J12 on Kiev 4a won't click

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xxloverxx

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Red dot on red dot, twist and line it all up. It won't click, but seems to focus fine (according to the RF).

What's that clip for? Seems to have no purpose.
 
That clip should click into position when the lens in mounted correctly. It holds the lens on.
You have to press it, to un-click it to take the lens off.
 
With the lens off the Kiev, the two red dots - one on the body, the other on the focusing mount ring - should be lined up before you attach the J-12, after, as you said, lining up the red dots.

The first two assure you that the camera is at its infinity setting before you install the w/a lens.

If it ain't snappin', you're not going to keep that lens long.

The clip locks the lens in place.
 
Last edited:
Figured it out — someone'd filed down the clip, possibly to fit another camera. Any ideas on how I could either have the lens permanently mounted or fill the clip to make it secure?
 
I wonder if the clips are identical on the J-11 (135mm) and the 12. Nobody seems to want 135mm lenses so they sell for very little money in user or parts condition.

Keep watching KEH as-is offerings. I paid $2.49 (yes, two dollars, forty-nine cents) for my Nikkor 13.5cm/3.5 for Contax mount.
 
Yeah, looks like the way to go. I don't have a J-12 but from ebay listings it looks like the clip is different from the J-11.
 
Here's what the clip on a J-12 looks like. I don't have a J-11 to compare (not in Kiev mount anyway). It looks as though it's been filed to a slight taper. Looks to me as though it's not been tampered with, I think it's how it was made - it needs the taper to work anyway.
 

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The clips on the J11 and J12 are not identical, although as you would expect the part that locks on to the body is the same shape. The J11 body is thinner than that of the J12 and the catch is shaped differently because of this.
 
Hi!
I've the same problem too, with 1 J 11 and J 12.
Both look to have been filed... they won't click in place. I can't even focus with the J 11... Too bad!
D.
 
xxloverxx said:
Thanks for the photo wolves. Mine looks like that, but it won't lock into place. Temporary solution is to hold it with tape.
Click to expand...
Bump.
Have you solved the problem yet?
Firstly I find it hard to imagine filing bits off lens catches, but then I have lead a sheltered life.
I have looked at my sample - (terrible lens) - and if the catch is not bedding down far enough to engage the ramp on the body mount, would you consider opening up the lever, and grasp it with needle nosed pliers at the pivot point, and bend the tip down until it 'does' click onto the body? At the moment you have a lens that is pretty use--- hard to work with, so maybe, what's to lose?
I am always interested in these sort of problems.
Murray
 
Unfortunately not, Murray. The Kiev broke when I was in Europe, and I managed to break the KMZ finder when I dropped the camera.

Decided to switch to LTM — paid for a Fed-2 just minutes ago, actually.

That being said, I may find time to do some tests on the lens after I get everything from vacation sorted out.
 
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