My First RRF...

jaypolaski

jaypolaski

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Aug 31, 2005
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A Kiev 4A, I like it and all, and had a TON of fun running a roll of film through it, though I dare say, I thought I'd be buying something I could shoot with out of the box... See, I bought one that according the the seller was "as new". When I got it, I found a few problems that can be fixed, but this thing is definitely going to be a long term project. The leatherette is peeling, the vertical alignment is off, the viewfinder frame is wiggling around in the housing, and there's one helluva light leak...

This just goes to show you thant newer doesn't always mean better. Far be it for me to do more research, and find out that the ones from the 60's were the cream of the crop...but oj well, I'm starting to love this little camera :)
 
Yeah, a lot of seller's opinion of "like new" is very different from mine.

Sounds like you have a decision to make: fix this Kiev or buy a new one. If you're going go the fix it route and don't want to do it yourself, send it to Oleg:

http://www.okvintagecamera.com/

Prices are great and he is THE MAN for fixing FSU cameras. If you decide to get a new one, put a Want to Buy request in the Classifieds thread here or check out the eBay seller alex-photo. When Alex says "like new" he means it and he ships fast (average time from Ukraine to US is 9 days).

BTW, welcome to RFF!! ;)
 
jaypolaski said:
"A Kiev 4A ... The leatherette is peeling, the vertical alignment is off, the viewfinder frame is wiggling around in the housing, and there's one helluva light leak..."
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So ....................... what's the confusion? That IS the way FSUs come New in the Box ~ always have. Ooops. :eek: Guess we forgot to mention ~ "as new" also means, "some adult assembly required."

The truth is, we FSU addicts are also obsessive compulsive tinkerers. I once recieved a Zorki that came "ready to shoot" ........ so I immediately returned it to seller. Heck, I wanted something like new .... not something fixed. I've got three lenses on the shelf right now that are cleaned and awaiting lube and I'm getting ready to start pealing the cover off a Zorki 1.

To keep your sanity with FSU gear, you must have at least one camera and lens in shooting condition, you must have at least one project in pieces stuck on a shelf somewhere and you must have AT LEAST one item coming in the mail at all times.

I don't have a Kiev [yet], but the guys here really like 'em, so have patience. I've seen some great pics from them. Welcome aboard! You're in a great place to learn all about RRFs... these fellas and gals really know their stuff and they're always ready to help.
 
Sometime an FSU camera that actually is "New in the box" isn't a good catch either. It may mean whe camera came from the factory with so many quality control problems the owner immediately stuffed it in a closet and left it there 40 years. I'm not joking. Some of the best operating FSU gear is well worn. That means it worked well.
 
jaypolaski said:
A Kiev 4A, I like it and all, and had a TON of fun running a roll of film through it, though I dare say, I thought I'd be buying something I could shoot with out of the box... See, I bought one that according the the seller was "as new". When I got it, I found a few problems that can be fixed, but this thing is definitely going to be a long term project. The leatherette is peeling, the vertical alignment is off, the viewfinder frame is wiggling around in the housing, and there's one helluva light leak...

This just goes to show you thant newer doesn't always mean better. Far be it for me to do more research, and find out that the ones from the 60's were the cream of the crop...but oj well, I'm starting to love this little camera :)
Click to expand...

Hi Jay,
Can you return the camera? It's possible that it was damaged in shipment. If not, here's a website on fixing light leaks and making other repairs:
http://www3.telus.net/public/kaylalyn/fixing light leaks.html
The leather can be replaced for $15
http://www.aki-asahi.com/store/html/kiev-4/kiev-4.php
You've seen Mike Elek's website on restoring a Contax II and making a film spool.
http://www.host.fptoday.com/melek/zeiss/repair/start.html

R.J.
 
Hey everyone, thanks for the warm welcomes! I've been lurking here for a while, and I knew what I was in for, just needed a place to rant...lol.

RJBENDER, thanks for the links, most helpful. I'm only shy the parts bin to do the actual repair work...got a new black plastic print paper bag waiting and everything ;) As for the leather, that's gonna be great! And the vertical alignment, I only notice it when I'm closer than 2 meters, and I don't think I'll really be shooting that close with this beasty anyway, due to parallax, and just street photography in general, so I may just leave it... Is this normal for a rangefinder, to have the vertical off just slightly when focusing closely? It seems that when I tilt the viewfinder up a bit, and put the vertical in the bottom 1/3 of the range finder window...everything lines up perfectly...
 
jaypolaski said:
Hey everyone, thanks for the warm welcomes! I've been lurking here for a while, and I knew what I was in for, just needed a place to rant...lol.

RJBENDER, thanks for the links, most helpful. I'm only shy the parts bin to do the actual repair work...got a new black plastic print paper bag waiting and everything ;) As for the leather, that's gonna be great! And the vertical alignment, I only notice it when I'm closer than 2 meters, and I don't think I'll really be shooting that close with this beasty anyway, due to parallax, and just street photography in general, so I may just leave it... Is this normal for a rangefinder, to have the vertical off just slightly when focusing closely? It seems that when I tilt the viewfinder up a bit, and put the vertical in the bottom 1/3 of the range finder window...everything lines up perfectly...
Click to expand...

Hi Jay,

Do you wear glasses? :cool: I haven't tried a rangefinder adjustment yet. I checked my 2 Kievs with a ground glass and the rangefinder was fine.

R.J.
 
jaypolaski said:
Hey everyone, thanks for the warm welcomes! I've been lurking here for a while, and I knew what I was in for, just needed a place to rant...lol.

RJBENDER, thanks for the links, most helpful. I'm only shy the parts bin to do the actual repair work...got a new black plastic print paper bag waiting and everything ;) As for the leather, that's gonna be great! And the vertical alignment, I only notice it when I'm closer than 2 meters, and I don't think I'll really be shooting that close with this beasty anyway, due to parallax, and just street photography in general, so I may just leave it... Is this normal for a rangefinder, to have the vertical off just slightly when focusing closely? It seems that when I tilt the viewfinder up a bit, and put the vertical in the bottom 1/3 of the range finder window...everything lines up perfectly...
Click to expand...

Hey, you got your leather from Japan! It looks great!

R.J.
 
Thanks! The light leak was coming from the PC socket...the owner must have tried to use a flash, and after inserting the PC cord, pushed the socket all the way into the body, bending the cover out of place, ande creating a MAJOR light leak...small repair later, and all is well, tho I can't use the PC socket, the manufacturer forgot to grind out the inner contact, and the pin won't fit...another project ;). Other than that, this is my new daily shooter. Here's a better shot (with my Leningrad 4 meter):
 
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JoeFriday said:
that's a gorgeous Kiev (altho the yellow in your photo gives me a headache)
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Take a couple of aspirins, Brett. Hey, you changed your custom user title back to Resident Troublemaker. What’s up?
BTW this is my 100th post.

R.J.
 
I think Wayne is correct. Often the best way to buy one of these (I have two) is reasonably well used. That indicates that the camera worked, at least at one time. That goes for lenses from the Ukraine and Russia as well.
 
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