Fed 2 Penultimate Rangefinder Camera

INDEX FED-1 FED-2 FED-3 FED-4 FED-5 FED-6TTL FED-7 FEDKA FAG FED-S FED-V PIONEER TSVVS

FED 2 PENULTIMATE RANGEFINDER

I decided to pick the FED-2 camera as part of this web page creation project as it is the most underrated, understated copy of the Leica II. It is now obvious in 2007 more than half a century on, that this was the next logical evolution of the FED-1 and Leica II concept. I would go even further and state that the original FED-1 and Leica II were good cameras, albeit seriously flawed in basic detail design. The FED-2 fixed all these shortcomings and has become the unseen penultimate rangefinder of its time. We must also not forget that more photographers have used this camera than any real Leica, albeit unfortunately due to brand snobbery and its origins in the Soviet Union it has been overlooked in the serious photography circles. If Leica had not been so conservative in its design philosophy then this could have been their own 35mm camera of the mid 1930's. Anybody that doubts that this is the worlds best rangefinder camera should give one a try with their Leitz or Russian lenses. The production run was an exceptional 16 years with around 2 million cameras being manufactured. As with the FED-1 hardly any mention was made in the mainstream English language photography books and magazines of the period, which is another reason to put the record straight.

The camera photographed in the main text with the Industar-10 collapsible lens is my own Fed-2 Serial Number (SN) 094053 which dates from 1955 - I have now sold this camera. I have also included some historical photographs obtained from the Internet of the prototype cameras and input from those experts on the Zenit Camera Forum.

Above photograph shows unusual engraving "Manufactured in the factory F.E.Dzerjinski".

Just imagine how photographic retailers in the then lucrative western sphere of influence must have reacted to both the FED-1 and 2 cameras being copies of the Leica the then most long standing and revered miniature 35mm camera marque? The FED-2 was a thoroughly modern clean design for the mid 1950's. It was also a very cheap camera, manufactured behind what was then the Iron Curtain by a regime that was seen as the greatest threat to world peace. It is therefore hardly surprising that these cameras never really had a fair chance of becoming household names in Western Europe and the USA. Unfortunately for such a great product they were dumped on the Western markets in large numbers in an attempt to get hold of hard western currency to prop up a failing Soviet economy. The net result of this was some poor quality control which probably in the long term damaged Soviet camera industry reputation. Just looking at the photographs on this webpage you can see that these were in no way a poor quality product and if the politics of the period had been slightly different Leica would have been forced to produce a similar high quality budget camera.

The above two photographs show some of the features that makes this the ultimate rangefinder camera. The long base 67mm combined rangefinder viewfinder. The simple ergonomic controls even included a built in dioptic eyesight adjuster. The photograph showing the collapsible FED - Industar 10 lens pushed back into the main body highlights how compact this camera can be.

This was the last of the truly compact FED cameras that you could slip into your pocket. The later cameras became more bloated and less appealing and certainly not something to take mountaineering. This was not just isolated to FED but also the Leica M series cameras which also became heavy door stops! The original concept for this camera had been portability and small size now destroyed by the rush to incorporate new unnecessary features like lever film advance and exposure meters.

Above photograph above showing the collapsible the Industar FED - Industar-10 lens. This lens is a copy of a Zeiss Tessar albeit in a Leitz Elmar mount. Notice the international f stops - f3.5, f4, f5.6, f8, f11 and f16, (earlier FED - Industar-10 lenses had the old style f stops f3.5, f4.5, f6.3, f9, f12.5 and f18.)

One the unknown outcomes of the Great Patriotic War was the Soviet cameras industry access to superb Carl Zeiss optics. When hostilities ceased in 1945 the heart of the German camera industry found itself in the Soviet Zone and they promptly made use of all this new technology which also spawned a whole series of modern new Soviet camera designs. The vast majority of Soviet camera lenses can be traced back to this period.
Moscow 1927

Above photograph showing how the camera comes apart into four separate items: main body, lens, Film spool and camera back. This particular camera has a flash socket located in the main body adjacent to the round rangefinder window. On later cameras this socket was located in front of the top plate just to the left of the rangefinder window below the film advance knob.

Above photograph showing main camera body with the back removed. You can see how easy film loading is compared to a Leica II, FED-1 or Zorki 1 etc. One major advantage often overlooked is that you can see the shutter in operation and therefore check for correct operation and those occasional pin hole light leaks and fix them!
The cloth focal plane shutter on the FED camera is not a new idea and dates back to the late 19th century. The version used in the Leica and FED camera was in fact developed by Oskar Barnack of Leitz in Germany in early part of the 20th century. Oskar Barnack managed to adapt this simple design into what was then a miniature 35mm system camera with a great selection of lenses. The shutter has a variable slit between the blinds (or curtains) which as it passes over the film exposes it to light. When the shutter is released this slit moves across the film at a constant speed. To vary the speed you vary the slit width with the shutter speed dial and not the speed of travel of the blinds. Having a wider slit means that as it travels across the film more light passes through. When cocking the shutter and advancing the film the slit is self capping to stop light getting to the film. I hope you all understood that brief technical description of the shutter in action it took me along time to get my head around its operation?

Above photograph above showing the two keys that lock the camera back in place. This is very similar in layout to that found on the Contax Kiev rangefinder cameras. The Soviet camera industry managed to take good ideas from other manufacturers and bring them together in a new package that works

FED 2 DEVELOPMENT HISTORY

The FED-2 design came about as an attempt by the manufacturer to escape the Leica II origins. FED was not alone in this with the Japanese Canon SII of 1946, the French FOCA II of 1945, the Nikon I of 1949 and the Leica M3 of 1954. For those who are unaware the FED initials stand for Felix Edmundovich Dzerjinski (1877-1926) the founder of the Soviet Secret Police. The origins of the FED-2 camera are linked to the previous FED-1 design which had been in production since 1934, for information on the FED-1 please follow this link Here we are going to concentrate on the the FED-2.

The above photograph shows the 1940 prototype FED-2 had identical control layout to the FED-1 with a combined viewfinder rangefinder window however still with complicated bottom film loading. This prototype is known to have existed possibly as early as 1939, unfortunately in the chaos of the Second World War it disappeared. The FED factory located in Kharkov Ukraine was overrun by the Germans in 1941 and totally destroyed. Camera production did not get back into full swing until the late 1940's.

The above photographs show the two FED-2 prototypes which were manufactured in 1950 one very similar to the earlier 1940 prototype and later Zorki 3 with a Contax type removable back. The second prototype with a 67mm long base combined rangefinder viewfinder and Contax type removable back for easy film loading was chosen for mass production. Between 1952-54 several hundred pre-production cameras were manufactured.

A similar attempt was made by Leica in 1935-36 to escape the original Leica II design. This Leica IV prototype shown above was designed to tackle two shortcomings identified in the screw-mount body, namely, the separate viewfinder and rangefinder, and the somewhat difficult film-loading method. This 1935-36 prototype had a combined viewfinder rangefinder like that seen on the much later 1954 Leica M3. The design was in the form of inter- changeable viewfinder that couples to the camera's focusing mechanism. It had a hinged back that is similar to that found on the later Leica M bodies. The Second World War interrupted its development, however it is considered as the prototype for the Leica M3 camera. How much this prototype influenced the designers at FED is not know? If you look at the basic shape the similarities to the FED-2 are startling. Also the Soviets would have had full knowledge of this design as the victorious powers had free reign and say on what they could copy or plunder as spoils of war.

The above photograph shows my green bodied type b FED-2 SN 315307 fitted with an Industar-26m f2.8 50mm (52,4mm) lens with focus lever. This camera has the later armed disarmed shutter setting dial.

The FED-2 replaced the FED1 in 1955 - so what makes the Fed-2 camera so special? It is simple with no slow speed mechanism, therefore no complicated compromised design as in the Leica III, Fed V and first Zorki 3. To answer this in more detail you have to look at the original Leica II, FED-1 and Zorki 1design and then look in some detail at what the FED 2 has incorporated that is new.

A long base 67mm combined rangefinder viewfinder which results in a simple process of both focusing and composing photograph in the same viewfinder, also including a built in dioptic eyesight adjuster. On the previous FED-1 focusing and composing the photograph are two separate tasks requiring the use of two viewfinder windows - a stupid time consuming idea!

Film loading is now a simple task not requiring special cut film leader as the whole camera back is detachable. The camera back is very similar to the Contax Kiev back having two keys in the bottom to release it. On the previous FED-1 you have to remove the bottom film cover to reveal the film chamber. Then you had to cut a film leader of a certain length so that missed one of the film advance sprockets. You then have to remove the film take up spool and attach the film. Then you have to push both the film cassette at one end of the camera and film spool back at the other end of the camera back into the film chamber. While doing this you must carefully guide the film into a thin slot and check it makes correct contact with one of the the film advance sprockets which you can just about make out through a gap adjacent to the take up spool - a very stupid time consuming idea!

The FED-2 is therefore a simple camera with just two detail changes that were enough to create something special.

This was not the end of the story as another development in 1956 modified the shutter turning something special into the best rangefinder camera ever made. What they did was a touch of brilliance. They incorporated the ability to change the shutter speeds with it either cocked or un-cocked. Above photograph shows this new shutter speed setting dial that can be lifted and rotated to new setting regardless of the state the shutter is already set. WARNING if you use a lot of rangefinder cameras with the earlier shutter as shown on some of the cameras above. It possible to destroy the shutter mechanism on: screw mount Leica, FED-1, Zorki 1, 3 and 4 and early Zenit SLR based on Zorki 1chassis. This was not a totally new feature as the exact same shutter mechanism was fitted in the Zorki S(C) (and Zorki 2S) a year earlier albeit these are just glorified Leica II copies.

There was also an economical version named the Zarya being identical to the FED-2 albeit with the omission of the rangefinder this being replaced by a simple viewfinder in the center top of the camera. The above photograph shows my Zarya SN 0045005 fitted with an Industar-26m f2.8 50mm (52,4mm) lens in an economic lens barrel with no focus lever. This camera has the later armed disarmed shutter setting dial.

COLLECTORS GUIDE

The following types unless otherwise stated are nomenclature used by collectors as no FED-2 camera was actually marked in this way. I have included some brief descriptions so as to ease identification.

1940 Prototype based on the FED-1 body. Identical control layout to FED-1 with a combined viewfinder rangefinder window. Still with bottom film loading.

1950 Two prototypes one similar to the earlier 1940 prototype with a Contax type removable back. The second prototype with a 67mm long base combined rangefinder viewfinder and Contax type removable back for easy film loading.

1952-54 - Based on previous prototype several hundred pre-series cameras manufactured. The pre-series model had a removable "square window" and is sought after as a rare version of the FED-2. The Princelle(see reference section below) guide calls it the "second pre-series" and some term the window "triangular" although it is neither square or triangular, but "square with a rounded top".

2a 1955 -56 Viewfinder window glass tinted green with rangefinder double image tinted in pink orange to give good contrast. Fitted with collapsible FED Industar-10 f3.5 50mm lens. For more detail see specification in section some way below.

2b 1956-58 Shutter can be set cocked or uncocked. Flash synchronization first on socket on body later on front top plate. Some bodies blue, green. Fitted with the Industar-26m f2.8 50mm(52.4mm) lens. There was also Chinese copies the Chang Chiang and Nanjing-M1

2c 1958 -60 Fitted with the Industar-26m f2.8 50mm(52.4mm) lens. Minor change memory film help dial in top of film advance knob. Self timer fitted.

2d 1958-63 Shutter speeds changed to international B, 1/30th, 1/60th, 1/125th, 1/250th and 1/500th second.

2L 1963-69 Same as 2d except 2L being a factory designation for cameras equipped with the then new Industar-61 f2.8 52mm(52.4mm) lens with rare earth slightly radioactive Lanthane elements. Some camera bodies marked FED-2L.

2e 1969-70 A cut down economic version of the FED 3 type b. Shutter mechanism the same as FED 2 type d therefore having no slow shutter speeds. Camera identified by larger square top plate and smaller base combined rangefinder viewfinder

Zarya 1958 prototype identical to FED-2 type d with simplified Galilee viewfinder and no rangefinder. Fitted with Industar-26m f2.8 50mm(52,4mm) lens.

Zarya 1959-61 identical to prototype except in minor detail.

Zarya 3 1960 with optical exposure meter and cheaper version of Industar-26m lens.

The following table when completed will give a rough idea of numbers manufactured per year.

FED 2 SERIAL NUMBERS - PRODUCTION NUMBERS
1952 SN 000261 - prototype
1952-54 SN ? - pre-production with several hundred manufactured
1954-55 SN ? - 200000 - 200k
Zarya - 1959-61 SN 000000 - 141228
Zarya 3 -1960 SN 000002 - 000100 - 100 - Prototype with less than 100 manufactured

Members of the Zenit camera forum gave the follow information on SN.

Although some fakes of this model do show up from time to time, most
of the ones I have seen on Ebay have been authentic. These
"square-window" pre-series cameras were made in fairly large numbers
for a pre-series, and in two serial-number batches. One batch has
serial numbers like "000XXX" and another batch with numbers like
"013XXX". There are even authentic examples with "014XXX" and a few
with "015XXX". I have examples of both batches that are authentic,
with passports, etc. So these cameras were made in at least many
hundreds if not a thousand or more. All of them have the early style
of rangefinder housing with the engraving "Factory of FE Dzerjinski"
engraving.

Please note that these serial numbers are approximate as is the estimate production numbers. It is also work in progress as unlike the FED-1 there appears to be no detailed information available. Total production is known to be in the region of two million cameras.

If you are going to invest in one Soviet Camera Collectors book the Princelle Guide is the one to go for:

The Authentic Guide To Russian and Soviet Cameras
Made In The USSR by Jean Loup Princelle
Hove Foto Books - French and English Language Editions.

The above photograph shows my Zarya SN 0045005 fitted fitted with an Industar-26m f2.8 50mm (52,4mm) mounted in an economical lens barrel.

LENS TYPE INFORMATION

50mm f3.5 Industar-10 The lenses fitted to the FED-2 being manufactured after 1948-49 period were based on the 4 element Zeiss Tessar. There focal length is 2.4 mm longer than the previous Elmar copy, therefore 52.4mm. Also supplied to China for fitting on Chinese made Leica copies - Dai Lai "Popular" (Fed 1 or Zorki 1 copy), Shanghai and Chang Chiang "Yangtze River" (Fed 2 Copy).

50mm f2.8 Industar-26m f2.8 50mm(52.4mm) lens. Fitted to FED-2 from 1956.

52mm f2.8 Industar-61 f2.8 52mm(52.4mm) lens with rare earth slightly radioactive Lanthane elements. Some FED-2 camera bodies when fitted with this lens marked FED-2L. Later versions of this lens as fitted to FED-3, 4 and 5 were marked
Industar-61L\D.

KMZ made rangefinder lenses would also fit the FED-2 camera. These briefly being:

20mm f5.9 Russar

28mm f6 Orion

35mm f2.8 Jupiter-12

50mm f1.5 Jupiter-3

50mm f2 Jupiter-8

85mm f2 Jupiter-9

135mm f4 Jupiter-11

Technical notes:

FED started coated lenses as late as 1949-1950 (Maizenberg Book), KMZ (1947 onwards - Zorki Zenit camera line) probably never produced uncoated lenses because they continued the Carl Zeiss line. Coating is now regarded as one of the secret weapons of World War Two.

Some time probably between 1947-49 when the first KMZ Fed-Zorki cameras were being assembled at KMZ factory Moscow with the collaboration of Fed engineers the switch was made from Leitz Elmar 50mm f3.5 to Tessar 50mm f3.5 occurred, albeit still in the same collapsible mount. This probably happened due to technical information taken as spoils of war from the Zeiss factory which was in the Soviet controlled zone of East Germany. The KMZ version of this Tessar lens was the Industar-22 and the FED the Industar-10. The Zeiss standard focal length is 52.4 -- same for the Sonnar (Jupiter 3 & 8) and later the Industar 26m, Industar-50, Industar-61.

Pre-World War 2 lenses have a slightly different lens to film register which was not the same as Leica Trade mark lenses(LTM). This means that any early lens should not be used on the FED-2 cameras as they will not focus correctly albeit will probably be OK at mid aperture.

The above photograph shows my green bodied type b FED-2 SN 315307 fitted with an Industar-26m f2.8 50mm (52,4mm) lens. This camera has the later armed disarmed shutter setting dial.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION

An improved FED development of the 1932 Leica II concept.
Manufactured 1955 - 1970 (Spec as 1955 FED-2 type a)
About two million made by the FED Machine Works Kharkov Ukraine (formerly the USSR)
Seven versions with minor detail changes and some different types of engraving.
Lens collapsible - FED Industar-10 f3.5/50mm (52.4mm)
Aperture settings: f3.5, f4, f5.6, f8, f11 and f16
Lens is screw mount 39mm X 26 tpi (not 1mm) Leica-type.
Shutter is cloth focal-plane
Shutter speeds: B - 25th, 50th, 100th, 250th, 500th.
Focusing: 1.25 M to infinity.
Coupled range finder with a combined viewfinder.
Film is standard 35mm
Loading via. a removable Contax style back.
Weight approximately 595g.

Notes:
1956 type b onwards fitted with Industar-26m f2.8 50mm (52.4mm) lens.
Ability to set shutter speeds when cocked or uncocked. Flash socket.
1958 type c onwards self timer fitted.
1958 type d onwards shutter speeds: B - 30th, 60th, 125th, 250th 500th.
1963 type L onwards fitted with Industar-61 f2.8 52mm(52.4mm) lens.
Economic versions type e using FED-3 body, Zarya no rangefinder.

WARNING

WARNING you must not point the camera at the sun as it will burn a hole through the shutter curtain! Always use a lens cap.

WARNING regardless of shutter type fitted to your FED 2 do not set the shutter speed until you have cocked the shutter. This is a good mind set to get into with cameras based on the Leica II shutter otherwise one day while using another similar camera type you will do permanent damage to the mechanism.

CHECKING YOUR CAMERA

If you are collecting these cameras for use and not display then you need to check very carefully the following areas or confirm with seller before purchase that camera is fully functional.

The main problem area on these cameras is perished Shutter Curtains that need checking for holes and ripples. You will need to remove the camera back and unscrew the lens and remove it from the camera. You can then examine both sides of the shutter curtains which can be observed from the back and through the aperture in the camera front. You must examine both the first and second curtains very carefully. The second curtain can be viewed when you cock the shutter, and the first curtain after you release the shutter. If you use a small very bright torch in a dark room you can insert the torch through the lens aperture in the camera front taking care not to touch or damage the shutter curtain. Look for leaks from the camera back, these normally look like small pin holes of light - remember to check both shutter curtains.

Rangefinders need to be checked for brightness and double image alignment both horizontal and vertical. The Rangefinder Image needs to be checked it is adjusted correctly and that the double image is bright and usable. Sometimes the range finder mirrors are dirty resulting in the double image being hard to see and focus. Before checking this make sure that the all the viewfinder range finder external glass is clean. Check that the double images align with the lens set at infinity. This is not a difficult thing to adjust

You must check the shutter for tapering. This is the phenomenon of the shutter closing before it completes its travel. This is normally only an issue on the top 1/500th second shutter speed. To check the shutter remove the lens and camera back. Hold the camera up to a very bright sky - not the sun and release the shutter at each speed while looking through the shutter. You should be left with a retained image of the whole rectangle of the shutter. If this retained image is less than the whole shutter area then the shutter is tapering. Check all shutter speeds starting with the slowest. Remember to check that B setting also functions correctly.

The lens needs to be checked for scratches dust and fungus. Also check that the aperture adjustment works and that the lens focus mechanism moves cleanly without any restriction.

The only real test is to put a film through the camera and get it developed. Try all the shutter speeds and look out for any light leaks - they will be obvious. Also check that the pictures are not light down one side of the frame and dark the other this could mean the shutter curtains are moving at slightly different speeds(tapering) as the cross the negative - please bear in mind that this could also mean you had a light source that was very bright located to one side of the photograph.