Fed-2 Classificator

Hi,

thanks to Jacques and Estonian collector Enn Helemдe, I have finished initial classificator for Fed-2 camera right now. Any comments and criticizm would be very appreciated!

http://www.sovietcams.com/index.php?-1620130885

Best Regards,
Aidas

wonderfull work !!!
thanks a lot and congratulation (very usefull listing !)
Alain

Aidas,
Truly excellent!! However, (there is always a but), this Australian Estonian collector of just one FED 2 is pationate about having his 2L understood!

Please refer to my post and discussion with Jacques
[http://www.ussrphoto.com/Forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=910]

My view (and I stress the "my" in my very limited experience) is that your D6 and D7 are actually sub-sets of the nylon covered body without lugs (my serial number is 5644487). When the nylon covered body is factory fitted with a I-61, it becomes a factory designated 2L which is only marked on the passport (some sites say some bodies were also engraved but I have never seen evidence). A 2L can be either your D6 or D7 or neither (as with my 2L)

The factory also called your E1 a 2L (this has caused much confusion between info on various sites). There are also anniversary subsets of this version.

As the 2L is the only factory differentiation between FED-2 variations, I think it deserves to be recognised.

I am about to depart for the Hong Kong Jazz Festival with 40 high school students. If I survive, I look forward to the results of this debate on my return.
Regards,
Paul

One thing I am not clear about is whether the earlier D types with vulcanite and lugs would also be called 2L when fitted with the white I-61. I am not aware of any sites suggesting that but a passport from such a camera would clear that up.
Paul

Alain,

thanks for your good words! I'll do my best to make this classificator as more or less reliable source .

Paul,

thanks for your comments! To say the truth, I pay no many attention to "L" designation indeed. Why? Since Fed-2 camera is cool rangefinder with interchangeable lenses, so every single version of particular camera could become "Fed-2L", if the I-61 lens is fitted In my opinion, we shouldn't consider "2L" designation as very important issue in classifying of Fed-2 ... Indeed, for me it's much more important to know the whole evolution of particular camera.

Soviets have promoted the new "Lanthanium" lenses a lot, not only papers, even camera boxes have special markings "Lanthanium Optics". As we know, at least 3 Fed cameras (Fed-2, Fed-3 and Fed-4) were fitted this I-61L lenses initially. I have found an interesting picture of Fed-4 camera in Sovietskoe Foto magazine. Believe you or not, but there is camera with FED-4L markings in the picture ... .

So, .... more interesting questions arrising after your reply: 1} your camera #5644.487 has bigger serial number in comparison with my #6600.619 ... thought your camera was released in 1965, and mine - in 1966 Blank numbers were used to start with 6600.000 both camera and lens? 2)you have mentioned the anniversary subsets of E1 type camera ... could you tell me more?
3) very important question for me. Why FED came back to old stock I-26M lenses in 1966, though they have arranged the mass production of I-61L lenses in 1964? And so on ......

Best Regards,
Aidas

Hi Aidas,

Many thanks for tour new pages about FED 2.
They are a "must have" for any FSU cameras collector.

Regards,
Michel.

Hi Aidas!

What a work! Honored to be mentioned!
It will be of a great help: some months ago, we didn't know much about all that....
I promise I am going to scrutinize your work with a magnifier!

Just a word: I think you are absolutely right about the lenses. And on eBay for example, we can see strange assemblings which look like mixings 26m/61 parts, exactly as if Fed had decided to sell off all their old parts in 1966 and 1967 before the "nigra" (entirely black 61L/D). Perhaps it was the case?...

Thanks again!
Amitiйs. Jacques.

Finally made time to see what the fuss is all about - and WOW! Aidas - great and quite detailed job!! I will link to this classificator from every FED 2 entry in this catalog.

One thing though that confused me greatly is your classification of preseries.. I do not understand why Pr1 and Pr2 come in this sequence especially with Pr1 serial # being 000352. It seems to me that if there were to make these stamped square windows they would come after the makeshift screwed on ones, especially with cameras like 000007 (Alain's) and 000200 (mine) that would come before the stamped window...

Vlad

Hi,

thanks for your comments! I'm expecting the assistance from all members of our comunity, to make this classificator more complete and informative!

Vlad,

thanks for your question . As it was already mentioned in my classificator, I have found a lot of soviet literature, introducing new advanced camera, under name "FED-2". Guess which version was pointed initially? Even the earliest known Fed-2 manual guide has type-Pr1 on the top cover ...

When speaking about the particular type-Pr1 camera #000352 (from Yuriy Davindenko coll.), I'm not discounting the possibility of serial number beeing coded somehow ... 03 52, i.e March, 1952 ...





Best Regards,
Aidas

Thanks Aidas, Excellent work!

Hi Aidas,

to argue your point regarding PR1 and PR2, maybe the PR1 was an actual REAL production model that camera after PR2 so they've eliminated the "homemade-like" screwed on rangefinder window and went on to the stamped version, thus all the literature used a version of how it was supposed to look like.. .. Just a counterpoint to consider, I'm not saying you're wrong. Maybe they wanted a "cleaner" version to be displayed in literature..

Also coding of serial numbers kind of seems unlikely to me, I've never seen a year to be last, although an interesting idea..

Vlad.

Hi,
Sorry, Vlad, but I share Aidas's opinion.
The first fed 2 prototypes were probably:
- the one pictured in the Princelle p. 98, second edition: a pre war version (has anybody ever seen it?)
- the prototypes 1 and 2 in the same book p102,
- then a fourth one (the heigth of the buttons is not the same) pictured on the first page of the manual guide shown by Aidas.

After that, we have the preseries, probably starting with the 000O1. Alain's one is not far, and it probably has some parts of the prototypes if we consider its weight. Then the other ones: yours and mine and others...

I think the story of that camera is not well known: contrarily to the Fed 1 compared to the Leica IID Couplex, the 2 was first an evolution, then a transformation of the Fedka. The first years of this camera must always be written...

Amitiйs. Jacques.

Hi Aidas,

I believe I have two B1 version, s/n 189825 and 221939. There is no image of this verison on your site. I will take a picture FYI.

Kind regards.

zhang

quote:

---

Originally posted by Kievuser

Hi Aidas,

I believe I have two B1 version, s/n 189825 and 221939. There is no image of this verison on your site. I will take a picture FYI.

Kind regards.

zhang

---

Here is my Fed 2 B1. Lens is not original.s/n is 221939.

Hi Zhang,

thank you for your picture and serials! I have decided not to place your sample on classificator, while it coming with non original lense ... Anyway, thanks again!

btw ... the types of Fed-2 camera are already changed due to discovery of new versions ... So, never ending story again ...

Best Regards,
Aidas

quote:

---

Originally posted by AidasCams

Hi Zhang,

thank you for your picture and serials! I have decided not to place your sample on classificator, while it coming with non original lense ... Anyway, thanks again!

btw ... the types of Fed-2 camera are already changed due to discovery of new versions ... So, never ending story again ...

Best Regards,
Aidas

---

I already saw a B1 image on your site, but not the same as mine. I like the idea of a more detailed version list. Collectors are interested in rare cameras. Some Fed 2s are not as common as people previously thought.

Please carry on your excellent work.

Cheers,

zhang

Interesting classification, indeed!

Now, where to put this camera?

http://cgi.ebay.com/FED-2-Tipe-A-RUSSIAN-CAMERA-LENS-FED-ELMAR-copy_W0QQitemZ280287364549QQcmdZViewItemQQptZFilm_Cameras?hash=item280287364549&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A1%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318#ebayphotohosting

It seems to have a self-timer but no flash synchro?

Hi Nicolas,

Here we have so called "Sandwich" or "Kotleta" camera ... Camera body from type-C or D, though top plate from type-B ...


Best Regards,
Aidas

quote:

---

Originally posted by AidasCams

Hi Nicolas,

Here we have so called "Sandwich" or "Kotleta" camera ... Camera body from type-C or D, though top plate from type-B ...


Best Regards,
Aidas

---

These kind of thing are often found in Russian watches,. These are called 'franken' watches, but I don't know where the word came from.

Hi Zhang,

Indeed, you are right ... The word "Frankenstain" fits ideally to describe these cameras either ...

Best Regards,
Aidas