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not i joey


cheers pa

joey wrote:A brand new soviet made RF.

Is this your sale?

And what do you think about this piece? Is worth buying it?

No.

gstark wrote:No.

Hmm, why not? A nice rangefinder I would have thought.

It's been sold. I should not have waited and bought it myself.

Nyet, comrade Joey, although it does look like a great piece of photographic engineering from our great motherland... (nyet)!

joey wrote:

gstark wrote:No.

Hmm, why not? A nice rangefinder I would have thought.

Why would you?

Have you ever handled a Russian camera? I'm sure that if you looked around your local second hand photography stores, or perhaps a local flea market, you'd pick up something that was a bit better than this.

gstark wrote:Why would you?

Have you ever handled a Russian camera? I'm sure that if you looked around your local second hand photography stores, or perhaps a local flea market, you'd pick up something that was a bit better than this.

No, I haven't. These cameras appealed to me because they have been modeled after Leica and they are cheap too.

Which rangefinder cameras would you recommend? For around $100.

What about Canon or Minolta made in 60s?

Holga?

joey wrote:What about Canon or Minolta made in 60s?

Yes, or Nikon or Voigtlander.

Find something that will have good glass, and good, reliable mechanicals.

These Russian variants will work very well.

As paperweights.

gstark wrote:
Yes, or Nikon or Voigtlander.

Find something that will have good glass, and good, reliable mechanicals.

These Russian variants will work very well.

As paperweights.

Nikon rangefinder is very, very expensive. Often, more expensive than Leica cameras.

I don't know which camera I am going to buy. It's not going to be a pro camera for everyday use. Just a toy which I can use occasionally to take decent pictures.

Nnnnsic wrote:Holga?

lomo?

-julz

If you planning to spend some big bucks on it, go with the Germans... saving a little bit, maybe the Japanese will do the job...

I have spoken to some people who have used rangefinders for a long time. All were saying, among rangefinders, the top of the range are Leica cameras. All early Japanese and Soviet models were copies of Leica and Contax. Contax was another popular German brand.
As for the Russian cameras, there’s nothing wrong with technology and design used in those cameras. but rather with the factories where the cameras were manufactured; they all lacked quality control. Often, one will get a misaligned rangefinder, problems with sealing etc. Small defects. Buying a Russian camera from an unknown source could be a bet. You either get a good one or you get one with the defects. It’s always better to buy these cameras from sellers who have good repuation.
Those who can check the cameras and fix the problems if there are any. I have been recommended US dealer specialising in selling soviet made cameras. http://www.fedka.com/catalog/
For $100 you can get yourself a nice Leica or Contax copy.

joey wrote:I have spoken to some people who have used rangefinders for a long time. All were saying, among rangefinders, the top of the range are Leica cameras.

Correct.

All early Japanese and Soviet models were copies of Leica and Contax.

Correct.

Contax was another popular German brand.

Correct.

As for the Russian cameras, there’s nothing wrong with technology and design used in those cameras. but rather with the factories where the cameras were manufactured; they all lacked quality control.

Correct.

Often, one will get a misaligned rangefinder, problems with sealing etc. Small defects.

Not correct.

Consider the concept of "sealing" on a film camera. It usually refers to the sealing of the film chamber from light leakage. A camera tha leaks light into the film chamber is not going to produce very satisfactory results.

Depending upon the amount of light leakage, it may not even produce any photographs at all.

In terms of the concept of a camera, I would rspecfully suggest that this is not a "small" defect.

Buying a Russian camera from an unknown source could be a bet.

Correct.

You either get a good one or you get one with the defects.

Correct.

It’s always better to buy these cameras from sellers who have good repuation.

Or perhaps just buy something that you know will yield respectable results.

Those who can check the cameras and fix the problems if there are any. I have been recommended US dealer specialising in selling soviet made cameras. http://www.fedka.com/catalog/
For $100 you can get yourself a nice Leica or Contax copy.

His prices are quoted in US dollars. DOes he ship to Oz? What is the cost of shipping?

What is the cost of shipping back to NY if you find a problem?

If you want to get a Russian RF, by all means, do so. But do not expect quality in any arena.

If you do this, buy it within the context that you might buy a curio for display in your home, or to add to your personal photography collection/museum. If you buy within that sort of mindset, then if there are issues, you won't be too disappointed, and if it turns out to be a closet Leica, then that's a bonus.

But if you move ahead expecting that you're buying a photographic bargain, you will run a serious risk of being disappointed.

Yes, the cost of shipping has to be considered too. Still, Fedka has been in business for many years and sold his cameras to customers from many countries. For example, this camera manufactured in 1960, is selling for $269US. http://www.fedka.com/catalog/product_in ... cts_id=473
Also, from his site:

11-10-2005
Today the Fedka.com store hit counter reached 1 000 000! Our sincere "Thank you" to hundreds of loyal customers from 43 countries.

Certainly, there’s a demand for soviet made cameras and they are not as bad as one may think they are.
made a decision, I will buy Kiev-4AM, a Contax copy with 35mm, 50mm, and 85mm lenses. Later, I will buy myself Kiev-88TTL MF camera. This particular piece is a copy of Hasselblad made in late 80s and early 90s.