Is it worth buying a Kiev these days ...?

[dee]

With a dead Contax costing £50 plus a rebuild by Oleg once he is resettled at £100 , would this be the better option , because any Kiev would need a CLA pretty well immediately ?
Avatar is a parts Contax body and controls with late , new , Kiev shutter - no worth it to mix Contax/Kiev shutter components !
Not trying to stir it , but my very non purist , £150 , 1930s Contax + Kiev are superb-with added history .
dee

 

[David Hughes]

Well, why not?

I've a Contax II that failed with both tapes broken and a lot of internal wear and a Kiev shutter etc saved it from the display cabinet. So I figured I ought to have a Kiev to show alongside of it. The early versions are nice, imo, as they have the little tab to hold them upright, like the early Contax and post war Pentacons.

But, it's your money; who are we to tell you what to do?

Regards, David

 

[Valkir1987]

Yes it is worth it. The models from the 1960ies are well built, and there are plenty of parts and technicians to service it properly. Having a prewar contax is far more expensive to get up and running.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

It is problem to find someone who is willing to CLA it.
They made it all metal with dump of clock gears, but entire shutter is dependant on couple of stitches. Last time I have Kiev-4 it was working fine for two rolls, then one of ribbons broke in the middle. But, I was unable to replace it by myself. My eyes and fingers can't handle such small stitches required by repair manual for Kiev's... I'm able to change shutter curtain in FED-2, but Kiev's ribbons....

 

[Sarcophilus Harrisii]

It is problem to find someone who is willing to CLA it.
They made it all metal with dump of clock gears, but entire shutter is dependant on couple of stitches. Last time I have Kiev-4 it was working fine for two rolls, then one of ribbons broke in the middle. But, I was unable to replace it by myself. My eyes and fingers can't handle such small stitches required by repair manual for Kiev's... I'm able to change shutter curtain in FED-2, but Kiev's ribbons....

Interesting you should say that, because I thought stitching the ribbons on my Contax was perhaps the hardest aspect of replacing them, too. I have another II and a III here to do, so I guess I'll be getting some more practice.
Cheers
Brett

 

[Valkir1987]

Oleg Khalyavin and Fedka still performs CLA on them. You will have to shipp it.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Was it somebody else who also CLA them in the USA? Something like Kiev Camera...

 

[Highway 61]

It is problem to find someone who is willing to CLA it.
They made it all metal with dump of clock gears, but entire shutter is dependant on couple of stitches. Last time I have Kiev-4 it was working fine for two rolls, then one of ribbons broke in the middle. But, I was unable to replace it by myself. My eyes and fingers can't handle such small stitches required by repair manual for Kiev's... I'm able to change shutter curtain in FED-2, but Kiev's ribbons....

If you follow the procedure this is a very feasible fix. You just need time, method, good tools, a clean place to work in with nobody disturbing you or playing with that stuff when you're not at work on it, and lots of patience.

I'm not a pro repairman but I have fixed several Contax shutters (slightly different kind of ribbon but the process is 100% identical) with no problem.

 

[dee]

I am dee'lighted to find champions of the Kiev !
I have '51 and '52 Kiev 2 plus mint '56 2a , plus my Kontax hybrids and started with Oleg K4 , so I love 'em to bits - it's the bits which worry me - are later Kievs still worth repairing ?
dee

 

[davidnewtonguitars]

According to Oleg's last post in this article, you will probably want to find someone else to repair your Kiev.

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=155883

Check with Alex.
http://stores.ebay.com/ussr-photoservice?_rdc=1

 

[David Hughes]

I am dee'lighted to find champions of the Kiev !
I have '51 and '52 Kiev 2 plus mint '56 2a , plus my Kontax hybrids and started with Oleg K4 , so I love 'em to bits - it's the bits which worry me - are later Kievs still worth repairing ?
dee

Hi,

If you like them and can afford it then the answer is surely yes.

We seem to be at a point where we are beginning to realise their value both as photographers and collectors interested in history. So I reckon we should be looking after the ones that we have around and preserving them for the future.

Or there's the traditional alternative; describe them as mint, deny any knowledge of cameras etc and sell them on to annoy people. Part of the tradition is to use a "pro" digital camera and leave the make and model in the EXIf for all to see but only when claiming ignorance etc. OK rant mode off...

Anyway, I'm all for repairing them.

Regards, David

 

[Valkir1987]

Most sellers don't have the knowlegde to tell wether a camera is in good condition or not. That's kind of a fact. I have never bought a camera that was in such condition that it did not need any kind of service.

Another plus is that the optics are very affordable for the Kiev. Contax mount is less popular. And the ones that have an expensive Contax have the more expensive Zeiss Opton or Nikon optics.