Loading film in a Kiev

R

ray_g

Guest
I need advice on loading film in a Kiev 4a, with a replacement take-up spool. One that requires trimming the leader to end up with a tongue in the midsection of the film. Or on a spool taken from a used 35mm cassette.

I have tried looking the info up on the net, but have not found anything very helpful.

The spool moves freely and I wonder if there are any tips on how to make loading easier. Specifically, how to keep the spool in place and the film on the sprockets as you close the camera back.

After closing the back, I always end up with the sick feeling that the film / spool have moved out of alignment, and that halfway through the roll, the film advance knob will stop turning :(

Help...
 
I cut the leader off the film then tape the end to a used cassette for a take-up spool. Once the new roll and the take-up are in place, I turn the rewind knob enough to take up the slack. Also check that the sprockets are lining up with the holes. So far I haven't had a problem other than occasional uneven spacing between frames. That may not be related and is evidently pretty common with Kievs.

Hope this helps.
 
I never bothered with cutting the leader. I just taped the standard leader to the spool that came with the camera with a small piece of electrical tape. Then, as above, make sure the sprokets are in the holes and tighten the rewind knob. I don't, however, have any trouble with spacing on any of my Kievs. Your milage will vary.

Edit: Oh, and I've found that different Kievs can come with very different spools. My Kiev 5 has a spool that works perfectly without trimming or taping. You can also make/modify your spool as you wish to make it easier to use as well.

It does take a bit of practice but it's still far better than any (#(#*$(*^@!!!! bottom feeder IMHO.

William
 
Last edited by a moderator:
wlewisiii said:
It does take a bit of practice but it's still far better than any (#(#*$(*^@!!!! bottom feeder IMHO.

William
Click to expand...

I take umbrage with that statement, as I regularly shape film leader with my fingers, tearing it in the field for my "bottom feeder" and find loading it is easy, you just have to learn how.
 
Keiv loading tricks

Keiv loading tricks

Everyone has a "system"... here's mine.

For starters, sit when you load the Kiev.
If you don't have a table, or other clean
surface... hold the camera, lens down,
between your thighs and parallell to
them. Knobs to the left if you're RH.

That way you can lay the film in place
with no danger of dropping the spool
or the film canister, and you can see
that the film is started, slack is out and
the back is properly in place before
you try to latch it..

It gets easier with time. Really! ;)

Rick
 
I use tape, and since I roll my own B&W, I don't even cut a leader. To put the back on, I hold the camera upsidedown - not tilted, the spool will naturally stay in place, the back slides right in.
 
Just got my Kiev 4AM in the mail today. I borrowed a Kiev from Rick last winter and sort of learned the drill.

But this one has the take-up spool fixed to the camera, and it has a long slot, so Fuji Supia just loads right in and I am currently shooting my first roll. This particular camera is in quite good shape, at least cosmetically. We shall see about function and light leaks.

My question is this: How do I activate the rewind procedure? There is no little button to depress as there is on my Voigtlander Bessas and Spotmatics.

Next to the Kiev's bottom plate twist-knob just below the take up spool there is a red dot.

What do I do with that? I suspect you might have to "unlock" that twist-knob in order to "unlock" the rewind mechanism?? Whatever I did with Rick's Kiev I have forgotten, but I don't recall any red dot.

Help appreciated.

Ted
 
From the Kiev 4 manual at http://www.russianplaza.com/Kiev man/kiev4man.htm -
"fold up the base lock beneath the self timer and turn it a few degrees to point it to the red dot (models 4M and 4AM) to disengage the film transport mechanism (illustrated earlier) and turn the film rewind knob clockwise (as viewed from above)."

HTH,

William
 
Thank you William. Checked it out and now it's crystal clear. Sort of.

Tried to print out the manual, but it will only allow the first page Would be willing to pay a sum for it as it reads very well and contains lots of info. But I'll look around and see if I can find another.

Loved this: "The Kiev 4 is a smalll-size high-quality camera intended for both amateurs and professionals. It can also be used in scientific research and technical photography."

Ted
 
ray_g said:
I need advice on loading film in a Kiev 4a, with a replacement take-up spool. One that requires trimming the leader to end up with a tongue in the midsection of the film. Or on a spool taken from a used 35mm cassette.

I have tried looking the info up on the net, but have not found anything very helpful.

The spool moves freely and I wonder if there are any tips on how to make loading easier. Specifically, how to keep the spool in place and the film on the sprockets as you close the camera back.

After closing the back, I always end up with the sick feeling that the film / spool have moved out of alignment, and that halfway through the roll, the film advance knob will stop turning :(

Help...
Click to expand...

The best way is to load film on the spool and put the spool in the cassette. You can make a cassette with an empty film case. I had a hard lesson with kiev 5 because the friction between the prongs and connectting part were not strong enough to take on the film. The gear wheel to right side of film plane should do winding job not the prongs.

Pangkievrange
 
I have two kiev 4As, one 1975 and one from1978. Both bought new and both fully functional still. On one the kiev take up spool got damaged and for some years I had used the spool from a standard cassette. But am currently experimenting with the take up spool from a dead Exa II, which although larger than the kiev spool, seems to be working OK.

Phil
 
Ray

Using a cassette spool as a take up spool is real hard work.

The real Kiev spool either has a hook or a narrow slot. You drop in the new cassette, pull the film out and push into slot or hook on tooth, and wind on to tighter film and push on back from behind camera so that you only need a short vertical slide to get the back in place.

The real Kiev spools can still be got on e-bay, or you can make a resonable replica with a fine tooth metal saw, and a commercial cassette spool. And as Phil says other cameras spools will fit e.g. like Exa and Exackta.

Noel
 
Kiev Spools on Ebay

Kiev Spools on Ebay

ray_g said:
I need advice on loading film in a Kiev 4a, with a replacement take-up spool. One that requires trimming the leader to end up with a tongue in the midsection of the film. Or on a spool taken from a used 35mm cassette.

I have tried looking the info up on the net, but have not found anything very helpful.

The spool moves freely and I wonder if there are any tips on how to make loading easier. Specifically, how to keep the spool in place and the film on the sprockets as you close the camera back.

After closing the back, I always end up with the sick feeling that the film / spool have moved out of alignment, and that halfway through the roll, the film advance knob will stop turning :(

Help...
Click to expand...

Here is a source for spools that will allow you to use standard leaders as cut from OEM films

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=014&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=330054574827&rd=1&rd=1

I needed on my self.

The spool you discribe is from a modern Film that was waisted to get the Spool. so it could be used as a take up spool. A quick fix, that can work by taping the leader to the spool. As others have suggested in this tread.
 
If you are stuck with a plastic spool with a centre slot you can cut into the plastic with a pad saw to make the original slot longer so that the normal leader will fit naturally, like in the link photos above.

Alternatively a curved cut into the bottom part of the spool can achieve the same effect, the curve will hold the film better initially until more film is wound on top.

The only problem wih the make shift spools is the real article has a smaller hole at end to receive the base plate pin, and this absence might disturb frame spacing but it is free.

Noel
 
Is using a cassette spool that tricky? I've been using Ilford spool since I got my Kiev, and it has always worked fine. Just need a pair of cissor to make a a central tongue on the film, and that's all! I've even managed to load it while working.
Using Kodak spool is not that convenient, however, and you need to tape the film axis...
have fun!
 
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