Subject for the Kiev Project

T

TVphotog

Television Grunt
Local time
3:20 PM
Joined
Oct 18, 2006
Messages
266
Location
Oklahoma City
View My Gallery
Well, actually, this one will not be used for the project. I may open 'er up just to lube it abit. Anyhow, this one was bought off ebay along with a Z4 and a J-12 for just over 100$ shipping included. I bought it from ebay seller Sergey who goes by the ebay seller ID of Blyatnikov. All I can say is that his descriptions did not due it justice. I know that there is a show off you FSU thread, but I wanted it to not get lost in the list. So Ruben, here is to hoping your next Kiev 'appropriation' is just as nice as my last. Without further ado I will get to the pics and head off in search of another guinea pig for the project

With the included shade
4Ashade.jpg


without the shade
4Afront.jpg


the back, notice no bumps
4Aback.jpg


The shutter and interior, there is really no paint loss to speak of. Very nice, almost satin finish black paint
4Ashutter.jpg


Notice the serial, early seventies vintage. It really is hit and miss as far as quality of build goes
4Aserial.jpg


here we are with the J-12. I may have to work on this as the mounting is spotty. Sometimes it goes right on and works, sometimes I have to do it a couple of times to get it right
4A-J-12.jpg
 
TV

Is has been kept in a dry drawer in a temperate region, and not stripped.

The J12 are all difficult but the formal process is to set both lens and body at '8" and turn to latch, and then focus to 0.7 and back to '8', otherwise focus may be intermittent. If this does not work then you need a nail file...

Noel
 
OK Ken (TVphotog), then the challenge now is to end with your Kiev 2a in better shape than your present 4a. I bet against all odds we will.

Once, in a similar situation I got out of the blue a very very soft and like new outside Kiev 4, (yes Noel - this is the one). Of course I cannot touch your camera, but when I speak about softness I am speaking about a qualitative stage forward that the softest Kiev I ever bought. (I never bought a Kiev from Field Commander Oleg, though).

At the first stage of our cleaning, at the Kiev Project, our solvent will start to mix with the existing stiff grease there, and immediately upon its dilution, it will form a type of "lubrication mix", making us feel what the SOFTNESS I speak is about.

Cheers,
Ruben
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Oh, this one is soft. The film advance is pretty effortless. I could probably do it with two fingers. The 2A is a rock in comparison. I most likely will go with the 2A as I believe the wife would shoot me if a fourth Kiev entered the house right now. My plan for this camera is to shoot some film through it with the J-12 on and never look back!!!!
 
Well in that case, your soft one will serve you well for measuring the "training" one.
 
Just picked up a very nice 4A ,from 1970,at an unmissable price,on ebay here in the UK.Unfortunately I am too tentative(and clumsy)to contemplate dismembering it for the Project,so it's in transit to Oleg.When it returns I will update.

It carried a 'worse for wear' J8M,in poor condition,so if anyone has an earlier J8 in usable shape which they are looking to part with,I would be interested in buying.

It would be nice to match it with the 4a when it comes back,even though not a strict match in Kiev historical terms.

Brian.
 
Hi Brian,
I am glad you will have soon an Oleg Kiev. But as for the Kiev Project, wait until you see the disassembling explanations with pictures. It will be designed for starters, otherwise it will have no use, as there is already the Kiev Survival Site.

A starter for me is a person never used a screwdriver.

Now, how such lonely RFF member who hasn't used a screwdriver will disassemble a Kiev ?
This is the whole point, my intention is to do my best to upgrade his present knowledge, at the same time I upgrade mine. This latter task is what I started doing already with all those discussions about lubrication, Kiev rf adjustment and lately about the purpose of the eyepiece. I am doing it as I need to offer very specific and not erroneous guidelines for the next stage, to start very soon.

But between those discussions and what actually we will do, you will see a big difference, tempting you to try.

Cheers,
Ruben
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Hi Ruben,
Thanks for the encouragement!
I recently lubricated a J8 to sit on a Mir,and also,with Noel's help improved a J12 to focus more freely on a Kiev 4,so perhaps potentially I could risk my screwdriver on a Kiev. I am sure that your Project will be enough encouragment 😉

Congrats.on your efforts,they are much appreciated.

Cheers,
Brian.
 
Brian

The J8 don't have click stops or a linear scale did you really want one, the J8M you have wont be that different?

Noel
 
Xmas said:
Brian

The J8 don't have click stops or a linear scale did you really want one, the J8M you have wont be that different?

Noel
Click to expand...

Hi Noel,
I assumed that the original J8 was a little different optically.
If not I don't really need one,as my first Kiev,the pristine 4,has an equally good J8M🙂 At this rate I'm sounding like a collector!

Brian.
 
Last edited:
Brian

Not detected any difference, if you want difference try a Helios 103, this is a symmertical high refractive glass and has a much better off axis performance, still may be available 'new' from the FSU dealers.

It is comparable with my late post WWII sonnar or leitz lenses, except for perhaps for flare, when you need a SLR Nikon lens...

Noel
 
Xmas said:
Brian

Not detected any difference, if you want difference try a Helios 103, this is a symmertical high refractive glass and has a much better off axis performance, still may be available 'new' from the FSU dealers.

It is comparable with my late post WWII sonnar or leitz lenses, except for perhaps for flare, when you need a SLR Nikon lens...

Noel
Click to expand...

Noel,
Good info',thanks for the confirmation of the performance of theH103.I say this because recently Max was cutting down the equipment on his shelf,and I bought his fine H103.🙂
Recently had some prints back from it's first use--very nice indeed.

Help!!Perhaps I am a collector after all.😱

Brian,
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom