kiev again

[matko]

So, I bought a Kiev 4 with lightmeter and Jupiter 8 lens on it. I have Fed 2 with Industar 50mm 2.8, and since I read so much about J8 I wanted to give it a try.
These are photos that I have taken in last few weeks. I have been very busy working late hours, so most of them are taken during lunch brakes, or coming at/ going off the work. No time for just wondering around... All films that I used are 400 ASA, mostly at 1250/f8/11. In general, using lightmeter, I metered scene in order that needle shows -2, meaning underexposed. Overall I'm happy with it. It is heavy ("Heavy is good, heavy is reliable..."- Boris the Bullet Dodger), solid made, and very silent. It has film transport problem (uneven distances between frames on film) which makes scanning a bit uneasy. Also I cannot use speed of 500. It feels like slot for 500 is missing, so it switches to 1250. J8 is a surprise. Renders OOF really nice. Sharp and nice contrast at higher stops. It lacks contrast wide open, up to 2.8, but that is just something of my taste and likeness. I noticed magenta cast on one frame at the left border, but I kind of like it...
I shoot it because I like the feel of it, photos that I intend to print are up to 30X20cm, rest is just for web.I believe that, in bigger dimensions, I would see flaws. But as it is, I' more than happy.
Cheers.

 

[matko]

some more

some more

 

[oftheherd]

Your photos look nice. Your magenta cast is no doubt a light leak. Never heard of that on a Kiev. 😀 As you probably know, the Kiev Survival Site will give you clues on where to correct that. Don't know what to tell you on the lost 1/500. Maybe someone else can chime in with some help there.

 

[matko]

and some more

and some more

 

[matko]

Your photos look nice. Your magenta cast is no doubt a light leak. Never heard of that on a Kiev. 😀 As you probably know, the Kiev Survival Site will give you clues on where to correct that. Don't know what to tell you on the lost 1/500. Maybe someone else can chime in with some help there.

Thanx Oftheherd, but I do like that cast, if it gets irritable I'll do something about it, but until than... I know good photo repairman in my city 100 meters from my office. She repairs FSU gear most often, and does very good job, but It is few days waiting, and I want to shoot more film instead to wait🙂

 

[bolas]

I own Kiev 4A since a month maybe. Also with Jupiter-8. Last weekend i had first occasion to give a try 🙂

Few samples:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/27604426@N08/sets/72157607107075538/show/

 

[rpinchbeck]

I own Kiev 4A since a month maybe. Also with Jupiter-8. Last weekend i had first occasion to give a try 🙂

Few samples:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/27604426@N08/sets/72157607107075538/show/

These images are amazing! Clearly using a Kiev/J8 gives that "historic" look that makes these images that much more credible.

Well done.

Russ Pinchbeck

 

[40oz]

nice work, matko and bolas. I really enjoy my Kiev's, which is why I have a few now 🙂 The jupiter-8 is a fine lens. I haven't shot much color with it, so the shots by matko were nice to see.

I really liked some of your re-enactment shots, bolas. The compositions were nice, and showed me ways to shoot I hadn't considered.

 

[bolas]

I must say i am amazed by this photos - that was my first contact with analog photography. I always wanted to have photos looking old from our historical event. I've always used digital camera and Photoshop but original effect from Kiev smashed all digital tries. Lens are wonderfull, now i am planning to buy wide-angle lens to this Kiev - don't remember name - but probably Jupiter-12. By the way - this Kiev is outstanding in use - there were a lot of explosions on this event, a lot of sand and dust everywhere ... and althought all this mess camera is still working really fine. I am sure that normal modert DC will die fast in such conditions.

All idea of buying Kiev to this type of photography was the willing to stylize my photos to be similiar to those of Robert Capa (from Normandy - Contax II). I couldnt get this effect on digital photos so i decided to buy rangefinder and learn how to use it. That was the best choice of this year 😉

 

[oftheherd]

I must say i am amazed by this photos - that was my first contact with analog photography. I always wanted to have photos looking old from our historical event. I've always used digital camera and Photoshop but original effect from Kiev smashed all digital tries. Lens are wonderfull, now i am planning to buy wide-angle lens to this Kiev - don't remember name - but probably Jupiter-12. By the way - this Kiev is outstanding in use - there were a lot of explosions on this event, a lot of sand and dust everywhere ... and althought all this mess camera is still working really fine. I am sure that normal modert DC will die fast in such conditions.

All idea of buying Kiev to this type of photography was the willing to stylize my photos to be similiar to those of Robert Capa (from Normandy - Contax II). I couldnt get this effect on digital photos so i decided to buy rangefinder and learn how to use it. That was the best choice of this year 😉

A good choice indeed. But you obviously have a good eye too. Really nice photos. Who has all those rocket launcher trucks?

 

[bolas]

Thanks 🙂
I am begginer only in classic analog photography, beside that i have about 6-7 years of shooting digitals ... but this RF World is quite new experience for me and i am really asthonished by the effects.

About rocket launchers - it was quite big event - beside about 150 reenactors (polish/german) there was an exhibition of modern polish army gear - self-proppeled howitzers, guns, trucks etc ... On few photos you can notice those howitzers and rocets. They looked very impresive for me - specially howitzers on full speed - about 80km/h in wild terrain. Of course there were public too - about 17 000 people. Background for whole reenacment was original fortified position from 1939, close to the city of Mlawa in northern Poland. Famous from original battle from 1939.

 

[matko]

Impressive work bolas!!!
🙂🙂🙂

 

[oscroft]

Aha, only just seen this thread.

As it happens, I recently did some shooting with a Kiev 4 fitted with a J-8 for the first time myself - I posted a thread about it here.

Admittedly I have only one roll of results, but my Kiev-mount J-8 looks like it might very well be the best J-8 I have.

 

[matko]

Aha, only just seen this thread.

As it happens, I recently did some shooting with a Kiev 4 fitted with a J-8 for the first time myself - I posted a thread about it here.

Admittedly I have only one roll of results, but my Kiev-mount J-8 looks like it might very well be the best J-8 I have.

oscroft, looking forward to your second role. Great images, beautiful tones. Post some more of it!!!

 

[oscroft]

oscroft, looking forward to your second role. Great images, beautiful tones. Post some more of it!!

Thanks 🙂

I'll be heading off East for a couple of months very shortly and won't be taking the Kiev/J-8 with me, so I won't get another chance to use it until November.

But I'll check over that first roll again and post a few more shots from it - probably tomorrow.

 

[KoNickon]

Great results from both matko and bolas. I don't see the magenta cast in matkos's pictures -- all I see is a streak of sunlight on a magenta blouse!

As for bolas, those pictures could indeed have been taken in 1939. Great stuff; they could have come out of wartime photo archives (or yes, from Capa's archives!).

 

[matko]

see you back east

see you back east

to oscroft
I have to go to Kuala Lumpur in about a month.
Maybe I surprise you with some pics from there🙂

KoNickon
Thanks for kind words!

 

[oscroft]

I have to go to Kuala Lumpur in about a month.
Maybe I surprise you with some pics from there

Look forward to seeing them - it's a great city to visit (well, it was when I was last there 20 years ago 😉 )

I've finally added a few more shots from that first roll from the Kiev/J-8, to this Flickr set.