First roll through my Kiev II

[G1DRP]

Hi Everybody,
I developed my first roll of film for 5 years today. I shot it in my Kiev II with a 1974 Jupiter 8 fitted. I used Ilford Delta 400 and guessed the exposure, which worked out very well for most shots. I used Rodinal at 1:25 for 7 minutes at 20 degrees C.
Focusing seems to be accurate but I'll check it on a collimator at work before I shoot any more film.
I'm looking for a film scanner now.
It's been really great playing with film again and more rewarding than digital.

 

[konicaman]

Congrats - I went back to doing my own B/W developing after app. 10 years, feels great!
The Kiev is a nice shooter. Let us see some shot once you get the scanner.

 

[G1DRP]

OK here are a couple of shots. Ilford delta 400, Rodinal 1:25 for 7 minutes. Exposures were guessed.
These are both cropped. the second photo is a tighter crop, hence the grain.

This one is un-cropped just to show the grain structure.

This was a test film as i wanted to check my camera out. The lens was a 1974 Jupiter 8 50mm. I have a Contax II with an un-coated 5cm F1.5 Sonnar to test next.😉

 

[kievman]

Great tonality in these photos, I am very impressed! and quite sharp! Looks like you got a winner there. Cat photos are not my favorite but these are not bad, Nice work - Kievman

 

[Keith]

Wow nice cat shots and that Delta is very nice indeed. Rodinal definitely brings out it's best.

How do you find the ergonomics of the Kiev ... and the rather tunnel like viewfinder?

 

[konicaman]

Nice shots. You are good a guesstimating - the light conditions in those shots were tough.

 

[G1DRP]

Thanks for the comments guys.
I find the Kiev and my Contax II a pleasure to use. OK, The viewfinder is poor but the rangefinder is very accurate. I love the Jupiter 8 and the Zeiss Sonnar.

I do prefer the earlier J8s from the 1950s. This particular one was from 1974.
The exposure guesswork comes from using Leica screwmount cameras in the 1990s. I used to have a IIIA and a IIIF Red Dial. Back then, you could pick up a 5cm F2 Summar for peanuts and a good user body for £150 ish.

The wide latitude, of negative film, can always be exploited!