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Introduction:
The Fed 5 is the final development of the earlier Fed and Fed 2 cameras, being themselves copies of the Leica II and III
35mm cameras. Many of the controls and much of the layout will be familiar to Leica screwmount users.
While certainly not in the same class as the Leica III, or by reputation even the earlier Fed 2 and 3, the Fed 5 actually
has some advantages. Tops among its advantages is the fact that you are not carrying an irreplaceable collectors item
should you decide to use it. The viewfinder is also marginally brighter than a Leica screwmount and is coincident with
the rangefinder. The Fed 5 has a selenium match needle system, a pop-up rewind knob, and a hotshoe. Above all, the
film can be loaded, in daylight, with the ease and convenience of a modern 35mm camera - the entire back comes off!
As compared to earlier Fed cameras, the Fed 5 offers the aforementioned meter, brightlines in the viewfinder -
including parallax compensation for the 50mm lens, and autoreset on the film counter. The build quality tends to be
somewhat poorer than the earlier Fed models.
Without getting into ugly specifics about build quality, the primary functional disadvantage of the Fed over Leica
screwmounts is the relatively slow top shutter speed of 1/500th sec. But when did anyone ever get a Leica to actually
snap its shutter at a true 1/1000th anyway?
2. Timer Release
Button
3. Meter Window
LOADING / UNLOADING FILM
FED 5 OWNERS MANUAL
All material copyright by Mark Tharp, 2000
4. Rangefinder
Optic
5. Viewfinder
1. Rewind Knob
2. GOST Setting Ring 8. Shutter Speeds
3. Match Needle
Window
4. Rewind Release
5. Shutter Release
6.Exposure Counter
7. Winding Lever
9. Hot Shoe
10. Shutter Speed Meter
Ring
11. Match Needle
Numbers
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Summary of Contents for FED 5
- Page 1 35mm cameras. Many of the controls and much of the layout will be familiar to Leica screwmount users. While certainly not in the same class as the Leica III, or by reputation even the earlier Fed 2 and 3, the Fed 5 actually has some advantages.
- Page 2 To access the film compartment you remove the one-piece back. It is secured by two rotating latches on the bottom plate. Rotate each latch toward the outside of the camera body as shown in the illustration above. Slide the back off as shown. Installation is the reverse of this proceedure. To load film place the 35mm cartridge onto the left spindle, with the film leader placed into the takeup spool on the right.
- Page 3 winding lever is in the way; I have to use my fingernail. Rewind the film until no resistence is felt from the film. The back may now be opened and the film removed. Press down on the rewind knob, and rotate clockwise to lock back into position.
- Page 4 50mm lens as seen inside the outer brightline frame. If your Fed 5 does not have a brightline frame, your field of view is somewhat wider than a 50mm lens. If you use a wider lens, say a 35mm, you will capture somewhat more than you can see through the Fed 5 viewfinder.
- Page 5 SELF TIMER Your Fed 5 also has a timer to allow delayed shutter release. This is commonly used for group shots while the camera is on a tripod and the photographer wants to be in the picture as well. I frequently use it for slow speeds when I wish to avoid "camera shake".
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