FED 2

FED-2

The FED-2 is a 35mm Soviet rangefinder camera produced by the FED factory in Kharkiv, Ukraine, then part of the Soviet Union. It was introduced in 1955 as the successor to the FED-1 and became one of the best-known Soviet interchangeable-lens rangefinders [1][2].

The camera uses a 39mm screw mount for interchangeable rangefinder lenses. For database purposes, the correct mount value is M39, not LTM. Although the camera is Leica-inspired and accepts many 39mm rangefinder lenses, Soviet rangefinder calibration and production tolerances make M39 the cleaner database value [1][2].

The FED-2 was a major redesign compared with the FED-1. It kept the Soviet 39mm screw-mount system but added a longer rangefinder base, a combined viewfinder and rangefinder, removable camera back, strap lugs and later flash synchronization and self-timer features depending on version [1][3].

The shutter is a horizontal-travel cloth focal-plane shutter with speeds up to 1/500 second, plus Bulb. Most FED-2 versions use the older shutter-speed sequence of 1/25, 1/50, 1/100, 1/250 and 1/500 second. Later FED-2d cameras use a more modern sequence of 1/30, 1/60, 1/125, 1/250 and 1/500 second [1][4].

The FED-2 has no built-in exposure meter and no battery-dependent functions. Early versions lack flash synchronization, while later versions add a sync socket. On synchronized versions, flash sync is generally tied to the slowest instantaneous shutter speed, usually 1/25 second or 1/30 second depending on the version [4][5].

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History

Development and Launch

The FED-2 was introduced in 1955 and remained in production until around 1970. It followed the FED-1, which had been closely based on the Leica II layout. The FED-2 was still Leica-inspired, but it was not just a direct copy of the earlier Leica-style body [1][2].

Compared with the FED-1, the FED-2 introduced a longer-base rangefinder, combined viewing and focusing window, removable back and improved ergonomics. These changes made it a more practical user camera and one of the strongest Soviet M39 rangefinder designs [3].

Mount and Calibration Notes

The FED-2 uses a 39mm rangefinder screw mount. It is often described as M39, L39 or Leica screw mount in listings, but for this database the best mount value is M39.

This does not mean Zenit M39 SLR mount. The FED-2 is a rangefinder M39 camera with the rangefinder register, not an M39 SLR camera. However, Soviet M39 bodies and lenses can show calibration and tolerance differences compared with Leica-made LTM equipment, so accurate focus should always be checked on the actual camera and lens combination.

Design Improvements over FED-1

The most visible improvement over the FED-1 is the combined viewfinder/rangefinder system. The FED-1 uses separate windows for focusing and framing, while the FED-2 lets the photographer focus and compose through one eyepiece.

The FED-2 also has a longer rangefinder base, often described as approximately 67 mm, making it potentially more accurate than the shorter rangefinder base of many compact Soviet cameras [3].

The removable back made film loading easier than on the bottom-loading FED-1. This is one of the practical reasons the FED-2 is often preferred by users among early Soviet M39 rangefinders.

Variants

The FED-2 exists in several collector-recognized versions, commonly called FED-2a, FED-2b, FED-2c, FED-2d and FED-2e. These names are useful for variant tracking, but the main model can be stored as FED-2 unless the database intentionally separates every production variant.

The FED-2a is the earliest version and lacks flash synchronization. The FED-2b added flash synchronization. Later versions added or changed features such as self-timer, shutter-speed sequence, top-plate layout and minor body details [1][4].

The FED-2d is especially important because it introduced the later international shutter-speed sequence of 1/30, 1/60, 1/125, 1/250 and 1/500 second, replacing the older 1/25, 1/50, 1/100, 1/250 and 1/500 second sequence [1][4].

Dimensions and Weight

For the main database fields, a practical body-size specification is 140 × 80 × 32 mm. Camera-wiki lists these dimensions as width, height and depth [1].

Kamerastore gives a weight of 515 g for the FED-2 and lists a slightly different size of 141 × 81 × 37 mm on one current product page [2]. This difference is likely due to measuring method, inclusion of small protrusions or retailer-specific measurement. For database consistency, use Width 140 mm, Height 80 mm, Length 32 mm, and Weight 515 g.

Lens Kits

The FED-2 is commonly found with Soviet normal lenses such as the Industar-26M 52mm f/2.8, Industar-61 52mm f/2.8 and Industar-61 L/D 55mm f/2.8. Some examples are also seen with Jupiter lenses.

Lens names should be treated as kit or listing metadata, not as part of the camera’s main model name. The body should remain FED-2.

Relationship to FED-1

The FED-2 should be kept separate from the FED-1. The FED-1 is the earlier Leica II-style camera with separate viewfinder and rangefinder windows and bottom-loading body design. The FED-2 has a redesigned body with combined finder/rangefinder, longer rangefinder base and removable back.

A simple matching rule is: FED-1 equals earlier Leica II-style body. FED-2 equals redesigned FED body with combined finder and removable back.

Relationship to FED-3

The FED-2 should also be kept separate from the FED-3. The FED-3 added slow shutter speeds down to 1 second but shortened the rangefinder base to make space for the slow-speed mechanism. The FED-2 has no slow speeds below 1/25 or 1/30 second, depending on version, but has the longer rangefinder base.

A simple matching rule is: FED-2 equals long-base body without slow speeds. FED-3 equals later body with slow speeds.

Relationship to Zorki Cameras

The FED-2 should not be merged with Zorki models. Zorki cameras were made by KMZ and have their own production line, model sequence and body features. A seller listing that only says “Russian Leica copy” should be checked for the top-plate engraving before matching.

FED cameras normally carry FED or ФЭД markings. Zorki cameras normally carry Zorki or Зоркий markings.

Identification

The FED-2 is identified by its FED / ФЭД-2 top-plate marking, M39 screw mount, combined viewfinder/rangefinder eyepiece, removable back, long rangefinder base, cloth focal-plane shutter and Soviet body construction.

Common listing names include FED-2, FED 2, ФЭД-2, FED-2a, FED-2b, FED-2c, FED-2d, FED-2e, FED 2 M39, FED 2 Soviet rangefinder and FED 2 Leica copy. These should usually point to the same base camera entry, with suffix letters stored as variant metadata.

Collector Notes

The FED-2 is collectible as one of the most usable Soviet M39 rangefinder cameras. It is common, affordable and historically important because it represents a real design evolution beyond the FED-1 rather than only a direct Leica II-style copy.

Collectors and buyers should check shutter curtains, rangefinder alignment, viewfinder clarity, removable back fit, light leaks, shutter-speed operation, flash-sync socket, self-timer if present, lens mount condition and whether the shutter speeds are changed only after cocking the shutter.

The FED-2 should be treated as a separate M39 film camera because its Soviet 39mm screw mount, long-base combined rangefinder, removable back and distinct production history separate it from FED-1, FED-3, Zorki bodies and Leica-standard LTM cameras.

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Sources

• [1] Camera-wiki. FED 2. https://camera-wiki.org/wiki/FED_2
• [2] Kamerastore. FED 2, Camera. https://kamerastore.com/en-us/products/fed-2-ltm-m39
• [3] Mike Eckman. FED 2, 1955. https://mikeeckman.com/2019/12/fed-2-1955/
• [4] Deutsches Kameramuseum. FED-2b. https://kameramuseum.de/objekte/fed-2b/
• [5] FED-2 Operating Instructions. https://mattsclassiccameras.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/FED-2_manual.pdf