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.