Eastern dealer info

Hello everyone, I was wondering if you'd allow me to ask a question on this forum on behalf of a member of another forum? It IS about buying FSU cameras and lenses, so the info you give could be of use to anyone who reads this thread.

Here it is:

"Ejg1890 (on rangefinder forum)

For those wanting to acquire an FSU camera and lens the locations to purchase these are obviously the old Soviet block countries. Most options to acquire a FED, Zorki, Kiev and others are Ukraine, Poland and Kazakhstan among others. However, the immediate question that comes to mind is the legitimacy of the dealers in many of these locations/countries. What experience have people had purchasing cameras and lenses from many of these dealers? At a high level what did you order? Did it arrive? How long did it take to arrive? Was it as decribed,(better/worse)? Anyone have any specific dealers to check out or avoid? I have had no experience using dealers from these countries nor have I heard any feedback.

Thanks all."

Thank you for any help anyone can provide.

Its a matter of expectation.

Keeping in mind that most sellers have minor knowledge of the technical condition of a camera I had mostly good experiences from wherever the camera came from. I had shippings from Ukraine, Kazachstan, Uzbekistan, Moldovia, Poland and lots of others from Ebay.

The cameras you get are mostly in need of service or repair, unless you buy them serviced or have them serviced. Or get them from a workshop that sells them like Okvintage cameras.

Most cameras (with a cloth shutter) sold as working by most ebay sellers will still have stiff grease, dried out lubricants, slow shutters and very often over tightened spring tension to compensate. It usually comes with a fair price.

A serviced camera will cost more of course, but they will still be more affordable than a Leica or Contax etc.

I have similar experiences. Before the war in Ukraine I bought quite some material from Russia, but also from other Eastern countries.

No problem ever with shipping, for the rest just look carefully at the photos, ask questions and in case of doubt, don't do it. Despite of the war still no problem with Ukraine so far.

Oleg from OKVintageCamera, a seller of good and repaired gear, moved from Russia to Slovakia. So you can buy from him within the EU. He is highly reliable for me.

www.a7camera.com www.120folder.com www.instantphoto.eu www.135compact.com www.oddcameras.com
www.subcompactcam.com

Poland is a western country nowadays.

Best regards,
Juhani

Thanks for the replies and the info.

The original poster of the question that I asked here, seems to be quite "switched on" to the facts of the condition that cameras are usually in and was really looking for info on the dealers to buy from and the dealers to avoid. I had in mind that there was a particular dealer that members here thought highly of, but I couldn't remember the name, so a special thanks to you xva.

Juhani, I'm presuming that the original poster knows that Poland is now "western", but included that country thinking there would still be a lot of FSU cameras as it was in the Eastern Bloc. Well, I hope the questioner knows it. Imagine if they don't? :-0

Estonia I know pretty well, and the FSU cameras there have either been sold many many years ago, or they are in an "Antique" shop for sale with a hefty overprice. Sometimes you come across something nice, but those findings are not in the webshops, you must be there. And as SU collapsed 30+ years ago, it is most likely no longer working, if it ever was.

Best regards,
Juhani