Catalogue information
This imitation of the Leica II D is based on the Fed 1 produced in the factory of the same name, then located in Kharkov. (See also the explanation of the FED 1 G, elsewhere in this catalog). Several thousand of these imitations were made at that time, with or without the name "Leica", equipped with the "Elmar" 1: 3.5 / 50 mm lens. As also stated at the Fed 1g, these imitations were mainly made to give those who could not afford it a "Leica feeling"; as a kind of added value, there are further images (eg eagle with swastika) and texts like "Luftwaffe" added. These cameras appeared especially after the iron curtain disappeared in the early 1990s and tourism in Eastern European countries increased sharply. On the site "Collectors Weekly" you can read about this: "If you come across these cameras, figure their prospects as FAKES still will become rare one day, since no more than 2-3 thousand were produced. They could achieve cult status such as the LOMO Graphic Society has become. "
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