A 1950 Kiev II and a mystery card

[SpikeT]

From zero Kievs to three in as many weeks is a little crazy; but my 1950 Kiev 2 arrived yesterday and it is noticeably smoother to operate than the 1960 and 1970 Kiev 4 and 4A that it joins in the cupboard. Put the first film through it today and it was a joy to use; hope the output is clear of light leaks.

With the camera came a case, and in the case was the little card that I understand was provided with all the cases for the owner to make notes.

On the card is a slip of paper, in German. I am told this may be a reference card from a German film which Russian customers used to help convert to Russian film notation. But the paper, and the back of the card, have some handwritten words, also in German. Intriguing!

 

[Mablo]

The card looks like an old German exposure reference table similar to the one you can find on the back of a Rolleiflex.

 

[rxmd]

Looks like your camera was at some point used by a German speaker - a Russian wouldn't have bothered to write in "Kunstlicht" ("artificial lighting") in German.

Then again, it's not surprising, given that some Kievs did find their way both to East and West Germany.

 

[fanshaw]

All the plastic cards I have found in fsu camera cases have been blank except for one I found in the case of my 1952 Kiev-3. This one has an exposure table printed on one side in Cyrillic characters.

 

[stratcat]

Gorgeus camera, congratulations! ... this, however, does not not help me resist the temptation to buy a 1950's Kiev II ....

 

[K14]

Gorgeus camera, congratulations! ... this, however, does not not help me resist the temptation to buy a 1950's Kiev II ....

Don't hesitate to follow Spike's footsteps. I have a mid 50's Kiev II and it is smooth. You'll get some of the original Contax parts that came from the raid of the German factory with these models. These have the cool feet and the Zeiss bumps. I'm not sure what they call them for Kievs, I have 3 😉

 

[SpikeT]

I was surprised at how different it felt in operation compared to the later models. The shutter is quieter and smoother, the film wind and speed setting are easier and the back fits more snugly; just a beautiful machine. Has the Zorki ZK lens too which may not provide superior images but does make it more interesting.

 

[paradoxbox]

early model kiev 4's (1950's) and kiev 2's are extremely well built and are wonderful to use.

i have a leica m3 but as far as smoothness my kiev 4 from 1959 is about the same. very slick, love my kiev.

if you like contax cameras but don't want to shell out the extra cash for one, a kiev 2 or 4 from the 1950's will do the job just as well. there's no difference in handling or smoothness.

 

[john341]

Top camera, Kiev II

Top camera, Kiev II

I bought one several years ago and it is soooo smooth to operate compared with later models. Mine came with an exposure card also - mine in Russian. Incidently, how many Kievs is too many? each one I see seems to have something different about it...gosh, I'm hooked!

 

[dee]

I would love a 1950 it looks superb .
Mine are 1951 and 1952 , plus a dual script 1955 and mint K IIa 1956 .
I also have the Contax II with Kiev heart .

 

[julio1fer]

That card looks like someone cut and pasted an exposure table, taken from one of those instruction sheet that used to come with film, or from a book or magazine. A careful user.

 

[Dez]

Gorgeus camera, congratulations! ... this, however, does not not help me resist the temptation to buy a 1950's Kiev II ....

One is not supposed to resist the temptation to buy a very early Kiev. I am convinced that these are by far the best build quality of all Russki cameras, although the Kiev quality gradually slid from brilliant to pitiful over 25 years or so. I am especially impressed by the chrome plating on these cameras. It is a considerable improvement over the Contax chrome of the 30's, and vastly better than the coarse, too-shiny chrome of the wartime Contaxes.

Here's mine from 1949.

and another from 1954, still gorgeous.

I have a Kiev III from 1953 in the same condition, with a meter that is still accurate, but sadly no picture handy.

Most FSU cameras are funky, some are interesting, some are pretty, but the old Kievs are the most likely candidates to actually be GOOD!

Cheers,
Dez

 

[stratcat]

Stop! PLEASE stop! Such elegant and classy machines!

I have a 1962 Kiev 4 with a Jupiter 8. I really like the camera and it has rewarded me with some nice photos....but the elegance of the block logo, the flat top, the mechanical refinement and the Contax aura of the early Kiev II is so alluring... one of those with a 'reverse' turrent viewfinder and a Jupiter 12....

 

[Keith]

I also have the very early Kiev ll and aside from the pokey viewfinder they're a great camera. Mine is as smooth as silk also and in fact I kept it in preference to the Nikon S2 I had briefly because I liked the handling better than the Nikon and the shuute was a lot quieter.

Mine has a light leak but I've managed to locate it ... there's a seam inside the camera at the top of the shutter crate that just needs a little nail polish or similar to close it up.

One of these things with a good J-3 is about as good as you can get in FSU IMO!

 

[K14]

Most FSU cameras are funky, some are interesting, some are pretty, but the old Kievs are the most likely candidates to actually be GOOD!

My Kiev lla has been good for me. Along with my Kiev 60 and 88, all have been excellent shooters not to mention the killer glass that comes with them!

Funny thing is I've taken my old 36 Leica Barnack to holiday gatherings, people ask about it but not much to tell. Now when I take my Kiev IIa with me, I get into the occupation and the build quality of the camera and the factory manufacturing quality based on vodka consumption of the day. Many people are drawn to the looks of the Contax clone and are surprised when they find out it's Russian.

I've heard the Contax/Kiev clones have the most accurate rangfinder of any camera out there. Can you see a flame? 😉

Cheers,

 

[SpikeT]

First film

First film

Local processing is appalling (I live in Thailand), so I finally bit the bullet and obtained the chemicals etc to develop my own films.

First film processed yesterday and there is certainly something about wielding a sixty two year old camera and then processing it yourself; a pleasant change from digital. Quite pleased with the results.

The Kiev is certainly a lovely camera to use; but I have a suspicion there is a Zorki in my future.... It never stops.