Contax IIA or Kiev?

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retrocam

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Hello,

I saw a Contax IIA in EXC condition. However, I would like to know if I'd just be better off with a KIEV considering that the KIEV costs much less. I'm also wondering if the maintenance on the Contax IIA would be troublesome in the long run.

Which Kiev model is a good one - the Kiev II or the Kiev 4a or something else? BTW, I am not into tinkering with camera hardware. Appreciate your input. :)

Thanks!

-annie
 
If I could afford the Contax IIa I wouldn't give a second thought to a Kiev. This is one time when the original is far and away the best one to own. IMO, anyway....... and I own several Kievs.

Walker
 
Depends on how much quality means to you & how much money you want to spend to get it. The Contax is more expensive to start off with &, if it isn't working right now, will likely cost more to have serviced. However, once serviced, your long term "maintenance" costs will be close to nil as the Contax is very reliable &, as others have pointed out, the Contax is a nicer camera than the Kiev (nice as they are for the $$). The Contax will also be worth more if you want/need to re-sell the camera, but none of this matters if all you want is a camera to dabble in RF photography.
 
having both and using them back to back, I can agree with all that has been said.. the Contax is a noticeably better camera.. a real joy to use and you would not regret buying one

however, the Kiev has two things going for it.. it's a lot cheaper and you can use just about any FSU glass on it.. the Contax IIa and IIIa are not compatible with with affordable Jupiter-12 lens, which in itself is one reason you need to have the Kiev

but keep in mind that getting a good Kiev is another form of russian roulette.. my advice would be to find a good Kiev from a member here, if possible.. then get a Jupiter-8 and Jupiter-12.. even a Jupiter-11 is a great deal
 
I must admit that I put buying the Contax IIA or Kiev on hold because I was undecided and opted to save more pennies. So, my 1951 Jupiter-3 in contax mount was waiting for a nice body. :D

Anyway, this weekend, I did some research again on Kiev II and Contax IIa in RFF and stumbled upon this old thread of mine. :p

Going through dealers I usually go to, I found a 1952 Kiev II in EXC condition. The seller also offered a 1955 Kiev II with the same engraving as the 1952 but in a better condition he says. Then out of curiosity, I checked if the Contax IIa is in EXC condition was still available. It was!

Finally, I've settled. In our family, we have a saying, "what's yours is yours even if you put it off.".

Thanks for all your advice...now I am expecting 2 Kiev II and a Contax IIa in the mail. :D

Will this vicious cycle ever stop???....:bang:
 
I was going to offer the standard RFF reply to a "which _____ should I get?" question: get both, but you already did!
 
Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy!!!

Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy!!!

Here are the new toys! B-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l!!! :D

Contax IIA with Jupiter-3
Kiev II's with Jupiter-8

Thanks again!

303875835_6ec178d74e_o.jpg
 
I will kindly disagree with Wayne and give out my preference for the Kievs, whose design is closer to the original Contax look and feel. Not that I dislike the IIa that is a jewel in itself, but I prefer the shape of the two Kievs with their original Kiev engraving style. Congratulations from me and my Kiev-2A with a 1970 Jupiter-3 mounted on it ;)

Gotta love those early KMZ Jupiter-8's!
 
I dig the Kievs too as far as looks concerned: the early single-engraving versions are particularly nice. Postwar Contaxes are perhaps finer mechanisms in smaller package, but aesthetically it is hard to compete with pre-war II.. but of course am deeply biased :)
 
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