Киев 4 meter adjustment

Have you found these backs interchange between models?
To a certain degree, yes. There's three variants - the Contax-esque ones with the tripod mount on the base of the back itself, the regular Kiev ones with the tripod mount built into the shutter crate and a hole in the baseplate to accommodate it, and the 4M/4AM version with the rewind engaged by the locking key. As long as you have the right design, it should go onto any other body with that design.

Just as a test, I grabbed a 1975 Kiev 4 from my "fixer-upper" box that has the same back as yours and swapped it with the back from the 1974 Kiev 4 from the photo in my last post. Swapping them over works fine.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MNS
In that case it might pay to consider getting a second back rather than buying yet more cassettes for just one camera.
 
I may have a spare back for a 70's model Kiev somewhere. I'll have a look and check the locks.
In that case it might pay to consider getting a second back rather than buying yet more cassettes for just one camera.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MNS
Well thank you Sir. The Kodak Duo is fully working as well.
Even better! I have a Series 1 and a similar Series 2*. They are rare in the UK - in fact I have only seen these 2 in the flesh - and this is where it gets a bit freaky, when I found the second in a charity shop I had the first in my pocket loaded with film!

* not sure that this is the correct terminology but hopefully you'll get what I mean.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MNS
Rather interesting development I discovered.

While surfing the net looking at the differences between the various models of Kiev cameras, I noticed this ring on my example.

20250603_080640.jpg 20250603_084946.jpg 20250603_075619.jpg

First I did think it might be some sort of gasket but couldn't figure out why. It's not in any pictures I could find with the camera's back open on the web and there's not one the other side of the camera either. I ended up using a needle which I bent to make a tiny hook. It was a right sod to get off too!

My father brought this camera in his retirement, had it serviced but I don't think he ever used it. Question is, why is this rubber ring or gasket even there. The only explanation I can think of, was there a light leak at some point?

Without this ring I found my Ilford FP3 cassettes now fit and work freely.

Later on, I'm going to put a short test film into it and shine a LED torch around the camera to see what happens.
 
I do not think this ring should have been there. On the other hand, light leaks are infuriating to the point that one makes ANYTHING to get rid of them. Usually though the film spool does not leak but light may get through the viewfinder window to gaps in the body if there are any.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MNS
Happy to report no light leaks.

Using a changing bag I cut a 6" length of Fomapan and once loaded used my LED torch all around the camera. Even took the camera out into the sun for good measure. Once developed in Rodinal, completely clear strip.

Lord knows why the rubber ring was in there.
 
Thinking out loud: the Contax's film transport and frame spacing depends quite a lot on friction. It's entirely possible this could have been an unusual fix (or at least an attempt at one) for some frame spacing issues.

Think the word 'attempt' sums it up. I have put a Jessops 'Diamond' 100 film through this camera in 2022 and as you can see from the negatives spacing isn't great.

20250604_141353.jpg 20250604_141645.jpg

Could well be the answer why this rubber ring was inserted onto the rewind shaft but doesn't seem to work.
 
This explains a lot, if the film pulls to hard on the side of the cassette the spacing becomes to narrow. When it pulls to hard on the side of the take up spool, the film can skip sprockets or the spacing can be too big. Most Kiev and Contax camera's that I have, have a bigger spacing on the first 3 frames before the spacing becomes even. These cameras have a normal friction on the take up spool.
 
Back
Top Bottom