Produced: 1934-1955
Name: „ФЭД“
Producer: FED
Frame size: 24x36
Lens: Fed   3.5/50.
Shutter: 1/25s, 1/50s, 1/100s, 1/250s, 1/500s + B.

Quantity: ±720.000 units.


Thanks to Alexey Brudno (Moscow) for camera #217411 donation!
Thanks to Alexander Nezvanov (Moscow) for cameras #212528 and #212662 donation!               

PE0150 - Fed  #4643.

fed-1 (A) 1934-1935

So called "FEDKA" is the most desirable camera in entire Fed-1 group. Extremely rare to find nowadays, since only appr. 100-150 cameras were found in collections at the moment, though produced in appreciable quantities (appr. 6.000 units).



Serial Number Range: #31-#6.000.

Quantity: appr. 6.000 units.


  

PE0105. A limited batch of 10 FED cameras were released in 1933. It seems to be an earliest known version of the particular camera. Nickel plated body with fine, black leather coverings. There's no collar around the shutter release knob yet.


The picture opposite and text was kindly provided by the authors of the already famous SSK book "1200 cameras from the USSR" (2009).

PE0105 - Fed preseries camera. 

PE0110. An unique camera identical to PE0105, but nickel plated body is covered in shiny black plastic already.  Burnished finish of the top plate/bottom plate. There's no collar around the shutter release knob yet. Full rotate FED 3.5/50mm lens. 4-digits (!) serial number "No 0058" engraved on the top plate. Camera opposite from private collection in Europe.

PE0110 - Fed preseries camera  #0058. 

PE0115. An earliest so far known version with 3-digits serial number already. Burnished finish of the top plate/bottom plate. There's no collar around the shutter release knob yet. Full rotate FED 3.5/50mm lens. Gray-blue body coverings. An only so far known camera has s/n #142 (private collection).

Camera #142 opposite from private collection in Europe.









  

PE0115 - Fed  #142. 

PE0120. Shiny black plastic coverings, as on PE0110 camera. 3-digits serial number. Chromed finish of the top plate/bottom plate. There's no collar around the shutter release knob yet (see picture below). An earliest so far known camera has s/n  #155 (A.Nikitin coll., see opposite).

PE0120 - Fed  #155. 

PE0125. Very uncommon totally black version of the particular camera. Shiny plastic body coverings. Screw for collar around the shutter release knob already. An earliest so far known camera has s/n #253 (private coll.)

Serial Number Range: #250-#450.

Quantity: less than 200 units, but only very few samples are known to exist.



Camera opposite comes from private collection in Russia.

PE0125 - Fed  #389. 

PE0130. Camera identical to PE0125, but with burnished finish of the top plate/bottom plate. An earliest so far known camera has s/n #489 (DVDTechnik).

Serial Number Range: #450-#999 (many numbers are mixed with PE0135, PE0140 and PE0145 versions).

Quantity: probably few hundreds, but only few samples are known to exist.


Camera #491 from Salbiy Pseunok (Russia) collection.
  

PE0130 - Fed  #491. 

PE0135. Camera identical to PE0130, but with brown, caramel-type body coverings. Very few cameras are known to exist. An earliest so far known camera has s/n #968 (private coll.).

Images courtesy - Alain Berry (France).

PE0135 - Fed  #968. 

PE0140. Very uncommon to find early version of FED camera. Identical to its predecessors, but covered in brown leather. Burnished finish of the top plate/bottom plate. An only so far known camera has s/n #793 (private coll.).

Camera #793 opposite from private collection in Russia.

PE0140 - Fed  #793. 

PE0145. Seems to be the latest version of early 3-digit Fed camera. Vulcanite body coverings, burnished finish of the top plate/bottom plate. An earliest so far known camera has s/n #575 (source: J.L.Princelle).

Serial Number Range: the same as for PE0130.

Quantity: probably few hundreds, but only very few samples are known to exist.


Camera #927 from Alexey Nikitin (Russia) collection.

PE0145 - Fed  #927. 

PE0147. The most common early version in the particular group. 4-digits serial number, camera parts still has burnished finish. Although produced in appreciable quantities, less than  100 cameras are known to exist untill now. An earliest so far known camera has s/n #1195 (Allegro, 2011)

Serial Number Range: #1.000-#4.200.

Quantity: appr. 3.200 units.

Camera #1511 from Alexey Nikitin (Russia) collection. 

PE0147 - Fed  #1511. 

PE0150. Camera identical to PE0147, but with slightly changed body. No more 3 technical rivets around the shutter  release knob (see picture below). Slightly different vulcanite coverings, as well as different style of gripping surface on both control knobs, etc. Serial Number Range: #4.200-#5.800 (some numbers are mixed with PE0147). Quantity: appr. 1.600 units.

PE0150 - Fed #4643. 

PE0152. Camera identical to PE0150, but with slightly changed top plate mouldings (more round corner, see picture below). New design of shutter release knob. Very few samples are known to exist.

Camera #5682 opposite from Massimo Bertacchi (Italy) collection. 

PE0152 - Fed  #5682. 

PE0153. An ultra rare version to find. Identical to PE0150 (not PE0152), but the burnished finish is replaced with incomplete quality chromed parts already. Full-rotate lens. Camera opposite is unique since the 1st character "5" is missing in the serial number (see picture below). An earliest so far known camera has s/n #5167 (private collection in Russia).

PE0153 - Fed  #5167. 

PE0155. Camera identical to PE0152 (not PE0150), but the burnished finish is replaced with chromed parts already. Slightly changed mouldings of the top plate, as on PE0152. Very good quality of chrome. Full-rotate lens replaced by regular FED lens with 2 bolts on the meter scale already. An earliest so far known camera has s/n #5890 (I.Stolyar coll.). Only very few samples are known to exist. 


Serial Number Range: #5.800-#6.000 [1].


Quantity: appr. 200 units, though only very few real samples are known to exist.

Camera opposite from Ilya Stolyar (USA) coll.  

PE0155 - Fed  #5890.

Fed type-B cameras are the most interesting party in whole Fed-1 evolution process, while a lot of variations existing. First type-B cameras were identical to type-A ones, but with NKVD-YCCP engravings on the top plate already. Chromed parts, instead of early burnished finish ones. 



Serial Number Range: #6.000-#54.400.

Quantity: appr. 48.400 units.

 

PE0160. Very odd version of the type-B camera. Some cameras with new NKVD-YCCP markings on the top plate has early burnished finish! it's not easy to explain the origin of these cameras, but they look really authentic. An earliest so far known camera has s/n #2969 (A.Nikitin coll.). 

PE0165. Camera identical to PE0155, but with new markings NKVD-YCCP on the top plate. Chromed parts. Comes without accessory shoe yet. An earliest so far known camera has s/n #6368 (Fotoua.com). Camera opposite from E.Mehdiyev (Russia) coll. 

Serial Number Range: #6.000-#8.000 [1].

Quantity: appr. 2.000 units.

PE0165 - Fed  #7490.

PE0170. Very uncommon type-B camera. Although having all the features of early FED, the particular camera #7714 is the 1st so far known camera with rectangular finder's window already (see picture below)! Camera from Salbiy Pseunok (Russia) collection.

PE0170 - Fed  #7714.

PE0175. Camera identical to PE0165, but with accessory shoe added. Still "a la Leica" type notched finder's window. No more speed's selecting arrow engraved on the top plate (small arrow engraved on an accessory shoe now). An earliest so far known camera has s/n #8031 (Anatoliy Zilbert). Camera opposite from Ilya Stolyar (USA) coll.  

Serial Number Range: #8.000-#8.600 (though few cameras with s/n #68XX-#69XX are known to exist).

Quantity: appr. 600 units.

PE0175 - Fed  #8550.

PE0180. Camera identical to PE0175, but with rectangular finder's window already. An earliest so far known camera has s/n #8537 (A,Nikitin coll.). Camera opposite from E.Mehdiyev (Russia) coll. 

Serial Number Range: #8.600-#10.700 [1].

Quantity: appr. 2.100 units.

PE0180 - Fed  #9517.

PE0185. Camera identical to PE0180, but finder's window comes without recess already (see picture below). An earliest so far known camera has s/n #10.875 (Fotoua.com). Camera opposite from E.Mehdiyev (Russia) coll. 

Serial Number Range: #10.700-#12.500.

Quantity: appr. 1.800 units.

PE0185 - Fed  #11819.

PE0190. These cameras still have depression under the speed knob (see picture below), but no more black circle on camera's rear door. Different vulcanite, which looks finer and feels smoother (see camera #13247).  The color of vulcanite can range from black to brown or dark grey-green. An earliest so far known camera has s/n #12.557 (Auction.ua 2008). Camera opposite from E.Mehdiyev (Russia) coll. 

Serial Number Range: #12.500-#15.700 (some numbers are mixed with PE0195 cameras).

Quantity: appr. 3.200 units.

PE0190 - Fed  #13247.

PE0195. Camera identical to PE0190, but with regular black vulcanite on body. Few cameras with s/n #135XX are known to exist.

PE0200. Camera identical to PE0190, but no more depression under the shutter speeds knob. An earliest so far known camera has s/n #15.872 (Molotok 2008).

Serial Number Range: #15.700-#19.700 (many numbers are mixed with PE0202).

Quantity: appr. 4.000 units.

PE0200 - Fed  #16168 from A.Nikitin (Russia) coll.

PE0202. Camera identical to PE0195, but no more depression under the shutter speeds knob. An earliest so far known camera has s/n #16.491 (private coll.). Camera opposite from Ilya Stolyar (USA) coll.

PE0205. Camera identical to PE0202, but with small shutter head already (Ø13mm, instead of Ø15mm on early cameras). Some cameras have a graved shutter release knob, instead of early "tear" one. An earliest so far known camera has s/n #19.699 (private coll.).

Serial Number Range: #19.700-#24.500 [1].

Quantity: appr. 4.800 units.

PE0205 - Fed  #22561. 

PE0210. The most common variation in type-B group. Camera identical to PE0205, but with bigger name markings already. Later cameras have coarser gripping surface on control knobs. An earliest so far known camera has s/n #24.548 (eBay 2008). Camera opposite from Ilya Stolyar (USA) coll.

Serial Number Range: #24.500-#43.000 [1].

Quantity: appr. 18.500 units.

PE0210 - Fed  #32003.

PE0215. Camera identical to PE0210, but with small depression near the rewind switch-lever. An earliest so far known camera has s/n #43.063 (T.Jaume coll.). Camera opposite from E.Mehdiyev (Russia) coll. 

Serial Number Range: #43.000-#50.000 [1].

Quantity: appr. 7.000 units.

PE0215 - Fed  #47016 with FED right-view finder.

PE0217. Camera identical to PE0215, but without metal tongue-limiter on an accessory shoe already (see picture below). An earliest so far known camera has s/n #50.370  from E.Mehdiyev (Russia) coll. 

Serial Number Range: #50.000-#54.400 [1].

Quantity: appr. 4.400 units.

PE0217 - Fed  #50370.

PE0220. Very interesting type-B (sometimes type-C) cameras can be found in collector's market. These cameras come with 4-digits serial number on the top plate! A lot of theories around these strange cameras, but no one for sure yet.  Camera opposite from E.Mehdiyev (Russia) coll. 

PE0220 - Fed  #1032.

fed-1 (c) 1937-1939

Camera identical to type-B, but with changed roudness form of housing (see picture below). The particular changes were influented by complicated construction of the new conceptional camera Fed-B.


   

Serial Number Range: #54.400-#95.000 [1].

Quantity: appr. 40.600 units.

  

PE0225. New design of the top plate. Graved shutter release knob. No more metal tongue-limiter on an accessory shoe. Seems to be the last version with small bolt - bottom plate holder (see picture below). An earliest so far known camera has s/n #54.452 (eBay 2009.). Camera opposite from E.Mehdiyev (Russia) coll. 

Serial Number Range: #54.400-#80.000.

Quantity: appr. 25.600 units.

PE0225 - Fed  #58534 with 100mm lens.

PE0230. Camera identical to PE0225, but with bigger bolt - bottom plate holder (see picture below). An earliest so far known camera has s/n #80.693 (eBay 2010.). Camera opposite from Ilya Stolyar (USA) coll.

Serial Number Range: #80.000-#87.000.

Quantity: appr. 7.000 units.

PE0230 - Fed  #81857.

PE0235. 1st transitional version of type-C camera. No more screws visible under the rewind knob (3 visible on PE0225). An earliest so far known camera has s/n #87.392 (Molotok 2009). Camera opposite from E.Tutkus coll.

Serial Number Range: #87.000-#92.600.

Quantity: appr. 5.600 units.

PE0235 - Fed  #90075.

PE0240. 2nd transitional version of type-C camera. Camera identical to PE0235, but with top front center screw (near the lens rim) completely visible already  (half hidden on PE0225, PE0230 and PE0235). An earliest so far known camera has s/n #91.575 (A.Nikitin coll.). Camera opposite from Ilya Stolyar (USA) coll.   

Serial Number Range: #92.600-#95.000.

Quantity: appr. 2.400 units.

PE0240 - Fed  #93536.

PE0245. Better known as FED-C or "Komandirskij FED". Camera identical to PE0225, but with shutter speed 1/1000s added. Fast 2/50mm lens. Camera opposite from E.Mehdiyev (Russia) coll. 

PE0246. Camera identical to PE0230, but with shutter speed 1/1000s added. Fast 2/50mm lens.

PE0247. Camera identical to PE0235, but with shutter speed 1/1000s added. Fast 2/50mm lens.

PE0248. Camera identical to PE0235, but with shutter speed 1/1000s added. Fast 2/50mm lens.

PE0245 - Fed-C  #77057.

Camera identical to type-C, but with new engravings "NKVD-USSR" on the top plate. FED becoming Kombinat, instead of early Kommuna.



Serial Number Range: #95.000-#173.500.

Quantity: appr. 78.500 units.

  

PE0250. Engravings on camera top:  „ФЭД НКВД - CССР Харьковский комбинат им. Ф.Э. Дзержинского“.
An earliest so far known camera has s/n #93.777 (Molotok 2009). Camera opposite from Ilya Stolyar (USA) coll.

Serial Number Range: #95.000-#145.000 (???).

Quantity: appr. 50.000 units.

PE0250 - Fed  #95601.

PE0255. Very interesting and rare type-D camera with 4-digits serial number on the top plate (as on PE0220, see above). A lot of theories around these strange cameras, but no one for sure yet. Camera opposite from Ilya Stolyar (USA) coll.

PE0255 - Fed  #5358.

PE0260 - Fed  #150520.

PE0262. An extremely rare version of Fed camera since made for wartime FS-2 outfits (appr. 200 units of FS-2 Fotosniper were released by KMZ in 1944-1945). The particular camera opposite is even more rare since 1st digit is missing in the serial number (see picture below) and this is latest so far known camera with NKVD markings on the top plate. Camera opposite from Salbiy Pseunok (Russia) collection.

 

PE0262 - Fed  #173334.

PE0266. Better known as FED-C or "Komandirskij FED". Camera identical to PE0250, but with shutter speed 1/1000s added. Fast 2/50mm lens. Camera opposite from Ilya Stolyar (USA) coll.

PE0266 - Fed-C  #133561.

PE0267. Camera identical to PE0260, but with shutter speed 1/1000s added. Fast 2/50mm lens. Camera opposite from E.Mehdiyev (Russia) coll. 

PE0267 - Fed-C  #156361.

On 22th February, 1941 FED has changed his jurisdiction from NKVD to NKAP. Although it is known, that some type-D3 or D4 cameras were assembled in Berdsk during the WW2, but it's almost impossible to prove this indeed. Do exist a presumption, that some cameras with new "FED Zavod" engravings have appeared in summer 1941, just few days before the WW2! A.Braslavskiy possess a camera #175116 with following papers to prove it ... But another independent sources refer to years 1942-1943 as the date for "Kombinat" name change to "Zavod". That's why I have decided to wait for more reliable information to prove these presumptions.



Serial Number Range: #173.500-#184.000 [1].

Quantity: appr. 10.500 units.

  

PE0270 - Fed  #180805.

PE0275. Camera identical to PE0270, but with shutter speed 1/1000s added. Fast lens 2/50mm. Camera opposite from Ilya Stolyar (USA) coll.  

Quantity: unknown, but very few.

PE0275 - Fed-C  #177597.

PE0280. Often described as a copy of the Leitz Stemar, the FED STEREO is, in fact, the product of a clever counterfeiter. The 3.8/38mm lenses come from a popular camera like the Smena. A moveable reducing mask is screwed on the front of the finder window. The total production around 50 units.

The outfit is in any case incomplete, since there are no prism adapters to widen the inter-lens base(source: "The Authentic Guide to Russian and Soviet Cameras" by J.L.Princelle, 2nd edition, 2004).

Mentioned above reducing mask is absent in my set. Anyway, the great work of unknown polish master!

Camera from Ilya Stolyar (USA) collection. 

PE0280 - Fed  #177901 with Stereo lens #206.

This very rare and special camera was issued in honour of FED Zavod workers for their heroic working in evacuation time (during WW2). NKAP markings, special body coverings. Limited quantity of issued cameras, which coincide the total number of FED staff, evacuated to Berdsk. 



Serial Number Range: #200.000-#201.800.

Quantity: 1.800 units.

  

PE0285. Engravings on camera top: „ФЭД НКАП-СССР Ордена Трудового Красного Знамени Завод им. Ф.Э. Дзержинского“. Shutter speeds: 1/20s, 1/30s, 1/40s, 1/60s, 1/100s, 1/200s, 1/500s + Z. 

Serial Number Range: #200.000-#201.800.

Quantity: 1.800 units.

PE0285 - Fed-NKAP  #200333.

The first postwar regular version of particular camera, issued in 1949. New design of name markings. Very first cameras come with special vulkanite on body (!). Late cameras come with shutter speeds changed.

Serial Number Range: #210.000-#410.000 [1].

Quantity: appr. 200.000 units.


  

PE0290. Very rare transitional version of the particular camera with never seen before body coverings (see picture below). Only very few samples are known to exist.  An earliest so far known camera has s/n #210107 (private coll.).

Camera #210107 opposite from private collection in Russia.

PE0290 Fed  #210107.

PE0295. Camera identical to PE0290, but with standard body covering already. This type still have a small depression near the rewind switch-lever (see picture below). An earliest so far known camera has s/n #210.266 (eBay 2013). Camera opposite from Ilya Stolyar (USA) coll.  
 

Possible Serial Number Range: #210.250-#220.000 (???). Quantity: appr. 10.000 units (???).

PE0295 - Fed  #210437.

PE0300. Common type of the particular camera. Identical to PE0295, but without small depression near the rewind switch-lever already. An earliest so far known camera has s/n #222.285 (eBay 2008). Camera opposite from Ilya Stolyar (USA) coll.

Serial Number Range: #220.000 (???)-#285.000/300.000. Quantity: appr. 65.000 units.

PE0300 - Fed  #233543.

PE0305. Camera visually identical to PE0300, but with new shutter speeds already: 1/25s, 1/50s, 1/100s, 1/250s, 1/500s + B. New style of the shutter knob. An earliest so far known camera has s/n #287.312 (DVD Technik). 

Serial Number Range: #285.000-#410.000.

Quantity: appr. 125.000 units.

PE0305 - Fed  #306664.

PE0310. The only commemorative Fed-1 camera, if we do not consider Fed-NKAP as commemorative one. It was made in small numbers (appr. 300 copies) in 1954 to commemorate the union between Russia and Ukraine. The body itself is from the Fed  type-G. Camera opposite from Ilya Stolyar (USA) coll.  

PE0310 - Fed Anniversary  #468456.

Rare Fed anniversary box from Yuriy Davydenko (Ukraine) collection.

The last version of this popular camera. New style of nameplate engravings.

Serial Number Range: #410.000-#720.000 [1].

Quantity: appr. 310.000 units.

  

PE0315. Engravings on camera's top plate: „ФЭД“ and serial number. An earliest so far known camera has s/n #410.999 (A.Nikitin coll.). 

Serial Number Range: #410.000-#515.000.

Quantity: appr. 105.000 units.

PE0315 - Fed  #473406.

PE0320. Camera identical to PE0315, but with serial number on the rear plate already. No otherwise different. An earliest so far known camera has s/n #510.636 (DVD Technik). 

Serial Number Range: #515.000-#720.000.

Quantity: appr. 205.000 units.

PE0320 - Fed  #529433.

PE0325. Very uncommon to find version of the particular camera, released in 1955. Camera identical to PE0320, but with dark-brown body coverings. No otherwise different. An only so far known camera has s/n #661.910. Camera opposite from Ilya Stolyar (USA) coll.  

PE0325 - Fed  #661910.

Although different sources refer to serial numbers up to 800.XXX, nobody can prove this fact indeed. According to Jacques Morin sources, the latest so far known Fed camera bearing serial number 715.XXX. Anyway the particular camera #712.834 (see opposite) is one of the latest to survive until now.  Camera opposite from E.Mehdiyev (Russia) coll. 

PE0320 - Fed  #712834.