What Russian rangefinder?

[RSalles]

Hello,

My sister arrived at Saint Petersburg yesterday, next week she will be at Moscow, and it makes me a temptation to ask her to bring me a 35mm rangefinder russian camera.
My wishes felt over Fed2 and Zorki4k models - any other option would be also considered, just explain it why.
Whats the most reliable model between these 2 cam's, and whit what i'll have more "sniper-silence" shooting?

Thank you,

Renato

[Attila]

All reliable just like others if they were maintained, construction is simple and reliable . I like FED-2 more. Easy to buy non working one , or if you believe it works , curtain has leaks.. you have either choice buy from trustworthy source to have working one or buy many non tested one and pray I am over on both. Another problem if no leaks and camera works , speeds are rarely accurate.

[Lloydy]

I picked up a very nice Zorki 4K yesterday, and I already have one so it will be for sale once I've put new light seals in it. Which might influence your choice from Russia.

[RSalles]

Lloydy,

Glad to know, just let my sister send me the russian estimate for the camera and we'll talk later,

Cheers,

[Lloydy]

It's got your name on it if you want it. And it is a very nice one.

[RSalles]

Lloydy,

Thanks!

Cheers,

Renato

[konicamera]

[Elmar Lang]

Hello,

after my own experience, a very fine rangefinder camera is the Kiev-4A especially if built between 1967-1969. My example was bought back in 1975 and it still perfectly works.

Older Kievs could be even better, but never forget that they have many decades of (sometimes hard) use on their "shoulders".

The Zorki-4 and the Zorki-6 can be a good choice too.

E.L.

[tromboads]

I have a Kiev 4 and a Zorki 4, and i prefer shooting with the Zorki too

[dnf_spedition]

. Just missed a Zorki 4K last month so instead I bought a FED 4b. Lightmeter is way off but that does not matter to me. Used to use handhold meter. Shot a test roll and I am happy. See my flickr page for the camera and some pictures.
Regards Cliff.

[RSalles]

"See my flickr page for the camera and some pictures. "

Where is it?

[]s,

Renato

[dnf_spedition]

Renato, just click the "earth symbol" in my reply. It is a shortcut to my flickr page. Just like yours. You have some interesting pictures there.
Regards Cliff.

[uddhava]

[Drack]

I too would go for a Zorki-6. They are very easy to CLA, so you can do this by yourself easily. They have a HUGE VF and focus is very smoothly. Plus, I really like the looks of them

[Mos6502]

I like the fed 3. Both knob wind and lever wind, but I think the knob wind versions look better and function smoother. I dislike the later Feds, they're very bulky and awkward to handle (plus the quality gets progressively worse the newer they are).

I've also used the Zorki 4. Solid camera, nice big viewfinder - only fault is the tiny advance knob and the removable take up spool that falls out every time you open the camera.

I tried Kievs twice... and will never try them again.

[uddhava]

[Drack]

I have to disagree with Mos6502 about the later Fed`s. I do collect Russian gear and almost 95% of all Fed 5`s that I have seen were fully usable. Only in rare cases where the camera is misused they are non working. You can easily buy a new Fed-5C(S) which is one of the better cameras from the Russian RF arsenal, for cents.

Anyway, Russian cameras are in general cheap. You can easily purchase a few, with lenses and not spend a 100$ on them. I`d suggest buy a few, trying them out and then chose the best one for you.

My list of cameras to buy:
Zorki-6
Fed-5S
Zorki-4 ( early 60`s)
Fed-5
Zorki-4K ( a big risk in my mind, as their quality is not super good. )

[uddhava]

[Mos6502]

I would avoid the Fed 5. I don't care how much anybody else likes them - they're definitely inferior to the earlier feds and this isn't even debatable.

Problems with the Fed 5:
*It's HUGE for a rangefinder, it's so tall that it's awkward to hold and shoot with.
*The extremely tall exposure counter makes pressing the shutter button awkward since you have to sort of reach over it with your finger, or hold the camera in a really awkward way.
*No strap lugs
*poorer fit and finish than earlier Feds, with the last ones being the worst (a Fed 5c was by far the most poorly finished camera I've owned that wasn't meant to be a toy).
*Fiddly rewind knob - much smaller than on the 3 (but better than the 4's annoying rewind thumbwheel)

The viewfinder is slightly better than on earlier feds, but it's still no competition for size or brightness with the Zorki viewfinders. I can't think of a single reason to choose a Fed 4 or 5 over the 3. Not a single one. Unless you really want a built in selenium light meter, there's no point to dealing with the extra size. I never said the 5s don't work right - they're just poorly made and awkward.

Given that the Fed 3 is so common and in many ways (if not all ways) better, there's no point in dealing with the later model Feds.

Just my two cents. The Zorki 4 isn't exactly small or ergonomic either, but at least it makes up for it by having a large viewfinder that justifies its size. [/i]

Here's a Fed 4 and 3 side by side. In extreme dimensions the 4 is only a couple millimeters taller (although the top plate is much taller, the meter dial is still only a few millimeters higher than the film counter on the 3 - but the 5's super tall film counter housing makes it even taller than the 3 and more awkward to shoot with).

FED-3 and FED-4 Vintage Cameras by TakenByTim Photography, on Flickr

[Drack]

[Mos6502]