Kiev 4a RF durability

[xxloverxx]

I have a 1973 Kiev 4a…and was wondering: how much does it take to knock the RF out of alignment?

So far I've (accidentally, obviously…I don't stress test my cameras 😀):
Banged it on walls
Thrown my light meter onto it (I dump all my bags and stuff onto my bed when I get into my room)
Thrown it in my backpack (which then dropped onto the floor from about 2 ft.) and spent 20 mins bumping about on the floor of a bus (in the city).

How much more can it take?

 

[fanshaw]

Sorry that you have had no luck so far. I can only suggest that you give it a good kicking.

 

[40oz]

I've been trying to knock mine out of alignment for a while now. I got no tips.

🙂

 

[pakeha]

xxloverxx , just keep at it and please let us know when you succeed, then we will all have a quide to go by🙂 regards

 

[xayraa33]

the Contax II type RF on the Kiev 4a is very hardy.
it was much better than the competition and even better than the one on the Contax IIa.

 

[xxloverxx]

Thanks; seems I'll just stop worrying about knocking things out of alignment! 🙂

 

[rxmd]

Thanks; seems I'll just stop worrying about knocking things out of alignment! 🙂

No, no, do go on and keep us updated. 🙂

 

[oftheherd]

Yes, do keep testing. I have been keeping mine in a camera bag in the trunk of my car for several months. My car takes me 30 miles to work each week day. I also need to know when your research says I will be in trouble. 😀

 

[newspaperguy]

The guts of the KIEV rangefinder is a solid prism - one big hunk of glass, not just a couple of mirrors - you're really going to have to work at it to bang it loose.

Contax didn't want to design something as wimpy as their neighbors in Wetzlar. :angel: (small flame?)

 

[ZorkiKat]

Don't wish for the Contax/Kiev RF to go astray. It's difficult to do that. The pivoting wedge is secured with screws. It will take more effort to make the RF go bad.

HOWEVER, if it does, setting it back will be very difficult. In Kiev, you have to take the whole shutter out to get to the prism and optic wedges. There can be some shortcuts made through the ports in front or by pulling out the mount, but calibration done this way may not be as accurate.

In contrast, the Barnacks need only be tweaked though an adjustment port in front or by rotating the wedge, also accessible without major disassembly.

 

[xxloverxx]

I'll be sure to let you all know when it does finally fail; but I'm not going to do any accelerated-testing!

 

[rxmd]

Pity, we would have really liked to know.

 

[xxloverxx]

If fixing the RF didn't involve disassembling most delicate parts of the camera, I would 🙂