Looking for Kiev 4

D

Drago

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Wanna buy rangefinder and only these are in my price range. Tried Zorki, but didn't liked it. So i'm looking for Kiev, one without meter. Which is the best and how is their build quality ? About 3 fsu cameras just stopped working in my hands, so i'm a little unsure whether to buy it or not. They'r basicly free in my country so money are not big problem. Also the Jupiter 8M is sonnar design, correct ?
 
Avoid those from the late seventies or early eighties. The ones from the fifties and sixties are well built but my be in need of aCLA due to their age
 
Hi, I've got a '83 Kiev 4M, with lightmeter à la Contax III, lens is a Helios-103.
So far it was reliable, sometimes frames overlap, sometimes flash sync isn't perfect ( at 1/50) and I get black bars, but can't complain it only cost $100, has a leather case and looks like new.
 
Hmm.. Just found one 4a with jupiter8. Looks mint. How's the viewfinder and rangefinder ? The zorki's VF wasn't the best thing i'v looked true
 
well the Zorkis are copies of the Leica II, while the Kievs are copies of the Contax II/III- if you wear glasses, the Kiev is possibly a bit better suited for you, the combined viewfinder/rangefinder isn't too tiny
 
View finders on Kiev's are small and squinty.... pretty awful actually. Also, a 4A is not a good model IMO. I use Barnaks all the time so I have no problem with small finders but compared to cameras like Zorki 4's they are very small.
 
the finders are small but they're not dark, and the rangefinder patch is quite bright and contrasty on good ones. if you didn't like the zorki you won't like the kiev. the kiev's is not as good as the zorki's though i think the rangefinder patch is better.

i got lucky and got a really good one from 1959 in excellent condition both inside and out.

the only thing i had to do with it was adjust the shutter curtain hook as the curtain would open when changing speeds. after bending the hook back the camera works like a precision machine.

i'd recommend that you get a kiev 4 or kiev 2 from the 1950's if you can, and if you can't test it out beforehand take a close look at all photos of it before buying it. be prepared to spend money for a repair. if you're lucky the shutter curtain ribbons will have been replaced at some point in the past - if not, they'll be original and may break someday.
 
well i think i found it. mint 4a and jupiter 8m for 20 euros :) we'll see, if i don't like it it wont be much of a loss. But why do you think the 4A is not good model ? What's the difference between them ? From what i found the earlier models are better build, but aside from that ?
 
I have a 1968 Kiev-4A, bought in 1975: I've used it a lot and it's still my favourite one. It was perfectly assembled and finished. Never had any problem with it.

Being a RF Kiev enthusiast, I have some as a collection: older ones are always better... but they need care and being thorouhly checked: after all they're more or less 50 years old!

The viewfinder is not the best, but I wear glasses and it just needed to get used to it. the rangefinder, when well-calibrated, is extremely precise and the image is sharp and bright.
 
I'm sure there are plenty of 4A's that work fine they are just not made as well as the older ones and I was never fortunate enough to get a later Kiev that worked for long.
 
Try to find one that has been serviced and is working well. I picked up a nice early 4. The finder was nice and contrasty and the camera handled well for 2 rolls before the shutter started to hang open at 1/50th and slower.

I decided to stick with a single system and went ltm after that. It is a nce camera though and the lenses are wonderful.
 
Yep. Most fsu cameras are good as long as they work :D But you pay for what you get. I'v dealt with the seller before and everything was smooth. He says it works fine
 
Drago said:
Yep. Most fsu cameras are good as long as they work :D But you pay for what you get. I'v dealt with the seller before and everything was smooth. He says it works fine
Click to expand...

Hi,

Any make of camera that's as old as the ones we are discussing will be a gamble. They all need checking and repairing sooner or later. I don't think it's possible to discuss reliability or quality control when the things anything up to 70 years old.

It's best to face up to reality and get them checked and sorted out by a technician. Paying a lot for a camera won't guarantee anything; I've had a lot of trouble with some incredibly expensive and famous makes of camera and years of service from ones I've bought for a pound in the flea market, and vice versa. We are mostly talking about luck nothing else.

Regards, David
 
If the Kievs are "basically free" where you are, you've little to lose by trying one. I tend to agree with pretty much all that's been said. Older ones, as with most FSUs, tend to be better made. They're all old enough to need a recent CLA to work at their best and even some later ones are quite usably well made. I would avoid the 4 and 4M since the meters tend not to be working and they look better without. One thing you may or may not take to is the "Contax-grip" needed to keep your fingers from obscuring the RF window.
 
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