FED 5 / 5B | Analogue camera

Rare Set of 2 FED Rangefinder Cameras (FED-5B & FED-5) - Custom "Soviet Avant-Garde" Edition - Unique Artistic Releathering

Splendid and exclusive lot consisting of two historic Soviet-made rangefinder cameras, fully restored and personalized through an exceptional artistic customization work.

The classic original black faux leather has been replaced with two unique graphic interpretations that celebrate the aesthetics of Constructivism and Soviet industrial design of the 1920s and 1930s. These pieces fuse the history of analog photography with visual art, making them perfect both as display showroom pieces and for street photography enthusiasts with a distinctive look.

Details of the two artistic interpretations:
CAMERA 1 (Left in the photos): FED-5B "Geometric Constructivism"

Design: Features an asymmetrical and dynamic pattern inspired by Russian avant-garde posters. Includes bold geometries in red, yellow, blue, and black, enriched with stylized industrial elements (gears) and historical slogans in Cyrillic such as "СТРОИМ" (We Build), "ТЕХНИКА" (Technology), and "ВПЕРЁД" (Forward).

Special feature: The original lens cap has been customized to reproduce the same identical artistic motif as the case, creating exceptional visual continuity.

CAMERA 2 (Right in the photos): FED-5 "Symmetrical Industrialism"

Design: Clad in a finely detailed, symmetrically patterned motif in deep red, slate gray, and ochre yellow. The design evokes period industrial architecture with chimneys, latticework, and imposing structures. On the back, the symbolic detail of a star with hammer and sickle stands out.

Special feature: This model (FED-5) integrates on the top the characteristic honeycomb grid of the built-in light meter. It is completed by a classic black lens cap with the original FED logo embossed.

The cameras in your lot refer to two different eras if we consider their historical production compared to the artistic design of their customization:

Mechanical Production Era (1970s–1990s):
FED-5 and FED-5B were produced by the Soviet factory FED (Kharkiv) starting in the late 1970s (around 1977–1978) and production continued into the 1990s, shortly after the collapse of the Soviet Union. They are considered classic examples of late Cold War Soviet photographic technology.

Artistic Design Era (1920s–1930s):
The new leatherette (the graphic cover) applied to the cameras refers to the era of the Soviet Avant-Garde, Constructivism, and Suprematism of the 1920s and early 1930s. The geometric motifs, gears, bold Cyrillic typefaces (such as "We Build" or "Forward"), and stylized industrial graphics directly echo the propaganda posters, industrial architecture, and art of that precise, fervent historical-artistic period (associated with figures like Rodchenko, Lissitzky, and Mayakovsky).

Technical Specifications:
Manufacturer: FED (Kharkiv, Ukraine - former USSR)

Models: 1x FED-5B (clean line, no exposure meter) and 1x FED-5 (with silicon exposure meter)

Camera type: 35mm film rangefinder

Included lenses: Both bodies mount the legendary Industar-61 L/D 55mm f/2.8, famed for exceptional sharpness due to lanthanum glass elements.

Shutter: Mechanical leaf shutter, speeds from 1s to 1/500s + B (Long Exposure)

Condition Report:
Aesthetic: Reasonable to good condition. The satin and chrome metal parts are glossy and show only minimal, normal signs of aging. The re-leathering work was carried out to a high standard: the cover adheres perfectly to the body.

Mechanical: Both cameras are mechanically responsive. The shutters fire at various speeds, the advance levers operate smoothly, the rangefinders are clear through the viewfinders, and the focus rings move smoothly. (Note: Being vintage collectible customized items, they have not been recently tested with film. The speeds were tested but without professional instruments).

Shipping and Packaging:
Professional, ultra-protective packaging is guaranteed to preserve the aesthetic integrity and the lens caps. Tracked shipping across Europe via express courier.