Experince with a Kiev 5?

[Spider67]

Hi,
Has anybody Experiences with a Kiev 5. I am going to get one I bought on eBay. It has its special 50mm lens with the external mount. I am just wondering what to look for especially quirks that make the diffrence to the other Kievs or Zorkis.
Thanks and best Regards
Des

 

[outfitter]

Hi,
Has anybody Experiences with a Kiev 5. I am going to get one I bought on eBay. It has its special 50mm lens with the external mount. I am just wondering what to look for especially quirks that make the diffrence to the other Kievs or Zorkis.
Thanks and best Regards
Des

The Kiev 5 has a truely great viewfinder/RF. It is unbalanced and heavy - I use the bottom half of the never-ready case which carries it at a more balanced angle than using a neck strap. It is supposed to be easier on the film transport to turn the knob rather than use the rapid wind lever so a minimize use of the lever. The 50mm lens (either Helios or Jupiter 8) uses the outside mount so there is no focusing wheel or infinity lock but these lenses do not fit the outside mount of any other Kiev or Contax. The rewind crank is great; the whole thing is an indication where the further development of the Contax RF concept could have gone and is fun as they only available camera that started to go in that direction. I thought it clumsy at first but now rather like the camera. As with many FSU cameras I suspect worn copies are an indication that it works and prestine copies may indicate problems. AH the FSU paradox.

Michael