Kiev 4 meter

[fredus]

Hi there,

I've just received my first FSU rangefinder ! A superb Kiev 4. I think I have everything under control as far as loading the film, setting up shutter and speed but I still can't figure out how to operate the meter ... I set the ISO with the appropriate dial, the I open the photocell ... Then what ? What do I need to align the galvanometer pointer with the black diamond ? I turn the shutter speed or the aperture but nothing much happen. I don't understand what is the purpose of the left dial. The one under the rewind knob ...

Well if somebody could shed some light ! But in any case it looks like a fine camera !!!

Thanks !

Fred

 

[fredus]

Anothere question: Is there an appropriate hood for jupiter-8 50f/2 ?

Thanks !

Fred

 

[peterc]

I still can't figure out how to operate the meter

Fred, are you sure the meter even works?
I have a Kiev 4, but I suspect the meter gave up the ghost years ago.
To test the meter, set the inner dial under the rewind knob so the red arrow is pointing at 500 (that's the ASA).
Flip up the meter lid and point it at a bright light and turn the outer dial under the rewind knob and see if the needle moves.
If it does, lining up the needle and the diamond should give you your exposure numbers (shutter speed on the outer dial, aperture on the inner dial). I'd check it against known-good meter before trusting it though.

Hope this helps,
Peter

 

[rbiemer]

Fred,
It would be easier for me to simply show you about the meter but since that's not so likely here's the site that I used to figure this out:
Kieth Berry's Kiev site . He's got a really good over view of the Kiev and an on-line manual. Another site I like is:
Kiev Survival Site .
For my J-8, I got a russian press on round plastic hood with one of the cameras I bought and used it until I lost it. I now have a 40.5mm metal, round, vented hood I got from "heavystar" on ebay. Inexpensive and it's very good! Screw on so I don't worry about knocking it off the lens. Most of the time I have a light yellow filter and the hood on mine--I shoot mostly B&W film so I use the filter for nearly all of the time. When I infrequently shoot color film, I use just the hood.
I really like the Kiev cameras: I now have three(one 4a(no meter), one 4(meter and this one has been turned into a black fake "contax", and one 2).
Hope you enjoy yours as much as I enjoy mine!
Rob

 

[fredus]

I'll try your recommendation ... As for the hood, I've found it the package from the fellow member 🙂 Didin't see it at first 🙂

Fred

 

[fredus]

Actually, the inner ring on the left side, under the rewind knob is very lose. I can pull it and almost remove it 🙂 I guess this is my problem ... I'll see what I can do about it. But I was planning to use an external meter anyway ... Can't wait to run a roll thru this thing !!!!

Fred

 

[Kragmeister]

Hey Fred!

The box for the hood contains a 40.5mm threaded to Series VI adapter ring and a Kodak Series VI hood. These hoods are OK on the Kievs but find that they cut into the viewfinder on the FEDs and Zorkis.

Later,
Greg

 

[Pherdinand]

Hi Fred, and congrats to a great camera - if working, even better😀

When you rotate shutter speed or aperture dial, don't expect anything to happen, as the meter is NOT coupled to these.
It's just an uncoupled meter which is also not perfect... Mine is from 1960, and the meter reacts to strong light but not linearly and i don't trust it even in full sunlight.
I just consider it a hump on the camera, not a feature. Use that handheld, or sunny 16, and all will be fine.

Hood; i bought a hood specially made for jupiter-8, round, plastic, slide-on, from alex-photo via e-bay. It's not a beautiful piece of hood, but it's functional. I use it also on my sonnar 50/1.5. The filter ring on the sonnar is terribly dented/damaged so a screw-in hood is out of question.

Ah...yes...you do know that a genuine zeiss sonnar 50/1.5 works well on a kiev, right?😀 [hint hint]