Kiev - which model?

john341

john341

camera user
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I sometimes worry about the number of Kiev cameras I have;perhaps I am addicted to the look, feel and shutter sound. My favourite is the III model-mine is 1954. Are there other photographers out there who have more than 2 or 3? and which is your regular? I have had three cla'd in the past two years and I am glad that I did-they just perform so well. Tell me you have more than five??:rolleyes:
Signed Kievaddict
 
You're no Kiev Addict until you own & shoot a Kiev-5. Preferably with a Helios-94.
 
The early 4's among mine are the most reliable - for looks or quaintness I prefer the Contax II/IIa...
 
I used to own two 4As in addition to a IIa made in 1957. I sold most of my Kiev stuff to concentrate on Nikon RFs but I kept the IIa after having Eddy Smolov overhaul it in early 2010. Even before I had it overhauled the IIa just seemed to operate more smoothly than the 4As.
 
john341 said:
I sometimes worry about the number of Kiev cameras I have;perhaps I am addicted to the look, feel and shutter sound. My favourite is the III model-mine is 1954. Are there other photographers out there who have more than 2 or 3? and which is your regular? I have had three cla'd in the past two years and I am glad that I did-they just perform so well. Tell me you have more than five??:rolleyes:
Signed Kievaddict
Click to expand...

You got me - thought you were looking for advice but it seems you just want to know, if you are in good company... ;)

I only have 3 different 4-models, so I am not quite on par, but I am working on it. Next thing might be some kind of 2-model. I too really love the wooosh of the shutter. 4M is my user - the meter is still spot on.

Oh - and the Helios lenses; superb!
 
I have only two Kievs a 4 (1975) and a 4a (1978). The 4 belonged to my father so I won't part, it's never been serviced but still works fine (apart from the usual dead meter) but it doesn't see much use since I prefer the look of the 4a. The 4a has has some minor re-lubrication work and works very nicely.

I don't find the "Contax grip" very convenient but I do appreciate the usefulness of the Kievs; quite solid, good rangefinder and a decent range of speeds. The only real criticism is that my 4a has something of a hair-trigger release that's gone off in handling more than a few times!
 
I like Kiev cameras.

Don't worry about the amount of Kievs that you have, just worry that you do not use them enough.
 
Another vote for the Kiev cameras. I think they're really enjoyable to use. They feel very solid and I, too, love that characteristic 'whoosh' shutter sound. I have always been really pleased with the quality of the photos I've gotten with my Kievs.

I currently own 3 Kiev 4a's ... an early 1960's model, and two later 1981 models (with the black plastic bits). I prefer the 1960's one -- it feels better made and more precise.
 
wolves3012 said:
I have only two Kievs a 4 (1975) and a 4a (1978). The 4 belonged to my father so I won't part, it's never been serviced but still works fine (apart from the usual dead meter) but it doesn't see much use since I prefer the look of the 4a. The 4a has has some minor re-lubrication work and works very nicely.

I don't find the "Contax grip" very convenient but I do appreciate the usefulness of the Kievs; quite solid, good rangefinder and a decent range of speeds. The only real criticism is that my 4a has something of a hair-trigger release that's gone off in handling more than a few times!
Click to expand...


What do you think is better a late model Zorki or Fed? I'm in the mood to add to my collection. Thx. Jim
 
Well I think that the FED is a poor relation to the LTM cameras.Zorki is nice and very reliable..some models (3S) have a very quiet shutter while later models sound like a brush-cutter. Overall, the Kiev gets the thumbs-up, quiet shutter, well balanced to hold and top negs with either a Yupiter or Gelios lens. I often use a Kiev 2 with a Jupiter from 1954 and it is a delight.
 
I had no problems with my Kiev 4; I just don't use it enough (see the FS link in my signature). I was always under the impression that people used Kievs in order to use Sonnars and Sonnar copies with an appropriate body.
 
jcrutcher said:
What do you think is better a late model Zorki or Fed? I'm in the mood to add to my collection. Thx. Jim
Click to expand...
If you want a late model, then my personal choice would be a Zorki over a FED. Bear in mind I'm basing my opinions on one or two samples of any model, so I can't claim authority. I think later FEDs are uglier (personal taste) and they got bigger. Quality seems to be lower than Zorkis in the later models, especially models like the last FED 5b/5c. For earlier FEDs and Zorkis, there's little to choose.

If I were keeping a later model I'd go for the Zorki 5 (or 6 if you can't hack bottom-loading). Of the earlier ones I'd take a Zorki 3M. Of the earliest I'd have either Zorki or FED 1.

And I'd still keep a Kiev 4a too!
 
hipsterdufus said:
I had no problems with my Kiev 4; I just don't use it enough (see the FS link in my signature). I was always under the impression that people used Kievs in order to use Sonnars and Sonnar copies with an appropriate body.
Click to expand...

I started to use an Opton Sonnar 50/f1.5 on my Kiev 4 a few years ago, but it highlighted how good the Jupiter and Helios lenses are for these cameras.
 
Quoting RXMD:
You're no Kiev Addict until you own & shoot a Kiev-5. Preferably with a Helios-94.

It truly is a wonderful beast, but to be charitable, is somewhat less svelte than the earlier models.

Kiev5.jpg


I am sure that the rumours that the Red Army used these things as wheel chocks for tanks are somewhat exaggerated.

Cheers,
Dez
 
Kiev 5

Kiev 5

wheel chocks! hmmm, could be used to throw at the enemy :D
when short of Sokols or rocks. The early Kievs are great and appear to be of superior construction. After the mid 1970s I think the the boys at Arsenal lost the plot. I recently had a 1982 4am serviced and speeds were wrongly assembled so the camera was probably a dud from day 1. Anyway the lenses are super, imho.
Interesting to see so many folk are still using this great gear.
 
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