune was the famous pedagogue Makarenko. In such "Labor Communes" the police gathered from the streets petty thieves and small criminals below age to give them education through work. I remind you that NKVD became also responsible for all detention structures in 1934. Therefore you can forget about spy stories and think that maybe today FED could have been blacklisted for employing child labor, but at that time education and formation included hard work and it was a good way to keep children without parents off the streets. Of course it would be impossible to exclude that some Fed cameras ended up in the hands of NKVD personnel (too many people were working for different departments), but the only official use of FED equipment for what you could call espionage, was lenses produced for aerial photography (as I wrote before, НКАП = Народный Комиссариат Авиационной Промышленности or People's Commissariat of Aviation Industry). Учись, студент!
Well if you were a Soviet spy in Germany or elsewhere at that time it would be inconspicuous to photograph things of interest with a German Leica camera or a camera that looks exactly like a German Leica camera.
+dukebielak Hi, the Leica was bought from an ebay seller in November 2014. It's in fantastic condition, and there are quite a few of these old Leicas for sale of similar price from time to time. Thanks for your comment, and for watching.
Very interesting video, given the huge difference in used price does the Leica really make good value for money? Agree it looks a tiny bit better and a bit better build about it but are they really worth it?
I think in the final analysis, a good working Fed1 is easily the equal of the Leica in everyday use - it's a more or less identical copy after all. But it doesn't have the polish or the detailed beauty of the Leica, and if that's what you want, I don't think you'll find it in anything but the real thing. In that sense the Leica is worth the difference, though in everyday practical terms there's very little difference at all. Thanks for watching, and for your comment.
@@zenography7923 The Leica III models are still quite affordable, while the Russian copies seem to be going up in price. The pleasure of using a Leica is actually well worth the extra money in my opinion. I've picked up two, which needed very little work to function perfectly. Both were under $200 each. If I'm going to spend money on 80 year old cameras, the extra cost seems trivial. Andy
Informative video. The only thing that matters is how do identical photo compare. That's the bottom line. Most Leica owners pay for name recognition. Could you make make a video of photos taken by both cameras. I wonder if two identical photos were side by side in a gallery if one person would say, oh that photo was taken with a Leica.
@@alanread6596 У меня есть Фэд 2. Он с объективом Индустар 22 делает более резкие снимки, чем с родным И 26. Я думаю, что объектив играет большую роль в данном вопросе. Но и не нужно забывать про юстировку.
@@zenography7923 yes , it dose work like a charm . However the finish is a bit rough, yes, I couldn’t fit the flash sync on the shutter wheel. I’m also using a Zorki 1 and a Leica Iiib with the Jupiter 8 or indu star 10. Sadly no budget for the Summer f2 yet :))
Not quite. The Elmar is almost a Tessar but with the diaphragm between the first and second group; the Tessar has its between the second and third group. The FED lens is a true Tessar.
I accidentally bought a FED 1g online the other day (may have been drunk). Anyway I am really looking forwards to using this bad boy to take some kick-arse images.
Just had my first roll of film from my Fed 1g processed and to say I am happy is an understatement. The images are delightful! Beautiful images with a retro vibe.
I found a FED-1(G) camera for MYR300, should I get it or save for to get a Panasonic GX9 as my first camera? What’s the different between FED 1 and Leica earliest camera? I can’t see a serial number or anything, the leather is red and not black, is this a special edition or something? Or should I just keep look for a real Leica II camera?
Hi there, the price seems about right, if it comes with a lens. As far as I know there weren't any Fed 1 cameras originally covered in red leather; I would guess this is a later modification. Should you look for a real Leica ii? Honestly, it depends how much you want one. A good Fed 1, in my opinion, is equal to a good Leica ii in terms of use and image quality, but isn't quite as nicely finished. Should you save for a GX9? Well, they're very different to a Fed 1 or Leica ii. The earlier cameras have no automation and are a bit more difficult to use, whereas the GX9 has automation and you won't need to think about your photography as much. Early film cameras are VERY different to use compared to modern digitals, although the results can be just as good if you know what you're doing. If you're a beginner, and want instant images, you might be better going with the Panasonic. However, if you want to learn photography from first principles, a Fed or a Leica is a good way to do it, although the experience is very different to a modern digital, and can be more frustrating if shots don't work out. And don't forget, using film will cost you more money. In the end, it's a decision only you can make. Many thanks for watching, and for your comment.
Zenography thanks, yes it come with 50mm lens, is the leather is actually the metal but made like leather and painted in black? If yes then the red is painted as well, can I remove the red paint easily?
I don't know that any of the Feds came with painted metal bodies, although I could be wrong. Many Zorkis did, but not the Feds, as far as I know. A good source for information is www.sovietcams.com/index.php?414372438 Good luck!
I have has a Zorki 1 for 15 years. Not sure when it was serviced last time but I must say it has always worked just fine, it’s in excellent condition and is a pleasure to use. Well the film loading is always a bit fiddly, anyway it was made around 1951, so to work that well after well over 70 years is proof that it was well made. Of course a Leica is better, but at a price.
Very good video, as are all your videos! I would say the Leica is well worth the extra money. When using it for street photography the quiet shutter is worth every penny.
Thanks, very kind! I know what you mean about the Leica, it was worth it to me as I appreciate the quality of finish, but nevertheless the Fed provides much the same shooting experience for less cost; useful if you're on a tight budget. Thanks for watching.
Another good comparison would be between the Leica IIIa and the Canon IVsb. They really look similar but the Canon has better features like a electronic flash pc terminal and a dual purpose viewer an rangefinder window.
Another excellent video your video's are always very informative. I have the fed 1 it is an excellent camera I did have a Leica 3b but it was going to cost too much for repairs so sold it I wish I had kept it.
Thanks Alan, glad you're enjoying the videos. The Fed 1 is a really nice camera, but doesn't quite have the finish of the Leica - if you want one there are still plenty left!
Later Leicas, at least some IIIa have nonnotched rectangular viewfinder windows. The big differece is that in the russian cameras the frame is continuous with the top plate, not so with Leica
I have just bought a FED 1. I didn’t realise until I saw them together how much smaller it is than the FED 2. How does the FED 1 compare to the Zorki 1?
@@zenography7923 на мой взгляд отличия в видоискателе. У Зоркого, на мой взгляд он поярче, чем на Фэд. Возможно, это на моем экземпляре. В остальном разницы нет.
You are comparing two Leica cameras, different models. Leica II and Leica III. First models of Leica II cameras made in Russia were German components, made with German tools and under supervision of German engineers (that is why you can't name it a copy). When there were no more German components, the Russian materials came into play and under new policy: quantity against quality and that made the huge difference between a Leica II made in Germany, and Leica II made in Russia. Anyway, the best Fed ever is Fed II. And you can chose to name the Fed 2 a copy, or an original Russian model. But not Fed 1 (don't know about Zorky 1, which I consider it better than Fed 1).
Interesting, I wasn't aware that the original Russian Feds were made with German parts and know-how. This is well documented in the case of the Contax/Kiev cameras but I understood the original Fed camera to be a reverse engineered Leica, without input from the German company. Either way the Leica ii, and the Fed 1, especially the early versions, are both very nice machines. Unfortunately I haven't had the chance to try a Zorki 1 yet - maybe one will come my way someday! Thanks for your comment, and of course for watching.
Indeed, my bad. Fed started to copy Leica before WWII but only after the war they started the mass-production with quite good models (I suppose the German technology added the required value) . www.sovietcams.com/index.php?-1795780876
I think you may be confusing Leitz with Zeiss and the Contax camera. I don't believe Leitz had anything to do with Russia after the war as it was located in the West.
I don't think Leitz had anything to do with Russia at all, either before or after the war! The Russian copies of the Leica were just that - reverse engineered copies of the Leica ii, created in the early 1930s without Leitz permission or input of any kind. After the war the Leitz patents were placed in the public, domain, hence the many legitimate copies - Reid being one that springs to mind. And since the patents were now in the public domain, the Russian versions became legitimate too.
Sure, the diaphragm's in a different place, but the Elmar is essentially a Tessar design as I understand it. I can't think why the FSU photo engineers in the original early '30s Fed plant would, having copied the Leica camera, not copy the lens too? I've compared an Elmar to the 1930s Fed 10 lens (a 1936 example) and the Fed is smaller, but I'm still not convinced that the Fed was not at least somewhat copied from the Elmar. It would make sense if that's the case.
I'm not sure that the original, early 30s Fed camera was a licensed version. As I understand it, it was reverse engineered, and an exact copy produced! The situation post war is very different, as the Leica patents were released into the public domain by the Allies - they could then be legally copied by anyone, and indeed many companies, not just Fed and Zorki made post war Leica copies.
I've just seen another video, where it was the other way around: a guy said totally borked expensive camera is a winner with perfectly operable Russian development of the same line, my preferred model, just because of the history and the origin. Both had cheapest lenses screwed on, cheaper camera had better model. I believe that guy was camera brand history enthusiast, just pretending to be into photography. I've liked your first installment enough to keep coming back, even when I'm not into Bresson or uki-e, and I hate philosophy with passion. But I'm not a fan of shutter sound percussionists or gear review channels either, and I'm not interested in digital imagery made with vintage lenses, even when it's made with Jupiter on Zenography channel. I see clearly you're not a photographer: climbers talk about mountains and expeditions, not waste time comparing original v. Russian copy white gas stoves. I see you treat your cameras badly, so you're not a serious collector either. I'm trying hard not to think the first installment was just a hiccup. Leica you showed seems to have shutter bounce prevention mechanism that FED, based on an earlier model, doesn't have. Both of these factors: years without care and different construction, contribute to the level of noise. FEDs can have this silky smooth single finger operated film transport when adjusted. If you really need these features more than fully operable camera, just tell the serviceman not to tension the shutter too much, cause that's the reason. the shutter will bounce when it's too loose though, tension has to be set just right. If camera X is worth the cash or not depends on what you want to pay for. Leicas are not the most cost-effective means for making photos, but really... Have you got your Leica just to make photos with it?
+KIFQHESE Hi there, thanks for your comment. I love technology old and new, and cameras and photography have always held a fascination for me from being very young. I think it's interesting to compare the early Leicas with Russian Feds and Zorkis since the design is the same, and in doing so it's inevitable that the sound of the shutter will be one of the things compared. Having said that, these cameras are very old, so you're right, wear, condition and lubrication will all play a part in how they operate. I have a 1932 Leica 2 (featured in an earlier blog) that sounds rather louder than the Fed! This channel is just a collection of thoughts from a guy who loves photography and the machines that make it - cameras!
+Zenography In that case whole first installment was just false advertising :D Anyways, regarding "Elmar is Tessar design" you've stated around 6:50, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tessar#Leitz_Elmar says otherwise, can you point any sources supporting your statement? Peace out!
As I note in the vlog, there is uncertainty over this matter. However, camera-wiki.org/wiki/Tessar seems to suggest the Elmar is indeed a Tessar design.
Hi Nigel ... do you still own the FED1? see who might be the person that the engraving is refering to .... en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felix_Dzerzhinsky Dzerzhinsky led the first two Soviet state-security organizations, the Cheka and the OGPU, establishing a secret police for the post-revolutionary Soviet regime
great vid- I have a love for old cameras, I collect and use them as much as I can- since I am not made of money, my collection consists of old feds, zorkies, zenits, retinas as well as pentax and argus, leicas that function are beyond my grasp. I enjoy learning as much as I can and have learned much from you. Many thanks-
Thanks so much for your comment, very glad you're enjoying the videos. That sounds a very nice collection you have, and I'm glad there like minded people who appreciate these old machines. Many thanks for watching.
Lovely video. Incredibly calming and comfortable.
Many thanks Ben, glad you enjoyed it
Hi again, I've sort of been using SLR's for a while but I have a fed 2 which I love and really want a Fed-1. There's something almost romantic about using the antiques and getting good results and having to really work out exposure, which Fed1 would you recommend!
HI Gary, I would definitely advise the later Fed models, made after about '48. Before this time, Feds and their lenses were individually matched at the factory, so today, almost 70 years later, you can never really be sure whether an early camera and lens combo are right for each other. Alternatively, any Zorki 1 will accept any FSU lens (apart from early, pre '48 Fed 10 lens) and will give you excellent results. I agree with you about using old tech today, very satisfying, simple and uncomplicated to use, and a refreshing change from automation - the processing power is all in the photographer's heart and mind, rather than microprocessors!
I have the Fed 2 and I love it.Twin focusing holes are fiddly to use.
Also the Fed 2 has eyepiece adjustment lever and a self timer.
I’ve started using these videos as ASMR to go to sleep.
I hope you're sleeping well!
@@zenography7923 it’s embarrassing to say, as a man, but your voice is dreamy🌙, and I love the subject📷, so, yes, I close my eyes and just drift away.😴 (I do watch your videos all the way first for the info)
Another fine review, I have learned more than I thought I already knew.👍
+Mark Timmins Many thanks Mark, just a few thoughts, glad you enjoyed it!
This is something to listen to by night if you can't sleep :D
Many thanks, didn't realise it was such a relaxing piece of video! Thanks for watching...
I've been falling asleep to this nightly lately. Great ASMR trigger, and I have a iiif so it's nice to learn too!
Zenography's videos have the same effect on me! This one is not the first I have had to pause halfway though for a nap, even though I love the content. It is so peaceful and calming to watch these videos about old cameras, etc. I see many positive comments about them, with which I wholeheartedly agree.
Excellant review! Ive now got the hots for a fed. Thank you so much!
The sounds of the cameras here are as pleasant as your voice and timbre.
Lovely cameras! I'd like to replace the leather covering on my Fed 1, any suggestion for finding the replacement?
Something like this perhaps? www.ebay.co.uk/itm/303825615287?hash=item46bd6af9b7:g:wzQAAOSwOXBf53Zs&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA0Pmg%2FlkjclGoFWGHyAhgVKQbu1Vav3Lc6e1xr0zrfaXkYczJpD5OA242B1%2F7%2FXAanWmdTenP%2FAnU6thLSTbiW%2Bv2Jct1vvguKFHK5CiFW9ig96nSOvU0gNNtgFo2APNl1pwLwqnJ613QbXbPXY0B3JK%2Fod7E3npvksV7pVkiBLtYChvhkqhjGGXy2pR4EWBPFP3OP1Ilq5H2lF7aUTc7bAioXzwEAuMj5I2rRoWIUMDXvO7O%2BKl8cVm41BgoyDxmotxwwtXKM1F5TgGctKAFIc8%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR-KR6IS-Yg
This is for the Leica iii but they may do one for the ii as well, which would work better for your Fed.
Dear Stephano Passar, try lexol leather conditioner. Most tack shops should carry it. That's if the leather isn't too far gone. Just dainty light applications don't drown it. Moisture may ruin it so go easy. Use at own risk. Level is lanolin. Text has been altered. Hope this helps.
I've just made a remarkable experience with my Fed 1:
The viewfinder totally scratched my glasses!
So, I really advise to be carful using this marvelous camera...
My favorite over the Barnack Leica is the Fed1 because the rangefinder patch is a lot easier to see. The Zorki 1 equally fabulous. But I won't be parting with my Barnack any time soon :)
As others have said a camera is just a light tight box it's all about the glass
True I guess, but some light tight boxes are nicer than others... Thanks for watching.
Dear, I have the Zorki 1 and FED 1 with the same lenses as on your tutorial. Very nice. The are very beautiful cameras to use. Sometimes you will need a lens hood and ND filteras well. Which one does it needs? How do I get one and where. It's very hard to find them. And what are the meassures of them to fit on? I hope you can help in this. Kindly regards
This may be of some help...
www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=75507
Got my hands on a Fed-1 made sometime in 1941, currently learning how to operate it without causing damage to it. Feel like a robust camera as any Soviet equipment I've had, cameras is a new arena for me though but I have high hopes and looking forward to use it.
How you describe your camera is how mine feels like. The "that will do" thinking behind it, doesn't have to look pretty, just work as intended.
Sounds like it could really do with cleaning, lubricating and adjusting - as a great many of these old cameras do by now, whether made by Russians or Germans... Although I love the couple of old Leicas I've managed to collect, I also love the Russian copies; hope you're enjoying yours, it's great there are people out there still using these ancient machines as intended! The most important rule to avoid damage is to NEVER turn the shutter speed dial until you have wound on. Also, because the shutter is made from cloth, don't point the camera towards the sun or you may burn a hole in the shutter. Enjoy your camera, and thanks for watching!
Most greatful! I hope to find an old fed or leica camera.
Your fed probably was never lubed. So it all dried up now. You can reconstitute that old oils and grease with like watchmakers oil or something similar. WD-40 can work if you don't have anything else, but it's got dissolvants in it so it's not recommended. Though I have a lot of these Russian cameras (40-50, I lost count) and I fixed a lot of them with slow curtains simply using WD and a syringe. And I made a lot of them quieter with this method too. Some are now quieter than your leica :)
The Fed was sold a while back to buy more photo gear - I still have quite a few FSU cameras though, some of which are a bit sticky. Thanks for the tip!
Dear o4cast! Thanks for lube tip. Wish I'd known about syringe sooner. I used ronsonol on my rollers and it seeped into my range prism. It's OK but a bit mirky. Shoots ok too! Hope to find pluss X for fine grain photos.
Dear o4cast seems to me I read Ansel Adam's recomended only a slight trace of graphite for luring shutters as oil may cause seepage or desalination the elements. Even graphite will get into a lens so use at own risk.
Would have preferred a comparison with the ii
Thank you very much for you, that explain comparison between Leica and Russian copy. I have both (Leica IIIF and Zorki 1) and live them by using. So usually i use VisoflexII (L mount) it is very interesting.
+福田達也 HI there
Thanks for your comment, and glad you enjoyed the video. It's great to keep these old cameras working, and the only way to do that is by using them! I've never used the visoflex but heard it's very useful for close focus - which these old rangefinders are definitely not good at! As long as there are enthusiasts the cameras and the film will not die out!
Ouch that poor FED badly needs a CLA, the shutter sounds painful. With proper care they're lovely smooth cameras too, I've had an NKVD FED that I've bought for a friend that was very nice, and I own a Zorki 1d that's every bit as smooth as that Leica III, maybe even quieter. Give that FED some care, it can surprise you :)
I'm sure you're right Wojciech, the Leica has I think been CLA'd shortly before I bought it, whereas the Fed I don't think has had any attention. Sadly I no longer have it, having sold it some time ago - though I often wish I hadn't! I've noticed the Fed/Zorki rangefinder mirrors have often held up much better over the years than many Leicas, so I know they are quality cameras! Thanks for watching!
The Kiev design is a copy from a Leica II and the real Leica is a Leica III, hence the difference in the focusing eyepieces.
They marked the FED this way because they were made in an orphanage that was named after Feliks Edmundovich Dzerzhinsky.
1. The FEDs were made in Ukraine not Russia. 2. The reason its marked NKVD is because all the early FEDs went to Soviet Government Agencies.
Why do I have to teach Ukrainains their history every time about this subject?
1. After the Revolution, the Ukrainian Popular Republic was founded.
The Soviet Republics of Donetsk-Kryvyi Rih and of Odessa were founded and merged into the Soviet Republic of Ukraine with capital Kharkov.
Let's fast forward to the end of 1936 when the Constitution of the Soviet Union was adopted and subsequently the territory was renamed Ukrainian Socialistic Soviet Republic (УССР).
That is how the first FEDs were marked:
Трудкоммуна
НКВД УССР
им.
Ф. Э. Дзержинского
Харков
or in the "long" form
"Трудовая коммуна Народного Комиссариата Внутренних Дел Украинской Советской Социалистической Республики имени Феликса Эдмундовича Дзержинского - Харков"
and translated for those who are not familiar with Russian in
"Labor commune of the People's Commissariat of Internal Affairs of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic named after Felix Edmundovich Dzerzhinsky - Kharkov".
Felix Edmundovic was the founder of Ceka which transformed into the NKVD.
Please note that immediately afterwards FED cameras were marked
НКАП-СССР Ордена Трудового Красного Знамени завод им. Ф. Э. Дзержинского
where you can see that the "U" of Ukraina was replaced by the "S" of Soyuz - Union (СССР = USSR)
If you ask me, the camera was built in USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics).
2. If you read the story of the FED factory, you will know that the "Labor Commune" was created in 1927 on the outskirts of Kharkov and named after Dzerzhinsky.
The first director of the Commune was the famous pedagogue Makarenko.
In such "Labor Communes" the police gathered from the streets petty thieves and small criminals below age to give them education through work.
I remind you that NKVD became also responsible for all detention structures in 1934.
Therefore you can forget about spy stories and think that maybe today FED could have been blacklisted for employing child labor, but at that time education and formation included hard work and it was a good way to keep children without parents off the streets.
Of course it would be impossible to exclude that some Fed cameras ended up in the hands of NKVD personnel (too many people were working for different departments), but the only official use of FED equipment for what you could call espionage, was lenses produced for aerial photography (as I wrote before, НКАП = Народный Комиссариат Авиационной Промышленности or People's Commissariat of Aviation Industry).
Учись, студент!
Well if you were a Soviet spy in Germany or elsewhere at that time it would be inconspicuous to photograph things of interest with a German Leica camera or a camera that looks exactly like a German Leica camera.
I lived through the original cold war and it was very common for the main stream media to equate USSR with Russia which was one of its republics.
А если точнее, то в СССР! А не в Украине и не в России.
WOW 150GBP for a Leica iii? Where'd you buy it from?
+dukebielak Hi, the Leica was bought from an ebay seller in November 2014. It's in fantastic condition, and there are quite a few of these old Leicas for sale of similar price from time to time. Thanks for your comment, and for watching.
Very interesting video, given the huge difference in used price does the Leica really make good value for money? Agree it looks a tiny bit better and a bit better build about it but are they really worth it?
I think in the final analysis, a good working Fed1 is easily the equal of the Leica in everyday use - it's a more or less identical copy after all. But it doesn't have the polish or the detailed beauty of the Leica, and if that's what you want, I don't think you'll find it in anything but the real thing. In that sense the Leica is worth the difference, though in everyday practical terms there's very little difference at all. Thanks for watching, and for your comment.
@@zenography7923 The Leica III models are still quite affordable, while the Russian copies seem to be going up in price. The pleasure of using a Leica is actually well worth the extra money in my opinion. I've picked up two, which needed very little work to function perfectly. Both were under $200 each. If I'm going to spend money on 80 year old cameras, the extra cost seems trivial. Andy
Informative video. The only thing that matters is how do identical photo compare. That's the bottom line. Most Leica owners pay for name recognition. Could you make make a video of photos taken by both cameras. I wonder if two identical photos were side by side in a gallery if one person would say, oh that photo was taken with a Leica.
I found the fed to be slightly sharper than the Leica but that just maybe the lens was not up to standard.
@@alanread6596 У меня есть Фэд 2. Он с объективом Индустар 22 делает более резкие снимки, чем с родным И 26. Я думаю, что объектив играет большую роль в данном вопросе. Но и не нужно забывать про юстировку.
What Fed model îs it ? Looks like a Pre war NKVD to me ! Am I right?
Yes, a pre war NKVD - a really nice camera and easily the equal of the Leica, except it isn't finished as nicely.
@@zenography7923 yes , it dose work like a charm . However the finish is a bit rough, yes, I couldn’t fit the flash sync on the shutter wheel. I’m also using a Zorki 1 and a Leica Iiib with the Jupiter 8 or indu star 10. Sadly no budget for the Summer f2 yet :))
Summar*
Wonderful commentary & analysis !
Many thanks, glad you enjoyed it!
The 3.5 50mm lens is a Copy of the Cooke triplet ,a 3 Element lens.The Tessar is a 4 element lens.
Not quite. The Elmar is almost a Tessar but with the diaphragm between the first and second group; the Tessar has its between the second and third group. The FED lens is a true Tessar.
I accidentally bought a FED 1g online the other day (may have been drunk). Anyway I am really looking forwards to using this bad boy to take some kick-arse images.
That was a good accident to have - enjoy!
My Fed 1 arrived today. I am excited👍
Just had my first roll of film from my Fed 1g processed and to say I am happy is an understatement. The images are delightful! Beautiful images with a retro vibe.
Do they take decent photos though?
I found a FED-1(G) camera for MYR300, should I get it or save for to get a Panasonic GX9 as my first camera? What’s the different between FED 1 and Leica earliest camera?
I can’t see a serial number or anything, the leather is red and not black, is this a special edition or something? Or should I just keep look for a real Leica II camera?
Hi there, the price seems about right, if it comes with a lens. As far as I know there weren't any Fed 1 cameras originally covered in red leather; I would guess this is a later modification. Should you look for a real Leica ii? Honestly, it depends how much you want one. A good Fed 1, in my opinion, is equal to a good Leica ii in terms of use and image quality, but isn't quite as nicely finished. Should you save for a GX9? Well, they're very different to a Fed 1 or Leica ii. The earlier cameras have no automation and are a bit more difficult to use, whereas the GX9 has automation and you won't need to think about your photography as much. Early film cameras are VERY different to use compared to modern digitals, although the results can be just as good if you know what you're doing. If you're a beginner, and want instant images, you might be better going with the Panasonic. However, if you want to learn photography from first principles, a Fed or a Leica is a good way to do it, although the experience is very different to a modern digital, and can be more frustrating if shots don't work out. And don't forget, using film will cost you more money. In the end, it's a decision only you can make. Many thanks for watching, and for your comment.
Zenography thanks, yes it come with 50mm lens, is the leather is actually the metal but made like leather and painted in black? If yes then the red is painted as well, can I remove the red paint easily?
Zenography and is it a rangefinder as well? The viewfinder looks tiny!
Zenography it is Fed-1 G model
I don't know that any of the Feds came with painted metal bodies, although I could be wrong. Many Zorkis did, but not the Feds, as far as I know. A good source for information is
www.sovietcams.com/index.php?414372438
Good luck!
I have has a Zorki 1 for 15 years. Not sure when it was serviced last time but I must say it has always worked just fine, it’s in excellent condition and is a pleasure to use. Well the film loading is always a bit fiddly, anyway it was made around 1951, so to work that well after well over 70 years is proof that it was well made. Of course a Leica is better, but at a price.
Very good video, as are all your videos! I would say the Leica is well worth the extra money. When using it for street photography the quiet shutter is worth every penny.
Thanks, very kind! I know what you mean about the Leica, it was worth it to me as I appreciate the quality of finish, but nevertheless the Fed provides much the same shooting experience for less cost; useful if you're on a tight budget. Thanks for watching.
i have the same cameras..silver leica 3 and an nkvd fed...the nkvd does not take film..needs adjustment. i have a jupiter 35mm 2.8 on my leica.
Excellent video, really well informed!
Many thanks Jibbala, glad you enjoyed it
Another good comparison would be between the Leica IIIa and the Canon IVsb. They really look similar but the Canon has better features like a electronic flash pc terminal and a dual purpose viewer an rangefinder window.
Very, interesting video indeed. Many thanks for your Kind help in,choice.
Another excellent video your video's are always very informative.
I have the fed 1 it is an excellent camera I did have a Leica 3b but it was going to cost too much for repairs so sold it I wish I had kept it.
Thanks Alan, glad you're enjoying the videos. The Fed 1 is a really nice camera, but doesn't quite have the finish of the Leica - if you want one there are still plenty left!
Very helpful! Thank you so much mate.
Glad you found it useful! Thanks for tuning in.
Later Leicas, at least some IIIa have nonnotched rectangular viewfinder windows. The big differece is that in the russian cameras the frame is continuous with the top plate, not so with Leica
I have just bought a FED 1. I didn’t realise until I saw them together how much smaller it is than the FED 2.
How does the FED 1 compare to the Zorki 1?
They're identical - both more or less exact copies of the Leica 2. The Feds always feel that little bit more nicely finished though!
@@zenography7923 на мой взгляд отличия в видоискателе. У Зоркого, на мой взгляд он поярче, чем на Фэд. Возможно, это на моем экземпляре. В остальном разницы нет.
Thank you, I too have a Leica copy Fed 1 that saids Leica 3 crowns, I just display it.
Ah, that must be a look-a-leica (forgive the pun)!
You are comparing two Leica cameras, different models. Leica II and Leica III. First models of Leica II cameras made in Russia were German components, made with German tools and under supervision of German engineers (that is why you can't name it a copy). When there were no more German components, the Russian materials came into play and under new policy: quantity against quality and that made the huge difference between a Leica II made in Germany, and Leica II made in Russia. Anyway, the best Fed ever is Fed II. And you can chose to name the Fed 2 a copy, or an original Russian model. But not Fed 1 (don't know about Zorky 1, which I consider it better than Fed 1).
Interesting, I wasn't aware that the original Russian Feds were made with German parts and know-how. This is well documented in the case of the Contax/Kiev cameras but I understood the original Fed camera to be a reverse engineered Leica, without input from the German company. Either way the Leica ii, and the Fed 1, especially the early versions, are both very nice machines. Unfortunately I haven't had the chance to try a Zorki 1 yet - maybe one will come my way someday! Thanks for your comment, and of course for watching.
Indeed, my bad. Fed started to copy Leica before WWII but only after the war they started the mass-production with quite good models (I suppose the German technology added the required value) . www.sovietcams.com/index.php?-1795780876
I think you may be confusing Leitz with Zeiss and the Contax camera. I don't believe Leitz had anything to do with Russia after the war as it was located in the West.
I don't think Leitz had anything to do with Russia at all, either before or after the war! The Russian copies of the Leica were just that - reverse engineered copies of the Leica ii, created in the early 1930s without Leitz permission or input of any kind. After the war the Leitz patents were placed in the public, domain, hence the many legitimate copies - Reid being one that springs to mind. And since the patents were now in the public domain, the Russian versions became legitimate too.
Yes, I did :(
The Industar is a 4 element lens.
Elmar differs from Tessar...........partly in the positioning of the diaphragm.
Sure, the diaphragm's in a different place, but the Elmar is essentially a Tessar design as I understand it. I can't think why the FSU photo engineers in the original early '30s Fed plant would, having copied the Leica camera, not copy the lens too? I've compared an Elmar to the 1930s Fed 10 lens (a 1936 example) and the Fed is smaller, but I'm still not convinced that the Fed was not at least somewhat copied from the Elmar. It would make sense if that's the case.
FED is a licensed copy of Leica 2 not that is pointed here and made by problem teenagers! :)
I'm not sure that the original, early 30s Fed camera was a licensed version. As I understand it, it was reverse engineered, and an exact copy produced! The situation post war is very different, as the Leica patents were released into the public domain by the Allies - they could then be legally copied by anyone, and indeed many companies, not just Fed and Zorki made post war Leica copies.
For the sake of hundreds if not more dollars..... Fed for me.
FED is Ukrainian copy of Leica. Russian copy of Leica is Zorki.
Thanks for the correction!
I've just seen another video, where it was the other way around: a guy said totally borked expensive camera is a winner with perfectly operable Russian development of the same line, my preferred model, just because of the history and the origin. Both had cheapest lenses screwed on, cheaper camera had better model. I believe that guy was camera brand history enthusiast, just pretending to be into photography.
I've liked your first installment enough to keep coming back, even when I'm not into Bresson or uki-e, and I hate philosophy with passion. But I'm not a fan of shutter sound percussionists or gear review channels either, and I'm not interested in digital imagery made with vintage lenses, even when it's made with Jupiter on Zenography channel. I see clearly you're not a photographer: climbers talk about mountains and expeditions, not waste time comparing original v. Russian copy white gas stoves. I see you treat your cameras badly, so you're not a serious collector either. I'm trying hard not to think the first installment was just a hiccup.
Leica you showed seems to have shutter bounce prevention mechanism that FED, based on an earlier model, doesn't have. Both of these factors: years without care and different construction, contribute to the level of noise. FEDs can have this silky smooth single finger operated film transport when adjusted. If you really need these features more than fully operable camera, just tell the serviceman not to tension the shutter too much, cause that's the reason. the shutter will bounce when it's too loose though, tension has to be set just right.
If camera X is worth the cash or not depends on what you want to pay for. Leicas are not the most cost-effective means for making photos, but really... Have you got your Leica just to make photos with it?
+KIFQHESE Hi there, thanks for your comment.
I love technology old and new, and cameras and photography have always held a fascination for me from being very young.
I think it's interesting to compare the early Leicas with Russian Feds and Zorkis since the design is the same, and in doing so it's inevitable that the sound of the shutter will be one of the things compared. Having said that, these cameras are very old, so you're right, wear, condition and lubrication will all play a part in how they operate. I have a 1932 Leica 2 (featured in an earlier blog) that sounds rather louder than the Fed!
This channel is just a collection of thoughts from a guy who loves photography and the machines that make it - cameras!
+Zenography In that case whole first installment was just false advertising :D
Anyways, regarding "Elmar is Tessar design" you've stated around 6:50, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tessar#Leitz_Elmar says otherwise, can you point any sources supporting your statement?
Peace out!
As I note in the vlog, there is uncertainty over this matter. However, camera-wiki.org/wiki/Tessar seems to suggest the Elmar is indeed a Tessar design.
Pathetic! Why bother? ...and that reverent tone of voice is sickening.
Why so upset Harald?
Hi Nigel ... do you still own the FED1? see who might be the person that the engraving is refering to .... en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felix_Dzerzhinsky
Dzerzhinsky led the first two Soviet state-security organizations, the Cheka and the OGPU, establishing a secret police for the post-revolutionary Soviet regime