Daft Question: Kiev 4a and Jupiter 12

[greywind]

I've managed to mount my Jupiter 12 on my Kiev 4a.

But is the rangefinder supposed to work? Probably a daft question.

The rangefinder works with the Jupiter 8 but it doesn't budge when I focus with the Jupiter 12.

Thanks

GW

 

[Dez]

Yes it definitely is supposed to work. Does it work correctly without any lens? The RF is coupled to the camera's focusing mount and does not care whether or not there is a lens mounted. If this is not happening, it looks like there may be parts missing from your lens, or you are mounting it incorrectly.

The J12, if it has all its bits and is put on the camera correctly, couples to the camera body focusing mount through cylindrical tabs coming out the back of the lens. As you focus the lens, you should see the camer's focus wheel turning.

I'm concerned by your "managed to mount my Jupiter 12". Just to check: to mount a lens on the Kiev, you must set the camera to infinity, set the lens to infinity, align the red dots on camera body and lens, push the lens fully into the lens mount, and turn counterclockwise until it clicks into place. There should be very little force required to do this.

Cheers,
Dez

 

[S.H.]

I'm concerned by your "managed to mount my Jupiter 12". Just to check: to mount a lens on the Kiev, you must set the camera to infinity, set the lens to infinity, align the red dots on camera body and lens, push the lens fully into the lens mount, and turn counterclockwise until it clicks into place. There should be very little force required to do this.

+1
Perhaps you mounted the lens incorrectly?

 

[greywind]

Yes it definitely is supposed to work. Does it work correctly without any lens? The RF is coupled to the camera's focusing mount and does not care whether or not there is a lens mounted. If this is not happening, it looks like there may be parts missing from your lens, or you are mounting it incorrectly.

The J12, if it has all its bits and is put on the camera correctly, couples to the camera body focusing mount through cylindrical tabs coming out the back of the lens. As you focus the lens, you should see the camer's focus wheel turning.

I'm concerned by your "managed to mount my Jupiter 12". Just to check: to mount a lens on the Kiev, you must set the camera to infinity, set the lens to infinity, align the red dots on camera body and lens, push the lens fully into the lens mount, and turn counterclockwise until it clicks into place. There should be very little force required to do this.

Cheers,
Dez

Thanks for the reply Dez

Yes it works correctly without a lens and works fine with the Jupiter 8.

Regarding the "managed to mount my J-12" I said that because when I was searching for an answer there seemed to be a lot of people struggling. I followed the steps you described.

When I turn the focusing wheel on the camera body the lens focus wheel doesn't move. I can only turn the focusing wheel on the camera body a short distance.

 

[greywind]

I have a feeling it is to do with the range finder coupling.

The spring mechanism is very stiff. It doesn't move very freely.

Could the screws to too tight?

 

[Roger Hicks]

Does the wheel whizz 'round when you focus the lens from the lens itself?

Cheers,

R.

 

[greywind]

Does the wheel whizz 'round when you focus the lens from the lens itself?

Cheers,

R.

The wheel on the lens moves freely.

The wheel on the camera body moves freely (not totally easily though).

But when the lens is mounted the the lens wheel moves but the camera body wheel will not.

 

[greywind]

I loosened the screws and now the lens and rangefinder will focus to 2m but not beyond.

So when focusing from infinity to 2m using the lens wheel the camera body focusing wheel moves with it and the rangefinder works.

But it will not go beyond 2m.

When focusing back from 2m to infinity the rangefinder doesn't work and the camera body focusing wheel doesn't move.

 

[greywind]

I've got it where I can now turn the lens wheel all the way to 0.9 and back to infinity.

But turning it past 2m uses such force that the lens starts to come off.

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

Page 15 of the instruction book: "It is important to note that when using lenses of long focal length the focusing must be done by adjusting the focusing ring on the lens and not by turning the focusing wheel of the camera."

BTW, I did a search and you ought to be able to get a PDF of the manual here:

http://www.butkus.org/chinon/russian/kiev-4/kieva-a-splash.htm

Hope that helps...

BTW, don't forget to donate to our friend if you download the manual. It's a lot cheaper and easier than searching for a proper, genuine, printed, English copy of it; as I know the hard way.

Regards, David