Fed: 28mm viewfinder and early FEDs

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Topic

Topic author: Jacques M.

Posted on: 20080114143628

Hello,

I didn't really thank you for your wishes: probably too much in a hurry to speak and answer... Sorry!
Perhaps I could add some more words about me: I'm 63 and a retired master. As you know, I'm fond of Feds, not only for the cameras, but for the historical background too. Nothing political, but only the conviction that Europe comes from that period.
It's why I am much more involved in Feds than Zorkis, for example, even if I own Zorkis too. And of course some Leicas from 1931 to 1936, but only as references to Feds...

And now a question, always about Feds, of course.[:)]
What about the rangefinder for the 4,5/28 mm lens? Has anybody already seen it? Princelle is not certain it was really produced. A chance I can change the 28mm Leica viewfinder on my Fed 1c on which is mounted the 4,5/28mm ?
Absolutely no chance, I fear!

Thanks. Amitiés. Jacques.

Replies

Reply author: cedricfan

Replied on: 20080114150050

Bon soir from Finland!

Well, I share your passion for the early FEDs. And now my mission is to find the earliest possible, before 36.215 that I now have. Getting to around 20.000 is not difficult!

http://www.cedricfan.sivut.ws/Juhani's%20website%20ORIGINAALIT/

Reply author: Vlad

Replied on: 20080114150542

I think mine 1b is 16000-something, I'm sure Bill has some ridiculously low number [;)]

Reply author: Vlad

Replied on: 20080114150903

Jacques there's a universal KMZ one that has 28mm in its options:

http://www.fedka.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=34&products_id=83

Or are you looking for non-universal made by FED?

Vlad.

Reply author: nightphoto

Replied on: 20080114172718

No one that I have ever talked to has seen the mythological FED 28mm optical finder. I believe that when the FED 28mm lens was made, it was meant to be used with the non-optical metal frame finder like this one in the photo, below. It was released at the same time as the 28mm lens and 100mm lens, by FED in 1937-38.
It is adjustable to 28mm, as you can see by the markings. This one is shown on FED-1S, Serial No. 59274. So this may not be too helpful for using the 28mm lens these days, but was probably what was used (or the universal optical finder by KMZ) in the past.

http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/finder1.jpg

http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/finder2.jpg

http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/finder3.jpg

Regards, Bill

Reply author: Vlad

Replied on: 20080114173207

whoa that's a crazy contraption! [:)] So Bill, what's your lowest FED 1 serial #? [:)]

Vlad

Reply author: nightphoto

Replied on: 20080114174344

Vlad,
Of course I am trying to get a lower one, but for now I have FED-1, No. 2313, No. 5340, No. 5585, No. 7377. What about Alain ?

Regards, Bill

Reply author: Jacques M.

Replied on: 20080115010731

Hello!

Thanks for these fine pictures of the frame finder which is for sure a curious contraption with its always jumping spring! Certainly the 4,5/28 mm was used with that finder; the multifocal KMZ will only appear in the last 40, probably 1948, as a copy of the Zeiss one.
To take pictures, I prefer the SLOOZ, much more clear than the multifocal even if I'm not a fan of Leicas...

If it's only a question of lowest #, it seems I win the race for the moment with 1126.[;)] But the engraving is a 1b one, the finder is flush, no hole in the back... Either a number missing, or a 1a resent to the factory to be repaired, and replaced by a 1b... I should have prefered the original! So this one is a 1b # between 10000 and 20000. I don't own anything better, except a burnished 1a with 5330. Then, 8528, 10020 etc.

Amitiés. Jacques.

Reply author: AidasCams

Replied on: 20080115020245

Hello,

I don't know about Alain's early Feds, but I was lucky to hold Fed No.62 (not #0062) in my very own hands. It was camera from Viktor Suglob FED collection indeed. Also 3 digit number Feds, black Fed, etc ...

My earliest Fed comes with serial number #4643 an I enjoy it a lot.

Now about 28mm viewfinder ... listing some old soviet literature I have found the picture of the soviet 28mm finder. Can't remember recently was it Fed one, but they existed for sure.

Regards,
Aidas

Reply author: AidasCams

Replied on: 20080115022058

how you like this FED? [:)] Just found picture in my archives ...

http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/5efb47c0a07a495aafdef58b639f84d5.jpg

Reply author: Jacques M.

Replied on: 20080115035557

Wonderful!
The 1a are quite rare now, even at the end of the range (c. 6000). This # 142 is really an historical item and one detail must be pointed: the release button and the absence of collar look like some early IA/IC Leica. This will be changed soon after.

If nobody amongst us owns that 28mm Fed viewfinder, it's definitively because it must be a prototype. Princelle shows it mounted on another proto: the prewar Fed 2, with a mixed rangefinder/viewfinder. The first Leica like to have such a finder, in 1940.[;)]

Amitiés. Jacques.

Reply author: AidasCams

Replied on: 20080115044054

Hi Jacques,

One Fed camera, similar to your #1126 can be found recently for sale on Russian "eBay" MOLOTOK.RU.

http://molotok.ru/item297368014_ochen_redkaya_dovoennaya_kamera_fed_n_1653_.html

Regards,
Aidas

Reply author: AidasCams

Replied on: 20080115044408

and another one with very small #162 under name of "STALINETS" [:D]

http://molotok.ru/item295911819_stalinec_162_podarochnaya_kopiya_komandirskij_fed_.html

Reply author: Jacques M.

Replied on: 20080115061050

Hi Aida!

The Stalinets is of course a fancy camera. This one seems to be made from a Zorki 1c, if I look at the release button and the moulded rims. The other one is a Fed, but a 1c, not a 1a: the cornered cover and the large YCCP engraving are quite visible. The real # should be included between c.55000-c.95000.

DVD show such cameras in their collection. Amazing!
http://www.dvdtechcameras.com/collect/fed/fed.htm
If it works!

Amitiés. Jacques.
PS to Vlad: perhaps it would be convenient to change the subject into: Fed: 28 mm viewfinder and early # ? [:I]

Reply author: AidasCams

Replied on: 20080115062852

yea, i have noticed this Fed camera is type 1c. That's why I wrote "similar to your #1126" and not "identical to your ... " one
[:D]

Reply author: Jacques M.

Replied on: 20080115083030

[:D][:D]

Sorry if I look like a teacher a bit too much.
In fact, I was!

Amitiés. Jacques.

Reply author: fedka

Replied on: 20080115225649

The 28mm finder is not a prototype, some quantities were made, but it is a very rare prewar FED accessory.

Reply author: mermoz37

Replied on: 20080116151841

Hi all friends,
sorry , i just wake up [:p]
so here are some pictures ...
if some one can tell me something about the 20mm finder , he is welcome [;)]

Reply author: mermoz37

Replied on: 20080116152400

forgot ...[:o)]

Reply author: Jacques M.

Replied on: 20080116155515

Hello Fedka!

Fine to meet you through this forum!
Could you tell us more about this 28mm finder: number and year of production, why it was stopped...
On looking the Leica SLOOZ, it seems not so easy to think out...

Hi Alain![;)]

Amitiés. Jacques.