FED-5 is a Soviet rangefinder camera with interchangeable lenses, produced from 1977 to 1991 of the last century by the Kharkov Labor Commune named after Felix Edmundovich Dzerzhinsky (Ukraine), which by that time existed as a large plant for the production of cameras and optical instruments.

FED-5 - development of FED rangefinder cameras. FED-5, FED-5V, FED-5S were produced in parallel. The FED-5 had a rangefinder combined with the viewfinder with a base reduced to 2mm compared to the FED-43. The cameras were produced with a selenium exposure meter. The optics were installed on an outdated M39 connection (Leica Screw Mount). The numbering of the cameras is coded, it is not possible to determine the exact year of release. For the period from 1975 to 1991. produced about 230 copies.

FED-5 modifications

FED-5 meets different types of control materials, with different writing of the font in the name of the model.

According to the catalog "1200 cameras of the USSR" FED-5 has the following modifications:

• FED-5
  • FED-5
  • FED-5 Model line I Modification 1 Issue 1
  • FED-5 Model line I Modification 1 Issue 2
  • FED-5 Model line I Modification 1 Issue 3 (special)
  • FED-5 Model line II Modification 1 Issue 4
  • FED-5 Model line II Modification 2 Issue 5
  • FED-5 Model line II Modification 2 Issue 6 (special)

• FED-5S
  • FED-5S Model Line I Modification 1 Issue 1
  • FED-5S Model line I Modification 1 Issue 2 (special)
  • FED-5S Model line II Modification 1 Issue 3
  • FED-5S Model line II Modification 2 Issue 4
  • FED-5S Model line II Modification 2 Issue 5
  • Distinctive features of the "FED-5S" model cameras releases

• FED-5V
  • FED-5V Model line I Modification 1 Issue 1
  • FED-5V Model line I Modification 1 Issue 2 (special)
  • FED-5V Model line I Modification 1 Issue 3 (special)
  • FED-5V Model line I Modification 1 Issue 4
  • FED-5V Model line II Modification 1 Issue 5
  • FED-5V Model line II Modification 1 Issue b
  • FED-5V Model line II Modification 1 Issue 7
  • FED-5V Model line II Modification 1 Issue 8 (special)
  • FED-5V Model line II Modification 2 Issue 9
  • FED-5V Model line II Modification 2 Issue 10 (special)
  • FED-5V Model line II Modification 2 Issue 11 (special)
• Distinctive features of the "FED-5V" model camera releases

FED-5 in operation

The 1977 camera, although it had an outdated lens mount, nevertheless made it possible to take good photos. It had a combined rangefinder with a viewfinder, but at the same time, focusing less than one meter was not available for the lenses of these rangefinder cameras. There was an extensive park of optics, which made it possible to install various lenses with a standardized focal distance without adjusting the rangefinder, and the standard lenses of the Industar series initially had good image quality, unlike most of what is now equipped with cameras with interchangeable lenses in the kit.

The main inconvenience when working with a rangefinder camera was the inability to see the image from the lens. The rangefinder and viewfinder were a separate system that only gave an informational view of focusing. There was no way to visually determine the depth of field, so we used the depth-of-field scale from the lenses.

Case, build quality FED-5

Impeccable workmanship of exterior parts and finishes. No backlash, no creaks. The gaps between the panels are minimal, the back wall can be folded back, but closed with two locks. The chamber bodies had upper and lower parts made of electrochemically painted brass.

Management

All controls are concentrated on the top cover. Here is a dial for setting the shutter speeds, a drive for the shutter cocking device and film advance, as well as a reminder of the film sensitivity. The release button with activation of the film winding mode back to the take-up spool is located between the shoe and the shutter cocking device, and the accessory shoe itself, which could mainly accommodate flashes or various devices such as a revolving or single viewfinder, is located at the highest point of the top cover.

Iris control

Manual control of aperture, determination of the depth of field on a scale from the lens. There was no mechanization or aperture preset. All manipulations were done manually.

Sighting through the viewfinder

The viewfinder combined with the rangefinder is a breakthrough in convenience after the first FED model. It was possible to crop and focus at the same time. The main thing is that the camera is in good working order, and the plane of the image from the lens coincides with the displayed image in the viewfinder and is correctly projected onto the film. However, this innovation at the time of the release of the model was already 30 years old, and nothing new was done. Frames have not been introduced, the viewfinder is dark and not very comfortable. A large rangefinder spot interferes with framing. Diopter adjustment has been moved to the viewfinder eyepiece. You twist the eyepiece, adjust the sharpness.

Exposure control

Exposure control is manual. To set the shutter speed, it was necessary to cock the shutter, and only then turn the shutter speed dial. The shutter speeds available for setting are B, 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/15, 1/30, 1/60, 1/125, 1/250, and 1/500 sec. The shutter is equipped with a mechanical retarder. Excerpts are given in accordance with GOST USSR.

Flash sync

Flash sync speed is classically available at 1 / 30th of a second. Until 1982, the cameras were produced with 2 sync contacts, and since 1982 with one central one. In the practice of collecting, there are cameras with Olympic symbols dedicated to the Summer Olympic Games, which took place in Moscow in 1980.

Light meter and exposure metering in FED-5

FED-5 is equipped with a selenium exposure meter. A galvanometric device that reacts to the level of illumination and is very inaccurate in its readings, since it is not located in the case and is illuminated from all sides. Lives separately from the camera and is not combined with the shutter speed dial. The photographer could rely on the readings of the galvanometer by adjusting the calculator's marks closer to the deviated arrow. The values ​​were selected based on the installed light-sensitive material.

Convenience of work

Convenience of work, as with a film camera. There is nothing superfluous in the device, but some system limitations do not contribute to efficiency:

• Depth of field is not determined
• It is impossible to shoot the dynamics, since it is not always possible to observe the moving part of the rangefinder image correctly
• No way to focus closer than 1 meter by default
• There is no way to simply change the focal length by attaching a longer or shorter lens and shoot without looking through the secondary viewfinder
• No framing frames directly in the viewfinder for lenses other than 50mm focal length

Well, the most relish:

• The photographer is shocked from the sync terminal when the flash is installed and connected to the shoe

Noise

FED-5 belongs to the class of cameras with the quietest shutters. Just "clack" and that's it. Soft release button, there is no perceptible vibration, there is no mirror that would vibrate and create additional noise.

FED-5 shutter operation

Since the FED-5 and FED-5V cameras differ only in the presence of an exposure meter, you can listen, for example, how the FED-5V shutter works as a basic camera of the series.

Reliability

The reliability of the FED-5 mechanics is slightly lower than that of cameras with a fixed shutter cocking head. If only because there is an opportunity to break the shutter or the cocking mechanism by wrong actions. Otherwise, the troubles are like those of cameras with shutters. The shutters were used typical for the Zorkiy, Zenit, FED models of various versions, with accompanying problems in the form of:

• Jammed curtains
• Weakening of springs and incorrect operation of shutter speeds
• Broken curtains
• Burnout of the shutters due to aging of rubber or burnout in the sun, if the user has hammered to cover the lens with a cap
• The cocking mechanism really breaks down if you switch the shutter speed on the uncocked shutter

Working with film

The film is loaded under the hinged cover, it is necessary to push in and fix the tail of the film in the take-up spool. Film rewinding is carried out using a retractable head. Frame counter - manual, no reset. The film is loaded under the rear removable cover.

Loading film FED-5

Loading the film is very simple, it is done under the rear opening cover, as on the FED-5V. We push the tail of the fresh film into the slot of the receiver coil, and make a control cocking of the shutter.

Get the film out of FED-5

It is not difficult to get the film out of the FED-5. You must press the skirt at the base of the shutter button and then remove the rewind knob from the disc on the left. Roll up the film clockwise.

Gallery of images of the FED-5 camera

• FED cameras

An example of a photo from the FED-5 camera

author - Dima Kolomeets

Technical characteristics of FED-5

Summary

The FED-5 camera cost 1980 rubles in the 77s.

A classic rangefinder camera for those who like rangefinder cameras. According to information from Collectiblend, cameras of this type, depending on the modification, can cost up to $ 100. In our market, cameras of free movement can be found very cheaply.

• Author: Photographer in Cherepovets Alexey Gvozdev
• https://liveviewer.ru

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