Kiev 4

[rolleistef]

Then you think that it may be dangereous to buy a 56-60s Kiev?
That's an interesting point.
What I have heard (and what a lot of people have heard before) is that
1°Kiev from the late 60-70s are not reliable enough to take the risk of buying it on ebay, cf the famous expression "russian roulette" (I saw 70s Kiev whose film-rail was absolutely appaling)
2°50s-early 60s cameras are more reliable than later model, because mdae closer to Contax models (and IIIa made with Contax parts)
3°80s cameras well made but ugly, even if more convenient to use (knob, speed dial...)
The best choice would then be a late 70 4a?
It's true that buying a 55 year-old camera may be a bit hazardous (well depends of the camera, it's the date of birth of my perfectly-working Rollei=)

Frank, you say that you feel a real quality difference between the 59 and 70 models, what difference? I reckon the 59 ones have a more solid-grip.
dlridings you talk about a creemy/smooth grip, what do you mean?

(i'm not very used to reading english/photographic metaphoras 🙁 )
Thanks a lot
Stéphane

 

[optikhit]

My first Kiev is a 4AM made in 1984. It looks quite new however the lens has a small nick on the front glass plate. The right shoulder is a little bit higher and therefore the speed/winding wheel is a little bit tilted. Eventhough I haven't used any Kiev before I can feel the metal shell is thin (not solid as I expect).

 

[zhang]

Hi Daniel,

As said, I have 2 Kievs, one built in 1959, the other in 1980 or so. To me, there is a real and significant difference in feel, fit and finish, and perceived build quality between the 2. I have not looked inside them so I can only infer from what the outside looks like. Do you not notice this with the many Kievs that you have?

I guess few people have more Kievs than I do. I agree that the best bet are those 1960's Kievs. earlier ones with Zeiss parts in excellent condition are equally good, but demand a much higher price and are much older. If I have a choice, I would avoid later Kievs with a plastic tip on the self-timer lever. It does not mean later kievs are bad cameras. They could be equally good performers.

 

[FrankS]

"I guess few people have more Kievs than I do."

I bow humbly before the master Zhang!

 

[darkkavenger]

*bows humbly as well* 😉

 

[zhang]

"I guess few people have more Kievs than I do."

I bow humbly before the master Zhang!

Thanks. But I feel humble before those magnificent Kievs. 😀

 

[FrankS]

We're a humble group! 🙂

 

[claidemore]

I reckon that someone who owns 25 Kievs might know a thing or two! 🙂

Just a question for Stephane.... if there were 25 perfectly working Kievs of different ages and models lined up in front of you, and you could pick any one you wanted, which one would you pick?

Glen

 

[FrankS]

I reckon that someone who owns 25 Kievs might know a thing or two! 🙂

Just a question for Stephane.... if there were 25 perfectly working Kievs of different ages and models lined up in front of you, and you could pick any one you wanted, which one would you pick?

Glen

Let's ask that question of Master Zhang. He actually has about that number of Kievs in front of him.

 

[darkkavenger]

I've been considering to block eBay at work, but no... it was too hard to resist!
I'd love having one of those Zeiss-Kievs with 3K (ZK) lenses on it... what about a yummy 50/1.5 ZK !

 

[zhang]

Let's ask that question of Master Zhang. He actually has about that number of Kievs in front of him.

In fact I have more than 25! A mint 1965 Kiev 4 got me hooked to Kiev gears and now I still believe it is the best buy among others.($25 only) 🙂

IMHO, and according to what I heard, I believe 1960's Kievs are the best among Contax-Kiev lines. Yes, including the Contax II and postwar IIas.

 

[zhang]

I reckon that someone who owns 25 Kievs might know a thing or two! 🙂

Just a question for Stephane.... if there were 25 perfectly working Kievs of different ages and models lined up in front of you, and you could pick any one you wanted, which one would you pick?

Glen

I may pick up a Kiev 4AM for the fixed take-up spool and the rewind key on the bottom plate for convenience.

 

[varjag]

The mid-60s Kiev-4 I had an opportunity to handle was indeed extremely smooth camera. I thought my 1976 4A was fairly good, but that specimen had no shutter noise to speak of, and film advance was unkievly smooth and easy.

 

[LOOP]

I have a Kiev-4 from 1960 and it is so quiet and even smoother than my contax IIa.

 

[rolleistef]

if i had the choice between 25 mint Kievs? It's the question I AM asking! But knowing all the stuff i learnt during the last 3 weeks or so, I'd choose
A IIIa, even if I have to repair the ribbons
A 1959 4
or a very late 4.
Why four and not 4a? Well, it's more for aestethic reasons than anything else : everytime I see a 4A or IIA, I can't help thinking : the roof is too flat, isn't the rangefinder missing?
Yeah, it's just as if something was missing....
I now ask all of you the question : if you could chose between 25 Kievs, all mint, but of different ages, which one would you take?
(please avoid "i'd take the 25!" even if it would only cost 1000$ =), and anyway if you can afford 25 kievs, purchase a Leica M3!)

 

[ruben]

In fact I have more than 25! A mint 1965 Kiev 4 got me hooked to Kiev gears and now I still believe it is the best buy among others.($25 only) 🙂

IMHO, and according to what I heard, I believe 1960's Kievs are the best among Contax-Kiev lines. Yes, including the Contax II and postwar IIas.

Nothing else to add.

HOW ARE YOU COMRADE ZHANG ? A pleasure to taste your special flavour again!

Cheers,
Ruben

 

[ruben]

On behalf of Kiev 4A

On behalf of Kiev 4A

As I said previously on this thread, latest Kievs, 4A, are aesthetically ugly, including their cases, with syplifiyed mechanics and cheaper materials, very unfriendly to fingers and glass wearers.
BUT at the same time they own some features which conter-balance their convenience (unconvenience):
a) Materials are newer and guarantee more shooting 'kilometrage' before repair.
In my case, the viewfinder is slightly brighter, but I cannot speculate about what may happen if my older Kievs and the 4A were all to pass through a professional viewfinder cleaning.
b) There is a re-winding crank, making the camera more adapted to street photography. Also, along the same path the fixed taking spool is a real help.
c) There is a hot shoe.
d) The eye contact viewfinder window is circular and therefore bigger and therefore relatively eye-reliefer.

Now, some improvements I did to my 4A:
a) I painted the rough chromium black, and this changed the whole aesthetical equation. It looks like the camera found its re-design purpose, and of course apparently smaller sized. It strongly tempts me to paint black my older models too.

b) Additionally I exchanged the utterly ugly selftimer crank and put instead a fully shining chrome one, and this further improved the look.

c) I covered the rough winding wheel teeth with a double strip, cutted from my byke punctured tyre. Now, the softness of the winding action leaves behind my older Kievs.

d) A further improvement could be to exchange the cheapy leatherete for another better looking and better textured from Cameraleather, but personally I do not need it as I made my own soft-real-leather case, relieving me from both body leatherete and case.

e) Painting black and cutting the case strap, attaching it direclty to the body luggers, will never harm but make safer film exchange. By the way, the Kievs real leather strap, after disassembling the doble strap system, is my favourite strap.
Do away with the ugly case top, and wrap body and lens with a stylish and hard fabric, and you will not loose body protection nor manipulation speed.

And, among us, it is this Kiev 4A the one trusted to habitate my daily back pack, Universal Turret Finder attached. The older luxuriorer models habitate my closet, waiting for selective use only.

Cheers,
Ruben

 

[darkkavenger]

Ruben... you say all of this and let us poor guys without showing a photo of your Kiev4A ? 😉

 

[ruben]

Well, the only digital camera (exception) at home is my 14 years old daughter's, who is sleeping now. (Now in Jerusalem is midnight) And I have more features in that Kiev I didn't write about them, therefore a single pic will not do it. But you can help me to speed proceedings by explaining me how to post images to this ultrasophysticated forum.
Cheers,
Ruben

 

[darkkavenger]

It's pretty easy, Ruben (btw it's late here too, and I left my kiev-2A & lenses at work)... to post photos, you click on "Go Advanced" instead of "Post Quick Reply" and then you click on "manage attachments" a window will show up to send your photos 🙂