About Kiev 4A

[blam]

Hi, i'm newbie of kiev 4A
I wanna know what is the use of the wheel near the shutter speed tuner ?..
the click behind the wheel i know is use for unlocking the unlimited range of lens...So how to use the wheel?

 

[varjag]

GHM is correct.

Now, put your index finger on the shutter release button, middle finger on the focusing wheel and wrap the other fingers around the body. This is the Contax grip: the proper way to hold your camera (so that you won't cover the RF window accidentially).

 

[rbiemer]

The wheel is for focusing. but avoid using it with other lenses than the 50mm.
Here's a site to get you started: Keith Berry's Kiev manual
Very helpful!
And welcome aboard.
Rob

 

[wlewisiii]

GHM is correct.

Now, put your index finger on the shutter release button, middle finger on the focusing wheel and wrap the other fingers around the body. This is the Contax grip: the proper way to hold your camera (so that you won't cover the RF window accidentially).

Yep, and if you are comfortable with that, it's one of the glorious things about shooting them. Of course if you don't like it, it's one of the agonies of shooting them... 😉

As a side note, I have found that though you're advised to only use it for the 50mm lenses, the focus wheel works just fine with the SC Skopar 35/2.5 lens.

William

 

[blam]

oops~~quite a useful information!!~

but i dont know why....when i rotate the wheel..it's so smooth that no clicks @_@
and the lens doesnt rotate too!
is my camera got problems?

 

[FrankS]

The focusing wheel has no clicks so that's okay. The fact that the lens does not rotate is not okay. Try taking pictures while focusing the lens using the traditional focusing method: turning the lens. When you do this, does the rangefinder patch move?

 

[blam]

The focusing wheel has no clicks so that's okay. The fact that the lens does not rotate is not okay. Try taking pictures while focusing the lens using the traditional focusing method: turning the lens. When you do this, does the rangefinder patch move?

yes...when turn the lens, the rangefinder patch works..

whatever... i think the screw of the wheel is too loose 😡

 

[blam]

ahh haa~~i 've tried to turn the wheel to left continuously....the wheel becomes tight ....and the lens works with it ..!!!
the problem was fixed!!

thanks all!!!!

 

[ruben]

Hi, i'm newbie of kiev 4A
I wanna know what is the use of the wheel near the shutter speed tuner ?..
the click behind the wheel i know is use for unlocking the unlimited range of lens...So how to use the wheel?

The small focusing wheel is one of the most advanced features of the Contax/Kiev design. It rotates at inverse proportion to the rotation of the lens: the purpose is not just to focus, which can be done by rotating the lens, but to PIN-POINT focusing of the 50mm lens.

The click behind the wheel is indeed a lock/unlock key. But you can also use the focusing wheel, after focusing, as a FOCUS LOCK, by simple finger pressure. This is specially usefull when rotating a polarizer filter to guarantee the focus point will not change.

Cheers,
Ruben

 

[Sonnar Brian]

> The small focusing wheel is one of the most advanced features of the Contax/Kiev design. It rotates at inverse proportion to the rotation of the lens: the purpose is not just to focus, which can be done by rotating the lens, but to PIN-POINT focusing of the 50mm lens.

Yes, and LEICA does not have one...Nikon does.

What lens do you have on the Camera? If it is the Jupiter-12, or other one that uses external mount, make your you turn the lens and wheel to infinity before mounting. The lens has to couple to the RF mechanism. As you focus any lens on the Kiev, Contax, or Nikon, the wheel should move. If it does not move, the RF is not going to focus properly.

 

[blam]

Mine is Jupiter - 8M...
it works now!! thank you

 

[phototone]

You should know that if you choose to mount a wide angle or telephoto lens on your Kiev, that those lenses have a spring loaded sleeve that couples with the focusing rangefinder, and they will not rotate until the ring has seated itself, and it is spring loaded, so you might have to rock the lens back and forth a bit to get the ring to seat.

Make sure camera and lens are both set on infinity when mounting. (this is for the wide and tele lenses, not the normal lens.)