Oh well, another camera to fix.

P

Peter_Jones

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I was trying to get some shots to show if there was any difference in the "look" of shots with two J12s of different eras and coatings, the more modern lens (1980s) is on a Kiev4 , and I have just got the test film (XP2) back with a black stripe accross all the frames (some of which looked quite good, for me), so I whipped the lens off the Kiev only to see a nice 1/8" gap in the shutter corresponding to my negs :bang:

Wound the camera on to test the shutter , the top curtain rose, the bottom one stayed put. Fired shutter and everything stayed put :rolleyes:

Ah well, another for the "to be serviced" pile. At least I already have some ribbon for it :)
 
Sorry to hear it. I live in fear of when my Kiev might start acting up on me. I would like to work on one for the experience. But not on my only one! Hope you have a backup.
 
Same problem with mine. Sent it in for service and had the shutter ribbons replaced - great! worth the $50-odd to have it working again. Eddy Smolov in Brooklyn did the job
 
I saw this and thought it'd be about that FED4...

See, these kind of threads put me of Kievs, which does help quell the GAS.
 
Kievs are quite straightforward to fix, once you know your way around them. When they have new ribbons and a good clean/lube, they're fantastic to use.

(got a few projects before I get to the Fed4 :) )
 
Yeah, I have a 1950 KNEB and even though I have done a CLA I am still thinking about sending it off when I have the money. Others have said it before and I will say it again. A well running KNEB is a thing of beauty and a treasure to use. One thing I just thought of. Might be quicker and cheaper right now to buy a body only and swap shutter crates. I did that with one of my other Kievs. Worked great. I have not tried to fit a newer crate into the '50, but I swapped a '68 crate into a mint '74 body with no issues. Bodies can be found for next to nothing. Shipping is what kills
 
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I lucked out with my '50 Kiev. Picked it up for a song considering it had a ZK lens with it. It will get a proper CLA one day. Till then, I will just wait for the ribbons to break;)
 
I used to consider FSU gear as crudely-made copies of western products, but many are good cameras in their own right. The age of them must be taken into consideration, as must servicing (as much work, if not more, needs to go into a CLA on a Kiev as a Contax, similar with Fed/Zorki in comparison to Barnack Leicas). Let's face it - not many of the FSU cameras picked up for a couple of pounds here and there have ever been serviced in decades if ever.
My broken Kiev is 45 years old and was probably on the original ribbons ! :)
 
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