As I’ve gotten back into film photography, I’ve done a lot of reading and YouTube watching about vintage cameras of all kinds. One of the cameras that keeps popping up is the Soviet made Fed 5 (and its several variants). It’s a 35mm Rangefinder and was manufactured from 1977 to 1990.

With my interest piqued, I set out to shop for one. The first thing I realized was how incredibly inexpensive and plentiful they are. A working Fed 5 with a lens (usually the Jupiter 3 50mm / f1.5 or the Industar 50mm / f2.8) can easily be found for $50 or less. eBay is always a good place to start. Etsy has also been a surprisingly good way to buy as well.

This camera has the M39 screw mount which allows for the use of a whole variety of lenses, including Leica glass. The Zorki 4 is the same in this regard, meaning the Fed 5 and the Zorki 4 can share lenses. I have recently aquired the Zorki 4 and two of these shareable lenses; the Industar 50mm / f3.5 and the Jupiter 8 50mm / f2. (More on the Zorki 4 and these two lenses in future posts.)

My girlfriend has been asking what I want for Christmas, and the Fed 5 would have been a good option for her. But that means I’d have to wait, and I’m not so good at that.

“One of the finest pieces of glass ever manufactured in the Soviet Union.”

I found a listing on eBay for a Fed 5 with the Industar 61 lens – a 55mm / f2.8, which by some accounts is, “…one of the finest pieces of glass ever manufactured in the Soviet Union.” The photos showed the camera to be in very good cosmetic condition. It was said to be fully functional with the exception of the light meter. This is not uncommon for older cameras. The seller listed the camera for $40 + $25 shipping. The listing included a “Make an Offer” button. Don’t put that option on a listing and think I won’t use it. I offered $25 and he countered with $35. Sold! Total bill was $62.63 after tax. Truth be told, I’d have probably paid that much just for the lens.

As with other gear I’ve bought recently, this one is being shipped from overseas. This time from Kamenskoe, Ukraine. I’ve also bought from Japan, Lithusuania and Slovenia. What’s interesting is how quickly these overseas packages arrive. In some cases, more quickly than stuff I’ve purchased from within the good ole U.S. of A. And **knock on wood** I haven’t been burned yet.

This gallery of photos shot by others using the Fed 5 has me pretty excited about the possibilites with this camera.

I’m eagerly awaiting this camera’s arrival. I’ll put it through its paces and update the blog with my thoughts and findings in the near future.