Kiev 4 Flash

[Bob L]

Picked up a Kiev 4 that has developed a problem with the flash, after firing 2 frames the flash failed to work, the flash sometimes will fire all by it's self with the camera just seating there but will not fire when you push the shutter.
I put a meter to the flash circuit contacts and get a open until I fire the shutter and then get a closed circuit , the same my other Kiev4 ( which works fine) but still will not fire the flash.
Any idea as to how to correct this problem.

 

[pangkievrange]

I think it's more complicated than a closed or open circuit. I have kiev 4 that has a pc. This one only fires at high speed (e.g., 1/25s, 1/50s, etc.). Everytime I contact the spot of the inner line of the psot with a metal object, the flash blinks (the circuit is still open). This may have something to do with impedance or whatever. Kiev is spposed to work with flash under 1/25s.

Richard

 

[Bob L]

I know that the film should be advance before mounting the flash and right after you take a picture, whether I wind the camera or not it still will not fire except sometime when its just seating there with the film adavanced ,and I have tried it at all speeds with the same results.
Looks like I,m going to have to open her up and with the meter I,m not looking forward to it.

 

[ruben]

.

Many times on used Kiev's the contacts are oxidized. When you start using a flash it causes the oxidation to thicken and prevents contact.

This happened to me with a newly purchased Kiev 2a. After testing the flash some 10 times and it worked ok, suddenly the connection dyied. I had to ship the camera back to Ucraine and pay the repair. Fortunately, on the other hand, the seller sent me 2 outstanding Jupiter lens, with the camera before the problem surfaced.

Cheers,
Ruben