Comments on: The Secret Police and the 35mm Camera

The Secret Police and the 35mm Camera

katillathehun — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 10:15:44 -0800

In 1934, the FE Dzerzhinsky labor commune in Kharkiv began manufacturing a rangefinder camera that copied the German Leica. Though production has long ceased, FED rangefinders are still widely used and collected today. But the FED and its manufacturer have a tarnished history - some of which is due to a work force comprised of children and criminals, and some owed to its namesake: Felix Edmundovich Dzerzhinsky, the founder of the Soviet secret police (NSFW).

By: nasreddin

nasreddin — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 10:32:09 -0800

Everything in the Soviet Union was built by criminals (zeka). Literally, everything: the Moscow subway, most of the great monuments, weapons, cars, roads, buildings.

By: DU

DU — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 10:55:20 -0800

A work force comprised of criminals, particularly in civil engineering projects, is not exactly unheard of in the US.

By: Curry

Curry — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 11:06:32 -0800

It's nice to see the kids out there, getting involved.

By: StickyCarpet

StickyCarpet — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 11:09:45 -0800

There's even a stereo version, with what looks like extra-wide interocular distance. (Is that thing 3 x 24mm = 72mm, as opposed to the normal 62mm?)

By: longdaysjourney

longdaysjourney — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 11:22:56 -0800

Speaking of Leica, the New Yorker had a great article about their cameras last week. Highly recommended if you're into beautiful machines.

By: cobra_high_tigers

cobra_high_tigers — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 11:28:28 -0800

Fed 5s are still available from the lomography folks, albeit with their massive markup.

By: bonaldi

bonaldi — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 11:29:45 -0800

I've had the Leica hots all week, since I read this paean in the New Yorker.

By: bonaldi

bonaldi — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 11:30:06 -0800

ach, shit. 1) read preview, 2) close tags.

By: suedehead

suedehead — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 12:08:56 -0800

Wow, great post. I have a FED 2, and had no idea that it had such a history.

By: malaprohibita

malaprohibita — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 13:02:25 -0800

Man, the photos in that last link are intense. Very sad.