Very strange FED-S
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Printed on: 5/10/2026 6:21:30 PM
Topic
Topic author: Vlad
Posted on: 20160308110437
Replies
Reply author: Lenny
Replied on: 20160308112405
When I see such unusual serials I only think of fakes.
Then I look at the top-plate around the shoe and see sharp edges.
Seems to me it was grounded before.
Reply author: Vlad
Replied on: 20160308114538
I also noticed that if you compare to the NKVD-YCCP FED-S in the Wiki, I guess I just don't understand a reason behind faking a FED-S... [:)]
Reply author: Valkir1987
Replied on: 20160308131609
Looks genuine to me. Noticed the b engraving next to Fed. Could this have been an Fed B? Any signs or traces of a slow speed action?
How about the lens, does it have black or blue blades?
Reply author: Jacques M.
Replied on: 20160308140734
Looks genuine to me too.
A bit astonished by these two engravings I had never seen on the cover of a Fed...
What about this reversed E? We find it on the early Fed lightmeter, up to c. s/n 4000. This "E" probably for "Exposure"...
And what about the "b"? A "b" series? So, a special one, with a separate numbering? But for whom? We find that "b" on some kievs too...
All that put apart, it seems a S 1c series... But the shape of the cover, on the left, more straight than curved, could be from a pre 24xxx 1b....
Jacques.
Reply author: Jacques M.
Replied on: 20160308142857
Something else... Why this straight "b"?
I don't think it can really be a Fed "b": the other ones we know don't have this letter.
And I support Milo's question: it could be interesting to have more details about the lens: serial number and colour of the diaphragm.
A very strange and interesting camera.
Vlad, is there something interesting in the discussion of vk.com?
Jacques.
Reply author: Vlad
Replied on: 20160308144834
Mostly people think it's fake on VK. The letter "b" looks too hand-written... I'll ask regarding the blades.
Reply author: Vlad
Replied on: 20160308144944
they are also confused about serial # as well. so pretty much same discussion there as here [:)], although most leaning towards hand-made on VK
Reply author: Vlad
Replied on: 20160308145400
Reply author: Guido
Replied on: 20160308151148
Hello Vlad
One question: It's your camera? If not: I'll bet it's a fake. The "1000" on the speed wheel looks also hand made for me like the s/n and the "b" after "FED". And there are other details by the way.
Just my 2 cents ...
Best wishes - Guido
Reply author: Jacques M.
Replied on: 20160308151546
Sure that the "b" does not seem honest!
The "Z" near the 1000 on the speed dial is not genuine either.
The release button belongs to a "c" type (at least).
The other details could denote a "c" type too, except the shape of the cover, on the left, which belongs to a "b". But the "S" seies begins with the "c"...
OK, all that is not very good for this Fed! A possibility too to have photos from the inside? (tip of rangefinder, and back removed)? That could help...
Jacques.
Reply author: Vlad
Replied on: 20160308153451
Hi Guido, no it's not my camera, someone just posted it in VK.com group... it seems to be a fake but what's I'm really confused about is the serial #.. what is it supposed to be? Even if it's fake what were the fakers going for there?
Reply author: Vlad
Replied on: 20160308153551
Also notice the depression on the vulcanite on front, self-timer hole?
Reply author: Guido
Replied on: 20160308154907
Hello Vlad
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="MS Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Vlad</i>
<br />Even if it's fake what were the fakers going for there?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
I don't know but possibly they thinking a enigmatic s/n would be more interesting than an conventional one? Just guessing ...
Best wishing - Guido
Reply author: AlexanderK
Replied on: 20160308172235
Hello Vlad,
it seems to be a fake. "1000"/"Б"/deepness and width of engraving and of course s/n - all these signes of "not fair game".
Your question about the reason behind faking a FED-S - price on auctions, such as Ebay.
Guido has right, such s/n would be more interesting than an conventional one for future collectors, who might have never seen the genuine one [:(].
Regards, Alexander
Reply author: Vlad
Replied on: 20160308182939
I think so too, Alexander, but stranger things have surfaced in the past, remember FED-Arsenal? [;)]
Reply author: Valkir1987
Replied on: 20160309114046
Could it have been an option, that a normal Fed camera was sent back to the factory or a skilled workshop to have it updated to a Fed S with the new optic? Not al conversions are forgery.
Reply author: AlexanderK
Replied on: 20160309135321
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="MS Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Valkir1987</i>
<br />Could it have been an option, that a normal Fed camera was sent back to the factory or a skilled workshop to have it updated to a Fed S with the new optic?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Milo,
no, it was almost impossible. FED-S was a special improved issue for establishment, so you could not simply sent the normal camera back to factory to upgrade it. It seems to be (for me) a "home made" version of the camera.
Regards, Alexander
Reply author: Jacques M.
Replied on: 20160309145634
Certainly, some Fed NKVD could have been exchanged or upgraded against Fed S. A simple operation, as it seems: some regular NKVD-s have the nine holes (from B to 1/1000th)on the speed wheel inside, even if the corresponding speed dial stops at 1/500th... And these NKVD-s could have kept the original serial numbers once upgraded: it's the case too for the Leicas. To be simple, in some (many?) cases, there could be only two differences between a regular NKVD and a "S": the speed dial and the lens. And probably a more precise regulation of the shutters.
But it's not really the problem here. I think too that this camera is a fake. The "b" is not "honest", nor the Z, near the 1/1000. And the cover is not a 1c's. That said, I always wonder about the meaning of this curious serial number.
Amitiés. Jacques.
Reply author: Valkir1987
Replied on: 20160311073133
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="MS Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Milo,
no, it was almost impossible. FED-S was a special improved issue for establishment, so you could not simply sent the normal camera back to factory to upgrade it. It seems to be (for me) a "home made" version of the camera.
Regards, Alexander<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
We just (or perhaps) know too little about the after sale service from the factory and optical workmanship done by shops on Fed cameras before te war. Receipts rarely show up.
