New Member

Hello Everyone...
My name is Frank Lambert and I live in Raleigh, NC.. I have an avid interest in cameras in general and, more specifically most of the "older" mechanical wonders that seem to keep showing up here. Mostly Minolta, Yashica, Konica Rangefinders; Kodak,Ikonta and Agfa folders and several versions of the Isolette's, along with a mixture of "box" cameras. I appreciate the craftsmanship that went into these beauties and have become a "collector" by default. My passion for "fixing" things has been well satisfied by "trial and error", working on these over the years. Right now, I don't own any of the Russian cameras but, have been trying to get an "education" as to what they are all about. I am really at the stage of getting my first one at any time now. Being basically "cheap" by nature, along with my ignorance regarding the available Russian cameras though, has really been the only hold up. My purpose of joining this forum is to gather as much information as possible. My particular attractions, at this time, are the Fed 2, Zorki 3M or one of the Kiev's. Any input/ideas would certainly be appreciated. Thank you all and, I am looking forward to any ideas, suggestions or other input. Oh, by the way.... I have been known to take a photograph from time to time as well[:)]
Frank

Hi Frank, welcome! Glad to have another collector here even if you're just getting into the whole wonderful and mysterious world of commie cameras [;)]. The cameras you mentioned are all great pieces for users, with Zorki 3M probably being one of the interesting pieces of the three and harder to find.. (well it depends which Kievs you're looking at as well, some early ones are hard to find too)...

I understand you're mostly into rangefinders? No so much SLRs?

Vlad

Hi Vlad,
Thank you very much for the warm welcome. I do have a few SLR's, all Canon (A-1, AL-1, AE-1, FTB, TX....etc.) but, some time ago, the RF's got my attention and, I also find them easier to learn and work on. Most of my RF's are Yashica Electro 35's of various versions. I have been "thinking" about getting into the Russian RF's and have found them to be particularly interesting based on the variety, complexity and just the way they "look". Would it be "out of place" to offer any of my non-Russian "stock" as trading material on this forum? thank again for the welcome and I am looking forward to an "enlightening" time on your site.
Frank

Frank,

As I use my cameras I don't quite understand why people prefer the rangefinders... I don't really think it's for the ease of use is it? I mean SLRs you get what you see and with rangefinders you got this awkward little connect the dot system for focusing... is it because of the small size??

Regarding trading stuff on forum: the rule is if you trade, one of the cameras you either trade or trade for needs to be Russian.. so if you're offering Canon for trade here, you have to have a Russian camera that you want in return.. no selling of non-Russian stuff though... sorry..

Vlad

Vlad,
I would really rather "trade" than sell anyway. I might sell one camera every six months and usually because I have duplicates. So, "trading" should work fine because my only interst here, will be the Russian cameras anyway. I need to check my inventory......

As for the SLR vs. RF; it's really not the size factor. Some are as big, if not bigger than some of the SLR's. I think my love of "tinkering" carries over into my actual photography. I get to "tinker" some more by, as you put it so well, "connecting the dots". I must admit also, that one of my favorite cameras is my Canon Elan 7. It's 35 mm but, it can go from full manual to full automatic and anywhere in between. It's always in my kit bag, no matter what other camera(s) are in there too.
Thanks again Vlad. Have a GREAT day!
Frank

I see [:)].. I guess I'm the same way, the only reasons I shoot my Kievs and FEDs just for this tinkering factor heheheh... Always loved complicated gadgets. But for some reason SLRs make me feel safer because I can see that shutter open and close [:)]

Vlad.