Kiev 2A

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iChrix

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I'm interested in obtaining a Kiev 2A as my first rangefinder. I am only familiary with digital, so this film thing is a whole new world. I need a film camera for a class I'll be taking in the fall and I've heard good things about this Kiev 2A. I'm not sure, however, how to check through pictures on what warrants an excellent/good/bad rangefinder as I am not familiar with rangefinders.

So, I ask you good people if you could look at this auction and tell me what you think? It looks better than the other two that are up, and as for now is priced slightly less. It also only requires $15USD shipping, as opposed to what seems the normal $30USD.

Thanks,
Chris
 
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Yes it will but....while I am a big fan of rangefinders, for a photography class you might find an old manual focus SLR a little easier to work with. Get the Kiev IIa if you can find one but if I was in a class and they ask for an SLR, I would look for an Olympus OM-1, Pentax Spotmatic, Nikon FM2n or a Canon A-1/AE1. I think you will find it a little easier. It's my thoughts on the issue, I know others will have their opinion.

Bill
 
iChrix said:
I'm interested in obtaining a Kiev 2A as my first rangefinder. I am only familiary with digital, so this film thing is a whole new world. I need a film camera for a class I'll be taking in the fall and I've heard good things about this Kiev 2A. I'm not sure, however, how to check through pictures on what warrants an excellent/good/bad rangefinder as I am not familiar with rangefinders.

So, I ask you good people if you could look at this auction and tell me what you think? It looks better than the other two that are up, and as for now is priced slightly less. It also only requires $15USD shipping, as opposed to what seems the normal $30USD.

Thanks,
Chris
Click to expand...
Visit your local pawn shop; you'll be surprised how many older cameras of good quality are available at ridiculous prices.
 
Go to the website Fedka.com and check out his selection. Read his promises of quality etc. It sounds like they do a complete clean, lube, adjust, before offering the cameras for sale. This company has a very good reputation at RFF because their descriptions are conservative, not over hyped or overblown.
Note there is a Kiev 4am exc. for sale, $85. Also a 4am at $105 with a Helios lens. These are supposed to be excellent cameras for what they cost. The seller stands behind his product, offering repair service etc.
Fedka is selling the Kiev II for $185.00 and $235.00. This is because they are more sought after etc. Also they are working exc. condition, cla'd I think.
The owner of Fedka is Yuri Boguslavsky. I have just ordered several items from him based on his excellent reputation here at RFF. If you have any questions just ask. 😉
 
Hi IChrix. Since you're planning on getting a Kiev you might want to check out this site http://www3.telus.net/public/rpnchbck/index.html

It's a very informative site from one of our members.........rpinchbeck. A "must bookmark" for all Kiev owners.

I also agree with what John said. I think you'll get a better working camera than buying from anyone on *bay.

Maybe I'm lucky, but I haven't got a bad FSU from the trusted *ebay sellers.........yet. But all of them needed minor adjustments.

Just one thing to take note of. If you buy a Kiev 2a, you might not be able to fit the Heilos 103 lens. Someone please confirm this. It's a shame cause it's a great lens.
 
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w3rk5 said:
Just one thing to take note of. If you buy a Kiev 2a, you might not be able to fit the Heilos 103 lens. Someone please confirm this. It's a shame cause it's a great lens.
Click to expand...
H-103 manual says it's for models 4, 4A, 4M and 4AM, and I heard reports of these lenses not fitting earlier Kievs. However to my surprise, Helios mounted on original Contax II (the closest to Kievs 2 and 3) without problems. This could be just my sheer luck though.
 
Im taking a B/w class at uni as well. they usually DO ask for manual film SLR, simply because range finders, TLR etc etc are just non existant except on forums like this and pawn shops. When people think about film, only SLR come to their minds.

having said that. i would leave plenty of time to practice if i were you. from what little ive read the kiev is one of those quicky cameras that require familiarisation. I also think they cost alittle more than zorkis. So maybe consider some of the zorkis? they work more intuitively, if you've ever used SLRs.
 
darkkavenger said:
My 1982 helios-103 mounts perfectly on my 1956 Kiev-2A and produces outstanding sharp photos. 🙂
Click to expand...
Some of the places pictured on your deviantart account look very familiar 🙂
 
H-103 doesn't mount my 3a.
The Kiev 2a is a very good camera, lenses are cool (rather poor at f:2 though) and whisper-quiet.
And you gain an awful lot playing with it. Yes, it's a toyable camera : winding, realeasing, trying another speed and comparing the shutter sound etc. Oh come on whoever on this forum will dare pretending he's never done that? It's just like winding a Rolleiflex at the end of the roll 😀 😀
BUT :
if you direcltly come from digital, is it the best choice for you?
Be aware of you being slightly desappointed when processing the negs : blured pictures, over/under exposure etc. Directly jumping from full auto to full manual is kinda upseting because you need to learn everything again (focusing, framing, exposure)
Choosing this camera for a class may be also quite restrictive, knowing your viewfinder is for 50mm only (rather 60 for the Kievs). And you'll probably be asked a 35 (or 28) and a short tele as well.
I won't say soviet lenses are bad, but you can simply never know what you get (except when going to over-expensive camera shop such as Fedka, sorry mates). Ok they're cheap, but would they do the trick?
Of course you can buy real Zeiss or Nikon lenses but they're much more expensive, though just as expensive as, say, a Nikon AFD 1.8/50...
If i was you, i'd rather buy a nice SLR (Nikon FE, FM, F2 or Olympus OM1 to 4) as a first step in the film world, not to be bothered with the restrictions of a 50-year-old camera (partic. with exposure) and get easily a wider lens panel.
Oh and about your question :
8x10 is rather small an enlargement for a film camera....
 
Chris,

I tried a couple of Kiev bodies and several lenses and traded them for a Bessa L. The shutters were whisper quiet, but I did not find them reliable. I went from there to a Nikon S2. I am thinking of getting a Russian 35/2.8 for my Nikon, but I am hoping to get a bargain on ebay. There are several sites on the net that have manuals on how to use them. The most important thing I can say is ALWAYS cock the shutter before changing the shutter speed.

Rather than a Kiev, I would recommend a FED-2. It is a Leica copy with a long ranger finder. Get a Jupiter 12 (35mm f2.8) and a 35mm finder to go with what ever 50mm you get and you will be fine. Black bodied lenses are newer and most often smoother to focus. The quality is rumored to not be as good, but mine was fine.

I would suggest you look at http://www.photoethnography.com/ClassicCameras/buying.html , Karen has some great info on cameras and a unique perspective. Some interesting links on there and www.cameraquest.com.

B2 (;->
 
Thanks for the suggestions!

rolleistef, as for the full auto to full manual thing... with my dSLR i spend about 50% AP and 50% Manual, so I don't think that's going to be such a huge problem.
 
BillBingham2 said:
Chris,

I tried a couple of Kiev bodies and several lenses and traded them for a Bessa L. The shutters were whisper quiet, but I did not find them reliable. I went from there to a Nikon S2. I am thinking of getting a Russian 35/2.8 for my Nikon, but I am hoping to get a bargain on ebay. There are several sites on the net that have manuals on how to use them. The most important thing I can say is ALWAYS cock the shutter before changing the shutter speed.

Rather than a Kiev, I would recommend a FED-2. It is a Leica copy with a long ranger finder. Get a Jupiter 12 (35mm f2.8) and a 35mm finder to go with what ever 50mm you get and you will be fine. Black bodied lenses are newer and most often smoother to focus. The quality is rumored to not be as good, but mine was fine.

I would suggest you look at http://www.photoethnography.com/ClassicCameras/buying.html , Karen has some great info on cameras and a unique perspective. Some interesting links on there and www.cameraquest.com.

B2 (;->
Click to expand...

If you are going to go FSU, then I agree with this. Kievs are cool, but you have to get them sorted first.
 
If you do get a good one hang on to it, you may grow into it. I've hadn't thought about trying to fit a Helios to my 2a. Hmmm, the possibilites.
 
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darkkavenger said:
What places if I may ask ? 😉
Click to expand...

Specifically, one of the photos you are taking from the middle of the road (the tram is on the right side of the photo), I remember that place on the left side with the weird glass. There's a KFC around that area and a bar/stage I went to see a band play, club was called "Vagon."

Actually, a great deal of your outdoor Prague photos I recognize 🙂
 
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