Kiev 4 1981

NatWil

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Hi, I got a Kiev 4 from 1981 the other day. And im a bit confused about setting shutter speed. I already have a Fed 3 and im used to cocking before setting speed. However some ppl say on a kiev it does not matter. My kiev seems to be alot happier setting the speed first. If i cock the shutter and set a new speed, it seems to fire at the previuse speed setting for the first shot. This makes me wonder abit about what is correct and is there maybe a difference since i have a "newer" kiev with different cocking knob and normal rewind knop
 
It will not damage the shutter or the mechanism. And it is possible to set the shutter before winding, but was not easy- I just tried it.

The wind knob must be pulled up completely, and turned in a was as to not wind the camera. That's at least what I found on a 1972 Kiev and much older Kiev. Not easy! Once the mechanism starts advancing, was hard to find the click stop for the shutter speed. This was much easier to do after winding the camera fully, then changing speed.
 
Mine seems the opposite. Much easier when not wound up🫣 i have a older kiev 4 that i Barly held in my hands before sending of for a CLA but thats months ago. I cant recall well, but i do remember there was notisable with the cocking/speed settings.
 
Mine seems the opposite. Much easier when not wound up🫣 i have a older kiev 4 that i Barly held in my hands before sending of for a CLA but thats months ago. I cant recall well, but i do remember there was notisable with the cocking/speed settings.
Nothing noticeable i mean
 
The Kiev actually should be wound before setting the shutter speed. There were detailed explanations about it on the Kiev Survival site. As far as I remember it has something to do with a mechanism inside the camera that is only activated when you wind the camera first. Setting the shutter speed before winding may result in firing the at a wrong speed, however it will not damage the camera. Thats all in theory.

What I observed is that when the camera never had a CLA, has loose build tolerances etc. changing speeds after winding may result in more problems than the other way around. Eg the camera is wound, you change the shutter speed and during that your second curtain opens a bit, once you set the desired speed it closes. Result: ruined frame.
 
I Just checked the kiev survival site. Speeds from 1/125 and up can be set with out winding first. Just so strange that things work proparly with put winding first. Thought it could gave something to do with beeing a newer model. Its espessialy notisable from 1/125 to 1/50 of a second. If i change to 1/50 with being cocked i can really hear it is fireing at the previous speed. But never if i changer the speed first
 
I Just checked the kiev survival site. Speeds from 1/125 and up can be set with out winding first. Just so strange that things work proparly with put winding first. Thought it could gave something to do with beeing a newer model. Its espessialy notisable from 1/125 to 1/50 of a second. If i change to 1/50 with being cocked i can really hear it is fireing at the previous speed. But never if i changer the speed first
Im strugeling bad with autocorrect on my Phone. Sorry for the bad english
 

If someone want RTFM. But it will require pdf language translator. Also, available online.

In short, shutter first. But some extra dinking is suggested if changing from long to short exposures.
 

If someone want RTFM. But it will require pdf language translator. Also, available online.

In short, shutter first. But some extra dinking is suggested if changing from long to short exposures.
I should maybe refrase my question. I know the normal prosidure is to cock shutter, then set speed. But the case in my kiev from 81. It fires then at the previouse speed setting for the first shot in new setting. While if I change speed settings before cocking shutter, the shutter speeds behave normal. This is what i am questening about. Could it be because its in need of a cla. Or is it because its a newer type kiev with different knobs and maybe they changed som internal parts to the speed/cocking mechanisim. I Just find it very strange everything seem to work perfectly if I dont wind the knob first
 
I should maybe refrase my question. I know the normal prosidure is to cock shutter, then set speed. But the case in my kiev from 81. It fires then at the previouse speed setting for the first shot in new setting. While if I change speed settings before cocking shutter, the shutter speeds behave normal. This is what i am questening about. Could it be because its in need of a cla. Or is it because its a newer type kiev with different knobs and maybe they changed som internal parts to the speed/cocking mechanisim. I Just find it very strange everything seem to work perfectly if I dont wind the knob first
I highly doubt that they made major internal changes to the mechanism. Just change the speeds before winding, thats the way I do it.
 
Процесс съемки состоит из следующих операций:взвод затвора и перемотка пленки;определение выдержки и диафрагмы;установка выдержки;установка диафрагмы;Киев-4М / Киев-4АМ Руководство 1982 года– 5 –наводка на резкость;визирование;спуск затвора
1982 manual.
The shooting process consists of the following operations: cocking the shutter and rewinding the film; determining the shutter speed and aperture; setting the shutter speed; setting the aperture; Kyiv-4M


"working perfectly" is only proclaimed after test roll at all shutter speeds.

Shutter speeds should be settable after cocking. If not, it looks like wrong re-assembly.
 
I think its a cla issue. Its really warm inside the house at the moment. and i was messing with the camera close to the fireplace. And it Startet fireing at the proper speed also after cocking first. Sometimes needing a little wiggle on the knob first. The warm temp helped, so i gress Just old oil and luberification is the issue
 
My Kiev is from 1978 and I admit to accidentally changing the shutter speed before winding the film a couple of times, and nothing bad happened. I try not to do it that way though.
 
And after cocking/changing speed/fireing constantly for 3 days. Maybe the equalent for a cuople of years of normal use. I think i can confirm that it really does not matter whether cocked or not
 
The original Contax II manual states that the shutter speed can be set with either the camera completely wound or completely unwound. It states that if you partially wind the camera that the incorrect speed will be set. That makes sense. In the unwound state or fully wound state- the shutter speed selector lines up with the appropriate speed. Partially wound- it does not line up with the shutter speeds.
 
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