As the original 'gear talk' thread had plunged to depths never before seen on filmwasters, I thought I'd restart it and try and get it back on topic.
Ken asked for comments on the Fed 4 and Nigel was also asking for comments on RF cameras.
The Fed 4 has interchangeable lenses and it looks like Nigel is looking for something similar but most of the discussion so far seems to have been about fixed lens rangefinders. Nothing wrong with them, but maybe not what was being asked for.
My own experience with RFs (of the removable lens type) started with a Bessa T (no viewfinder and seperate rangefinder) which in many ways I found perfect and other ways not. Having no viewfinder means having seperate viewfinders for each lens and the Voightlander viewfinders are very large, clear and easy to use. And having one matched to each lens is ideal. But having a seperate rangefinder didn't suit me. Takes too long to focus and then frame seperately. Some other early RFs also have seperate viewfinders and rangefinders so worth bearing in mind whether that would work for you.
I guess it shouldn't be a surprise, but it was to me, how much difference there is between the viewfinders of different RF cameras and that can make a big difference to the user experience. Older RFs especially can have tiny viewfinders and some can be quite dim. Also, some don't have frame lines. Most of the Feds are like this though I think one of the Fed 5 versions did, but only for the standard lens. Frame lines, if they are there, are also an issue. Which lenses do you want to use and does the camera have a frame line to match, and, in the case of wide angles, can you see them? Anyone who wears glasses should especially check out whether the frame lines can be comfortably seen. It was due to the framelines of my Zeiss Ikon that I bought a CLE. The 28mm framelines in the CLE are seen much easier than in the ZI (well to me anyway) and I preferred the CLE for wideangle stuff.
I don't have any experience of the Fed 4 but did have a Zorki 6 for a while. Roger Hicks describes the Feds as having 'typically tractor-like Russian handling'. I would happily describe the Zorki 6 as agricultural as well. The 6 came to me direct from the Ukraine. It was described as good working order if I remember. Well the lens attached didn't work at all - it sort of grated when you tried to focus it. The screws showed signs of being got at so I just binned it. The camera needed serviceing to get it going but, even after that, I wouldn't have described it so much as a well oiled sewing machine but more of a used meat mincer - and judging by the amount of film it chewed up, I think the latter was more appropriate. The moral here I think is beware of buying Russian equipment from those countries (though I guess everyone should experience receiving one of those parcels wrapped in brown paper and tied up with string with funny looking stamps on it at least once).
If I'm going to recommend any particular RF, it would have to be the ZI and/or the CLE. I think the CLE has got to be my all time favourite and if you can manage with the 28mm, 40mm and 90mm framelines it has, it's about perfect. The CLE with the CV 28mm f/3.5 (which is a very small lens) is about the best street shooter I've ever handled. Having said that, I sold mine and kept the ZI as it has more framelines (28, 35, 50 and 85) and, being a bit larger, handles better when using larger lenses.
Well that's my 2 cents worth. Any more?
