I have the Fed 2 and 3 and love them. Nice fit and finish. Accurate rangefinder viewer. Bright, easy to focus. Warning: the eye piece is sharp hard metal and will scratch your eye glasses. I recommend you adjust the diopter for your eye, not your glasses if you can.
Very interesting video! Thanks for sharing your camera collection with us. Your videos have actually not only got me interested in photography again, but I'm digging my film cameras out and shooting film again! I borrowed a Fed 4 back in 1995, and I can remember being very impressed with the sharpness and contrast of the Industar lens. I must still have the negatives somewhere.
Hi Ian, this is good news indeed! Photography is a fantastic hobby, and although digital cameras offer the advantages of immediacy and (almost) limitless number of shots, for me there's still something magical about the nature of chemical photography that digital doesn't quite match. The Industar 61 really is a wonderful lens, great for B/W or colour, film or digital. It may not quite have the resolution of a Leica or a Nikon lens, but in my opinion it's the character of the image a lens produces, rather than its technical spec that is important. Thanks for watching, and enjoy your adventures with film!
Just bought a fed 3b. 2 week shipping from ukraine, which is a bit of a drag. I'm super excited about it. Without your channel I wouldn't know about these cameras, thank you.
My one slight dislike of the Zorki 4K is painted shutter speeds. I admit the FED4 is far from a pretty camera, which actually put me off buying one when looking for a FSU camera, but they also have a lot going for them for anyone less shallow than myself.
Have watched this blog before and can only say that no one could present this better! An absolute delight to watch - your style is so unique and informative, thank you! The Fed 4 I own feels so good inthe hand, a quality camera. Why pay £500 for Leica when you can own a Fed 4??? Also the industar 61 lens can be used on a Zenit 3m SLR camera as a macro type lens - what not to like. Nigel your the best!
Many thanks Derek, glad you're enjoying the channel! It's a funny thing, Leicas are exquisitely made and I enjoy shooting both my (1930s) models, but there's something very satisfying about shooting a Fed 4, which does pretty much the same thing for about 20 quid!
Another great video I have one these fed 4 but haven't used it for about 30 years I used it with Kodachrome 64 the slides were very sharp. I will get it out and give it another spin I use xp2 film now as I like black and white.
Really enjoyable and informative video! I bought a fed 4 from an online charity shop recently for £10 +£5 p+p = £15 in mint and full working order, case + industar 61 lens complete!!! One thought, I would like a video demonstration of focus alignment and adjustment for rangafinders, I can never understand how different cameras indicate different distances on their lens index at the same distance??? Once again thanks for your smile and appreciation of soviet equipment Regards Derek
The Fed 4 is a very capable rangefinder, on which I learned photography many years ago! I find the built in light meter makes shooting much easier too!
Thanks for the Fed 4 reviews. Those inspired me to get one along with purchasing a retired photographer's darkroom equipment. The Fed 4 just arrived in the mail. It looks in good condition. The film capture cylinder is simplified somewhat compared to yours as it just has slits in it to attach film to. I'm a bit confused by the ASA dial. On mine, it says "roct" and I can't seem to find anything online about setting "roct." It goes from 16 to 250. I'll assume it's settable like ASA. I want to use the camera with ASA 100 film, so I'll set the roct to the bar in between 65 and 130. Crossing fingers that this will work. It's a great little machine with some good heft to it. It's built like a small tank that can fit in your hands. Mine came with the Industar 61 53mm f2.8 zebra lens like the one you have. It would be interesting to learn about the subtle differences it has compared to the other 52mm f2.8 lens that other Fed 4s came with. Thanks for the videos!
Your 'Gost' setting is pretty much equivalent to asa (or iso), and can be used interchangeably. By the way, the most recent video looks at both the Industar 61 and the later Industar 61 LD.
+Peter Coates So sorry for the late reply Peter, in answer to your question, I'd say it depends how much you love that particular example. The 7 isn't an expensive camera, at least according to ebay, so you might want to consider replacement rather than repair. Having said that, repair would mean one less camera consigned to the scrapheap - personally I'd be tempted to repair, if the cost isn't too much. Hope that helps, and good luck. Let's keep film alive!
Thanks for the video. Enjoyed it very much. Excellent information, relayed simply and effectively. I purchased a FED 2. Received it last week from Armenia. I'm new to rangefinder cameras and have a question. My FED 2 came with a f/2.8 52mm Industar 26 lens. If I install a 35mm L39 lens will the rangefinder still focus correctly? I understand the images will cover a larger area on film because it is 35mm not 52mm but will the focus of the rangefinder still operate correctly? Thank you and cheers from Canada...
Wayne Simon Hi there, glad you enjoyed the video. Your 35mm lens will focus fine on the Fed, but you’ll need an external viewfinder for the 35mm focal length to compose properly; the internal one is 50mm only. I recommend the kmz Russian built universal finder, but there are plenty of others out there. Enjoy your Fed, it’s a great little camera, and thanks for watching!
I have a FED 5, and am going to start shooting soon. Bought a roll of Kodak T-Max 400 which is b/w film. What can you recommend for a starter? Is it a difficult camera to shoot on? I have only done mobile photography as an amateur, but I'm looking forward to taking up photography on a more professional level.
Hi there. The Fed 5 is an excellent camera on which to learn manual photography. It has a great lens, and the built in light meter means easy exposure calculation. T Max 400 is a very nice film, but there are many others too. I usually use Ilford FP4, but you will find your own favourite. Enjoy your Fed, and let me know how you get on!
You have a wonderful gift. You more than obviously have an encyclopaedic knowledge of these cameras, but you have a natural talent for giving out just enough information to keep your viewer interested. Quite often when someone has your level of knowledge they go in to finite information and lose their viewer. Twice recently I've lost out quite dramatically in the last few seconds when going for Zorki 4K, perhaps a FED4 is a better option. I certainly don't want a FED5, that takes ugly far too far, at least the 5 has nice chrome dials, but I've also seen a Zorki 6 which I have been informed hasn't got the shutter speed protocols as you can change them any time, do you know if this is true please?
Hi Mark, thanks for your kind words and glad you're enjoying the videos. That's bad luck on the Zorkis, it can be tricky to get what you want on ebay, but I think if you do end up with a Fed you won't be disappointed, they're nice cameras and the lens is really nice, better than the J8 to my taste. I believe that you can change speeds on the Zorki 6 without first winding on, but I've never actually tried it. Might be better to stick with the 'wind then set' formula for all Russian cameras just in case!
Have to admit, I've got a bit of a thing for Soviet/Russian cameras, and have a growing collection of Zenits. But sticking to the subject in case, one option for a Zorki is to do what I did and go 'Buy It Now', but you do obviously pay more. I got my '73 model Zorki 4 with an Industar 61 on eBay for £50 which was, I admit, slightly higher than I should have paid. But for that, it is spotless, works flawlessly and the case is in very good nick. I do admit that I haven't had a chance to run a film through it as yet. There was a Zorki 4 that went yesterday for the grand total of a little under £8, but it did have a stuck shutter (obviously somebody hadn't followed the Zorki 'way of doing things'). My guess is that the buyer possibly wanted the Jupiter lens more than the body it was attached to, which would be a shame. There is a guy in Russia that repairs them, and for a reasonable price too.
Hi Rus, thanks for watching, and for the comment. I have a soft spot for the Fed 4, as it's the camera I learned photography on. If you can shoot with one of these, you can shoot with anything!
Zenography I've recently purchased a Fed 5 from eBay, i'm waiting for it impatiently :D The fact that it is a completely mechanical camera that does not require any batteries make it desirable to have with you all the time. I hope i can get good quality pictures with the Fed 5 (with Industar 61 lens)
You certainly can get good quality from the Fed 5. Just make sure to expose correctly (built in meter should be fine in my experience), and remember that if you're shooting at closest focus (1 metre), the true top of the frame that will show in your prints will be about 10-15% lower than it looks through the viewfinder, so be sure to raise the camera a bit. Happy photographing, let me know how you get on.
You talking about FED 5 with lenses with radioactive. You mean Thorium? Lile the moost lenses in those days made. For example super takumar 50mm f1.4 etc.?
As I understand it, both the Industar 61 and 61L/D used lanthanum in their coatings which, I think, is very slightly radioactive - but nowhere near as radioactive as the Takumar 1.4, which used thorium.
Greetings!!! I’m enjoying your videos very much :) I’m waiting for my own Fed 4 (a) to arrive and I feel like I know so much about the camera because of your videos! By the way, I have a question regarding the film speed, because the fed 4 only goes to 320 in order to use the light meter, should I compensate on the shutter speed/aperture if I use a 400 Film?
will you be able to show some of the photographs,which had been taken by that camera - i am waiting for my photos,to be developed,only one place still develops from old negatives films - in my area,i used to have a photograph shop,but is no longer in my town.
Hello. I must sey that you cannot break the mechanism if you set speed b4 wind the film but you will get wrong spead and you can put it in the set that doesnt exist. Same like in Zorki 1. But coution should be always.
+James Cortesos Thanks James, it's great you enjoyed the review, and that it's inspired you to use one of these grand old cameras. They're simple and uncomplicated, and a day's shooting is great therapy! Thanks for subscribing too. Happy photographing!
The speed selector is directly attached to one of the rotating shafts (it rotates on winding and firing) - if it's moved before winding on, various mechanical components will be in the wrong place, and can easily be bent/distorted/damaged if the camera is then wound on.
I learnt my basic camera chops on I loved it I really Loved in fact I'd recommend it to anybody the kit Lens was it's Industar sharp Indeed certainly mine was. I personally found it more or less as good as My Dad's Bright Fast Glass Kit for his Fancy SLR were we'd gently teased each other I used to be the Rangefinder shooter my dad had hid German Mirror less of the day wit it's WIZZYWIG & TTL metering Marvelous for the 70's but my DAD's Camera was very similar to my Russian RANGEFINDER in so much they'd make many of the same SLR but it would be given perhaps the smallest revision and it would be given a brandnew number or Letter and Jane & Joe Public without current magazine subscriptions they could of bought the same Body again but with an extra letter in it's name the Uber Practica fast Pentagon east German 50mm f1.8 kit Prime Fast Lens with his excellent PRAKTICA MTL 5L. MY FED 4L has disappeared great solid selenium celled metered camera with I found a very moreish to fiddle with noisey frontSELF TIMER CLOCKWORK self timer.IF You go to a Yard sale or at a Car Boot/Trunk sale and see one of these Delightful blasts from the past's against a Barbie in a cardboard box here's the formula you should apply to Oneself DON'T THINK BUY!.GO & BUY Some look around the potato chips/Crisps find oneself FILM Gas / Petrol & BUY a ASA400 ASA ILFORD or FUJI /KODAK / KODACHROME ASA 200 and go Snapping...ASAP... RIP Dad I miss you ..m.. Thx very detailed & well researched cheers
Many thanks, glad you enjoyed it, and that you share my nostalgia and liking for these old feds. I can only agree with your advice - buy, load, shoot - and think as little as possible, at least when you're making your art! Thanks for watching.
Hi, really enjoyed this video! Where do you think is a good place to pick these up in working condition for cheap? I'm considering getting a FED 3/4 off of eBay but they range in price and I'm considering getting one for £35. Problem is the fact that most haven't been checked or serviced so it's a gamble- Thanks!
+Jov Gar HI Jov, glad you liked the video, these really are wonderful old machines, and a lot of fun too. If you're interested in buying a Fed I have a very nice Fed 4 for sale currently at this link: www.ebay.co.uk/itm/162005634527?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2648 If you decide to bid you won't be disappointed, this is a good one, in very nice order. Thanks.
+Zenography Managed to get a near mint FED-2 for a reasonable price, but I hope the FED-4 goes to a good home. Hopefully I'll pick one up in the summer and I'll be shooting a lot more, thank you anyway!
lanthanum lenses are safe. thorium lenses which are used on some Kodak cameras made during and before the 60s can be sort of dangerous. especially if thorium is used in the eye piece as eyes are more susceptible to radiation damage. lanthanum is 1/10,000 as radioactive as thorium. a lanthanum lens radioactivity is equal to background radiation. at least I hope this is true as I use a fed 5.
+walter smelgore Thanks for this Walter, I've never been sure whether the Industars supplied with the Fed 4 were in fact Lanthanum glass. I know the Industars supplied with the Fed 5 did contain lanthanum, as it was engraved on the lens 'Industar 61 L/D'. However the Industars supplied with the 4 omitted the L/D from the lens. Perhaps it was a later addition?
This is a second variant of FED 4. Did You ever see first variant of this camera? In my opinion it is one of the ugliest camera ever - it looks like FED 3 (which it is based on) with an "inflated" (or rather "blown up") top plus non-symmetrical selenium meter. It looks really terrifying.
In the online copy of the Fed 4 manual it says the industar 61 has Lanthanium optics. They seem to have just added the letters LD to the later lenes. Is Lanthanum dangerous ? It seems to be in a lot of modern optical glass. And is also in NiMH batteries. I think Thorium is the one to worry about.( Where the Japanese trying to get their own back) I'm no scientist if anyone nows the truth let me know.
I'm no scientist either, but as I understand it Lanthanum is not dangerous. Thoriated lenses need more care - they shouldn't be held close to the body for long periods, and never, ever hold them to your eye! In normal, relatively infrequent use though, my understanding is that they're safe.
+Peter Coates Hi Peter, these cameras are seriously cheap now, I just bought one in perfect order for £4.52! Absolutely incredible bargains! I agree, I much prefer the appearance of the Zorki, especially the 4K. They looked better in the 70s when I used to lust after one (I eventually got a Fed 4), and I think that's still true today. The 4K is a very handsome camera. If I can get hold of a Petri I'll do a review on one; as for whether yours is worth repairing, I suppose that depends on what the repair will cost, and what the camera is worth to you - they're not too expensive to buy, but if yours is of particular importance to you, or if you just like saving old technology (as I do), I'd say go for it!
Hi Erdem, sorry for the late reply. You should be able to find a good Fed 4 for about 20-30 English pounds, with a good lens and a working light meter. If you're still looking for one please email me at smithjoe@writeme.com I may be able to help.
Hi Luis, I think, if you're not worried about looks, that a fed 4 might be best to start with. Reasons? First, it has a built in light meter, many of which still work accurately. Second, I prefer the look from the Industar 61 to the Jupiter 8. Although the Jupiter is faster (f2, as against the Industar's f2.8) the Industar is sharper and gives in my opinion a rather nicer image with better colours. Third, those feds are cheap! You can still get a good one for 10 to fifteen pounds on a certain well known auction site, whereas a good Zorki will cost around three times as much. Hope this helps, and thanks for watching.
+Zenography thanks for the advice really appreciate it i love photography and ive always been amazed by it since i was 6 ,i mean the simple act that you can catch a moment forever with a picture ... anyways im just trying to finally actually do it as a hobby ! thanks greetings and peace from california !
i got my zorki 6 from fedka.com in the usa they specialise in russian cameras.. it was more expensive but all the cameras are serviced so i think its worth paying extra.
Yes, I've heard good things about Fedka, although I've never used them so can't really comment from experience. It's good that someone is keeping these old cameras alive, and due to relatively simple construction they should be almost infinitely repairable into the future. How do you find the Zorki 6? I've heard it's pretty good.
Zenography I love my zorki 6. It's small, lighter than the other zorkis and its easy to load film as it has a door. It feels good in the hand and it has a wind lever instead of a film knob. You can change film shutter speeds before cocking the shutter. It's a bit difficult to take photos but that's part of its charm.
Zorkis 1 and 2 are far better looking than the Fed 4, but they're more expensive and they don't have a light meter. That one small addition to the Fed 4 makes it a much nicer camera to use, at least in my opinion.
