FED 3 Owner's Manual

Table of Contents

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Introduction:

The Fed 3 is a 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, the Fed 3 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. Above all, the film can be loaded, in daylight, with the ease and convenience of a

modern 35mm camera - the entire back comes off!

Without getting into ugly specifics about build quality, the primary functional disadvantage of the Fed over Leica screwmounts is the

relatively low 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?

1. Self Timer

2. Timer Release Button

3. PC connection

6. Shutter release and rewind ring

7. Rewind lever

LOADING / UNLOADING FILM

FED 3 OWNERS MANUAL

8 and 9. Shutter speeds

10. Rangefinder optic

11. Flash / accessory shoe

12 Rewind

13. Viewfinder

Page 1

Table of Contents

Do you have a question about the 3 and is the answer not in the manual?

Page 1 Introduction: The Fed 3 is a 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.
Page 2 FED 3 OWNERS MANUAL 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.
Page 3 USING THE VIEWFINDER/RANGEFINDER Note the knurled ring which surrounds the eyepiece on the back of your Fed 3. This is a diopter correction, allowing you to adjust the viewer for your own eyesight. In most cases, this will eliminated the need for glasses while using your Fed 3 - a good thing as the knurled ring is almost certain to scratch your eyeglasses.
Page 4 USING FLASH Keep in mind that the Fed 3 has no hotshoe - it is an accessory shoe only. You will need to plug your flash into the pc connector on the front of the camera next to the self timer release button.
Page 5 As the shape of the cam itself is different on the Fed from that of a Leica screwmount, it may not push pass the cam to completely seat the lens. Never try to force a lens into your Fed 3 lens mount.