Got my Kiev 4a

W

wlewisiii

Guest
Just got my present from the mail carrier. It's a Kiev 4a from 1977 with a 1978 Jupiter 8m lens that I bought from Yuri of Fedka.com. The camera body appears to be in very good shape though there are some scratches on the rear element of the lens. I'll need to see a roll through the camera to know if the lens is iffy, but it was his cheapest, so...

I had originally ordered a 4am body and a separate J8m lens. Yuri felt that one wasn't good and so offered me a 4a body instead. He also threw in a case and lens cap that I was not expecting all for the same price I originally was paying. Yuri, you're an :angel:

First impressions:
- yep, it's heavy. Serious heft to this camera. To me, that's a good thing.
- The contax grip is definately different. I can see it won't take much to get used to it, but it is really different.
- it's pretty. I really couldn't tell as well from the photos on the web, but it is a nice looking camera.
-loading film is serious strangeness to this newby. Is it normal to have to trim the leader or is it possible that I don't have the right take up spool with it? I finally got a roll of T400CN loaded, but that was an adventure!
-everything moves very smoothly. The focus wheel is very slick and I can see really coming to like it once I learn to keep my knuckles out of the rangefinder window. :)
I know you aren't to use it for longer than 50mm but I've seen conflicting info for the wides - can you use the wheel with, say, the Jupiter 12?

Well, that's all for the moment. I'm going to go a shoot some exposures and see if I can get it developed and scanned. More later!

William
 
Hi William... I see you're having fun getting acquainted with your new camera! I too got my 4a+8M from Yuri. I agree that film loading is a pain, and you'll need to work out a method that suits you.

If you work the focus wheel with your middle finger, you can keep your index finger on the shutter release, and then the RF window isn't obscured!

The J-12 mounts to the outer bayonet, has its own focusing helix, and the focus wheel isn't used. If you shop for this lens, see if you can find one that includes the accessory 35mm finder. This KMZ 35mm finder is pretty nice.

Have fun! Looking forward to seeing your results.
 
William,
which kind of spool did your Kiev come with? Of course, the fixed spool of the 4AM is the most convenient one, there are different versions for the older Kievs: the best is the one with the metal wrap-around clip (unfortunately only one of my four Kievs has that), the most unusual one is the take up cassette (might be convenient if you develop your own film - you don't have to rewind - but I don'T trust the light-seal felt on mine), the most common and least practical one is the spool with the two vertical slits - there is no real convenient and secure way of attaching the film leader to that, I use a piece of sticky tape to do this, and also make extra sure that the rewind lever rotates when winding the first few frames...

ROman
 
The last one is what I have. I ended up with a little piece of tape to hold it in place and looked at the rewind knob turning too. I wonder if there is any place to buy one of the metal clip ones?

William
 
William,
I have enjoyed my '67 kiev 4a for about a year now and the slight akwardness in the grip and focusing are long gone. The take up spool on mine uses a springy clip thing that I have to cut the film leader for. I think you'll get a lot of fun out of your "new" camera!
Rob
 
Congrats and enjoy your new toy William !! I'm sure you'll like it. Btw I also have the springy clip take up spool and always trim the film leader, not too annoying, can even be done on-the-fly if needed (carrying always a tiny swiss army knives may prove very useful!)

Have fun !!! :D
 
Got back the first couple of rolls. I've scanned a handfull and put them in my gallery. Nothing too spectacular - the biggest problem I'm having is that I don't currently have a light meter. My GE PR1 bit the dust at the hands of my little fireman some weeks ago and my mk 1 eyeball light meter isn't very well calibrated...

Still, as far as the camera is concerned, everything seems good. Now, I just need to shoot up to it.

William
 
well, shoot then:) Doesn't sunny16 work for you?

By the way, i see you are serious about the "stuck up mirror" IIa :) i hope it works out for you - better than my "gone in five seconds" contax.
 
That's what I used. But remembering that a dim room is Exp 6 and getting the shutter slow enough is ... interesting... to my automation spoiled self. :) But I'm learning.

As for that Contax, I've put in my max and if I get it, well, then I have to get the pennies for Henry... We'll see what happens.

William
 
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