Remember the Fed 5B I was talking about?
Straight out of the box, the Fed 5B proves why Russian cameras are analogue heavyweights. Physically, this 35mm film shooter does not own the negligible weight of most analogue/lomography cameras I’ve had before. It definitely makes its presence felt when I was holding it or even when it’s snug inside the Billingham. Yes, it’s considerably heavier than the cameras I possess, but truth be told, I love the fact that it’s chunky.
The rangefinder was also a significant departure from my standard arsenal of lomo cameras. The Canon Rebel 2000 was perhaps the closest comparable camera I have, in terms of adjustable settings like ISO, aperture and shutter speed. However, the similarities end there; the Fed 5B is as manual as you can get. Therefore, to use it properly, you better have more than just a superficial knowledge about the technical aspects of photography. Without jumping into the tech specs of the camera, I can safely say that the manual in the box and Google are sufficient sources of information to get yourself started.
What I like about the Fed 5B:
- Loading film. The Advance Crank and the take-up spool works efficiently, and each roll I put in fits tightly at first try. A plus point really, since I’m forever frustrated with loading the LC-A.
- Every sound it makes. Advancing the film, releasing the shutter, rewinding the film…eargasm.
- Its heavyset body. Makes shooting seem important.
- Fully manual operation. A challenge at first, but effortless once I got the hang of it.
- Timer function. Ok, I didn’t try this at all. These photos from Sasha, a fellow lomohead, makes me regret not trying it out.
What I do not like about the Fed 5B:
- The Diopter Adjustment/Viewfinder. It’s metal, and it scratches my new Ray-bans. Heart pain.
- No strap holes. Absolutely necessary since I always find myself holding on the camera for dear life. And I’m not talking about mine.
