Just bought a mint 1963 Kiev 4

[zhang xk]

Hi,

It's been quiet recently. How come? No more FSU cameras?😀

I went to the big used cameras market today (WKS), and bought a mint Kiev 4 for RMB 700( about 70 euro). The camera is in LN condition for a reason, the rangefinder doesn't work. As soon as I got home, I disassembled it and found out that the rangfinder arm was stuck with another part, and it was a very easy fix. Knowleadge is power, 🙂 and now I have a perfect working 1963 Kiev 4. As usual, a 1960's Kiev is smooth, quiet, and finished like a Contax.

I saw 1-2 hundred Leica Ms in excellent condition, but only 5-6 Kievs. It was the opposite just a few years ago. However, a M3 in very good condition still cost many times of a decent Kiev . An early Kiev 2 or 3 could cost about RMB 1000 or more.

Cheers,

Zhang

 

[fidget]

Just as they say: the mint examples are in such good condition because they were faulty and never used. Good catch, worth a little risk in buying?

 

[ErnestoJL]

Congratulations!!
Another Kiev4 found home!!
You´re right Zhang, 60´s Kiev are very Contax in their feeling and finishing and the faulty ones remain almost mint after all those years.
The price you payed is more or less the same as I payed for my ´62 K4/J3.
Which lens did You get with the camera, the usual J8 or a J3?

No more FSU Cameras??
Sure not!!
My last trhee purchases were a Zorki 1, the ´62 K4 and a Zorki 4 in that order.

I´m thinking of selling some other cameras, but as allways I´m in doubt...

Cheers

Ernesto

 

[zhang xk]

Just as they say: the mint examples are in such good condition because they were faulty and never used. Good catch, worth a little risk in buying?

Mint examples are not the same. I checked the camera's tiny screws to see if it has been abused by an in-experienced guy. It seems that this one has never been repaired. This is the advantage of buying in person. There are also mint 1980's 4M, 4AM that are often good cameras,but for some reason the owner did not use them much. Mint 1950-60's Kiev are the best buy IMO. They have that extra precision feel.

 

[zhang xk]

Congratulations!!
Another Kiev4 found home!!
You´re right Zhang, 60´s Kiev are very Contax in their feeling and finishing and the faulty ones remain almost mint after all those years.
The price you payed is more or less the same as I payed for my ´62 K4/J3.
Which lens did You get with the camera, the usual J8 or a J3?

No more FSU Cameras??
Sure not!!
My last trhee purchases were a Zorki 1, the ´62 K4 and a Zorki 4 in that order.

I´m thinking of selling some other cameras, but as allways I´m in doubt...

Cheers

Ernesto

Hi Ernesto,

Your 1962 K4+J-3 is a much better deal. Is it in mint condition? My camera came with a 1972 J-8M. But I have other 1963 J-8m to relace it. A J-3 alone could cost 70 euro now. Now I have 3 very minty 1960's Kiev 4 that are better than those examples displayed in Moscow's Technical Museum. 😀 As I said mint Soviet cameras are harder to find than Leicas now in Beijing.

Cheers,

Zhang

 

[zhang xk]

Here is an image of my minty Kiev 4s. 1963 Kiev 4 is in the middle.😀 I also noted that high grade, big brand microscope objectives keep their value well just like rare Leicas.😀 New, high grade objectives could easily cost many times of a Leica M3.

Cheers.

 

[jan normandale]

I had a Kiev 4am however the shutter ribbon gave up and the cost of repair and postage to the Ukraine and back... I gave it to a friend. So tho I love the glass. I also turned over two others a Fed and a Zorki also. No FSU cameras for me any longer. I still miss the Kiev the most.

 

[zhang xk]

I had a Kiev 4am however the shutter ribbon gave up and the cost of repair and postage to the Ukraine and back... I gave it to a friend. So tho I love the glass. I also turned over two others a Fed and a Zorki also. No FSU cameras for me any longer. I still miss the Kiev the most.

Sorry to hear that, but I find the red army officer very cool.😀 I believe I saw him before.😕

May be a 1963 Kiev 4? 1960's Kiev are some of the best Soviet stuff. The camera is a piece of art itself.

 

[Spyderman]

Looks like you have a brand new camera manufactured 45 years ago 🙂 A great deal!

Will you go take some pictures with it ?

 

[zhang xk]

Looks like you have a brand new camera manufactured 45 years ago 🙂 A great deal!

Will you go take some pictures with it ?

Hi,

The seller suggested that I should put it on a shelf, and treat it like a rare Leica.(He knew the rangefinder was defective, but I did not check the rangefnder before I got home.) As a mint Kiev is much rarer than Leica M1,2,3,... maybe I should follow his advice?😀

 

[ErnestoJL]

Zhang:

Please excuse me for the delayed answer.

No, fortunately it´s not in mint condition, it means she was working and making pictures. Mint condition means it was never functional... anyway some CLA is needed but this is usual with any old camera.
The J3 is form ´57. It´s a well used but also well kept lens. There are some scratches in the coating... but does it matter anyway?

OK, I´m just a user-collector, not the reverse situation.

Cheers

Ernesto

 

[Santafecino]

Hello--
Did anyone notice that Cupog has a 1960's Kiev 4 available on **bay in the vintage cameras section? Just a thought . . .
--Lindsay