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Post by 33dollars on Apr 20, 2012 21:46:21 GMT -5
I have only had one Russian camera, a Zenit 12xp. I was not impressed when I got it about 8 years ago. Examining it now I am still unimpressed. It is a clunky thing with limited shutter speeds and what amounts to a preset aperture. It is uncomfortable to hold being quite nose heavy with its Helios 44-4 58mm f2 lens. Little bumps that were so common 75 years ago but not today are appearing behind the leather covering. I am probably being unfair never having put a roll of film through it but there is little inducement. Nor did it make me want to further investigate Russian cameras. First impressions, you know. Mickey I bought a new Zenit 12xp to replace my Ricoh KR-5 when they were still soviet. Early 80's. Not as good as the Ricoh but you get what you pay for. The bestest Soviet camera I have would be my Fed Micron 1/2 frame with selenium meter still working. The rest of my FSU's are Zorki's & FED's.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 20, 2012 22:25:40 GMT -5
Bob, you mean (old joke coming up) you won't be rushin' to buy more! Naughty, naughty!! Actually, I'm looking at a FED 2b (?) to add to the collection . . . She Who Must Be Obeyed doesn't know about this yet . . . bobinleipsic I've got a Zorki 2 (looks like a Zorki 1 with a self-timer--only 10,000 made) and a Zorki 2C which is taller and somewhat ugly. Not familiar with a 2B.
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daveh
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Post by daveh on Apr 23, 2012 9:10:20 GMT -5
The name Fed came from the number of people who, after just three working exposures, said "I'm fed up with this camera".
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mickeyobe
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Post by mickeyobe on Apr 23, 2012 9:42:58 GMT -5
The name Fed came from the number of people who, after just three working exposures, said "I'm fed up with this camera". All these years I believed it was named after a hat - Fedora. Another misconception shattered. Mickey
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 23, 2012 11:09:15 GMT -5
FED Felix Edmundovitch Djerzinski (founder of the Soviet secret police)
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photax
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Post by photax on Apr 23, 2012 15:21:12 GMT -5
I read somewhere that Djerzinski ( born in Poland ) was not only a mass murderer, but also a poet.
MIK
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mickeyobe
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Post by mickeyobe on Apr 23, 2012 15:22:26 GMT -5
I much prefer Fedora.
Mickey
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daveh
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Post by daveh on Apr 23, 2012 15:57:44 GMT -5
Mickey, I've just looked fedora up and this is on Wiki:
"The word fedora comes from the title of an 1882 play by Victorien Sardou, Fédora, written for Sarah Bernhardt."
I never knew that - until now.
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mickeyobe
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Post by mickeyobe on Apr 23, 2012 17:19:22 GMT -5
You must admit Sarah Bernhardt is better than a mass murderer.
Mickey
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daveh
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Post by daveh on Apr 23, 2012 17:34:58 GMT -5
True, and it's said she never even murdered a play.
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Post by bobinleipsic on Apr 24, 2012 6:08:00 GMT -5
Well, my FED 2b arrived, seems to be OK, film developed, etc. . . There is a bit of haze in the lens, Elmar 3.5 collapsible copy, but I have another one to replace it. Cost? $15.00 US, via a friend from another forum (Not cameras!).
Now I'm saving for that Canon P . . .
bobinleipsic
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Wahoo
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Danny
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Post by Wahoo on May 12, 2012 13:32:32 GMT -5
Yes, these Russian cameras can be troublesome ;D ;D ;D but when they DO WORK they are capable of decent results. PS I have a lot of lenses, maybe 15 Helios 103's and I can only remember using one on a Kiev 5 about 20 years ago . Here's a couple of pics taken about 3 years ago with a Kiev 4an - apologies if you've seen 'em before . Danny
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Post by barbarian on Aug 21, 2012 17:11:38 GMT -5
I have a Zorki, with an Industar 50mm lens. It's not bad, but it's always jarring to see how much play there is in the diaphragm collar. But of course, it doesn't really affect the way it works very much.
I think that was the Russian philosophy on most things.
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Stephen
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Still collecting.......
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Post by Stephen on Aug 29, 2012 13:38:59 GMT -5
Ahh... the joys of Russian quality control, err..lack of!, when they are good, all is well, but they do go adrift far too often, but are easily serviceable if you are that way inclined. When in the Photo Trade in the late 1970's I once saw the importer to the UK, TOE LTD's window in the Holborn shop, and was impressed to see all the then current Russian production on display, every model, all the lenses, Pro 120, Movie including a 35mm, and other exotica not retailed in the UK. Quick enquiry to the Rep, the Russian Ambassador was visiting the next day, and the Soviet Embassy had arranged a full crate load of the latest stuff, some never made for retail sale etc. I have never seen again such a large display of now collectable gems from Russia! The window was back to displaying Zenit's, Quartz 8mm, Cosmics and Lubitels by the next week. Stephen.
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daveh
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Post by daveh on Aug 30, 2012 2:37:24 GMT -5
Someone might have kept that unusual equipment. It'll turn up in a loft sometime and either be over-priced on ebay or just chucked out as junk by some family member.
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