Needing help please

[Saracrowle]

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Hi, I have had this in my possession for many years but I am lead to believe this isn’t actually a Leica but a Russian or German copy? Can’t seem to find much online so hope someone can assist. Thankyou for any info

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[jaapv]

Стопроцентный русский

[pippy]

Hi and welcome to the forum!

The shape and mechanical design of the shutter-release collar suggest that it's a 1953-'55 FED 1 but whether it's a Model F (PEO 305) or a Model G (PEO 315 / 320 / 325) is more difficult to say with any certainty as the differences were mainly to do with their respective engravings. Unfortunately the originality of the piece - along with its engravings - has been destroyed.

If you wish to know what it used to look like scroll down to near the bottom of the page in this link;

http://www.sovietcams.com/indexeb86.html?tmpl_into=middle&tmpl_id=279&_m_e_id=16&_menu_i_id=87

Looking on the bright side; if the camera still works as intended it will be able to provide you with good-quality photographs.

Good luck!

Philip.

EDIT : There should be a FED script logotype stamped onto the front of the case as this, too, is of FED origin. Leica cases of this type have only one press-stud fastening whereas the FED used two as seen here.

Edited May 24, 2022 by pippy

[Saracrowle]

Wow… Thankyou so much for such detail. I will investigate this further with your information and still enjoy in sitting on my shelf. It belonged to my late father but sadly he passed away before he could tell me anything about it.

[pippy]

Firstly I'd like to say I'm sorry about your loss.

If you would like to use the camera to take photographs but are unsure about how, exactly, to use it then please do feel free to ask; I'm sure we'd all be happy to give you some pointers which might make the task easier to understand and, in due course, execute. Although the 'basics' are just that the actual performance of the neccessary tasks might not be straightforward for anyone new to using such a camera.

If your intention is to have the camera more as a keepsake in respect of your late father's memory then, of course, the technicalities will be of far lesser importance.

Without any detail in regards to the original engraving I'm sorry to say that narrowing-down the exact model-type would be impossible but, to be honest, the differences between the four variants are so unimportant - in the grand scheme of things - that it really doesn't matter. What IS known is that it's a late-period 1953-1955 Fed 1.

These were good cameras in their day. The bodies were copies of the Leica II and the lens used an optical design from Zeiss so the essential design elements couoln't be faulted. Post-WW II the Allies decreed that all German patents were null-and-void as 'war reparations' hence the influx of Leica-esque cameras in the years which followed the conflict.

If there's anything else which you think might be answered by the extremely knowledgeable and helpful folks here I'm sure we'd be delighted to help.

FWIW here is a snap of my own very late-series FED 1 (PEO 320) at the left of the pic. alongside a few of her other FSU (Former Soviet Union) cousins;

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

Any queries please do get in touch.

Philip.

Edited May 24, 2022 by pippy

[Anbaric]

10 hours ago, Saracrowle said:

Hi, I have had this in my possession for many years but I am lead to believe this isn’t actually a Leica but a Russian or German copy? Can’t seem to find much online so hope someone can assist. Thankyou for any info

For the unlikely story of how a youth rehabilitation colony in Ukraine became the manufacturer of a Leica copy named in honour of the founder of the Soviet secret police, see:

https://www.fedka.com/Useful_info/Commune_by_Fricke/commune_A.htm

 

[Anbaric]

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8 hours ago, jaapv said:

Стопроцентный русский

Стовідсотковий українська!

Edited May 24, 2022 by Anbaric

[jaapv]

27 minutes ago, Anbaric said:

Стовідсотковий українська!

Very true - I didn't need Google translate for that one  🇺🇦

[Herr Barnack]

7 hours ago, Anbaric said:

Стовідсотковий українська!

 

 

[Herr Barnack]

Boris Badenov had to be removed? 

Seriously?? 

[jaapv]

1 hour ago, Herr Barnack said:

Boris Badenov had to be removed? 

Seriously?? 

Did you own the copyright or have permission for publication? Otherwise: yes, seriously.