16. The Soviet fakes

In the early 1930s the Soviet FED factory in Kharkov (now Ukraine) began producing copies of German Leica cameras. Genuine Leicas were, and still are, high-end cameras, using quality lenses and expertly engineered manufacturing. Virtually every part of the FED was designed to look exactly like a Leica, and some versions can be hard to tell apart from the real thing. I frequently come across these cameras for sale with identifying marks removed and serial numbers scratched out. Bizarrely this was also done to some genuine Leicas owned by Germans in order to confuse Soviet spies!

During the second world war, the Kharkov factory had to be evacuated to escape (ironically) German troops. So post-war production was moved to a factory near Moscow, where further Leica copies were made under the brand 'FED' and 'Zorki'. Despite being openly produced as fakes (and of course I'd much rather own a real Leica but it's out of my budget), I've obtained a 1940s FED and a 1955 Zorki to see how they perform.

The earlier FED on the left is slightly smaller, but otherwise they are very similar and reflect minor changes in the style of the original Leica.

My usual strip-down of the FED reveals a major issue with the shutter and film wind-on mechanism which I cannot resolve. So that one is sadly just for the display cabinet, but the internal parts of the Zorki are essentially the same and it's quicker second time around.

The shutter fires with a satisfying 'thunk'. Speeds are 1/25sec to an impressive 1/500sec, and with apertures of 4-16 there are plenty of options for increasing and reducing light in photos.

The Zorki and FED are a type of camera called Rangefinder. The back of the camera appears to have two holes to look through. The right one is a standard viewfinder to set up your photo. The left one uses a set of mirrors to produce two images. As you turn the distance wheel on the lens, the images converge into one which indicates the distance is set for perfect focus. Does it work? I have absolutely no idea. When you're a real life nanny you don't have the eyesight of a 25yr old Soviet to look through a hole just 3.5mm diameter.

The camera takes 35mm film which is still fairly easy to get hold of.

The film loading, however, proves to be incredibly difficult and fiddly. 35mm cameras from about 1960 onwards involved opening the whole back of the camera which revealed everything, so it was easy to see what you were doing.

The FED and Zorki cameras open at the bottom, revealing just two slots. The film has to slot into the very tight gap between the camera mechanism and the case, obstructed by a chunk of metal with no known purpose other than to mash up or rip the film. Several times.

On the upside, I quickly learn the Russian for 'Open' and 'Closed'.

May not be able to find another use for this just yet...

So how does this solid little Soviet fake perform?

Well, it has to be said, this is a cracking little camera, fake or not. An online search reveals the tricks to get modern 35mm film into the camera without damaging the film or your fingers, and then I'm good to go. The results are in. The real Leica may have to wait.