Kiev Shutter, etc

[Bigpaul]

I've got a problem with the shutter operation on my 1956 Kiev IIIA. On speeds of 1/50 sec and slower, when the film advance knob is turned and the shutter is cocked, there is a small but visible gap between the shutter curtains as it is wound (approx 3 mm gap); clearly, this will let in light, and means that the camera is only usable at speeds of 1/125 or faster. Is this caused by incorrect shutter tension, or worn ribbons? Also, is it likely to be a very involved home repair? The camera also has one other annoying fault........the frame counter does not move as the film is wound on. Again, any ideas? I'd like to get it going again, as it's in very good condition cosmetically, and I like the general feel and look of the IIIA. Thanks!

 

[robin a]

Eddie Smolov..............

 

[Dez]

Kiev shutter

Kiev shutter

Fixing this problem with the Kiev shutter is not too difficult to accomplish once you get the body apart to get access to it. Unless you know what you're doing though, it is quite difficult to strip down the body to get at it (even if you do, come to think of it, the difference being if you're experienced with this camera you have a decent chance of getting it back together again). The Contax roller blind shutter is overly complex and notoriously fiddly, and it is unusual to find a prewar Contax with a shutter working properly. When you consider that the Kiev is a copy of the prewar Contax with most of the precision and quality control left out, it's not all that unusual to have problems.

In many cases, it would be cheaper to buy one of the many Kievs on ebay than to have the repair done.

Cheers,

Dez

 

[Ed S.]

If you chose to do the repair yourself, The Kiev Survival Site will be very useful.

Try this specific link:

http://www3.telus.net/public/rpnchbck/shutter assembly removal.html

 

[Ranchu]

http://www.kyphoto.com/classics/forum/messages/6901/2435.html

😎

 

[Bigpaul]

Many thanks for your replies. The links to the repair sites are very interesting..........I think I might take a (gentle!) look inside the camera sometime soon. Thanks again.