The FED
was the first Leica II(D) copy made in the Soviet Union. Its production
started in 1934 and lasted till 1955 with an interruption in 1941-1946
during WWII. At least seven different variations of the FED are known.
This FED is an early postwar
model, type 1f by Princelle or type 5 by McKeown. It has a new FED logo
engraved on the top plate along
with the "Zd. Im. FEDzerzhinskogo" engraving
(this second engraving disappeared in the next model - type 1g). The shutter
release knob is of the newer style, with the cable release thread
(it became standard feature in 1953 in the FED 1g.
Specifications:
- Shutter speeds - B, 1/25 - 1/500.
- The lens is a collapsible FED,
F=5 cm, 1:3.5, 39 mm LTM, coated. This lens is a copy of Leitz 50/3.5
Elmar.
- As a true Leica copy, the FED
accepts the whole range of Leica threadmount lenses.
The FED is a nice user and a desirable
and uncommon collectible camera. You can try any TM Leica lens with the
FED body, and use its sharp FED lens with any screwmount Leica.