I bought a Kiev 2 and now I am broken

[bobby_novatron]

I have a Kiev 2, and a Kiev 4a from around 1981. The quality differences are subtle but noticeable. The Kiev 2 is a much smoother and better-built camera. The Contax DNA is readily apparent.

kyonthinh -- I'm sure you'll like your Kiev 2. It's a beautiful instrument and capable of making wonderful photos. Enjoy!

 

[Keith]

I had a late model Kiev briefly and couldn't believe how different it was to my early ll ... I'd only had it a couple of weeks and the shutter died! It showed signs of having had some pretty rough work done on it ... lots of damaged screws etc.

I bought my Kiev ll from fedka and it was advertised as having been CLAd by them ... they did a great job because it's as smooth as silk and the shutter appears to be very accurate.

 

[pakeha]

Ah Nikos, you've just thrown your own personal political traits in the ring.

If you don't like discussing excrement, don't mention dung.

No, its the other way around.Like myself the interest is in the camera, we could`nt give two .....s for the politics.Its clowns like yourself that insist on bringing it to every post around here. Get over it.

 

[David Murphy]

waiting list for a Contax? What is that? There are millions of them out there and they are easy to have serviced if necessary. Worth doing IMO too.

 

[lukitas]

No, its the other way around.Like myself the interest is in the camera, we could`nt give two .....s for the politics.Its clowns like yourself that insist on bringing it to every post around here. Get over it.

Thank you.

For describing me as a clown (which I may well be), and accusing me of bringing politics to 'every' thread. I didn't know my opinions are so 'political'.

If you don't like politics, don't discuss it. I don't, not here.

In the meantime, you just became the clown who put a match to the oil I was pouring to calm the waves. That makes both of us clowns.

Applause, please!

 

[outfitter]

It`s just a comment on Kiev quality. Hope the guy is happy after recieving the commie camera... We have a saying here that you should get a russki camera from the period ( 5 year plan) when the factory gets new lathe bits....

You should get a Kiev from the period when the German technicians were still supervising production (early to mid 1950s). After that the technicians had retired and their were few commies in the Soviet Union because the little guy had long since figured out the whole system didn't work - except for the party leaders.

 

[kyonthinh]

Got it from Post yesterday. The seller shipped it late ( must wait 2 weeks, what did he do at that time? CLA it?). Then tracking number from DHL shows nothing, and the camera sat in Post for few days ( poor it 🙁 ). I'm also very disappointed that it doesn't come with Yak hair package.
It's a little uglier than in picture, but still in very good shape. Shutter works well, highest speed is likely 1/700, slow speeds are very good, viewfinder is clean. I use my handheld light to check light leak and it is not there, so let's hope there is no light leak in reality. Just shot some pictures with it and it is a very fun camera to work with. The feeling in my hand is also good.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Wellllll

"... it's a great camera, but needs to rate second best to the fabulous and clunky Leningrad."

Sorry Dez...

My experiences with spring-wound cameras (Practina FX, Robot)
soured me completely on that whole concept. Not for me, Thanks.

Dear Rick,

Ah, you've not tried the Leningrad then? Compared with that, the Praktina and Robot ran like Leicas! Put it on a hard surface; set the self timer; and watch it jump when it goes off... Yes, I've had all three, and sold them for varying reasons: Robot, 24x24 format, Praktina, unique (but well designed) lens mount with limited choice, Leningrad, uneven frame spacing (it's designed that way) and a reputation for the chassis cracking if they were used much.

An early Kiev in good order is, in my experience, easily the best of the old Soviet cameras, but I still think it's needlessly complicated (as was the Contax). Later Kievs were, ummm... variable.

Cheers,

R.

 

[newspaperguy]

Professor Hicks stated, "Later Kievs were, ummm... variable"

Perhaps the kindest words ever used to describe them, Roger.

That said, I love my early Kiev II.

 

[Elmar Lang]

Hello,

I consider myself as a Kiev-supporter (not a "fan" as "fanatic", since fanatism can induce to wrong thoughts...).

My very first "serious" camera, was a Kiev-4A made in 1968, bought in 1975, inspired by my grandfather's Contax-II. It was the only camera I could afford, due to the traditionally empty pockets of a schoolboy.

With it I've had lots of fine pictures (I mean well-exposed, in-focus images) and it still works perfectly, after thousands of shots.

This also started a collection (now, almost gone) of Kiev models, variations and accessories of which a few usable cameras are still here, f.e. the "1947" Kiev.

I use this type of cameras along with the Contax (pre- and postwar), with mixed Zeiss and Jupiter lenses.

I need to say that I enjoy to use them and the "Contax-Grip is not that difficult to get used to.

All the best,

E.L.

 

[oftheherd]

Got it from Post yesterday. The seller shipped it late ( must wait 2 weeks, what did he do at that time? CLA it?). Then tracking number from DHL shows nothing, and the camera sat in Post for few days ( poor it 🙁 ). I'm also very disappointed that it doesn't come with Yak hair package.
It's a little uglier than in picture, but still in very good shape. Shutter works well, highest speed is likely 1/700, slow speeds are very good, viewfinder is clean. I use my handheld light to check light leak and it is not there, so let's hope there is no light leak in reality. Just shot some pictures with it and it is a very fun camera to work with. The feeling in my hand is also good.

My Kiev 4am had a light leak from the fitting (or not light-tight fitting) of the back. And as yours, no yak yarn.

I used a black yarn, kept in with a light coat of spray tak cement, with touch-up by black magic marker to make sure it stayed a flat black. Works well for me.

How's the lens and camera? I see the lens was made in 54, which should make it better if well enough treated.

 

[newspaperguy]

Here's my 1956 Kiev with a "manly" strap of the same vintage.

Still a great shooter. (Comes complete with "Zeiss bumps" on the back.)

Hint for those with fumble fingers: Pre-focus, and never worry about the 'Contax Hold."

 

[Roger Hicks]

Here's my 1956 Kiev with a "manly" strap of the same vintage.

Still a great shooter. (Comes complete with "Zeiss bumps" on the back.)

Hint for those with fumble fingers: Pre-focus, and never worry about the 'Contax Hold."

Dear Rick,

Nah, that's a wimp strap. With overweight cameras, Real Men use excruciatingly uncomfortable thin straps. Or better still,1950s/1960s "snake chains" that pull out the tiny hairs on your neck as well.

Cheers,

R.

 

[lrochfort]

Dear Rick,

Nah, that's a wimp strap. With overweight cameras, Real Men use excruciatingly uncomfortable thin straps. Or better still,1950s/1960s "snake chains" that pull out the tiny hairs on your neck as well.

Cheers,

R.

That's half a haircut for free!

 

[Elmar Lang]

I couldn't use my Kiev (or Contax RF) without the "snake chain" if carried out of its everready case!

Excruciatingly thin neck straps are part of the game... especially on a mountain hike during summer.

An alternative, is to carry the super-heavy case of a vintage, chinese "Seagull" wooden field camera, with the extra-case for its tripod: here's an example of what is capable, that example of deforestation: it's a gum-bichromate contact print from an Ilfolith negative.

Please excuse me for the off-topic...

 

[kyonthinh]

My Kiev 4am had a light leak from the fitting (or not light-tight fitting) of the back. And as yours, no yak yarn.

I used a black yarn, kept in with a light coat of spray tak cement, with touch-up by black magic marker to make sure it stayed a flat black. Works well for me.

How's the lens and camera? I see the lens was made in 54, which should make it better if well enough treated.

The camera is serviced I think, it works well, smoothly and accurately.
Lens is clean, and I got this because of KMZ ( I always like KMZ more than another factories). Lens pics are coming soon. 😀
Btw, the DHL guy knocked on my door again, for another Kiev 2A. This one is half broken, though 😡, will go to Oleg soon. It's brother of newspaperguy's one 😀

Pardon me for the bad picture coming from my phone, since I don't have any digital camera. Strange, I'm still young and what I have are cameras, which are older than my father.
@Elmar: feel free to do it. I'm still learning through people's experience.