Fed 4

Fed 4 with Industar 61

I've always been interested in Soviet cameras, for one thing I can actually afford them. But not once have I been tempted by the Fed 4. Manufactured from 1969-1976, the Fed 4 is significantly larger than the earlier Fed 1s and Fed 2s. The built-in selenium light meter does little to add to the cameras looks, making it one of the ugliest cameras produced by the FSU. So when I saw this example at a camera show earlier this year, I had no intention of buying it, for one thing it was priced at the outrageous price of $75. The only reason I picked it up was out of curiosity, I then set it back down and started to walk away. It was at this point that the dealer shouted out "Today only, $30!". This is why I now own a Fed 4.
FSU Fed 4 classic camera industar 61 rangefinder
This Fed 4 is the later version, which added a lever wind and lost built in strap lugs. The most redeeming aspect of the Fed 4 is that it came with the excellent Industar 61 lens, which is well known as a strong performer by FSU enthusiasts, especially for black and white photography as it produces excellent contrast. This is the second I-61 I have in my collection, and I can verify that it is indeed a fantastic lens.
FSU Fed 4 classic camera industar 61 rangefinder
The Fed 4 turned out to be more trouble than I expected. The first roll of film I put through it revealed that there was a light leak near the center of the frame. Closer inspection revealed a small hole in the shutter curtain I had somehow missed when first looking at the camera, which was thankfully small enough that it was easy to patch. When I was scanning the second roll of film I was getting horrible overexposed results, and at first thought that my shutter curtain repair had affected the shutter speeds. But the negatives looked alright and eventually figured out that it was my scanner settings that were at fault, when I rescanned the film everything looked much better.
Dayton Fed 4 Ohio chair industar 61 neopan acros riverscape rodinal street Scan 120422 0009
This roll was shot in downtown Dayton, mainly while walking along the bike path by the Great Miami river.
Dayton Fed 4 Ohio graffiti industar 61 neopan acros rodinal street Scan 120428 0001
The river was running a bit high due to the large amount of rain over the weekend, at some points it looked like it was actually flowing backward, although I think this was probably an illusion.
Dayton Fed 4 Ohio bird duck industar 61 neopan acros river rodinal street Scan 120428 0004
There are quite a few water fowl on this stretch of the river, I'm sure that despite the posted signs forbidding the feeding of the birds, that a large part of the ducks and geese diet comes from human hands. But since it was the middle of a weekday there was no free lunch being passed out that afternoon.
Dayton Fed 4 Ohio bird goose industar 61 neopan acros river rodinal street Scan 120428 0015
City drain outputting to the river.
Dayton Fed 4 Ohio drain industar 61 neopan acros pipe rodinal street water Scan 120428 0005
Dayton Fed 4 Ohio bridge industar 61 neopan acros overpass river rodinal street Scan 120428 0012
At Riverscape park
Dayton Fed 4 Ohio industar 61 neopan acros rodinal statue street Scan 120428 0006
The idle splashpad waiting for summer.
Dayton Fed 4 Ohio abstract industar 61 neopan acros pattern rodinal street waterpad Scan 120428 0007
I'm not sure what was in these building before, but they are being rapidly demolished.
Dayton Fed 4 Ohio demolish demolition industar 61 neopan acros rodinal rubble street Scan 120428 0008
Fed 4
Dayton Fed 4 Ohio back hoe demolition industar 61 neopan acros rodinal rubble street Scan 120428 0009
Dayton Skyline as seen from Deed's park with Kettering Tower towards the left of the image.
Dayton Fed 4 Ohio industar 61 neopan acros rodinal skyline street Scan 120428 0010
Idle baseball field
Dayton Fed 4 Ohio fence industar 61 neopan acros rodinal street stump wood Scan 120428 0011
Downtown Dayton
Dayton Fed 4 Ohio downtown industar 61 neopan acros rodinal street Scan 120428 0013
Dayton Fed 4 Ohio industar 61 neopan acros rodinal street Scan 120428 0019
Charles Kettering himself
Charles Kettering Dayton Fed 4 Ohio industar 61 neopan acros rodinal street Scan 120428 0014
Water height marker along the river.
Dayton Fed 4 Ohio industar 61 leaves measuring stick neopan acros rodinal street Scan 120428 0017
April 2012

Fuji Neopan Acros in Rodinal
Dayton Fed 4 Ohio abstract cracks industar 61 neopan acros rodinal stairs steps street Scan 120428 0018

Through an old lens

Fed 4