xayraa33
rangefinder user and fancier
SCOTFORTHLAD said:
I have often wondered about that very same subject.
Kiev II vs Contax II
- Thread starter stephen_lumsden
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I have often wondered about that very same subject.
captainslack
Five Goats Hunter
I can't imagine anything good happened to them. My guess is the there was a long visit to Siberia in their future. 🙁
darkkavenger
Massimiliano Mortillaro
There was an interesting article whose link has been posted in a previous thread. It spoke about the Schott Jenaer Glaswerk (part of Carl Zeiss Stiftung I think) workers who were requisited with their families by the SMAD (Soviet Military Administration, occupied Germany) to go work at Lytkarino (LZOS plant) and Kranogorsk (KMZ plant). I hope I can find it back.
darkkavenger
Massimiliano Mortillaro
This is not the exact link I was given, but it might be nonetheless interesting : http://www.schott.com/english/download/glasmacherzug_e.pdf
Regards,
Max
Regards,
Max
SCOTFORTHLAD
Slow learner,but keen!
Thanks for that info' Max.
By the way I see that you have a Contax on the way!!Have a good time!!
Brian.
By the way I see that you have a Contax on the way!!Have a good time!!
Brian.
Evgeny S
KMZ rules!
As I know, all German specialists (skilled workers, engineers, etc.), who were departed to USSR after the WWII, were returned (in good health) back to Germany in late 1940es- early 1950es.
stephen_lumsden
Well-known
and in thge end...
and in thge end...
Thanks guys,
I suppose my question was rhetorical and I always knew the answer in the end. My Kiev 4 light leak will not go away and the focusing/RF seems a bit suspect at times. Getting a Contax II from HS now, 86 on his list. May get s.t. from fedka to get me thru til then, may be a Kiev II, so its not either/or but lets get both! I have been concentrating on my TLRs over the last few months but feel the pull of the RF again. The GAS is coming back!
regards
Stephen
and in thge end...
Thanks guys,
I suppose my question was rhetorical and I always knew the answer in the end. My Kiev 4 light leak will not go away and the focusing/RF seems a bit suspect at times. Getting a Contax II from HS now, 86 on his list. May get s.t. from fedka to get me thru til then, may be a Kiev II, so its not either/or but lets get both! I have been concentrating on my TLRs over the last few months but feel the pull of the RF again. The GAS is coming back!
regards
Stephen
Xmas
Veteran
Stephen
There is not much functional difference between the C and K, the early K are pretty similar, and you should he able to get a 'user' Contax body resonably cheap while you wait, for HS.
The only initial differences are in the finish, reduction of parts (screws) and with (some) later lenses the black paint. The FSU rationalised the design, e.g. shutter ribbon, and added flash synch. The FSU chrome is harder wearing if not as shiny.
If you wanted to chase after your leak you could load a chrome film, and case and tape off leaky points, in succession to try and identify the source. The chrome film allows the side of film with the leak to be more easily identified unless you can do complementaries (colour) in your head.
You also need to look at your J12 unless you are sure that the leak occurs with other lens as the j12 flare can appear similar to a leak. If the J12 has an untreated rear element bevel of ground glass you need to paint this carefully with two coats of black board paint first. My most annoying leak dissappeared after this. I rebuilt the camera first, good fun if you like that sort of thing.
You may need to replace the internal black paper as Russ Pinchbeck describes, etc.
What sort of leak do you have, what is its colour, and does it entend into rebates?
The rangefinder should be really solid unless it needs a rebuild...
There is not much functional difference between the C and K, the early K are pretty similar, and you should he able to get a 'user' Contax body resonably cheap while you wait, for HS.
The only initial differences are in the finish, reduction of parts (screws) and with (some) later lenses the black paint. The FSU rationalised the design, e.g. shutter ribbon, and added flash synch. The FSU chrome is harder wearing if not as shiny.
If you wanted to chase after your leak you could load a chrome film, and case and tape off leaky points, in succession to try and identify the source. The chrome film allows the side of film with the leak to be more easily identified unless you can do complementaries (colour) in your head.
You also need to look at your J12 unless you are sure that the leak occurs with other lens as the j12 flare can appear similar to a leak. If the J12 has an untreated rear element bevel of ground glass you need to paint this carefully with two coats of black board paint first. My most annoying leak dissappeared after this. I rebuilt the camera first, good fun if you like that sort of thing.
You may need to replace the internal black paper as Russ Pinchbeck describes, etc.
What sort of leak do you have, what is its colour, and does it entend into rebates?
The rangefinder should be really solid unless it needs a rebuild...
P
pshinkaw
Guest
I was bumbnling around the web a few years ago and found this link.
I think it is the one you are discussing. It is still good.
http://www.schott.com/ft/german/download/sonstiges7.pdf
-Paul
I think it is the one you are discussing. It is still good.
http://www.schott.com/ft/german/download/sonstiges7.pdf
-Paul
lubitel
Well-known
there is a tiny bit of info about the returning Zeiss employees here
http://cameras.alfredklomp.com/werramatic/
http://cameras.alfredklomp.com/werramatic/
David Murphy
Veteran
stephen_lumsden said:
No need to pay that much. You can get very good Contax II's on eBay for between $200-$400 - shop carefully. Also, despite all the hype about Henry Scherer (he is talented no doubt), he's hardly the only person qualified to repair Contax -- there are many good camera techs that will take on that job and do it well, for less and faster too.
rolleistef
Well-known
I saw one with a sonnar for a pretty low price at ritzcam too.
https://www.ritzcam.com/catalog/index.html
Even though the parts are the same as on a Contax, you may not forget that when Zeiss had a 0.01mm tolerance, Arsenal accepted 0.1...
https://www.ritzcam.com/catalog/index.html
Even though the parts are the same as on a Contax, you may not forget that when Zeiss had a 0.01mm tolerance, Arsenal accepted 0.1...
stephen_lumsden
Well-known
Coming back to this I feel like a hamster on a wheel...
I actually got a contax ii from HS in 2008, did not really use it till 2022 and now really like it. Thinking about this again, but for a backup body. There seems to be a lot of honest vendors like okvintagecamera.com and sovietcamerastore.com with some also on eBay. HS is way too expensive these days also. I have a lot of lenses so will stick with them and may jettison my M42 stuff to make way.
Deciding between a 1954 Kiev ii for about 190 USD or a 1953 Kiev ii for 249, both serviced (have to have the Cyrillic models). Which one to go for?
I actually got a contax ii from HS in 2008, did not really use it till 2022 and now really like it. Thinking about this again, but for a backup body. There seems to be a lot of honest vendors like okvintagecamera.com and sovietcamerastore.com with some also on eBay. HS is way too expensive these days also. I have a lot of lenses so will stick with them and may jettison my M42 stuff to make way.
Deciding between a 1954 Kiev ii for about 190 USD or a 1953 Kiev ii for 249, both serviced (have to have the Cyrillic models). Which one to go for?
Sonnar Brian
Established
Who serviced them? How recently? Body alone, or do they come with a lens? If the latter: does the year of the lens match the body?
If the 1953 Kiev II comes with a lens from that year: I would get it. Schott glass.
stephen_lumsden
Well-known
The Kiev ii include a j8 and is on sovietcamerastore. The Kiev iii includes a j8 also, M42 the ebayer.
titrisol
Bottom Feeder
If they have been serviced by a reputable technician get the earliest possible
Sonnar Brian
Established
SERVICED! 1953 RARE CYRILLIC S/N 535353 USSR "KIEV-3" RANGEFINDER CAMERA (4) | eBay
MADE IN 1953! S/N 535353! RANGEFINDER, VIEWFINDER AND GLASSES OF LENS WERE CLEANED AND SO THEY ARE CLEAR.
www.ebay.com
I would ask this seller "who serviced the camera and lens?"
If the answer is Oleg, good with me!
stephen_lumsden
Well-known
Yep. Oleg is good. Serviced my contax ii a couple of years ago
mconnealy
Well-known
Oleg serviced the shutter on my Kiev IIa about fifteen years ago. Still runs very smoothly.
jwnash1
Well-known
I have in the past owned a Contax and a Kiev from Fedka at the same time. The Kiev from Fedka was probably the nicest FSU camera I have ever seen. Also, I have owned two FEDS from Fedka. All three performed flawlessly and did not need to be to be serviced. In my opinion, Fedka is well worth the extra money. That said I would take the Contax over any FSU camera everyday. If you can afford It, I would recommend buying from Fedka to have a camera to play with while you wait for a Contax. The Kiev can then be a back up and a user for shoots where the Contax might risk being stolen or damaged.
