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I bought the camera in an antique store in Old Havana. Half an hour later, I was sitting on the Malecon wall. I was looking at an old building through its viewfinder, when a foreign tourist approached me and said in English: Do you sell that Leica camera?

I told him I wasn't selling it, and although it was identical to a German Leica camera, it was a FED 1 built in the Soviet Union in 1935.

The Soviets knew how to design cameras with good quality materials. This ensured their durability over the years. Their optics were good, but inferior to the German and English ones, which were at the forefront at the time.

Just as light is fundamental in photography, the story behind the emergence of analog cameras is very appealing and captivating.

Today I present to you the 4 main models that FED made:

FED (1935)

Here I present to you the protagonist of my introduction. This legendary camera, also known as the FED 1 was built in the middle of World War II in the Soviet Union. An exact copy of the Leica II.

It is the smallest and most portable. At the same time, you feel its weight in your hands giving stability. Its vulcanite coated body in contrast to the solid metal makes it look very elegant. Its lens is an Industar-22, 50mm 1:3.5.

FED 2 (1955)

The FED 2 is a compact rangefinder camera, so the viewfinder does not show the exact image being taken.

It is larger than the previous model. Its mount is M39. This benefits us, as we can use a wide variety of lenses, for example Jupiter 8, 12, 50mm and 35mm respectively. It comes with an Industar 26M lens, with an aperture of 2,8.

FED 3 (1961)

This camera shows a change in design, with a smooth horizontal top, without the unevenness that we saw before.
For this reason, the FED 1 and FED 2, are the most popular models among photographers who love vintage, and the most sought after in the antique market.

They keep the same M39 mount and include a self-timer.
These cameras use 100, 200 and even 400 ASA film rolls.
They were sold with an Industar-26M or 61M lens, a 50mm lens; allowing focus from 1 to over 20 meters. With aperture ranging from f/2.8 to f/16.

FED 4 (1964)

This model, unlike the previous three, includes a Selenium Exposimeter for improved brightness.
It keeps the self-timer and the M39 mount.
Lens: Industar I-61 52 mm with a 2.8 aperture.

The Soviets in World War II, took many quality German equipment, as a source of inspiration and guidance, to manufacture their own products.

From this came this line of FED cameras. The name comes from the initials of the founder of the Bolshevik secret police, Felix Edmundovich Dzerzhinsky, born in Poland.

Cameras that without being a Leica, make us feel in our hands, the weight of an interesting history, between the sad moments that a war brings and those who were able to buy it to take their pictures.

They are analog roll film cameras that can still work; delivering those photos that manage to crystallize the moments of our steps through life.

Thanks to those of you who have made it this far. I wish you a good Friday.