My (Former) Soviet Cell is complete.

[kmack]

The Zorki 4 had a lot of wear. I considered that a good sign. I decided to send it off to Oleg. After he performed his magic the Zorki works much better than a 46 year old camera should. It has become my favorite FSU.

The Fed 2L works well but it and I have never really bonded. I consider it a rather large rear lens cap for the Industar 61.

The jury is still out on the Kiev. I like the feel, the sound of the shutter, and the wide finder. It just has so many little quirks that it is fun to use. It also has quite a few quirks that make it a pain.

I found the black J8 and J12 at a local antique shop. Both show signs of being well used but the glass is in exceptional condition and both seem to be good performers.

I would never have considered myself a collector, but these things are like M&M's, you just can't stop at one.

 

[TPPhotog]

Ouch those are crackers and gleam like new 🙂 Can't wait for my Zorki 4K to arrive in the post this week 😉

 

[Chaser]

i just got a zorki 4k that doesnt work....but it seems like the nicest FSU camera i've had to date

 

[ErnestoJL]

A beautifull view of three beauties!!!
Never had a Zorki, but I guess a 4K its next to come...
And the Kiev...ahhh.... another beauty fromt he ´70s....
I have one from ¨66 that´s my favourite camera... you´ll never be disapointed with yours!

 

[MrRanger]

What a great trio kmack! I just recently accquired a FED 3 and I like it very much. Maybe I need to get some more FSU cameras! (just so he won't be lonely!)

Mike 😀

 

[Pherdinand]

Cute toys🙂
I start to like my Kiev. And i've just bought an original 50/1.5 Sonnar for it, i'mn curious to see how the marriage will work out🙂

 

[wierdcollector]

Nice FSU cameras. Only thing I wonder is," Will your collection ever be complete?". I still don't see a Zorki C, Fed 3, Mir or Leningrad? And the various off branded Feds like Revue 4 (Fed 4 rebadged). Then there are the color variants like my blue Fed 2, red Zorki 4K, red Fed 2....... And Smenas, don't get me started, LOL. All kidding aside, great FSU collection, hope you enjoy them as much as I do mine.

 

[varjag]

No FED collection is complete without FED 6 TTL, so you all guys grossly out of luck 🙂

 

[kmack]

Cute toys🙂
I start to like my Kiev. And i've just bought an original 50/1.5 Sonnar for it, i'mn curious to see how the marriage will work out🙂

If your Kiev is light tight and holds the film flat, that's all you should need. The glass is the engine in these things. Because the "fit and finish" of the Russians is not as exacting and smooth as the German counter parts it is a bit more challenging to get good results. With good glass like the Sonnar you should be fine.

I find myself gravitating more toward the wide angle in my current shooting. That J12 has gotten a real workout in the last month. I am considering getting a wide for the Kiev. I still would like to get a 85MM Serenar or J9 in the thread mount for grins and chuckles, Personally I think anything longer on a rangefinder is next to useless. IMHO Rangefinders are for a "up close and personal" kind of shooting.

 

[kmack]

Nice FSU cameras. Only thing I wonder is," Will your collection ever be complete?". I still don't see a Zorki C, Fed 3, Mir or Leningrad? And the various off branded Feds like Revue 4 (Fed 4 rebadged). Then there are the color variants like my blue Fed 2, red Zorki 4K, red Fed 2....... And Smenas, don't get me started, LOL. All kidding aside, great FSU collection, hope you enjoy them as much as I do mine.

Oh... this is just one cell, there may be some sleepers out there yet. 😀

I never really wanted to be a collector, I wanted to try out different types of camera's before I made a major investment in equipment. Now that I have these I have revised my expectations and may just stop here with what I got. After the CLA the Zorki feels solid enough that is will likely outlive me!

I used to get major GAS over the Contax G's, (great cameras) but now I think that I could be quite happy with a Bessa R.

 

[ScottS]

I find myself gravitating more toward the wide angle in my current shooting. That J12 has gotten a real workout in the last month. I am considering getting a wide for the Kiev. I still would like to get a 85MM Serenar or J9 in the thread mount for grins and chuckles, Personally I think anything longer on a rangefinder is next to useless. IMHO Rangefinders are for a "up close and personal" kind of shooting.

I don't see Kiev/Contax lenses wider than 35 on ebay much -- any idea what they go for when they are around? The only FSU option is the Orion -- the Fed/Zorki mount version seems to go for $100-150. I'd assume that the Kiev one would be more expensive.

As for Zeiss options, there are the 21/4 Biogon, 25/4 Topogon, 28/8 Tessar, which are also all rather rare on ebay.

Scott

 

[varjag]

CV wideangle lenses can be a viable option for Kiev/Contax.

 

[Mike Kovacs]

The Nikon RF wide angles will work on a Kiev too.

I think the fit and finish and the design of the Kiev and its lenses is far above the LTM cameras I have seen.

 

[JoeFriday]

I agree.. I'd take a Kiev over a Zorki or FED any day.. maybe just because I consider the camera more beautiful and solid feeling

 

[kmack]

I agree.. I'd take a Kiev over a Zorki or FED any day.. maybe just because I consider the camera more beautiful and solid feeling

Definitely a personal preference. I like the Kiev, but the Zorki fits me better. I like the looks of the Zorki 1's over the 4 and any Kiev except the Kiev II. I find the feel, fit and finish of my Zorki 4 to be just a solid as my Kiev.

In my rather limited experience the wide variance of construction of the FSUs means that each individual camera has a personality of it's own. Which may be why they are so much fun to buy and collect.

 

[Mike Kovacs]

Open the top plate and count the iron filings in both camera for a more quantitative approach 😉

 

[Mike Kovacs]

Personally I think anything longer on a rangefinder is next to useless. IMHO Rangefinders are for a "up close and personal" kind of shooting.

My 135/4 Sonnar is an exceptionally nice lens and will get within 1.5m for a really tight shot. The prewar Contax/Kiev super long rangefinder base excel at pushing this lens.

 

[dexdog]

response to Scott S;

I don't see Kiev/Contax lenses wider than 35 on ebay much -- any idea what they go for when they are around? The only FSU option is the Orion -- the Fed/Zorki mount version seems to go for $100-150. I'd assume that the Kiev one would be more expensive.


A Contax 21mm f 4.5 will usually sell for about $800-900 on eBay, sometimes with uxilliary finder, but usually without. Prices for CZJ 28mm usually run $300-500 in my experience. I don't know if Kiev ever made a version of the 28mm Contax, but they did not make a copy of the Contax 21mm lens because it was a post-war design, circa 1954.

 

[ScottS]

response to Scott S;

A Contax 21mm f 4.5 will usually sell for about $800-900 on eBay, sometimes with uxilliary finder, but usually without. Prices for CZJ 28mm usually run $300-500 in my experience. I don't know if Kiev ever made a version of the 28mm Contax, but they did not make a copy of the Contax 21mm lens because it was a post-war design, circa 1954.

Well I did find the russian 28 for kiev mount listed on http://www.cameramate.com/ for 325 EUR. I'm not sure what design this one is based on, but the same lens in LTM goes for under $150.

For this price, the CZJ Tessar might be a better buy (although at F8 vs. F6 it's even slower...). Or the $300 CV Nikon-mount lens, although if I want to use CV glass, I'd rather put it on a Canon or CV body.

Scott

 

[jdos2]

The Orion is almost always in the $300-$400 range, sadly, but the CV CS mount lenses are OUTSTANDING and worth every penny. I've the 21mm for my Kiev/Contax and it "takes nice pictures" and for the cost of it, I could have gotten the Topogon copy Orion, but the color on the CV doesn't suffer much in contrast to other Topogons I have... It's a better buy all the way around.