Kiev 6

[lushd]

Arsenal and KMZ could once have done what Cosina did but Cosina have done it. I would be tempted with a special edition Kiev 4 series sold in a nice box with some red velvet and a certificate. We'd all buy one if it was well priced. But I expect the tooling is all pushing up the daisies now.

 

[rolleistef]

What would my Kiev 7 look like? (kiev 6 is already taken, zu schade)
Hmm...
First,
don't change anything!
Second add TTL metering
Third a larger, brighter viewfinder.
And that's all.
A kiev's a Kiev, I love my IIIa for its being unconvenient to use. That's all!
otherwise, I dimsentle a DSLR, take the screen and sensor and all apart, fit it into an huuuge back on the camera, and here's the first D-Kiev!! Youhou!

 

[kvanderlaag]

- Move the RF window closer in so I stop sticking my f'ing finger in front of it and going "Huh?" (Like on the old Contaxes!)

- TTL Metering

- Ditch the goofy top meter, obviously.

- Bigger VF (1:1 would be nice!)

- Brighter VF! (Has to compete with my M2)

- More solid build construction.

- Just get it over with and stomp "Contax" on the front." (Just kidding! 😉 )

 

[Jocko]

Arsenal and KMZ could once have done what Cosina did but Cosina have done it. I would be tempted with a special edition Kiev 4 series sold in a nice box with some red velvet and a certificate. We'd all buy one if it was well priced. But I expect the tooling is all pushing up the daisies now.

Absolutely. I know I've said this elsewhere, but people at TOE foresaw the RF renaissance - and the Soviets simply had no interest. We have a lot to thank Mr Kobayashi for.

As for the dreamland "Kiev 6" - It existed - and was called the Nikon SP! 🙂

Cheers! Ian

 

[Hamster]

If this list had single handedly raised the awareness of FSU RF gear and therefore ebay prices, we can also start to draw up specification for a new RF camera and lenses and petition the zavods in FSU to get their collective act together and put out a new product.

For example meterless kiev are getting hard to find on ebay simply because information about this camera is widely available on the net.

To start off:

I know J-9 is still in production and the optical cell for J-8 had military application in night scope and therefore they must have kept the tooling in the event of war. If some 35mm equvalent of Araxfoto or Hartblei get their acts together and produce M-mount lens barrel with excellent mechanics for J-8 and J-9 using brand new lens blocks, there should definately be a market for an affordable secondary lens in these focal lengths that do not direclty compete with Kobijashi and friends. Even something like Industar-61L/D in M-mount will have a market, afterall everybody from Letiz to zeiss to CV are making Planar type lens, but what a lot of people want to acheive was the effect that can only accomplish with Tessar and sonnar types. If Leitz and zeiss are the Bently and mercedes equvalent, and CV is the Toyota of RF world, then KMZ can be the Kamaz of RF world too. If German engineering excels in precision overengineering, and japanes excels in clever and cost effective design, then the russians must certainly excel in sturdyness and abuse tolerance!

They should even call them JM lens, maufactured to MIL-spec for the practicality minded, usability orientated photographer, afterall gear should be used and not be kept in shrink wrap sitting on humidity controlled shevles!!!

I firmly believe KMZ can follow the path of Kamaz and Aviadivigatel, They have the tech, they have the tooling, they have highly educated labour. Just think what can happen if they bring out a M-mount Rekord-4 50mm/0.90!! A few individuals in Solms will be having sleepless nights.

 

[zhang xk]

Why bother when a Kiev 5 has almost everything what we want? It only does not look as pretty as a Nikon S. :bang:

 

[Will]

Just think what can happen if they bring out a M-mount Rekord-4 50mm/0.90!! A few individuals in Solms will be having sleepless nights.

Maybe we can do something like this in China, get the optics done in Benjing, Shanghi or Nanjing (http://www.ailioptics.com/), we can get the metal work (low volume CNC) done in Dongguang and assembly in Guangzhou (lots of experienced repairers that are out of work, due to digitial coming in).

Spec & QC on Optics Design?
QC on Optics and Metal Work Productions?
QC on final assembly?

 

[Kragmeister]

My first FSU RFs were Kievs and I would have upgraded to a Bessa R2C if I had the money when they were out. I think the R2C is the sucessor to the Kiev/Contax line.

Too bad the pre-WWII Biogon type lens didn't fit. That was the main reason I didn't try to find the money to get an R2C, my favorite FSU lens is the Contax mount Jupiter-12 and that is why I hung onto my Kiev 4 after defecting to the LTM Bessa R.

FWIW I don't forsee any future in the photographic market for new production gear from the FSU except maybe lenses if they can make 'em in M-mount.

Later,
Greg

 

[Will]

FWIW I don't forsee any future in the photographic market for new production gear from the FSU except maybe lenses if they can make 'em in M-mount.

Later,
Greg

Honestly, I want to know this:

Given the 85/2 in ZM is gonna cost $2.9k USD, how many people will buy a brand new J9 in M-mount, with modren barrel, RF hood in new packaging?

 

[rolleistef]

The thing the Kiev/contax III were mostly blamed for, knowing the RF window post, is in fact, a wonderful feature.
Have you ever notice that you can controle your Kiev with only ONE HAND?
Look : fourth finger for shutter delay
third for holding (well, even though you're pianist or cellist, the Kiev still weight 750g and you need your second hand for holding)
Second for focusing
First for shutter realease.
And thumb+first finger for film advance/shutter cocking.
Isn't it crazy? 1930s design yee-haw!

 

[VinceC]

I shoot my Nikon RF one-handed all the time. Just today was out with the kids and needed to hold my 6-year-old's hand on a pier with my left hand while also shooting photos with my right. Works the same as with a Kiev. Set exposure, then bring the camera to your eye, focus with the focus wheel and shoot. Wonderful feature. (Works great at parties, too. You don't have to set down your drink/cigarette).

 

[rolleistef]

yes! that's true.
But do you know many cameras you can shoot single-handed?
Ooh yes! My autofocus-autoexposure-autoboring Nikon F75 😛
But the Contax Design was truly great. If you hold it properly, you can't possibly put your finger in front of the rf window, and it has the widest rf base ever.
No really, I wouldn't change anything on my Kiev.

Ps : has anybody tried to digitalize a camera, building a DIY ModulR?

 

[zhang xk]

yes! that's true.
But do you know many cameras you can shoot single-handed?
Ooh yes! My autofocus-autoexposure-autoboring Nikon F75 😛
But the Contax Design was truly great. If you hold it properly, you can't possibly put your finger in front of the rf window, and it has the widest rf base ever.
No really, I wouldn't change anything on my Kiev.

Ps : has anybody tried to digitalize a camera, building a DIY ModulR?

I 1000% agree with you. A Contax-Kiev is an engineering marvel especially when you think it was made in the 1930's. Because the USSR made them in such huge numbers, that made them dirt cheap now on the market. You can think that a Patek Phillipe tourbillon watch was made in millions, then everyone will think it was a cheap watch, but it does not change the fact that a tourbillon is a high grade product.

Here is an image of a DIY digital rangefinder by a Rusisan guy. It can use LTM optics. 😀

 

[Jocko]

You can think that a Patek Phillipe tourbillon watch was made in millions, then everyone will think it was a cheap watch, but it does not change the fact that a tourbillon is a high grade product.

Absolutely Zhang, but were the mass-produced Kievs ever equal to the Contax? They could easily have stood in the same relation as (for example) a Toyota to a Lexus, but poor quality control, at least in later days, meant nothing of the sort was achieved. Quality control (and managerial indifference to anything but the sheer scale of production) was always the achilles heel of the Soviet camera industry. Given what we know of the Kiev 60, 88 and 90, I doubt if a "Kiev 6" would have worked especially well...

[/QUOTE]Here is an image of a DIY digital rangefinder by a Rusisan guy. It can use LTM optics. 😀[/QUOTE] That's what we want! If only Russian industry - and the Russian state - exploited the fantastic ingenuity of the Russian people!....

If only! 🙁

Ian

 

[Evgeny S]

Here is an image of a DIY digital rangefinder by a Rusisan guy. It can use LTM optics. 😀

He used Casio QV 3000 camera. Here is the article which describes the creation of the first digital LTM camera 😀
Unfortunately its in Russian, but the pictures are nice though. 😉

 

[Jocko]

He used Casio QV 3000 camera. Here is the article which describes the creation of the first digital LTM camera 😀
Unfortunately its in Russian, but the pictures are nice though. 😉

Isn't that simply brilliant? Now that could be the Zorki of tomorrow!

Ian