Strange Fed-1 #55890

at my point of view, I see that although the scheme applied on FED was feasable for a competent mechanicist, is use was very limited.
Very small viewing/focusing бrea, difficult use, no prevention of mirror removal during Picture taking, reminds us to a delicate work which is not the case when using large focal lenses.
going to static work we can call for microscope or telescope using, may be also for reproduction work when it will call for a high accurancy of focus.
Observe that the miniature of prism/mirror and ou-of center contruction cunducts us to aeven more limited use, mainly due the image reversing at viewfinder.
The most probably use where quietness in work is essencial for reproduction operations in great enlargements, being so, my votes towards this aim, perhaps police use for fingerprint identifications

Regards
LP

Ha ha! Fingerprints for a NKVD camera! Perfect!

I absolutely agree with you. This is a reflex camera, but with a very difficult use due to the the narrowness of the chamber and the position of the "periscope". Anyway, it was not possible to put it in the axle because of the "official" viewfinder.

As for the mirror (we don't have it), we can suppose it was raised by the spring (and lowered by the handle). So, no light when taking the photo.

Thanks for your researches about this interesting camera, Luiz.

Amitiйs. Jacques.

I dig out the thread as I have received a Periflex. These cameras originally had a periscope:



Here is the periscope, in its low position:

The lever of the periscope in its upright position:



There are similarities between this Periflex and the Fed "reflex", which is not astonishing: the room inside is the same... Note that this Periflex is perfectly working (even if uneasy!) and that the periscope is very precise.

Jacques.