FED 3a Type 2

Hello,

I have just bought a Fed 3a, but a 3a type 1, not Vlad's 3a type 2 as in the wiki.
I think -but am not sure- that there are three differences between the two types. For this 3a type 1:
-a rim round the finder,
-the speeds engraved <b>on</b> the dial,
-a strange cornered moulding to join the upper lateral parts of the cover (not easy to explain!). The moulding is round on the 3a type 2.

Am I right? There is nothing really precise in the JLP. I must add that mine is black (certainly not original) and has an early serial #: 1004693. I had never seen such a number on a Fed 3a before (except for the prototypes).

Can you help? Of course, I will put it with pictures into the wiki as soon as I receive it!

Thanks. Jacques.

Hi Jacques,

congratulations - your Fed-3a is really type-1! Even more, it seems you have bought the earliest version of particular camera ... [:D] All cameras with decorative rim aroun the finder bearing 100xxxx serial number, without rim - 20xxxxx. So we can call it 1st million cameras and 2nd million ones ... And you are right, Fed-3a Type-1 cameras have different design of shutter speeds knob either ...

You can see both versions of type-1 at :

http://www.sovietcams.com/index.php?-831794026

Best regards,
Aidas

Hello Aidas,

interesting, mine with serial 1031721 hasn't the rim around the viewfinder, but it has the early speed knob.
You can see it on my web-page:

http://fotos.cconin.de/kameras/fed3.htm

Ulrich

http://fotos.cconin.de

Hi Aidas,

Your two pictures perfectly show the third difference: what I called the "cornered moulding" opposed to a round one (on the 3a, type 2).

Certainly, Ulrich, there was an evolution and the three differences became obliterated little by little, finally to give the type 2. It would be interesting to know in which order...

Amitiés. Jacques.

Ulrich,

Indeed, everything is possible in soviet cameras ... [:D] During my years of collecting, I have stopped wondering in many things. Anyway, your information is very useful for me! Although I have met dozens of Fed-3a type-1 cameras, they all came with serial numbers #100xxxx. Your sample probably representing transitional version with top plate moulding changes, as Jasques have mentioned already. The only question, why FED have stopped numbering in general succession and jumped to 2nd million quickly?

Best Regards,
Aidas

I agree with you, Aidas.
The first number of the 3a type 1 could be 1000001 (it's the number of the matching Industar lens on the booklet of the 3a).
And as far as I have observed, it seems that the "pure" 3a type 2 appears not far from 21xxxxx.
Fed didn't make 1,1 million of type 1, even with the transitional versions. So what happened to all these numbers? Some ranges used for the Fed 2, perhaps?

Another mystery...
Amitiés. Jacques.
PS: I've just put my Fed 3a type 1 in the wiki.

Hi all!

I've just bought a Fed 3a first evolution, that is to say with cornered moulding and speeds engraved on the dial, but without rim round the viewfinder. Serial number: 1027078. I will tell more in a while about the serial numbers I'm collecting.
I suppose it looks exactly like Ulrich's one?

Very happy, even if it's not a Red Flag!

Amitiés. Jacques.

Hello everyone,

Just FYI, I have a type 1 with s/n 1000810. Looks like a very early example?:-)

Certainly one of the first!
I guess they probably started with the # 1000001.

Amitiés. Jacques.

I would assume the 1st digit is the first year of Fed-3(a) production as I have seen a type 2 with s/n 200xxxx, and also a type 2 with s/n 3210946.

Cheers,

Zhang

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="MS Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Jacques M.</i>
<br />
Certainly one of the first!
I guess they probably started with the # 1000001.

Amitiés. Jacques.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Hi Zhang!
Exactly what I think too.
And the first digit would be the cipher to classify all the production (including the 2 which we speak of in another topic), probably from 1961 or 1962.
I have made a collect of serial numbers for the "3" (23 for the moment). We have numbers between your 1-000810 and the 4-387703 and the production number grows regularly with the changing of cipher (1,then 2, 3 and only one camera for 4). So, if we are right, about 387000 Fed 3A made in four years, with the numbers I have, of course... And only if there is no interruption which is not sure.

Perhaps we are not bad at all? [:D]

Amitiés. Jacques.