First impresion of Kiev 4a

[Creagerj]

What I like:
Well, it has a neat look to it. I also like its feel, it is differant but feels natural once you get used to it. Everything works! A suprise I know, and who knows how long it will last, but its nice for now. Also I like the focusing wheel, if you have good balance it can help with one handed photos.

What I don't like:
Its heavy, and not very discreat. The take up spool is easy to misplace. The viewfinder is a strain to look through. Loading film can be very difficult.

Its a lot differant than my canonet. I'm not sure what I like more, but probably my canonet. If the picture is important there is just no way that I could trust the kiev over the canon. I haven't gotten my first roll back yet, but I'll be sure to post some of the pictures. Hopefuly there will be no light leaks!

 

[Austintatious]

These cameras ( Kiev , Contax ) are not just devices with which to capture a photograph.
They are quite simply, works of ART !! Beautiful to behold and wonderful to use !!

Charles

 

[ruben]

THE MEETING POINT OF A CANONET GIII AND KIEVS

The Canonet GIII is a premium optics, auto exposure, coupled rangefinder, ultra fast to manipulate camera. But no lens exchangeability.

The Kievs are premium optics cameras with lens exchangeability, via the outstanding Universal Turret Finder. But no auto exposure, slower to manipulate.

Combining one or two Kiev bodies and lenses, plus a Canonet GIII (or like in my case an Oly 35SP), you are a small superpower on the arena, either for street photography or overseas touring.

Just make yourself a favour. Frou truly premium Kiev lenses, don't fun around and buy them at higher prices at Fedka.com.

Cheers,
Ruben

 

[dnk512]

#1. Do not buy cheap.

 

[captainslack]

What he means is, Fedka's lens & bodies have been checked and are warrantied. They will or work or you can get your money back. You could get the same lens for cheaper on Ebay, but it'll be a crapshoot whether it'll work properly or not.

 

[brachal]

Fedka is always my #1 choice for FSU gear. I've gotten 2 cameras and a J-9 from him. All have been excellent, and they show up in 3-4 days instead of 3-4 weeks. Well worth the "extra" cash in my opinion.

 

[marcus]

"What I don't like:
Its heavy, and not very discreat. The take up spool is easy to misplace. The viewfinder is a strain to look through. Loading film can be very difficult."

It sure is fun to play with, though. I'm not generaly a fondler, but that camera spent lots of time next to the TV chair, where I could pick it up, wind it, and listen to the "bzzzt" sound while watching Sopranos. So it is exercised. I shot very little film with it in five years, but just could not give it up. That Jupiter is a noticably better performer wide open than my Canonet's was though. The Canonet is also nowhere near as good at driving tent stakes or pitons, so weight saving with a Canonet is a false economy.
That Kiev VF is a no-go with my glasses, though it actually focus well in poor light because of the spot contrast . I just couldn't compose comfortably or quickly with it. I also thought of it as a large and heavy camera until I got a Canon 7, the Kiev is downright sporty compared to that. I find the Kiev to have a nice weight for handholding at slower speeds. A neoprene neckstrap will do wonders for camera induced neck strain.
Canonet film loading spoils you as a photographer. They had no business coming up with such a quick, easy, and reliable way to load film. Pure consumer driven rubbish. Proper photographers buy Leicas so they can load film in a more correct way.
I have yet to try one, but a Zorki 3M is reputed to have a nice finder. Barnack style cameras are truly compact, and their knob wind is much easier to use as they have less gearing to turn.
If you can, post some pictures.
Cheers,
Marcus

 

[Creagerj]

I definatly intend to post some pics as soon as I get my first roll back. Unfortunatly my standby photostore has been a little slow getting it to me. I have enjoyed it so far though. Yes I know that the canonet is spoiling me. It was a luxury that I should have waited to enjoy. However I wanted to take baby steps as I was previously an AF SLR user.