Kiev 4

[alexM]

I've been lurking here for a few months, and learn more during this time than owning Fed 2 for a couple of years. Thank you all.


A few days ago a well-respected eBay photo dealer told me that a 1964 and a 1978 Kiev 4 cameras in similar condition are of equal value.


Any opinions?

 

[rolleistef]

depends on the condition of the camera. a working 1978 kiev 4 has much more value than a non-working 1964 one. That means, later samples have less chance to be working than earlier ones. The mechanism was gradually simplified over the years, and heavy metal replaced with aluminium. We all know since Led Zeppelin that heavy metalis best (even though zeppelins balloons were made of alu), so i'd say that a 1964 camera has more value than a 1978 one, since it's more sturdily built and the assembling is somewhat more careful. Hope that helps,
Happy photo!
cheers

 

[wolves3012]

Based on the prices they seem to fetch on eBay, I tend to think he's not far off. Of the ones I've seen on there, the older ones fetch little more, if anything. General opinion seems to be that older ones are better made but it's also true that they are likely to have had more wear as well. Perhaps it's a case of one factor ofsetting the other.?

 

[pinafore2]

Check this site

Check this site

I think you should check out this website if you are interested in learning about the Kiev cameras

http://www3.telus.net/public/rpnchbck/zconrfKiev.htm

Per

 

[alexM]

I might have to apologize to the guy. 😱

I paid for a '64 Kiev 4, but the seller mailed it to a wrong address and offered a '77 instead.

I thought he took me for an idiot. But, apparently, a '64 and '77 Kievs in similar condition are of the same value.


Thank you for pointing it out to me.

 

[ruben]

Hi Alex,

let me put it in this way: as a 95% chances rule, to live with a Kiev you will have to relay either on a fixer or on developing your own skills in fiixing them. The latter is not diffucult but takes time to learn the tricks.

Therefore, any eBay Kiev price should be calculated on the basis that after you get it you will send it to fix, or overhaul, or both.

From this perspective, in which a good working eBay Kiev doesn't exists, and you will have to either to fix and overhaul yourself, or pay for this service, a 1964 model is much more desirable than one from the seventies and one from 1970 is more desirable than other from the late seventies.

The differences show in the materials, in the internal harmony of the parts, and in the finish details.

Cheers,
Ruben