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Created 21 October 2005 ... Updated 3 December 2005

FED Mikron Model III
The FED Micron is a semi automatic half-frame camera, meaning that it takes standard 135, 35mm film but only uses half the frame. Funny to look through the view finder and seeing the portrait format blended in instead of the usual landscape view.

Semi automatic means here that the camera measures the light using the cells located around the lens and setting the shutter speed accordingly. The only thing the photographer can change is the aperture to control depth of field and of course the focussing distance, no autofocus here. Setting the film speed is done by turning the wheel at the back of the camera, scale is in GOST (spelled something like 'roct' in Cyrillic letters) but this is easy to convert, it's about 10% less than ISO setting. GOST 45 is about ISO 50, GOST 90 is about ISO 100, GOST 180 is about ISO 200 and so on. Past the highest film speed setting a dash '-' shows up, does this mean that th exposure meter is not setting the shutter speed, meaning the shutter speed is constant? Maybe time to try and find out.

Unfortately the exposure meter on my camera is often off or broken (used up?) meaning that the speed setting seems to be at a constant value. Mine seems to be stuck at 1/60 but it's hard to say without an accurate meter. There is a needle on the right hand side in the view finder but mine is stuck, it does move a little when pressing the shutter half way but not into the number field, maybe yours might work better.

hints 'n' tips

Loading film is easy, open the back by pressing the button on the top plate on the left hand side and the entire back falls off. This also means that opening the back by accident is as easy, a major design flaw in my opinion. So be careful, maybe a good idea to put some tape over it when a film is loaded.
Looking through the view finder you can see some little icons on the left. One person, a group of people, a landscape and so on. This will help you set the distance scale without looking on the lens itself. A pretty nifty feature but don't stop thinking about what you're doing. I like the look through the viewfinder anyway, very bright and with a friendly colour.
When rewinding the film, don't forget to unlock the take up spool first by pressing the little button on the bottom of the camera. It's a little fiddly but works fine and the mechanism is simple, less change of a break down.

FED Mikron Model III

Specifications

Type : Half Frame semi automatic

Manufactured : 1968 - 1986 at the Dserschinski Maschine Werke, Charkow, Russia.

Film Type : 135

Negative Size : half frame, 24 x 18 mm, meaning 72 exposures on a 36 exposure film

Lens : Helios-89 1,9/30 with 46mm filter thread

Shutter : Bulb and automatic, i.e. coupled with the exposure meter

Metering : Built-in selenium meter

Winding : manual one-stroke lever

Rewinding : using a small lever

Cable release : standard connector

Material : aluminium

Features : Standard flash socket but no accessory shoe. Use an external flash bracket instead.
Coupled metering - automatic shutter speed
Very small and light weight
Standard tripod socket
Bright view finder
Frame counter

Accessories : This camera came in a small soft, black, vinyl bag which looks very 60s. Cult!

FED Mikron web links

Antique Russian Camera
The name sais it all - the resource for Collectors.

RafCamera
Descriptions and pictures of many Russian cameras, including the FED Micron.

The Sub Club
The Sub Cub is the meeting point for users and collectors of subminiature cameras.

All photos copyright of M. Koning 1997 - 2005

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