simon_gabriel Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 <p><img src="http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NTc2WDEwMjQ=/z/vAIAAOSwnDxUpt8k/$_86.JPG" alt="" /></p> <p>Can anyone identify this camera from this awful photograph? Better yet, the lens? Any guesses?</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skeeter Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 <p>you are correct, that is an awful photograph. the dog is in focus, however. if you look on the top plate you will find a serial number that is searchable in online databases such as this one...<br> https://www.cameraquest.com/ltmnum.htm<br> <br />same thing for the lens</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john_shriver Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 <p>FED -- Russian Leica copy. The shape of the raised frame around the viewfinder window is the give-away. Also, FED's didn't have low-speeds, so any LTM without a low speed dial is automatically suspect.<br> Someone went to more effort than usual on this fake, as the shutter button has been replaced with a Leica-style one.<br> Lens is probably an Industar as well.<br> https://www.cameraquest.com/leica_II_fake.htm</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BelaMolnar Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 <p>Yes, it is a FED and the lens is an Industar. I have two of this Russian copy of the Leica II D ( FED and a Zorkij C ) and an original German Leica II D, with the Elmar 3.5. If you can get the camera for a couple of dollars go for it. Around 1956-60, I used one of this in Hungary the Zorkij version, and shoot a lots of film, B&W, with it and I get very good results. If you lucky, you get a good one if not, then a dog. It is worth to get and shoot with it, practising the range-finder film photography.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
james_elwing Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 <p>Could turn out to be a bit of a FrankenLeica. While the VF window is certainly Russian, The shutter button looks Leica not Russian, although that's unclear, and the 'Elmar' locking button is in Leica rather than Russian 10 o'clock position, although it may deliberately have not been screwed in all the way. The 'Elmar' aperture control mechanism is (deliberately) unclear. I think we are being hornswaggled, in a nice way of course. The dog is in focus; maybe that's a clue?</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
james_elwing Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 <p>UH-OH Just found a photo of an early FED with those characteristics</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winfried_buechsenschuetz1 Posted January 3, 2015 Share Posted January 3, 2015 <p>Yes, early series of the FED had a shutter button similar (or identical) to the Leica. Maybe they also had the same position of the infinity latch on the lens. <br> BTW there were even some very, very early FED with a "stepped" viewfinder window. These rare items have a value of their own and there is no reason to convert them to a fake Leica. </p> <p>http://www.sovietcams.com/index.php?414372438</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mukul_dube Posted January 3, 2015 Share Posted January 3, 2015 <p>John, the early FED had a Leica style shutter release. Oops. Two people have said this already.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDMvW Posted January 3, 2015 Share Posted January 3, 2015 <p>Lots of images, many of them of the earlier version of the FED at<br /> <a href="https://www.google.com/search?newwindow=1&biw=1811&bih=1297&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=FED+1+camera&oq=FED+1+camera&gs_l=img.3..0i24l2.15501.16422.0.18153.7.2.0.5.5.0.89.162.2.2.0.msedr...0...1c.1.60.img..0.7.168.H3sAuzLn28U">link</a> (Google image search)</p> <p>I find it fascinating that virtually every post that asks for an identification of a "Leica" is for a transmogrified FED or Zorki. </p> <p>I love these things, and the ex-soviet (re)makers have a wonderful sense of humor (<a href="https://www.cameraquest.com/fakerusk.htm">link</a>). Most of them these days are so outrageous that they bring to mind the WC Fields' movie <em>You Can't Cheat an Honest Man.</em></p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
james_elwing Posted January 3, 2015 Share Posted January 3, 2015 <p>I was at a house and contents auction a few weeks ago which included a small camera lot. This included a single Leica IIIa with Elmar, a bit worn but clean, camera & lens in good working order. Someone suggested he thought it was a IIId. Obviously someone ran with that. I am told it went for over $1200 AU.<br> I think some folk google from their smart phones, see dollar signs without background knowledge, other than that all Leicas are fabulously expensive. Ebay says $12000-$18000 for a IIId. Wow I can make at least $10000.<br> When Jack's mother realised he had sold the family cow for 3 beans, she threw them out the window. Let's hope nobody throws a nice little Leica out the window:)</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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