Kiev 4 vs Zorki 4?

[David Hughes]

Instead of Russian electronics (exposure meter) I would suggest buy a German exposure meter like a Gossen (e.g. Lunasix-3 (S) with or without spot attachment.)

Hi,

Strange as it may seem, the only meter I've had fail was a Gossen (battery connector fell to pieces), the 1950 Westons and Leningrad just work and work.

Also I suspect the OP has more access to ex USSR stuff.

Regards, David

 

[Fotohuis]

I am using a Gossen Lunasix-3 from my father. This exposure meter was bought in 1969 and in 2010 I could get a 2x SR44 1,55V to 1,35V adapter from Gossen for this meter. Talking about after sales service. In between the meter was (re-)calibrated too and it has a range from -3 till +19EV. In analogue meters one of the best Gossen exposure meters and later I could get the spot adapter too. Double scale and very easy in handling.

 

[Ron (Netherlands)]

Better repairable, the Zorki of course and you have a bigger choice of lenses....

 

[bobby_novatron]

Don't know if the OP is still thinking about getting a FSU camera, but I'm posting another vote for the Kiev 2a. If you can get a clean, working copy with a matching Jupiter-8 lens, you're set. My Kiev 2a has been more reliable than my Contax IIa, even though the Contax should have the edge since it's German-built, etc.

Here's a photo of my Kiev 2a. Notice the all-metal knurled knobs and chrome plating. My only complaint about the Kiev 2a is the take-up spool is not permanently attached to the winding mechanism and loading the film can cause the spool to fly out of your hands.

 

[Pioneer]

The overall reliability of these Russian cameras can be a bit of a crapshoot.

My very strong recommendation is to contact Oleg at OKVintagecamera.com. He will be able to sell you a nice, working version of either of these cameras. Just let him know what you are looking for.

A big bonus is he will repair them as well if they do need it in the future.

 

[bobby_novatron]

+1 what Pioneer said. I also have had good experiences with fedka.com, so that's another option.

 

[David Hughes]

SNIP ... The Zorki 4 i read that is more reliable, have a better viewfinder and is a copy of the Leica...

Just for the record; FED cameras made in the 1930's are copies of the Leica model II but that factory (FED) stopped making them in 1941, perhaps when Germany invaded the USSR.

What's more; the Leica model II was really only made in the 1930's. Some were made in the 40's but only a handful compared to the factory's output of the later models. I suspect they were using up spare parts as, for example, the entire output between 1941 and 1948 was 347 model II's. So the early FEDs etc are copies of a Leica not the Leica. (Strictly speaking and based on adverts from that time, the expression "The Leica" was used for them during the 1920's. Then came the model I and so on.)

Production started in the USSR after the war but by then the USSR engineers had time to think about things and so the cameras are best described as based on a Leica. As time went by more and more innovations were added to the design and so late FED and Zorki model 1's drifted away from the original Leica design. BTW, look closely at a 1938 FED and you'll see the changes creeping in on the shutter button.

You only have to look at the FED TSVVS & 2 and Zorki 1B (all 1949 onwards) to see how this main trend started.

It's usually when people are selling their old cameras that the story that any FED, Leica or even Leningrad or MIR is a Leica copy is dragged out, polished up a bit and repeated. The moral is; don't believe all you read on the internet, including this, but do some proper research and ask on RFF.

Regards, David

 

[zozur]

If both will be in the same condition I would choose Kiev. Yes viewfinder is smaller, but rangefinder spot have better, rectangle shape.

 

[Fotohuis]

I also had good experience of Fedka. Most of his cameras are coming from Ukraine. So for European clients they let them sent directly e.g. from Odessa to Holland. In most cases it saves the VAT and import duties because Ukraine signed an association treaty with the EU.