Hi Tom, No, I can't really say that there is no difference in quality of construction. I've heard that FED and Zorki quality is inconsistent, with FEDs being somewhat better. My FED happens to be a well made example. The shutter sounds good and seems to be accurate. It's think it's a IIIa clone, so it's not quite fair to compare it to my IIIf, although I believe it's of similar vintage (early fifties). It actually sounds and feels more like a IIIc I used to own. It's a bit quieter than the IIIf, but it doesn't sound as precise if you know what I mean. It's hard to put a finger on it. However, the wind mechanism, door, and other parts seem to function exactly like those of a real Leica. Paul
> That is interesting, Paul, as I have been thinking of getting one. Are you > saying there is no real obvious difference in quality of construction? > > graywolf > http://www.graywolfphoto.com > "Idiot Proof" <==> "Expert Proof" > ----------------------------------- > > > Paul Stenquist wrote: > > My camera is a FED I believe. I'll post a pic of it one of these days. > > It's a Leica clone, so it takes the 39mm rangefinder lenses. I think it > > would actually be considered a IIIa clone, because it doesn't have the > > slow shutter speeds. Zorkis are considered not quite as nice as FEDs if > > memory serves me correctly. There are some websites devoted to Soviet > > Leica clones. Not all Soviet cameras were copies of course. But a Leica > > lookalike for $100 or less is a fun camera. By the way, my FED seems to > > function about the same as my Leica IIIf. It doesn't feel markedly > > different. And it shouldn't It appears to be almost identical, inside > > and out. > > Paul > > On Apr 26, 2005, at 11:04 PM, luben karavelov wrote: > > > >> Paul Stenquist wrote: > >> > >>> I base that comment on the name that the Soviets gave to their party. > >>> Perhaps it was a bad translation, but when they spoke of their party > >>> in English, they'd called it the Communist Party. As Luben says, they > >>> are more correctly called State Communists. This and most of our > >>> disagreements are about terminology rather than facts. I'm going to > >>> drop this now as well. > >>> By the way, I'm quite fond of my Soviet made Leica clone. It's a IIIc > >>> lookalike with an Industar 50/w collapsible. Nice camera and a good > >>> lens. Of course a lot of the Soviet lens makers made some nice 42mm > >>> screwmount lenses as well. Now, we're back on topic :=) > >> > >> > >> It's Zorkii, isn't it, the cammera? That's why I like Pentax, all of > >> the M42 lens I have i could use them. > >> > >> Just one correction - Stalinist regime was "State capitalism" not a > >> "communism" (following the definitions of Marx). > >> > >> Best regards > >> > >> luben > >> > > > > > > > > > -- > No virus found in this outgoing message. > Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. > Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.10.4 - Release Date: 4/27/2005 >
