Did I just commit fsu murder? Kiev II(I)

[physiognomy]

Before -

After -

I used the top plate from my 'parts' Kiev 2a to do this. The two main differences from a factory original Kiev II are the shoe with serial # from '57 (Kiev III shoe is a different size) and the wind knob not having feathering on the arrow... Part of me feels bad for messing with the orignal camera & I'm thinking about putting it back to it's original condition... I could never afford a real Kiev II, but for $60 (including shipping) this one looks so cool! I guess I could enjoy using it for a bit & if it becomes a shelf queen I could always put the original top plate on it...

Peter

 

[reagan]

Looks great to me. Very nice.

Part of me feels bad for messing with the orignal camera...

IMHO, if I own it, the greatest value is my personal enjoyment. So if I enjoy it more in some modified state, I'll do it. And as good as this one looks, I'd say you'll enjoy that for some time.

 

[robin a]

It's COOL!Did it just go together or did you have to persuede it some? Robin

 

[physiognomy]

Thanks! I still need to fiddle a little with the rewind knob because it is too tight. Swaping out the top plates was pretty simple... Initially there was a gap between the face & top plates, but with some gentle adjusting I fixed that. I think it will stay this way for a while.

Peter

 

[mjflory]

"FSU murder?!" Peter, that's much too strong! I'm presuming the meter wasn't working (it would be unusual if it did) and getting it out of the way was an excellent idea. The camera is lighter, slimmer, and, in my opinion, much more attractive. As for whether you've violated its design integrity in some way, I'd argue that, first, the 2 and the 3 are variations produced in the same factory at the same time, with the same stock of shared parts; second, the Kiev is a sort of illegitimate offspring of the Contax anyway, so it's not quite as if you've touched up a Leonardo; and third, that you're working in the finest tradition of Soviet kitchen-table industry! Except for the trivial details you've mentioned, you've converted your 3 to a quite accurate 2 anyway, and even if you hadn't, well, that's just some of the FSU fun!

Congratulations, it looks great. Enjoy!

-- Michael

 

[Wayne R. Scott]

Murder? No, I would say it is a Frankenkiev that has had a face lift!! Much better looking in my opinion. I have always thought that my Contax IIa was better looking than my Contax IIIa. I guess I prefer the look of horses to camels (no humps on top).

Wayne

 

[Keith]

Hey ... you've removed that rather ugly growth from the top of the camera ... be proud of yourself. Haven't you ever seen 'Nip Tuck'? 😀

 

[reagan]

Or in this case, "KNiP TYcK" 😉

 

[Keith]

Or in this case, "KNiP TYcK" 😉

LOL ... very good. It's nice to know there's people out there with a sense of humour as weird as mine! 😛

 

[ruben]

improvement is not murder! it is renovation. In my perception Kievs are pure beauty, and beauty requires intervention.
Many of us here have black painted some of our beauties. Other have put "new clothes" from different colors, I myself have done away with the hard cases and taylored my own, I have used the original leather straps to make more functional and aestheical black ones, etc. etc. I have even experimented a bit with home lubrication.

All these kind of putting the user hands in, is not by any way a kind of profanation but on the contrary, it is what the Kievs need from the users, to allow us accumulate more experience to share among us here, to continue to be cameras to be used... and to show off.

Cheers,
Ruben

BTW, next time you something of the like, perhaps you coud photograph the process for us to see.

 

[darkkavenger]

Nice mod, mate!

 

[dexdog]

Looks good, Phys. I prefer the un-metered Contaxes over the metered ones. They look much better, and handle better too.

 

[physiognomy]

Thanks guys! I agree that the unmetered Kiev/Contax is a nicer camera to look at & handle... Now I just need to get the rewind knob right & I'll be ready to go.

...BTW, next time you something of the like, perhaps you coud photograph the process for us to see.

I would have done this, but was just too excited to see what it turned out like... You can see pictures in this thread (click here) showing removal of the top plate of my 'parts' Kiev 2a & swapping the shutter out from a donor Kiev 4.

Cheers!

Peter

 

[40oz]

you are lucky 🙂 My Kiev 4's meter is accurate, so I was forced to buy a 4a to carry at night lol

 

[ErnestoJL]

No murder in any way....
It looks much better now, with all the non functional stuff removed from the top.
Having a Kiev 4 and a Contax II, I prefer the Contax for it´s slimmer appearance and weight. Anyway any Kiev meter is useless in poor light, so I allways carry a handheld one.

Ernesto

 

[ruben]

....I would have done this, but was just too excited to see what it turned out like... You can see pictures in this thread (click here) showing removal of the top plate of my 'parts' Kiev 2a & swapping the shutter out from a donor Kiev 4.

Cheers!

Peter

Thank you Peter any way, but just for the record and future help, my area of ignorance is related to to the Kiev III, the removal of its rewind wheel and what is below the light meter housing.

Once I tryed to disassemble a metered Kiev from the 60's, but could'nt go further after the removal of the top plate. It is sitting and waiting and by the way it is a soft winding one !!!!

I never owned a Kiev III, and in fact the changes you have done are of quite a big practical use, since it is much easy to buy a Kiev III than a II. Therefore guys and gals like me looking for a Kiev II, may buy the III and transform it.

Cheers,
Ruben

 

[physiognomy]

Thank you Peter any way, but just for the record and future help, my area of ignorance is related to to the Kiev III, the removal of its rewind wheel and what is below the light meter housing.

Hey Ruben, sorry I hadn't thought that you were looking for dismantle pictures specifically for the III. I intend to put the original plate on the donor 2a and would be glad to show you how it all goes together. In actual fact (just like the latter Kiev 4's) the whole meter cell comes away from the body with the top plate. You really don't have to mess with it at all unless you want to get at the shoe or clean the meter glass.

...Therefore guys and gals like me looking for a Kiev II, may buy the III and transform it.

Looks like prices for Kiev III's will be on the rise!!! I initially didn't want another metered Kiev, but thought that if the conversion worked I'd actually own a Kiev II at a price I could afford... I'm really glad it did!

Peter

 

[Xmas]

Peter

Initially I did not like the look of the metered Kievs (or Contax), but I now use them in preference, they have survived drops and irrigation etc., if you were in UK I'd be tempted to ask how much for the III's top as a cannibal/parts... My III has a 3rd party replacement which does not work or fit well.

Ruben

You never said what your problem was earlier, could you please say what you think your problem is? A group of us (well two, Fidget and me) in UK are having a fix a meter 'day'. I may be able to take photos or send drawings...

Noel

 

[physiognomy]

Noel, since I am having some thoughts about eventually returning the camera back to its original state I am going to keep hold of the III top plate. If it was spare you would be more than welcome to it.

I was wondering whether you might be able to help me (again)... I am having some trouble with my rewind knob. It is tightening to such a resistance that I know rewinding the film will be a real pain. Below is a quick picture (sorry for the poor dof of the rewind parts)... I took a hesitant look at the rewind from my good 2a and it doesn't appear that I'm missing any parts. Do you know why it is tightening so much?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Peter

 

[Xmas]

Peter

The postage and VAT man risks make any shipping too difficult but thanks.

I dont see how you did the swap, did you move the bush for the rewind shaft from the IIa as well as the shaft and knob? Did you depth mike the IIa and III top plates and chassis plate before hand?

Sorry to be negative... and I'm reliant on memory here, as my III is a long way away.

Noel

P.S. I think Stu is asking (below) did you tighten the top plate down, I've had to shim (0.01") top plates on a swap, but similarly you may need to file... Try the shaft without the w washer...