In my also humble opinion, after buying 7 bodies+lenses and 4 non-standard lenses (and this doesn't amount to a big deal of experience at Kiev lands), Kievs are a kind of a project.
If you will start things right, and buy a Kiev from either Fedka (USA) or the Soviet Camera Store (Ukraine), most of the chances you will avoid the "project side" of it, and get away with a very good camera and very good lenses (for lenses undermark the name Fedka).
However if you, like most of us at the first time, are tempted by other sellers lower prices, then....here we are to help.
Fortunately, Kiev owners' status changed dramatically with the creation of the Kiev Survival Site (
http://www3.telus.net/public/rpnchbck/fixing light leaks.html), meticulously surgering most of the intricate parts of the project. At the begining it may appear as complex, bit by bit you will be re-reading and grasping.
Now, you have to take a clear cut basic decision about wether are you going to own a single body with one or two lenses, or a system. Obviously too you cannot take such a decision before buying your first camera. Then, be lazy, save money, and start Fedka.
Within the right sellers, all Kiev models have their pros and cons, and I do not buy an abovementioned observation about non working sellenium meters. They work or not, by the same chance as with any other camera from the non FSU countries (yet the issue must be clarified with the seller before purchase.) Therefore, again, it is not the model but the seller.
A last work of caution. Kievs as they arrive to your hands, are not specially suitable to being drop into your back pack and live there your daily bumps. They will last this daily exercise something between two and six months, and afterwards you may have to re-adjust the rangefinder metering. But at the KSS you will have a "glueing" proceeding for fixing the rangefindering metering to last, which you are not obliged to follow, unless for the abovementioned situation.
The nice side of the "project" is that you will gain great control of your camera adjustments and softness, and no one, or almost no one, will do it for you as good as you.
Kindly note, I have not spoken here about the great advantages of the Kievs and their system, but limited myself to stress the best chushioned fall for the starter, to this highly desired land.
Cheers,
Ruben
As for lenses outside Fedka, there are not rules at all. You may get astonishing Sonnar-like performers, regardless of production year or chrome vs black, or junk or in-between. To know what have you got, you will have to test the lens at widest aperture and minimum distance.
