Some Kiev advice please.

ray*j*gun

ray*j*gun

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Hello,

I have been reading about Kievs here for many months and I have decided to try to get a good one. I have a Fed 2a and do love that FSU but I have shyed away from the Contax type cameras out of pure fear of failure. But alas, I want to give it a shot and see what all the excitement is about.

So my questions.......which model?.......which vendor (or does a member have a really good one to sell me) and who best for service if needed. As always I appreciate the help from this wonderful forum and its members.

Thanks......Ray
 
Oh, I guess quite a bit of this has been written already somewhere in the various threads here.

Question #1 is "lightmeter or not". That's a question of preference. The usefulness of the selenium meter is somewhat debatable now, so I personally prefer a non-metered Kiev (Kiev 2, 4A, 4AM) to a metered one (Kiev 3, 4, 4M).

Common wisdom appears to be that older Kievs (such as 1950s vintage) tend to be more appreciated than later ones. So that would mean a Kiev 2 or an early 4A. However, there are others who prefer the later, modernized ("M") bodies because of their features (spool, film rewind, hot shoe). That's a matter of preference.

Really early ones (1949 or earlier) tend to be quite expensive because of collector's interest.
 
Nothing better than a smoothened, blackened, and relubed Kiev 4AM in an original Kiev II leather case.

But for an Apfelstrudel piece.

Then you will see the dark side of the Moon from one of these Aliens' flying saucers.

😀
 
I like the Kiev 4AM, no meter, but an outstanding Helio 103 lens. Modern, but not too cranky at being used. Got mine on ebay from alex-photo. No light leaks, no real problems.
 
I am partial to a pre 1973 Kiev 4 with a Zeiss Opton f1.5 Sonnar lens.
I would not give this combo up for any slice of apple strudel,
even served with hot Arabica coffee.
 
I had a late model KIEV 4AM from Oleg that worked just fine in every sense.

Later, I was seduced by a 1956 KIEV 2... an affair that continues,
while perfectly good 1959 KIEV 4 languishes on the shelf.

They're all fun. All different, but all enjoyable.
 
I have a 1954 Kiev that's the copy of the Contax III, and I have to say it's a really nice piece. The meter doesn't work, and I don't even understand the scale to know how to operate even if it did work, but the shutter is in great shape, the focus wheel is smooth, and the 50mm f/2 lens is sharp. I'm not sure how much of this camera is comprised of original Contax parts, but I'm in agreement with a few of the other folks here that the earlier Kievs (1950's) are much better than the later ones (just my opinion, mind you).
 
My favorite models are the 51 Kiev II and both of my 4a's of 61 vintage.

Fedka is a good place to send to for repairs..and he is in the states..
 
my best working kiev is from 60s, i have one from 51 and i had a lot of problems to back it in good shape. now it is most quiet of all and really smooth but i still love my 60s better. also i have one 4am from 80s which work excellent and also have brighter viewfinder but it is a bit louder and i think curtain tension is a bit bigger than on earlier. so for low speeds 1/15 and lower earlier models are better - they have less shake...
 
For the best quality/price ratio, if you look carefully you can get an early 60s camera for no more than a 70s one; mine was $19.

Yes, the earlier ones feel nicer, but they now approach the cost of a Contax. The early 4a (with the chromed self-timer) still has great feel and functionality.
 
I've heard mixed reviews, and oddly, they are wildly enthusiastic or heatedly upset. Nothing in between. I'd go Fedka or OK instead, just to be safe.
 
From USA , Fedka is unbeatable , I have a 1970 Kiev 4a [ from cupog / CLA ] which is noticeably better finished than my two 1979 Kieva 4 ,s . There seems to be little attempt to polish the base metal before chroming , and the meter pressing is crude too .

Having said that I love using my Oleg sourced , CLA , Kiev 4 and 1984 Kiev 4m .. though somewhat modee-fied !

Maybe an early Kiev 4 or 4a is a reasonably priced Kiev with much or the finish of a Kiev 2a / 3a ... a K4 if the meter isn't working tends to be less expensive than a k 4a .

I love the selenium meter , and the balance / look of the kIev 4 , so I am biased !

Good Luck

dee
 
ray*j*gun said:
Hello,

....... but I have shyed away from the Contax type cameras out of pure fear of failure. But alas, I want to give it a shot and see what all the excitement is about.
........

Thanks......Ray
Click to expand...



Hi Ray,
Sincerely speaking, you have been right in your above quoted attitude so far. Which means that now you enter very troubled waters.

It can happen you are lucky, but you cannot as well.

Along most of my dwelling at this neighbourhood (RFF), I have strongly emphasyzed the potential of these cameras.

So consider your best move, knowing beforehand that like marriage, you know what you have gotten after you opened the package.

Some of us have been lucky indeed, others not. The Kiev is a complex lady for the one looking towards a simple companion. Or perhaps a better definition would be a femme fatale, towards which most of us couldn't resist her charm.

Cheers,
Ruben
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Given, as noted above, that the old selenium meters are questionable at best, and probably non-functional in most cases, I'd vote for the 4a. It's the model with no meter and I happen to think it's a better-looking camera than the two I have with meters.

My 4a is #7805319, which would seem to indicate 1978 as the year of manufacture. I bought from Yuri at Fedka, and it has the Helios 103 lens, but I also have a couple of J-8s that are useable on it.

Even the genuine article, Contax, was often preferred without the meter. Again, I just happen to think they look better.
 
Hi,

I have several Kievs and lenses that I am about to list in the RRF ads. If you are interested in getting a list let me know. They have been CLA by Oleg in Russia.

The first part of next week I will list the cameras and lenses that I have FS.

Leo Christoffer
In Washington State
 
By the way, I believe the first two digits of the serial number are the production year.

Mine is a Kiev 4a from 1976, a later model then. It works quite well, although the rangefinder might need adjusting. I'll see to it when I start using my Jupiter-9 85mm lens!
 
I have sent you a PM.....thanks Leo.

Ray

lkgroup said:
Hi,

I have several Kievs and lenses that I am about to list in the RRF ads. If you are interested in getting a list let me know. They have been CLA by Oleg in Russia.

The first part of next week I will list the cameras and lenses that I have FS.

Leo Christoffer
In Washington State
Click to expand...
 
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