kbleicher Posted July 18 Share #1  Posted July 18 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hello, I purchased this from an auction site which said it was probably a FED copy based on their guess. I looked all through "Russian and Soviet Cameras" by Princelle, as well as collectiblend and this site and I can not find a match. The black knobs are throwing me off; I haven't spotted those for a Leica II (or copy). I realize the "W.H.", "PATT", and "A 101" could have been added later. There aren't painted letters on the screen when the lens is removed, nor is there any writing inside after removing the base plate. Anything else I can provide? Thoughts? Thank you! 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! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/423151-trying-to-identify-fed-1d-leica-ii-mod-d-or/?do=findComment&comment=5835390'>More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted July 18 Posted July 18 Hi kbleicher, Take a look here Trying to identify: FED-1D, Leica II (Mod D), or?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
earleygallery Posted July 18 Share #2  Posted July 18 (edited) Definitely a Russian camera but maybe with some odd Leica parts added (the Russian models usually have a cable threaded shutter button). Lens is Russian. Can you remove the lens and show a photo of the rangefinder cam?  Edited July 18 by earleygallery 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpotmaticSP Posted July 18 Share #3 Â Posted July 18 I always look at the rewind lever. If there's a B engraved (instead of an R) then it is a Russian / Soviet camera. I mention "Soviet" because a FED is not Russian! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dg4mgr Posted July 18 Share #4 Â Posted July 18 Look at the details of the top cover near the viewfinder window and the cold shoe described here:Â https://mikeeckman.com/2020/12/how-to-spot-a-fake-leica/ Also compare the position of the infinity lock. This is amodified soviet camera. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kbleicher Posted July 18 Author Share #5  Posted July 18 Wow, the article dg4mgr included (thanks!) is quite telling and it's obvious this is a fake. It seems to be a FED in many ways, but I haven't identified it outright, AND all of the FEDs I found in documentation indicate "FED" rather than "Leica". Makes me wonder if the top plate was painted to hide the the damage left after removing the original imprints.  Here's the photo that earleygallery requested. More evidence that it's a fake. I'd still love to learn the true origin, but maybe that's not doable with the number of modifications...   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! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/423151-trying-to-identify-fed-1d-leica-ii-mod-d-or/?do=findComment&comment=5835443'>More sharing options...
250swb Posted July 18 Share #6 Â Posted July 18 A very much overdone fake, too much attention to fake detail (PATT etc.), too pristine for the year, and even a fake case to put it in. Everything is wrong. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted July 18 Share #7  Posted July 18 Advertisement (gone after registration) 59 minutes ago, kbleicher said: Wow, the article dg4mgr included (thanks!) is quite telling and it's obvious this is a fake. It seems to be a FED in many ways, but I haven't identified it outright, AND all of the FEDs I found in documentation indicate "FED" rather than "Leica". Makes me wonder if the top plate was painted to hide the the damage left after removing the original imprints.  Here's the photo that earleygallery requested. More evidence that it's a fake. I'd still love to learn the true origin, but maybe that's not doable with the number of modifications...   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! The 'origin' is a Fed or Zorki (I don't know too much detail of the differences) that's been repainted and slightly modified to look like a Leica to someone who doesn't know much about LTM Leica's. Hopefully, given the honest description by the seller, you only paid what it's worth as what it is. Run a film through it, if it's working OK it will still be capable of good images. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kbleicher Posted July 18 Author Share #8  Posted July 18 I paid for a fake; all is well there 🙂  Thanks for the info.. I'll keep looking out of curiosity 🙂 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
david strachan Posted July 19 Share #9 Â Posted July 19 (edited) The fakes are fun and take images just as good as Leica cameras. You can still use a huge range of lenses though. I've run film through both...my Leica IIIc (f conv) is just smoother wind on and "feels better". That's all. (Though a Leica costs more of course) Edited July 19 by david strachan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
250swb Posted July 19 Share #10 Â Posted July 19 It's a good point that great photos can still be made with a fake Leica, and there are a lot of people interested in FED's and Zorki's as users and collectibles. Put a film through it, the photos would still be eligible in the 'I like film...' thread. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pippy Posted July 19 Share #11  Posted July 19 (edited) 16 hours ago, kbleicher said: ...It seems to be a FED in many ways, but I haven't identified it outright...I'd still love to learn the true origin, but maybe that's not doable with the number of modifications... Depending on how much time you have on your hands this resource is a very ggod source of information regarding differences between the various vesions of the FED 1; https://www.sovietcams.com/cameras/detail/4ap3gnq73pra02h96y7dbwm2wk You might also be interested in the link posted below; 15 hours ago, earleygallery said: The 'origin' is a Fed or Zorki (I don't know too much detail of the differences)... The FED 1 was being developed as early as mid-1932 and the first 'production line' examples were introduced in '33. Originally (i.e. when still in the prototype phase) the 'Soviet Leica' was based on the Leica 1 but by the time it came to the market - FED having seen the introduction of the Leica II in 1932 - production cameras were rangefinder-equipped. The FED 1 model was in continuous development from 1933 all the way through WW2 until 1955 when it was replaced by the FED-2. The Zorki 1, on the other hand, didn't appear until 1947 and lasted until 1956. A brief (and IMO a fascinating) history of the FED 1; https://www.fedka.com/Useful_info/Commune_by_Fricke/commune_A.htm 5 hours ago, 250swb said: ...there are a lot of people interested in FED's and Zorki's as users and collectibles... Count me amongst their number! 😸 Philip. Edited July 19 by pippy 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
willeica Posted July 19 Share #12  Posted July 19 18 hours ago, kbleicher said: Wow, the article dg4mgr included (thanks!) is quite telling and it's obvious this is a fake. It seems to be a FED in many ways, but I haven't identified it outright, AND all of the FEDs I found in documentation indicate "FED" rather than "Leica". Makes me wonder if the top plate was painted to hide the the damage left after removing the original imprints.  Here's the photo that earleygallery requested. More evidence that it's a fake. I'd still love to learn the true origin, but maybe that's not doable with the number of modifications...   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! The triangular rangefinder cam, visible here, is a clear indication of a fake. With a Leica this is always round. This one is also rather obvious from the decoration of the body and lens, but this rangefinder cam is the 'clincher'. William Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kbleicher Posted July 19 Author Share #13  Posted July 19 Wow, more great links; thanks pippy! I'm a broader collector as well. I have just shy of 300 film cameras, proudly displayed and catalogued. Here's a shot of my Leica's, including two FEDs (1D?, 1G/Mod-D) and a Canon IID copy alongside to tell a better story. The Leica's are a IIIc, 1f, MDa, and each 'R' model. Good times! 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! 4 Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/423151-trying-to-identify-fed-1d-leica-ii-mod-d-or/?do=findComment&comment=5835872'>More sharing options...
TomB_tx Posted July 19 Share #14 Â Posted July 19 Nice collection! I didn't bother getting all the R models, but still use the ones I have (Leicaflex to R8 with a few gaps) Got my SL in 1969 after my M4 in 1968. I mainly use the M models now. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pippy Posted July 20 Share #15  Posted July 20 20 hours ago, kbleicher said: ...I'm a broader collector as well. I have just shy of 300 film cameras, proudly displayed and catalogued. Here's a shot of my Leica's, including two FEDs (1D?, 1G/Mod-D) and a Canon IID copy alongside to tell a better story. The Leica's are a IIIc, 1f, MDa, and each 'R' model. Good times! 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! Very nice selection of lovely cameras; thanks for sharing the photograph! The world of FED (and, to a lesser extent, Zorki) can become an extended Journey Down the Rabbit-Hole if one isn't careful. Unlike Leitz who normally only released a different model-type when major changes were introduced FED were continuously tweaking the design of the FED 1 and there are no fewer than 52(!) variants shown in the Sovietcams link posted earlier. The earliest Fed 1 I have dates to 1936 yet (according to the PEO designations) by this time it was already 'version 20'! Just for fun here is a top-shot of my own examples (representing a mere 10 different model-types). Left to right (bottom row) cameras go from earliest to latest (apart from 4 & 5 which are inverted ) along with, in a second pic, a list of model-types and approximate dates for each starting with oldest and working down. Eagle-eyed viewers will also spot that there is also a Zorki 1 and a Zorki-2 (not to be confused with the Zorki-2c). The remainders are two early Nicca, one Leotax and a Leica(!) IIIc Sharkskin; Incidentally - as can be seen - the immediate post-WWII Model (F) cameras have a shutter-release button which seems to be very similar to that seen on the camera as posted by the OP. As such it might well be that this Model (F) forms at least the basis of the camera shown at the start of the thread. Philip. 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kbleicher Posted July 20 Author Share #16  Posted July 20 Quite the collection!  I also have a FED3 (Type B F180), two Krasnogorsks, and East German models....   I can see where that would be a rabbit hole! I did the same with the model-Rs, and Exaktas (Ihagee).... 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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