Are FSU rangefinders as bad as they say?

One of our problems is that we regard FED, Kiev, Leningrad and Zorki as though they all came from the same factory when in reality some of them came from two or more factories and they all were miles apart.

If we did the same with (say) Japanese cameras we'd probably be horrified but we don't, nor do we call all Leica copies rip-offs and so on.

It would make a lot more sense to treat them all as individuals and keep politics out of the discussion but we only seem to ignore politics when Japan and German made cameras are mentioned...

Regards, David
 
Forest_rain said:
Interesting. I'm thinking about picking up a Zorki 6 because it apparently does not have the problem of having to change the shutter speed after cocking the shutter only. I'm not sure what other models can do this but maybe the Zorki 5 as well..
Click to expand...

FWIW, all my screw thread Leicas do the same and as for the "O" series, well, words fail me at times...

In other words, it's a feature rather than a problem.

Regards, David
 
Forest_rain said:
Interesting. I'm thinking about picking up a Zorki 6 because it apparently does not have the problem of having to change the shutter speed after cocking the shutter only. I'm not sure what other models can do this but maybe the Zorki 5 as well.
Click to expand...
The answer to which can and cannot be set before cocking is here (to save repeating what's already been written):

https://rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=134577


EDIT: Since you mentioned the Zorki 5, there is one caveat with that camera - NEVER cock or fire the shutter without a lens attached, unless you hold the RF sensor inwards. Doing so is liable to damage the RF coupling mechanics, the shutter mechanics or both. Altering the shutter speed at any time is, however, fine.
 
I've never owned an FSU camera, but when buying other vintage cameras, I always examine the screw-heads for removal marks/deformations in the slots. It doesn't tell you a lot but sometimes, you get a feeling... :)
 
I don't understand why the SOP of changing the shutter speed only after winding the camera and cocking the shutter is even an issue. No one complains about this when using a Barnack, but it is just the way things are. If an LTM camera where this is not an issue is desired, then the OP should be looking for a later Canon rangefinder. Aside from that, it's not an issue. I don't think anyone would dump a IIIf in favor of a FSU camera because the FSU body allows the shutter speed to be changed whenever one wants.
Phil Forrest
 
With great respect, I read very adequate answers.
And again I was convinced that the more a person is a specialist and knows more , the more adequate they are.
Knowledge is power!
:rolleyes:
 
I just wanted to clarify, because I have a Kiev 6C, that I can change the shutter speed on this camera whether or not the shutter is cocked. I think the Kiev 88 is the only MF camera model where it must be cocked before changing the speed. The Kiev 88 also seem to enjoy a poorer reputation in general.

However mine is finicky and if you want to change to BULB, I must cock the shutter before setting to that speed.

I also have a Zenit E and I can change the shutter speed fine.

mpaniagua said:
As far as I know, all of them have this "feature". Almost all soviet rangefinder (as well as medium format like Kiev 88 and Kiev 60) are this way.

It is not as bad as you may think. Have had Fed, Fed 2, Kiev 4, Kiev 88C , Zorkii's and never had any issue with this. Probably I got in the habit of advancing film first early on the game, when I was young.

Marcelo
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My experience was the FSU cameras I got were a money pit. If I ever get to retire I might walk back down the path (lots of great info on fixing on the web). If you want a reliable camera, do the Axis Shuffle (Japan and German). Lots of great old stuff, glass with tons of character.

If you have time I loved the Fed 2, had the take up spool replaced with one from a Fed 3 (much nicer).

B2 (;-<
 
Does anyone else look at all the threads on RFF and notice that other makes of camera fail and need expensive repairs?

And has anyone else noticed that several new-ish ones just can't be repaired...

Regards, David
 
David Hughes said:
Does anyone else look at all the threads on RFF and notice that other makes of camera fail and need expensive repairs?

And has anyone else noticed that several new-ish ones just can't be repaired...

Regards, David
Click to expand...

Yes we do, and we're laughing all the way to the bank...... :p
 
Forest_rain said:
I just wanted to clarify, because I have a Kiev 6C, that I can change the shutter speed on this camera whether or not the shutter is cocked. I think the Kiev 88 is the only MF camera model where it must be cocked before changing the speed. The Kiev 88 also seem to enjoy a poorer reputation in general.

However mine is finicky and if you want to change to BULB, I must cock the shutter before setting to that speed.

I also have a Zenit E and I can change the shutter speed fine.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info, great to know.

Marcelo.
 
I've owned a bunch of FSU cameras and my findings are more or less in line with David Hughes': FSU cameras are old. If they've been well maintained and the parts aren't worn out they can be pretty reliable.

FSU cameras, especially in the latter years of production often suffered from lesser materials and workmanship than cameras from West Germany and/or the far East. More importantly, the quality control was often sketchy. Despite those issues, there are plenty of good examples of FSU cameras out there. When you find a good one, and I suspect a lot of them were, they're perfectly good users as long as they're maintained. They may not be as pretty, fit and finish wise, as their non-Soviet counterparts but they'll get the job done - often very nicely.

I think I have 7 or 8 FSU cameras at the moment. Out of those, one (Zorki 6) is a doorstop (I only bought it for parts and it was brutally 'repaired' by a previous owner), two (Moskva 2 and Zorki 4) are a little cantankerous but they work and the rest work just fine. Of the working ones, the Zorki 3M is absolutely great. Perfect fit and finish and reliable operation - it's just as smooth as any "better" camera I own. The Kiev 4M from 1974 is also very reliable and that's a model that has a terrible reputation. Mine has been fine.

In between the FSU pack and the Japanese and West German pack, in terms of quality and materials, the East German cameras also have a reputation for trouble but I've found mine to be very reliable and very nicely made. Again, as per David Hughes, these cameras are old and require CLAs and routine maintenance if one expects them to perform well. If so maintained they are very capable.
 
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