santino
FSU gear head
Hi!
Is the Kiev 5 any good except for it's collectible value? as far as I know it has framelines and only the inner (outer?) bayonet. it looks a bit like a brick but hey, it's a FSU RF, my fav. type of camera
thanks for your replies
Is the Kiev 5 any good except for it's collectible value? as far as I know it has framelines and only the inner (outer?) bayonet. it looks a bit like a brick but hey, it's a FSU RF, my fav. type of camera
thanks for your replies
W
wlewisiii
Guest
It's a very nice user if you can live with it's size. I had one for about a year with the J-12, J-8nb, J-9 & J-11. If you get a later one (1972 on) it'll have frame lines for 85mm as well and that's a big plus.
I used it as my daily carry camera for the whole time I had it and sold it to another RFFer as a user camera. I also used a SC mount 35/2.5 Color Skopar with it and enjoyed that combination tremendously.
I would probably still be using it, but selling it got me into a Canon 7...
Hope this helps,
William
I used it as my daily carry camera for the whole time I had it and sold it to another RFFer as a user camera. I also used a SC mount 35/2.5 Color Skopar with it and enjoyed that combination tremendously.
I would probably still be using it, but selling it got me into a Canon 7...
Hope this helps,
William
jlw
Rangefinder camera pedant
I suppose you could say it's good if you like using Kievs but don't like the squinty viewfinders of the Contax-based models. The projected-frame viewfinder is a bit odd (framelines are slightly parallelogram-shaped) and not super-bright, but certainly very usable.
You're right, the lensmount is non-standard; it has both inner and outer bayonets, but no inner focusing helix, which means that it can use any previous Kiev/Contax lens except the normals; these used the built-in helical, which the Kiev 5 lacks. Instead you have to use a Kiev-5-specific normal lens which has a focusing helical built into it. This limits your choice of normal lenses somewhat, but the 50mm Jupiter and Helios lenses available in the Kiev 5 mount seem to be pretty good ones.
The other distinctive "improvement" of the Kiev 5 over the older models is its rapid-wind lever, but this feature is probably the most controversial. Some people say it's too easy to strip the advance gears if you wind this lever too quickly, and suggest instead that you always advance film in the same fashion as the older Kievs, by turning the shutter speed/advance knob. I usually did this, but I also did use the lever on my Kiev and simply took care to operate it gently. I'd have to say that the lever has such a long, heavy stroke that it doesn't really speed up film advance very much compared to using the knob.
Other problems I encountered with my Kiev were occasional blank frames (probably just because of its age, lack of maintenance, and/or sloppy Soviet construction) and the fact that the focusing ring of the lens would bind occasionally (caused by a spring-loaded ring inside it, which was necessary to couple to the RF mechanism; sometimes the spring would stick.)
On the whole I would describe it as "quirky" rather than "convenient," but if you already like FSU RFs, it's certainly a very usable one and is certainly distinctive! In fact, I would say that if you want an FSU RF with comparatively modern features, the Kiev 5 would be second place only to the DRUG, which is a screwmount camera and not easy to find.
I no longer own my Kiev 5 (sold it to another RFFer; hope it's enjoying a happy life) but still have some pictures of it at this link:
Kiev 5 pictures
If you click the small pictures to get to the larger view, there is some brief caption info as well. Most of this was written for the person who bought it, but might be interesting for others.
From that page, here's a picture of the lensmount, so you can see the bayonets and the arrangement of the back of the Helios lens:
You're right, the lensmount is non-standard; it has both inner and outer bayonets, but no inner focusing helix, which means that it can use any previous Kiev/Contax lens except the normals; these used the built-in helical, which the Kiev 5 lacks. Instead you have to use a Kiev-5-specific normal lens which has a focusing helical built into it. This limits your choice of normal lenses somewhat, but the 50mm Jupiter and Helios lenses available in the Kiev 5 mount seem to be pretty good ones.
The other distinctive "improvement" of the Kiev 5 over the older models is its rapid-wind lever, but this feature is probably the most controversial. Some people say it's too easy to strip the advance gears if you wind this lever too quickly, and suggest instead that you always advance film in the same fashion as the older Kievs, by turning the shutter speed/advance knob. I usually did this, but I also did use the lever on my Kiev and simply took care to operate it gently. I'd have to say that the lever has such a long, heavy stroke that it doesn't really speed up film advance very much compared to using the knob.
Other problems I encountered with my Kiev were occasional blank frames (probably just because of its age, lack of maintenance, and/or sloppy Soviet construction) and the fact that the focusing ring of the lens would bind occasionally (caused by a spring-loaded ring inside it, which was necessary to couple to the RF mechanism; sometimes the spring would stick.)
On the whole I would describe it as "quirky" rather than "convenient," but if you already like FSU RFs, it's certainly a very usable one and is certainly distinctive! In fact, I would say that if you want an FSU RF with comparatively modern features, the Kiev 5 would be second place only to the DRUG, which is a screwmount camera and not easy to find.
I no longer own my Kiev 5 (sold it to another RFFer; hope it's enjoying a happy life) but still have some pictures of it at this link:
Kiev 5 pictures
If you click the small pictures to get to the larger view, there is some brief caption info as well. Most of this was written for the person who bought it, but might be interesting for others.
From that page, here's a picture of the lensmount, so you can see the bayonets and the arrangement of the back of the Helios lens:
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santino
FSU gear head
thanks a lot, you guys are of big help.
so you mean that the DRUG is a good camera? I could be able to get one for 120 euros.
so you mean that the DRUG is a good camera? I could be able to get one for 120 euros.
jlw
Rangefinder camera pedant
I felt it was a good camera, unusually sophisticated by FSU standards (or so it seemed to me.)
It does have some quirks and inconveniences, such as the Zorki-style shutter speed dial with unevenly-spaced speeds. Of course, if you like FSU RFs, you're used to quirks and inconveniences... so if you haven't had a DRUG, it's an experience you probably should sample. The price you mentioned sounds high to me, but if that's for a really nice example, it could be fair. I gather that the DRUG is rather uncommon, so it's not as easy to find a good one as it is to find a good Kiev or Zorki.
Yes, I'm also a former DRUG owner (guess you could say I'm a "serial collector" of FSU RFs!) My DRUG page is here (click this link.) And here's a portrait:
It does have some quirks and inconveniences, such as the Zorki-style shutter speed dial with unevenly-spaced speeds. Of course, if you like FSU RFs, you're used to quirks and inconveniences... so if you haven't had a DRUG, it's an experience you probably should sample. The price you mentioned sounds high to me, but if that's for a really nice example, it could be fair. I gather that the DRUG is rather uncommon, so it's not as easy to find a good one as it is to find a good Kiev or Zorki.
Yes, I'm also a former DRUG owner (guess you could say I'm a "serial collector" of FSU RFs!) My DRUG page is here (click this link.) And here's a portrait:
arothaus
Member
Hello,
if you are interested in a Drug, feel free to sent me an email to:
andreasrothaus(at)web(dot)de
Andreas
if you are interested in a Drug, feel free to sent me an email to:
andreasrothaus(at)web(dot)de
Andreas
darkkavenger
Massimiliano Mortillaro
Thank you for the close-up of the Kiev-5. It is a camera that interests me highly as well, and I understand correctly that any other focals than 50mm will mount correctly through the external bayonet like on any other Kiev, right?
jlw
Rangefinder camera pedant
darkkavenger said:
I believe that's correct. Any Contax/Kiev lens that has its own focusing mount should work.
W
wlewisiii
Guest
That's correct, Max. I used the full Jupiter line (sans 3 & 8) and a CV SC mount 35/2.5 on the Kiev 5 with no problem. It can be a very interesting camera and I really think that if they had used the TTL meter they experimented with in about 1962 with the finder and thumb wind from the 5 they would have had a winner. It would have been a significantly more compact package with enough modern features that would have been noticed even in the SLR crazy west. Add the fixed spool from the 4am & build a Jupiter-3nb lens to give a 50/1.5 & you'd have pretty much a dream Kiev/Contax camera...
Sigh... Plus getting the Record-4 50/.9 into serial production would have been fun too...
William
Sigh... Plus getting the Record-4 50/.9 into serial production would have been fun too...
William
darkkavenger
Massimiliano Mortillaro
I definitely want a Kiev-5 if possible with a Sputnik-4 lens
V
varjag
Guest
Just to add: AFAIK Kiev-5 is the only FSU camera (and the only Contax mount camera in the world) with 1:1 viewfinder, allowing to shoot with both eyes open.
Or, maybe Zorkies 1:1 too, but they don't have the framelines
Or, maybe Zorkies 1:1 too, but they don't have the framelines
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darkkavenger
Massimiliano Mortillaro
oh my Eugene! You've got a Contax coming ?!! *squeals*
V
varjag
Guest
Yesdarkkavenger said:oh my Eugene! You've got a Contax coming ?!! *squeals*
On the second day of my arrival to Norway my 4A has died. Inspection shown too much wear in film advance; the part of top casting pressing down film advance/count gear train was literally filed off. So I ordered some spares on ebay and started to look for another body just in case. Unexpectedly I got what seems to be a bargain: farily worn but supposedly well-functioning Contax II for under $50. Very heavy brassing and an funky flash socket installed, so (fortunately) not much of collector value. Estimated to arrive in early June
darkkavenger
Massimiliano Mortillaro
That's nice! I think maybe I had spotted this Contax-II somewhere on eBay but I've been out of cash this last 2 months and not thinking about photo hardware... who knows maybe I'll have some luck next time
Btw how it's going in Norway?
Btw how it's going in Norway?
V
varjag
Guest
I actually got this one. Even if it's in need for repair it's still an OK deal.darkkavenger said:That's nice! I think maybe I had spotted this Contax-II somewhere on eBay but I've been out of cash this last 2 months and not thinking about photo hardware... who knows maybe I'll have some luck next time
Sweet place, good people, no presidents. It is so picturesque around Bergen that landscape photography is farily unchallenging here. My family will rejoin me shortly after the Contax and then am all setBtw how it's going in Norway?
darkkavenger
Massimiliano Mortillaro
wow! funky flash sync as you say! this is not the one I had spotted. That one had a HUGE flash sync, located on the bottom of the front area (like where is the Kiev2A flash sync, but completely on the bottom of the body near one of the bayonet mount screws).
About Bergen, I think that flumpie and crazy1ady (from dA) are there.. or in Oslo? I don't remember. Enjoy and have a nice day! I'll be having fun with my Kiev-2A and my 50/2 Sonnar after work & swimming pool
About Bergen, I think that flumpie and crazy1ady (from dA) are there.. or in Oslo? I don't remember. Enjoy and have a nice day! I'll be having fun with my Kiev-2A and my 50/2 Sonnar after work & swimming pool