Descriptions

[MichaelHarris]

I dipped my toe into the Kiev/Contax gig and didn't do that well. It wasn't as bad as clicking on a Hot Cheerleader link and seeing pictures of my grandmother in a cheerleader suit but it wasn't good either.

The first camera looked fantastic and worked perfectly for exactly one roll of film. Now the film advance just turns and turns. What makes it worse is I just added red leather from camera leather. The two lenses I got with it were incredible sharp. I have no idea how to fix a Kiev.

I ordered a second body from the Fed guy online, it also looks great but the film advance is like peeling a potato with a stick. Not to smooth, are all Kievs like that?

I have the 4M(broken) but the light meter works great, and a 4(the one that's like picking scabs when you advance the film). Does the real Contax have a smoother advance?

The only reason I ask is because the two lenses I was able to get are perfect, sharper than some of my modern stuff.

 

[cmedin]

Mine isn't too bad... I have a 4m. Look up the Kiev survival site for instructions on how to disassemble/dismember one.

By the way, I have a 1936 III on the way via Youxin now and it's all your fault.

 

[MichaelHarris]

Hahahahahahahaha you can't stop now, it's impossible. I've tried.

 

[harry01562]

Hahahahahahahaha you can't stop now, it's impossible. I've tried.

You may be right... I own a III (needs ribbons), plus a IIa and 3 (!) IIIa's.

Strangely, the IIIa's are different, a black dial with DIN markings, and 2 color dials with ASA and DIN markings. Those all work very well.

The advance on the Contax's is as smooth as the one on the Leica IIIa I own. That's as in buttery smooth, no potatoes and sticks. There are Kiev's that are just about as nice. I have an older model that is a good shooter, that was also bought from Fedka, ASIR.

Harry

 

[shadowfox]

I dipped my toe into the Kiev/Contax gig and didn't do that well. It wasn't as bad as clicking on a Hot Cheerleader link and seeing pictures of my grandmother in a cheerleader suit but it wasn't good either.

The first camera looked fantastic and worked perfectly for exactly one roll of film. Now the film advance just turns and turns. What makes it worse is I just added red leather from camera leather. The two lenses I got with it were incredible sharp. I have no idea how to fix a Kiev.

I ordered a second body from the Fed guy online, it also looks great but the film advance is like peeling a potato with a stick. Not to smooth, are all Kievs like that?

I have the 4M(broken) but the light meter works great, and a 4(the one that's like picking scabs when you advance the film). Does the real Contax have a smoother advance?

The only reason I ask is because the two lenses I was able to get are perfect, sharper than some of my modern stuff.

Michael, just a thought, after unloading your first film roll, did you see the rewind release button came back up? (y'know, the one that you have to push before rewinding your film at the end of the roll); if not , that would cause the film advance to turn endlessly. I had that happened to my Fed 2 and for a second I thought it's broken as well 🙂

I have two Kievs, the 4AM is not as smooth. It operates flawlessly but I can feel crunches and grittiness when I advance the film.

Now, my second body is a black 4A. Unlike the first, this one is SMooooooth... the film advance is like butter and even the dreaded shutter change is clicky and precise. I would imagine this could be because this particular 4A is a much older version when they still use the same machinations to produce the Contax.

 

[MichaelHarris]

You know what, I didn't check that. I'll do it now. Never even thought about it, sure hope that's it. Thanks.

 

[shadowfox]

Well? is that the problem?

 

[burninfilm]

A Kiev as smooth as a Contax? Sure. In fact, I've used Kievs that were smoother than the Zeiss offerings. Really, a more important factor than manufacturer is maintenance. Also, some have suggested there is a degree of sample variation taking effect. When was the last time your Kievs got serviced, Michael?

However, I'd tend to disagree with the previous statement about a Contax being as smooth as a Leica IIIa. What an insult to the Leica IIIa! I've used several perfectly functional (and some freshly serviced) Zeiss Contax cameras (Contax II and IIIa) and a few Kievs (4a and a "No Name Kiev"), and none of them had the same fluidity in film advance as the Leica IIIa (another freshly serviced camera). You could operate the Leica IIIa with the side of your pointer finger, rolling it along the advance knob.

And if you want to repair a Contax/Kiev type camera, try the Kiev Survival Site. That place has got to be the single greatest repair resource for a classic camera on the net.

 

[MichaelHarris]

Thanks Danny, the first Kiev broke and the second one is rough. I ended up buying a Contax G1.

 

[ErnestoJL]

My two Kievs are as bad as my Contax when winding...
Also, my Contax is as good as the Kievs...

Apart from some quality issues (in fact very few) both cameras share the same goodies and defects.
Maintenance is the issue, nothing else. Refer to Russ Pinchbeck´s Kiev survival site, that´s The Site for many of Us.

Cheers, and happy new year!

Ernesto

 

[Keith]

I had a Contax IIa that had an incredibly smooth film advance but really wasn't as nice as my Kiev II in it's shutter action or focusing smoothness. Probably just lubrication issues but the difference was marked and it made me keep the Kiev and sell the Contax. One thing that intrigues me is the focusing wheels on the two cameras ... they turn in opposite directions which I've never understood and the direction of the Kiev seems more natural to me. Another thing that is very noticable with my Kiev is the slight kick I feel through the camera when I fire the shutter ... it doesn't seem to cause any low speed blur/camera shake problems but it can definitely be felt!

I think the early Kievs ... mine's 1955 ... are as good as a Contax in every way. I bought a later model and was surprised at the difference in quality ... I got rid of it fairly quickly as I had no confidence in it at all!

 

[ErnestoJL]

.... One thing that intrigues me is the focusing wheels on the two cameras ... they turn in opposite directions which I've never understood and the direction of the Kiev seems more natural to me. ... Another thing that is very noticable with my Kiev is the slight kick I feel through the camera when I fire the shutter ... it doesn't seem to cause any low speed blur/camera shake problems but it can definitely be felt!

AFAIK, the focusing wheels run in the same direction in both the Kiev and the Contax, as they come out of the same design board.
And, yes, the shake can be easily felt in both when shooting.

Cheers and happy new year!

Ernesto

 

[colyn]

I have an early kiev 4a (1962) that was in good working order but I dis-assembled it and serviced it myself and now have a smooth working camera. Even the frame spacing issue that is common with these cameras is fixed.

 

[ErnestoJL]

The focusing wheels of the prewar Contax and the Kiev run the same direction ; the postwar Contax focusing wheel runs in the opposite direction as the prewar Contax and Kiev one, just as Keith said.
The "shutter kick" is sometimes called the "prewar shutter whizz" and yes it's there. No consequence in use, even at slow speeds.
It's the result of the left and right ends of the 1st curtain upper blinds hitting the lower shutter casting when the 1st shutter curtain has finished to run its journey accross the film gate. That "kick" is here by design and I've found that 1/125 is the speed at which it's the more sensitive, without being more annoying that the return motion of the mirror on a Nikon F, for example.

Happy new yer Tazio!!
OK you´re right, I´m talking about prewar Contax and of course post war Kievs...

BTW, are you in Venezia? Ahhh....lovely city!!!

Cheers and happy new year for all

Ernesto