FED-5

FED-5 is a Soviet rangefinder camera, one of the latest models from the FED camera series. In addition to FED-5, there were also FED-5B and FED-5C cameras, each of which had its own small features.

FED-5 was produced by Kharkiv FED Engineering Association from 1977 to 1990 and replaced FED 4. Like the previous model, the camera is made of metal and sheathed with a material similar to leatherette.

Fed-5 Specifications

Type: 35mm rangefinder camera
Manufacturer: FED plant
Production period: from 1977 to 1990
Format: 24x36cm on 135 film
Lens mount: m39 thread mount
Lens: Industar-61 L/D f2.8/55
Rangefinder base: 43mm
Shutter: focal-plane shutter with speeds from 1 to 1/500 sec.
Viewfinder: optical parallax viewfinder combined with a rangefinder
Lighmeter: built-in selenium light meter
Flash synchronisation: sync socket “X”, sync speeds from 1/30 s and longer.
Selftimer: mechanical
Weight: 960 grams

The first FED model was almost an exact copy of Leica II, but with each subsequent model, these cameras became larger and more massive. Starting with the latest variations of the second model, the FED cameras began to lose the proportionality and style that existed in the first models.

The FED-5 camera was equipped with an Industar-61 L/D 2.8/55. lens, which was designed according to the Tessar optical scheme. Thanks to the good optical design and the correct operation of the engineers, this lens gives sharp photographs with excellent color rendering. The camera has an M39 thread mount, standard for Soviet rangefinders, inherited from the first Leica cameras.

The camera had a film advance lever, which greatly facilitated the task of the photographer and accelerated the process of photographing. Like all previous models, FED-5 was equipped with a curtain shutter inherited from Leica II with shutter speeds of 1-s, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/15, 1/30, 1/60, 1/125, 1/250, 1/500, and B. An excellent range of shutter speeds, but we can say that a shutter speed of 1/1000 would make this range even better.

The camera was equipped with a light meter, which nevertheless does not function properly at this time, so it is better to use third-party light meters. All controls for this light meter are located in the upper left part of the camera.

The back cover is completely removable in the same way as in FED 2, which is slightly more convenient than the Leica style bottom loading as in the first models. FED-5 also has a hot shoe and a self-timer. The shutter button of the camera has a thread for the shutter release cable.

Conclusion

FED-5 is not a beautiful or elegant camera, but it does its job perfectly, and the Industar 61 L/D lens makes this camera an excellent tool in the photographer’s hands.