135compact.com 35mm half format cameras Fed Mikron
The Fed Mikron (ФЭД Микрон) is a half frame camera for 135 film, made in the USSR by FED for quite a long time, between 1968 and 1985. It is said to be a copy of the Konica Eye. About 120.000 cameras were made. It has quite advanced features.
It has entirely automatic exposure, controlled by a selenium meter
around the lens. The shutter speed is linked to the aperture, from 1/30
at F1.9 to 1/800 at F16. As the speed is shown in the viewfinder via a
needle, you can guess the aperture chosen. If the light is too low, the
speed scale turns red and the shutter will not fire. If you set the
aperture manually, the shutter speed is set to 1/30, this is meant for
flash use. The focus is also shown in the viewfinder via symbols.
There is a Fed Micron 2, a full frame rangefinder camera, based on the
Micron and made between 1978 and 1986. It has a CdS meter and an
Industar-81 38 mm f/2.8 lens.
Like
most half frame cameras, the Fed Mikron is vertically orientated, so it's portrait
mode. There was a special (and rare) "Olympic" model for the 1980 games, shown here.
The camera's main features are:
35mm film half.frame camera, picture size 24 x 18 mm
Lens: Helios-89 30mm, F1.9-F16, min. focus 1m
Shutter: automatic, 1/800 - 1/30, B, 1/30 for flash at any aperture set
Cable release socket, tripod socket, PC socket, automatic exposure GOST 16-250 ISO 18-300
Size 110 x 72 x 45 mm, Weight 445 gr
Some pictures of the camera:
Front. Viewer. Lens with big selenium cell around it. Around the lens:
2 tabs, aperture/automatic towards the top, distance setting below. PC
flash socket. Olympic sign to the right.
The luminous lens.
Back
view. Finder. Film advance via lever. The
finder has a luminous frame with parallax marks for short distance.
Distance setting is indicated via symbols. It also shows the speeds, if
the shutter is half pressed. If the light is too low, the speed scale turns red and the shutter will not fire. Thumb wheel for speed setting.
Seen from above.
Back opening button. Rewind, film speed indication, shutter release
with cable release thread, film advance lever and film counter.
Aperture/automatic setting and distance setting on the lens barrel.
Seen
from below. Rewind release. Tripod socket (necessary for B mode).
Camera
back open. The back is detachable.
Film compartment.
The original vinyl pouch.
The camera was delivered with pouch, les cover and strap.
A stylish camera in nearly new condition.
The Fed Mikron is a sturdy camera, easy to handle. It
takes
very sharp pictures. Spacing is not tight, so you get 72 photos from a
36
roll. It's mainly for outdoor photos as there are no slow speeds. There
is a PC flash socket, so
interior photos are possible with a flash, but there is no accessory
shoe. Night photos are possible as
well, as
there is a B mode and a cable release. The automatic shutter is a good
help, but has its limits. The needle in the finder lets you know which
aperture/speed
combination it chooses. Even the distance setting is indicated in the
finder. The GOST speed setting is close to the ISO values, so it's no
problem.
Seen
today's film prices, a half frame is a nice idea. There is not so much
choice if you want one. This one is one tends to be on the more expensive side if it's tested and in working order. It's a real camera, not a Lomo style gadget. And it is an easy camera, much fun to play around with it.
For me this camera is one of the better choices on the market.
