Contax Classic RF

[taffer]

Brian, thanks for sharing that info. The "problem" with the 5, in my opinion is that it lost most of the basic design points that (IMHO again) made the Contax II such a beatiful camera. and that frontal meter window looks a bit out of place. The finder is oth a lot bigger than on previous models, and if I'm not wrong it provided brightlines for the 50mm.

It may be a nice shooter, however, but breaking my $50 eBay rule just to try it it's out of my "game"...

A Nikon SP would have been a nicer modern Contax 😀, I haven't lost faith yet about finding one someday in the trash:
http://www.cameraquest.com/nrfmtrsh.htm

JD, you're right pointing that right and left-handed turret variations, thanks. BTW, is that Sonnar coming from SOUTHERN Spain ? Where did you find it ? Your Kiev will look GREAT with that, not to speak about performance...

Have you tried the Helios 53mm 1.8 that comes usually with modern Kievs ?

Oscar

 

[jdos2]

Indeed, Southern Spain, and yes, from you-know-who. Can't wait! It'll be fun, I hope. I'll shoot a roll wide open and see what happens.

I too hope for an SP, but only because I'd like to use it for the framelines. If Sonny Bono's cameras keep coming up for bid on e-Bay, it might drive the cost of these cameras down to reasonable levels...

 

[taffer]

OK gentlemen...

the finder arrived here in 4 days ! being a really small parcel helped a bit, I suppose. It's the simple all black version, with a plastic front mask, and the housing seems plastic too.

the image is clear and bright enough (ok, it's not the one on Francisco's M6), and the overall condition is very good, so a pretty good deal in the end.

haven't checked for coverage yet, but it's clearly wider than the view I saw from my home made one.

and... apart from that, the last piece I needed to "close" my collection may be coming here soon 😀

that's of course, until I win the lotto and start looking for Nikon SP's, of course 😉

BTW, sorry for being so late with this and other threads... I seldom find some free minutes lately 🙁

Oscar

 

[jdos2]

I'm going to order another Kiev from Oleg. My 4 that I got from him "blinds" a bit with a flash at 1/25- the bottom shutter drags just a touch (1mm) on the negatives, and getting another from him is cheaper (important right now) than getting it completely rebuilt.

 

[taffer]

Curious that you name Oleg, as my "last" piece is an early Kiev II without flash sync he has just serviced.
I simply couldn't resist the idea of getting one 😀 price was too tempting and I had some bucks on paypal from a previous refund...
BTW, I'm not a flash guy, but this on-line manual had some info about flashes with the Kiev:

http://www.classiccamera.org/kiev online manual.htm

Best !

Oscar

 

[jdos2]

Yup- that's indeed from where I got my 1/25th of a second flash speed, but as I said, the bottom shutter drags ever so slightly, so I lose 1/2 mm off the top of my pictures. I'm hoping that the camera is just "tight" and will loosten as time goes on. I do NOT get an uneven exposure on any shutter speed, so the bottom shutter is well harmonized with the upper, they are just a touch slow.

 

[thejazzguy]

i finally have some shots taken with my kiev 4am, and i'm again pleasantly surprised. it worked really well as a street shooter, and i think with black and white film, the results will be even better.
combat

craig
therangefinder.org

 

[scubaguy10]

Greeting from Ohio. The weather here has not been too conducive to good outdoor picture taking, but I didi get to try out my "new" Kiev 4 ($18.00 on eBay). the lens seems great, and the selinum meter is actually fairly accurate, at least outdoors. I was getting intermittent light leaks, however. It seems to be leaking at the channel where the top of the camera back fits in. Is this a common problem? I ordered some light baffle material from Micro-tools, so hopefully I can seal up the camera.

Mike

 

[Doug]

Hi Mike-- Outstanding price on that Kiev! I bought a 4a but they sent a 4 instead and it had light leaks right where you say. It went back, replaced by a 4a with the same light leaks plus something very wrong in the film transport department. Finally, the seller picked another 4a, ran a roll of film through it and shipped the negs and prints with the replacement camera. It too has light leaks but they don't show up when the camera body is in the leather case. Too bad the case top doesn't detach. I'm open to the idea of jamming some kind of light seal material into the back of the body. Let us know how you make out!

 

[taffer]

Hey Doug, it seems the case can be easily modified so you can detach it in the usual two pieces.

I'm sure I've seen more sites with info about that with very detailed instructions, but the only one I can remember now is this:

http://homepage.mac.com/mattdenton/photo/cameras/kiev_4.html

Craig I'm glad you like your 4am, it's indeed a sweet street shooter. I've also visited your site, and like it a lot 🙂

Mike, please let us know if you can successfully seal the camera, seems like a common problem with Kievs.

BTW, I've been using the russian finder lately, and found it pretty solid, with a bright and clear image. Wearing glasses I can't completely see all the frame area, but for the way I'm shooting lately, careful framing is not that much of a problem, hehe...

Oscar

 

[Doug]

Oscar, thanks for the useful link! And are you shooting from the hip these days, or what? ;-)

 

[taffer]

Oscar, thanks for the useful link! And are you shooting from the hip these days, or what? ;-)

Hahaha... well lately I find myself shooting from the hip, shoulder, head, wrist, on the table, etc etc...

but when doing self-portraits, the finder still looks pretty nice on top of the camera, and I'm sure it gives a bright and clear image of myself 😀

let's see if I can find another link about that case modification... I'm sure it's here somewhere...

 

[scubaguy10]

Gasoline?? I'll take your work on it.

On the Kiev front, there is a channel where the back fits in (for those unfamiliar, the Kiev back comes off just like most Zeiss's, or a Nikon F). I have ordered some light sealing felt material from Micro Tools. Assuming I get the right size, it should be pretty easy to sun a strip all around the channel for the back to press into when fitted. I''ll let everyone know if I have any success

Mike

 

[taffer]

And yet another one with what seems an interesting BIN price...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3807322204&category=15234

 

[Todd.Hanz]

Hey Guy's,
I am new here as well, great site. I only have one RF, a Contax IIA with the 50mm 1.5. It's a great little shooter and a lot of fun. Can someone tell me how to start a gallery, I couldn't find any instructions, so far.

 

[back alley]

you need to register on the gallery page. i think most of us use the same name and password. after registering, you will be able to upload photos onto the site. i think it's on the top right, the various options.

joe

oh, and welcome to the forum!

j

 

[scubaguy10]

you need to register on the gallery page. i think most of us use the same name and password. after registering, you will be able to upload photos onto the site. i think it's on the top right, the various options.

joe

oh, and welcome to the forum!

j

Just for the record, I am having HUGE!!! problems doing the same thing, trying to register on the gallery page. When I register under the same name and password, it tells me that there is already someone registered under that password. I know that-it's me! I am getting frustrated, and need to either have a stiff drink or get a camera out and take pictures of fresh roadkill:bang: AARRGH!!! Somebody help us!

Respectfully,

Michael

 

[back alley]

ok, if you are already registered - something the software is capable of doing when you register for the forum - then you just need to log in on the gallery page and that should do it.
if that does not work i'll contact the big cheese, jorge, and ask him to look into it.

joe

 

[scubaguy10]

I tried this morning, and I am still getting Invalid password, etc. When I try to register, it tells me the name is already taken.

Mike

 

[back alley]

mike, have you tried to just login with your user name & password?
not register but login?

joe