taffer
void
Wow, this one has seen some use... look at the third picture.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3806949289
Could it be one of Capa's ?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3806949289
Could it be one of Capa's ?
Duncan Ross
Say it with flashbulbs
jdos2 said:
Sounds like the flash contact is out of position. It is a straightfoward job taking out the back of the shutter box and bending the flash contact a little. It is activated by a tab on the left side of the lower shutter and if it gets bent /over/ this tab you get the famous 'Contax jam'.
Good luck,
Duncan
jdos2
Well-known
I'm reluctant to yank this one apart. To be fair, the last one I disassembled had a light leak to begin with, but it can be a bunch of work. Several hours for the Little Curious Ones (cats) to be locked up...
taffer
void
Well, my last Kievaholic purchase just arrived last week, the Kiev II from (as usual lately) Oleg. Must recognize the thing looks simply great, with the cyrillic-only logo, the more satin chrome and the real leather covering... Apparently it works ok but a test roll will confirm that point. No flash sync in this early model, but flashes are not really my cup of tea, so no problem with that...
And with this I think my Kiev adventure has arrived to an end (poor Taffer, that's what you think...), as I may start saving some money just in case someday I find that Leica M2 that is sure waiting for me somewhere in this world...
BTW JD, how is going your Sonnar 1.5, have you already used it ?
Best !
Oscar
And with this I think my Kiev adventure has arrived to an end (poor Taffer, that's what you think...
), as I may start saving some money just in case someday I find that Leica M2 that is sure waiting for me somewhere in this world... BTW JD, how is going your Sonnar 1.5, have you already used it ?
Best !
Oscar
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S
scubaguy10
Guest
Well, I finally got the light sealing material from Microtools, after UPS lost it (actually it was delivered to my next door neighbor , who was out of town for a week). I immediately got to work on my Kiev IV. I cut a strip and placed it in the groove at the top back side of the camera body where it had seemed to fit loosely. The sides shouldn't be a problem (I hope). Since the back slides into them, do I need to put light seal there? It doesn't look like there ever was any.
Haven't shot any film since, but it should be ok. My initial roll was excellent, except for the light leaks.
One other question. When buying Kiev cameras and/or lenses, are there specific years and models to avoid? I know that around the 1970's the quality went downhill, but are the early ones from the 50s worth the premium, especially considering the possible maintenance issues? The one I bought is a 1964 model, and the quality seems really excellent.
Haven't shot any film since, but it should be ok. My initial roll was excellent, except for the light leaks.
One other question. When buying Kiev cameras and/or lenses, are there specific years and models to avoid? I know that around the 1970's the quality went downhill, but are the early ones from the 50s worth the premium, especially considering the possible maintenance issues? The one I bought is a 1964 model, and the quality seems really excellent.
jdos2
Well-known
FSU Quality control is the subject of many curse- it is so... Well...
I've 4 Kiev bodies now. Only one of which works (from Oleg) and even it has trouble, the flash goes off before the bottom shutter is all the way open. It's a 1963. The ones I have range from 1963 all the way until the late 80's and I can say that the next one in line is a 1973 model- which has the most potential to work well again. It was the first I bought, and got it because it was within 120 miles of me. It actually had some sort of "soft shutter" release on it- and was VERY well used.
It leaks light like a fine mesh screen. I've fixed some of the leakes, but I really have to send the camera in- the rangefinder top doesn't fit quite right into the body so the back doesn't seal quite right... It has the plastic film transport gear, and that seems to indicate some (downward) step in the evolution of these cameras... At least according to the Russian sellers I've run across and spoken with...
I don't believe that one can quantify how much more reliable one year's run of cameras is over another- it's sort of an Eastern Philosphy thing, if it's worked this long, it's bound to work a long time to come. In other words unless it arrives broken, or breaks within the first 10 rolls of film (or 1/2 hour exercising the shutter) it'll be fine for a long time.
I've tested the CZJ lens wide open and against light. A hood helps about as much as a hood on my Nikon S-2's 50mm. In spite of the bubbles (and there are several) it's a wonderful lens, forming quite attractive images and surprising detail- surprising because it's obviously soft wide open, but very attractive none-the-less. I've seen it in many of the lenses of the day: "if you can't make it sharp, make it look good!" That the FSU continued the camera for so long really speaks to their impression of it-and I agree. It's a good image maker.
Now, if I could only find an 85mm without horrible veiling (at odd times)
I've 4 Kiev bodies now. Only one of which works (from Oleg) and even it has trouble, the flash goes off before the bottom shutter is all the way open. It's a 1963. The ones I have range from 1963 all the way until the late 80's and I can say that the next one in line is a 1973 model- which has the most potential to work well again. It was the first I bought, and got it because it was within 120 miles of me. It actually had some sort of "soft shutter" release on it- and was VERY well used.
It leaks light like a fine mesh screen. I've fixed some of the leakes, but I really have to send the camera in- the rangefinder top doesn't fit quite right into the body so the back doesn't seal quite right... It has the plastic film transport gear, and that seems to indicate some (downward) step in the evolution of these cameras... At least according to the Russian sellers I've run across and spoken with...
I don't believe that one can quantify how much more reliable one year's run of cameras is over another- it's sort of an Eastern Philosphy thing, if it's worked this long, it's bound to work a long time to come. In other words unless it arrives broken, or breaks within the first 10 rolls of film (or 1/2 hour exercising the shutter) it'll be fine for a long time.
I've tested the CZJ lens wide open and against light. A hood helps about as much as a hood on my Nikon S-2's 50mm. In spite of the bubbles (and there are several) it's a wonderful lens, forming quite attractive images and surprising detail- surprising because it's obviously soft wide open, but very attractive none-the-less. I've seen it in many of the lenses of the day: "if you can't make it sharp, make it look good!" That the FSU continued the camera for so long really speaks to their impression of it-and I agree. It's a good image maker.
Now, if I could only find an 85mm without horrible veiling (at odd times)
M
MikeinDayton
Guest
"It leaks light like a fine mesh screen".... Man, you have a way with words. Next time I'm in Cleveland we need to have a beer.
One wonders why anyone would mess with these cameras at all. I bought my 14 yr old daughter a 3.2 megapixel Fuji digital, and bought myself an $18.00 Kiev??? I got to be on drugs.... Actually, I really like the feel of the Kiev. I am loading it up with cheap Kroger brand color film as we speak, and plan on carrying it in the car as my beater for a while. The great thing about rangefinders, and vintage cameras in general is that they make you slow down, see the picture, think about the process. Of course, when it comes to the Kiev, the process I'm thinking of is the shutter ribbons LOL
Regards
One wonders why anyone would mess with these cameras at all. I bought my 14 yr old daughter a 3.2 megapixel Fuji digital, and bought myself an $18.00 Kiev??? I got to be on drugs.... Actually, I really like the feel of the Kiev. I am loading it up with cheap Kroger brand color film as we speak, and plan on carrying it in the car as my beater for a while. The great thing about rangefinders, and vintage cameras in general is that they make you slow down, see the picture, think about the process. Of course, when it comes to the Kiev, the process I'm thinking of is the shutter ribbons LOL
Regards
ZeissFan
Veteran
In the Contax IIa, the helical turns a small geared wheel, which at its base has a worm-thread that rotates a cam, which allows a small wedge prism to slide ever-so-slightly laterally.
Total lateral movement of the wedge prism is maybe 1/4-1/2 inch (don't recall exactly -- been a while since I disassembled one).
It's a very elegant solution, extremely easy to calibrate and rarely falls out of adjustment, even if the camera gets knocked to the ground.
Total lateral movement of the wedge prism is maybe 1/4-1/2 inch (don't recall exactly -- been a while since I disassembled one).
It's a very elegant solution, extremely easy to calibrate and rarely falls out of adjustment, even if the camera gets knocked to the ground.
zeissbum
Newbie
old Contaxes
old Contaxes
great cameras and still in use after 25 years. received a new digital (Canon G10) for Christmas this year -returned, credited the account, then went out and bought a 35mm 3.5 Planar for Contax IIIa!...reactionary? YES!
old Contaxes
great cameras and still in use after 25 years. received a new digital (Canon G10) for Christmas this year -returned, credited the account, then went out and bought a 35mm 3.5 Planar for Contax IIIa!...reactionary? YES!
gdmcclintock
Well-known
I have a lovely, almost perfect Contax IIa that I had consigned but no one was interested. Perhaps I priced it too high. In any case I realized that I missed working with the camera and retrieved it today. -George
marcr1230
Well-known
I have 2 Contax IIa's a BD and a CD, I enjoy using them and they take me way back since I started taking pictures 35 years ago with my dad's IIa.
I do find them hard to focus, the viewfinder/rangefinder can get out of vertical alignment and practically speaking it is not possible to fix or so I hear
I do find them hard to focus, the viewfinder/rangefinder can get out of vertical alignment and practically speaking it is not possible to fix or so I hear
ZeissFan
Veteran
I prefer the black-dial camera over the color dial. The shutter is quieter at the slower speeds, and I don't shoot flash enough to use the color dial.
It took me about seven years to find a 21mm Biogon with finder at a reasonable price.
It took me about seven years to find a 21mm Biogon with finder at a reasonable price.
johank
Established
The combo IIa and 21 mm is a hit. Got my 21 with a nice IIIa and a new turret finder.