1936 Contax II v.s. 1976 Kiev IVA

[bolas]

I just recieved my new Contax II so here is a little comparison between original 1936 Contax II and it's geniue copy - 1976 Kiev IVA. I was always wondering what are the diferences and could'nt find much on the internet ... so here are few pics. Maybe they will be useful in future. In next days i will try to describe my first impression of changing Kiev to Contax (that's my first one).

First surprise was that Sonnar fits OK in Kiev, and i had problem with mounting Jupiter 8M on Contax 😎 ... i also tried mounting Jupiter-12. Also a problem ... Longer post in next try ... now i have here friday night so it's time to go for a beer 😉

 

[blazejs]

Collapsible CZ Sonnar looks so sexy 🙂

 

[40oz]

Nice looking cameras and lenses!

Pics are a bit big - I see red X's and had to copy/paste from image properties.

 

[mh2000]

I'm not seeing anything. 🙁

 

[acheyj]

No luck trying to recover images.

 

[john341]

Is the focussing wheel running in the opposite direction from that of the Kiev? I much prefer the Kiev to that of the Contax IIIa . The shutter curtain sounds although different are nice and gentle-easy on the ears conpared with slap-bang of Leica type curtains or the brush-cutter noise of the Z4...

 

[bolas]

I fixed the photos ... 🙂
Sorry i didn't knew that there are some problems when you're linking photos from Picasa Web Gallery ...

My first impression is that Contax is much more smoother in use than Kiev. Everything is easier, you don't need so much strenght etc ... i feel it specialy when i am mouting/dismounting lens or try to open/close the back panel.

Is the focussing wheel running in the opposite direction from that of the Kiev? I much prefer the Kiev to that of the Contax IIIa . The shutter curtain sounds although different are nice and gentle-easy on the ears conpared with slap-bang of Leica type curtains or the brush-cutter noise of the Z4...

I can't see any difference - same direction, and the same wheel ... same with sounds of shutter on various speeds.

Few more pics:

 

[blacknoise]

Beautiful cameras 🙂

I never realised just how good a copy the Kiev is, I have a kiev IIa and it is pretty much identical, only difference I can see (other than the logos) is the shape of the rewind release.

 

[Venant]

Hi Bolas,
May I say that the "genuine" copy of Contax II is Kiev II. (with no synchro-flash).
The first Kievs (1947 and 1948) were built with some parts from Zeiss.
This camera is, AMHA, one of the most interesting among FSU production.
If it can please to you, I'll post some photos of Contax and early Kiev, so you can compare.

Regards,
Michel.

 

[raid]

What's a good source for buying a Kiev? It would be my first.

 

[Venant]

As promised, here are some photos of Kiev II and Contax II.
(As you may see, very bad photos 😱 … but nice cameras !)
Michel.

 

[Venant]

May I add another one ?

 

[blazejs]

It's quite often spoken that in the beginning of production of Kiev there were used original parts and glass. I wonder for how long original parts lasted to continue production? I've just bought a Jupiter 3 in Kiev mount (still waiting for postman knocking to my door..) from 1951. How do you think - could it be from some original Zeiss glass?

 

[Paul T.]

Is the focussing wheel running in the opposite direction from that of the Kiev? I much prefer the Kiev to that of the Contax IIIa . The shutter curtain sounds although different are nice and gentle-easy on the ears conpared with slap-bang of Leica type curtains or the brush-cutter noise of the Z4...

It's just the updated Contax - IIa or IIIa - that have the reversed wheel direction, isn't it?

I am puzzled to see the OP has qhat looks like the later Contax case - I thought the original Contax II or III, being slightly bigger, wouldn't fit one?

Re the Zeiss glass: I'm sure there will be no original parts left after 1950, if even then.

 

[dee]

I hope , shortly , to have a Contax III to compare against my 1954 Kiev III ,
later a Contax II parts camera with Kiev shutter and maybe other parts ,
which will be interesting to set against my 1951 Kiev 2 and 1970 Kiev 4 a .
I am also puzzled by that later style Contax case - I have seen only square cases .

 

[bolas]

My 1936 Contax II case fits easy this 1976 Kiev 4A, and the same backwards - Contax fits perfectly to Kiev's case. The only problem is a screw mounted on the bottom of both cases - they are in different size and position. I also have a single case from Contax IIa and it is a bit smaller - it is impossible to fit Kiev IV or pre war Contax II in it.