FED

FED

FED was a Soviet and Ukrainian camera and optical manufacturer based in Kharkiv, historically written as Kharkov, in Soviet Ukraine. The name FED comes from Felix Edmundovich Dzerzhinsky, whose initials were used for the children’s labour commune and later the factory that produced the first mass-produced Soviet 35mm rangefinder cameras. FED is best known for its Leica-inspired screw mount cameras and lenses, especially the early FED 1, later FED 2, FED 3, FED 4, and FED 5 rangefinder camera lines.

For LeicaLensList, FED is directly relevant because the factory produced Leica screw mount, LTM, and M39 rangefinder cameras and lenses. Early FED cameras were based on the Leica II concept and used a Leica-type 39mm screw mount. FED lenses should be treated as a separate make when they were produced by, engraved with, or clearly associated with the Kharkiv FED factory. This is important because Soviet lens names such as Industar were used across multiple manufacturers. A lens called Industar may be FED-made, KMZ-made, LZOS-made, or produced by another Soviet optical plant, depending on the exact version, markings, and production context.

History

Founding / Early Years

The FED story began in 1927, when the F. E. Dzerzhinsky Children’s Labour Commune was opened in Kharkiv. The commune was led by the educator Anton Makarenko and was originally connected to vocational training and industrial production rather than photography. Its first industrial products included mechanical and electrical goods.

In 1934, a camera production plant was established on the commune’s territory to manufacture the first portable 35mm cameras in the Soviet Union under the FED name. The early FED camera was closely based on the Leica II and became the Soviet Union’s first mass-produced small-format 35mm rangefinder camera. These cameras used a Leica-type screw mount and were usually paired with FED-branded 50mm lenses.

Early Camera and Lens Production

The original FED cameras were produced in Kharkiv and became one of the most important Soviet Leica copies. Early examples carried inscriptions referring to the Dzerzhinsky labour commune and Kharkiv. The standard early lens was a collapsible 50mm f/3.5 FED lens, often associated with the optical layout later known as Industar-10.

FED lens production is closely connected to the early Soviet effort to create a complete domestic 35mm camera system. The company did not simply produce camera bodies, it also supplied standard lenses for its rangefinder cameras. Early FED lenses were designed for the Leica screw mount standard, although collectors sometimes note that early Soviet production tolerances and flange standards require careful checking when used on Leica bodies.

War, Evacuation, and Reconstruction

During the Second World War, the Kharkiv plant was evacuated to Berdsk in Siberia. Civilian camera production was interrupted, and production shifted toward military and technical equipment. After the war, limited camera production resumed, including post-war FED cameras assembled in Berdsk and later restarted in Kharkiv.

Post-war FED production continued the Leica screw mount tradition but gradually moved away from direct Leica copying. The FED 2, introduced in the 1950s, was one of the most important developments. It retained the M39 screw mount but added a longer rangefinder base, a combined viewfinder and rangefinder, and improved usability compared with the original FED 1 design.

Post-War Rangefinder System

From the 1950s through the late Soviet period, FED produced several generations of 35mm rangefinder cameras. These cameras were often sold with standard Soviet M39 lenses such as the Industar-10, Industar-26M, and Industar-61 L/D. Some of these lenses were made by FED, while other Soviet lenses with similar names were produced by different factories.

This makes factory identification important. A lens should not automatically be listed under KMZ simply because it carries an Industar name. If the lens is from the Kharkiv FED plant, engraved with FED markings, supplied as a FED camera lens, or documented as FED production, the make should be FED.

Late Soviet and Ukrainian Period

FED remained active through much of the twentieth century and produced millions of rangefinder cameras. Later FED cameras became less refined than early collector models but remained important as affordable 35mm cameras for Soviet and export markets. The company later became part of the Ukrainian industrial landscape, with its broader business moving away from consumer camera production.

For collectors, the strongest LeicaLensList relevance is concentrated in the early and mid-period FED rangefinder system, especially lenses and cameras using the Leica screw mount.

Product Lines

Leica Screw Mount Rangefinder Cameras

FED’s most important product line for LeicaLensList is its series of 35mm rangefinder cameras using the Leica-type M39 screw mount. Important models include the FED 1, FED 2, FED 3, FED 4, and FED 5. The earliest FED 1 cameras were close Leica II copies, while later models became distinct Soviet rangefinder designs.

FED 50mm f/3.5 and Industar-10 Type Lenses

The early collapsible FED 50mm f/3.5 lens is one of the most important FED-associated lenses. It is closely related to the Soviet Industar-10 name and was commonly supplied with early FED cameras. These lenses are Leica screw mount lenses and are directly relevant to LLL, but individual examples should be checked for condition, rangefinder calibration, and early Soviet mechanical tolerances.

Industar-26M and Industar-61 L/D

Later FED cameras were commonly paired with standard M39 lenses such as the Industar-26M 50mm f/2.8 and Industar-61 L/D 55mm f/2.8. These are among the most recognizable FED-era rangefinder lenses. The Industar-61 L/D is especially known for its lanthanum glass and is frequently used today on Leica screw mount and Leica M cameras through adapters.

Longer FED and Soviet M39 Lenses

FED cameras could also be used with other Soviet M39 rangefinder lenses, including Jupiter and Industar telephoto or wide-angle lenses. However, not all of these lenses were made by FED. For LeicaLensList, the make should be assigned based on the actual manufacturer, not only the lens family name.

Industrial and Optical Products

Beyond cameras and camera lenses, FED also produced optical-mechanical, aviation, and technical equipment. This broader industrial role became increasingly important over time, especially after the factory’s wartime shift toward aviation and military production.

Technical Characteristics

Feature	Description
Company Type	Soviet and Ukrainian camera, lens, and optical-mechanical manufacturer.
Historic Base	Kharkiv, historically Kharkov, Ukraine.
Name Origin	Initials of Felix Edmundovich Dzerzhinsky.
Camera Production Start	1934.
Main LeicaLensList Relevance	Leica screw mount, LTM, and M39 rangefinder cameras and lenses.
Important Camera Lines	FED 1, FED 2, FED 3, FED 4, FED 5.
Important Lens Names	FED 50mm f/3.5, Industar-10, Industar-26M, Industar-61 L/D.
Mount Type	Leica screw mount, LTM, M39 on relevant rangefinder models.
Rangefinder Coupling	Present on FED rangefinder lenses intended for FED and Leica-type screw mount cameras.
Optical Character	Classic Soviet rendering, moderate contrast, simple optical formulas, vintage sharpness, and variable sample quality depending on era and condition.
Collector Caution	Industar is a lens family name, not automatically a manufacturer name. FED-made Industar lenses should be listed under FED, while KMZ-made examples should be listed under KMZ.
Related Manufacturers	KMZ, LZOS, LOMO, Arsenal, and other Soviet optical factories.
Historical Importance	Producer of the first mass-produced Soviet 35mm rangefinder camera system.

Market Reception

FED occupies a major place in the history of Soviet photography. The early FED 1 is widely recognized as one of the most important Leica copies and as a milestone in the Soviet 35mm camera industry. Later FED cameras were produced in very large numbers and became common working cameras across the Soviet Union and export markets.

Among Leica and rangefinder collectors, FED has a mixed but important reputation. Early FED cameras and lenses are valued for their historical connection to the Leica II, their Kharkiv production background, and their role in creating a Soviet 35mm camera system. Later FED cameras are often more affordable and more common, but they remain useful entry points into Leica screw mount photography.

FED lenses are especially relevant when correctly identified. A FED-branded 50mm f/3.5, FED-made Industar-10, or FED-made Industar-61 L/D belongs under the FED make, not under KMZ. KMZ should only be used when the lens was actually made by the Krasnogorsk Mechanical Works. This distinction is important for LeicaLensList because Soviet lenses often share optical names across factories, while collector value and historical accuracy depend on the real manufacturer.

Sources

• FED Official History, 1927–1945: https://www.fed.com.ua/en/history1.html
• Oscar Fricke, The Dzerzhinsky Commune, Birth of the Soviet 35mm Camera Industry: https://www.fedka.com/Useful_info/Commune_by_Fricke/commune_A.htm
• USSRPhoto, One More Time a Little Bit About FED by Alexey Nikitin: https://ussrphoto.com/modern/Wiki/print.asp?ContentID=1653
• Camera-wiki, FED: https://camera-wiki.org/wiki/FED
• Camerapedia, FED: https://camerapedia.fandom.com/wiki/FED
• Camerapedia, FED Original / FED-1: https://camerapedia.fandom.com/wiki/FED_%28Original%29_%28_FED_NKVD%2C_FED-S%2C_FED-1%29
• Soviet Cams, FED Rangefinder Cameras: http://www.sovietcams.com