Kiev Shutter Ribbons

[hks3sgte]

...mine broke while I was on frame 11 of my Tri-X! :bang:

It's sad because it was my favorite rangefinder camera and now it's going to have to sit and look good on my shelf, until I have some money to send it out to get fixed.

I just had to get it out of my system...

 

[john341]

Kiev shutters

Kiev shutters

I have just had two Kiev bodirs repaired as their shutters died on the very same day! They sat on my shelf for 18 months while I weighed up the sense of having them repaired or throwing them out and buying a new one of unknown quality. Given that the meters worked accurately on both I bit the bullet and paid too much to have them repaired. I anxiously await their return next week. I think I will be happy with my decision - top camera!

 

[Peter_Jones]

I know DIY is not for everyone, but I'm glad I found out how (relatively) easy Kievs (and therefore ContaxII etc) are to work on. I feel confident enough to tackle shutter repairs, CLA etc so to me they are a "camera for life" - the LandRover of old cameras 🙂

The point of this is; if I can do it and trust my handiwork, then those that repair these day in - day out can do a very good job without having to go back over bits they missed etc, If you're keeping the Kiev then it's well worth doing, even if that involves paying more than the camera's monetary value to have it done properly.

 

[hks3sgte]

the LandRover of old cameras 🙂

That's exactly right! Quote of the day for me!

Anyway, my Kiev is a 1956 model so to me it's worth fixing. Plus, I love shooting with it. I just don't trust myself to fix it.

 

[oftheherd]

Sorry about you guys' problems with the shutter. I like my Kiev more and more all the time, and dread the day it needs a major overhaul. I am sure repairs will seem less expensive once you get them back and in working condition.

 

[hks3sgte]

Eddy Smolov in Brooklyn, N.Y., did the work. He used to work in the Arsenal Factory where the Kievs were made!

Do you have his contact info?

 

[john341]

You might be able to buy another for a bit less than an overhaul, but look at it this way: The used one(s) you buy could break in short order. At least with an overhaul you know it will be good for another 20 to 30 years. I just had one of my Kiev-4As overhauled recently (it's the one with the red leather that I use as my avatar here on RFF). It's a '71 model and only recently needed an overhaul. Eddy Smolov in Brooklyn, N.Y., did the work. He used to work in the Arsenal Factory where the Kievs were made!

Thanks for that..it is the same Eddy who did mine, a '62 and '72 model. Seemed expensive to me because of the awful exchange rate between the $US and our "pacific peso". I know I will forget the price when I get them back because they are a delight to use. Eddy's address is
Edward Smolov
1660 E. 21str. #3D
Brooklyn, NY 11210
Telephone: 347 922-7275 or 718 541-0952

 

[john341]

Eddy Smolov

Eddy Smolov

Do you have his contact info?

Cheers
See above post
John B

 

[hks3sgte]

Thanks guys!

 

[Spider67]

You have a camera that has a good RF patch you like the release....That should make it worth repairing it. I only bought a new one when my old one had troubles with the shutter plus light leaks and was an 80's model that had a terrible finish when compared to the sixties Kievs.

 

[hks3sgte]

True. I have never seen a rangefinder patch as big as the one on the KIEV. Makes focusing that much easier

 

[john341]

Kiev the Great

Kiev the Great

The attractive and useful thing I find as you have noted, is how good the rangefinder patch is, and it gets better with earlier models. My '54 III has a knockout view, much better than the Contax IIIa

 

[john341]

Kiev 4 return

Kiev 4 return

I have just received my two Kiev bodies from Eddy Smolov and they are lovely. Shutter works beautifully (and Quietly) he even replaced a dodgy screw holding the self-timer lever with an authentic one. Great job, Eddy. Highly recommend this repairer.

 

[ruben]

I have just received my two Kiev bodies from Eddy Smolov and they are lovely. Shutter works beautifully (and Quietly) he even replaced a dodgy screw holding the self-timer lever with an authentic one. Great job, Eddy. Highly recommend this repairer.

A good kiev repairer hero is something to be. Having him at your own country is a privilige to consider.

After a full CLA, including ribbons exchange, I find no reason why the camera will not work for decades.

On the other hand if your camera has a stiff operating shutter knob, this is a sign the camera has not been cleaned from its cold war grease days, and prompt to break its curtains at any moment.

Curtains don't break only upon stiff shutter operation. But stiff shutter operation, being noticed very well by the operation of the winding knob, will shorten their life.


Cheers,
Ruben

 

[john341]

I agree, but I wish we had such a repairer in Australia..gets expensive posting cameras back and forth to the US or Russia. Next job is a cla on a Leningrad-saving up for that one.

 

[hks3sgte]

What is the price on the Eddy CLA before I contact him???

 

[ZorkiKat]

While you're at it, get some AKI ASAHI silk ribbons. They work really well (and IMO better than the original) with Kiev. These ribbons sell for about $6.00 for a two-metre length, postage included. That's far less expensive than the Arsenal ribbons, if you can find them. I used them on several Kiev cameras already.

The ribbons can be bought online from http://aki-asahi.com/store/html/curtains/shutter-curtain.php. Get some (2m worth of tape is good for many shutters) and send it along your camera when it's sent for repair.