My new Kiev-4 - Review

fredus

fredus

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Apr 15, 2005
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Hi there,

Thanks to KragMeister, I'm the new owner of a lovely Kiev-4. I've written a small write-up on my blog for those interest. It can be read HERE

Is this the begining of the end for me ?? I really like this camera ... It's my first FSU camera ... Am I going to be adicted with only one roll ?? :confused:

Fred
 
The fore-mentioned Zeiss heritage makes the Kiev unique amongst FSU range finders.

If your fingers can become accustomed to the Kiev/Contax hand-hold, the combination of the 90mm RF base and lenses that didn't need to be adapted to be LTM should make for a better shooter than the FED or Zorki.

The lens signature is still 1930's Zeiss, with the addition of anti-reflective coatings.
 
My Kiev came with a Jupiter 12. Even though I read Stephen Gandy instructions to the letter I never managed to mount on it a Jupiter 8 I later aquired...
But the Jupiter 12 takes good pictures. :confused:
 
The Kiev has an inner bayonet for the 50. Both the lens and rf wheel on the camera should be set to infinity before installing the lens. All the other lenses use the outer bayonet, so there is no need to worry about the rf wheel or the lens setting prior to installation.
 
You'll love the Kiev. The things take great pictures and they're built like tanks. Mine is the single biggest reason that my other cameras are sitting around with partially shot rolls in them.
 
i'd been getting lazy...not being bothered to take out a bulky slr & selection of lenses...i bought the zorki 4k and it's reinvigorated my interest. It's such a fun camera to use and produces some pretty good results. I also found that working purely with a 35mm & 50mm lens makes you really focus on composition. You'll probably find that you've contracted GAS too!!!
 
Solinar said:
The Kiev has an inner bayonet for the 50. Both the lens and rf wheel on the camera should be set to infinity before installing the lens. All the other lenses use the outer bayonet, so there is no need to worry about the rf wheel or the lens setting prior to installation.
Click to expand...
Thank you very much for your explanation regarding the Kiev mount. I too have another body and have no difficulty mounting the Jupiter 8M in it as well as the 12. This particular body, a late 4AM, won't accept the 50 mm lens. Now that I think of it, I remember to have been surprised by the fact that this body was offered for sale mounting a 35 mm lens...
Now I feel in some sense relieved to know that this problem is shared by others.
 
I'm not familiar with 4AM. The previous Kiev, the 4a had two bayonet mounts, an inner for the 50mm focal length and an outer for your other focal lengths. With a 50mm focal length one used the focus wheel to set the focus, if he or she desired.
 
I have files locking tabs down, bayonet prongs down, trim rings, a number of little pieces of metal here and there to get FSU lenses to fit on more than one camera. Never force a lens on a body, look and feel for the sticking point. Then file slowly and carefully, checking often to see if the lens fits on. They eventually do!
 
I recently picked up a Kiev off of *bay. The camera was boxed and came with the Helios 103 lens. I read in many places that the results from the camera were not impressive. I am very pleased with the performance of this camera and will probably expand the lens collection so that I can use it more. The meter on mine works well. Great camera and fun to use. Sure did get a lot of questions using it in public.
 
fredus said:
Am I going to be adicted with only one roll ??
Click to expand...
Get into therapy NOW! FSU rangefinders are the camera world's version of crack cocaine.
The Kiev 4 is a great little camera. I've been having huge fun with one I recently picked up. The self timer and meter are both dead, but the shutter speeds appear to be spot on and the Jupiter 8M is a beautiful lens.

Peter
 
Just talking about them (Zorki 4's) makes me want to go out and take some pictures with mine! I had another great time shooting yesterday, they are so much fun to use. They don't seem to be as intrusive as an slr too. Infact that settles it....i'm going to go out again with it today!!!

As for GAS there is a great shop in Manchester in the UK it's like an aladin's cave. They have all kinds of stuff slr's, medium format etc, but the shop also has loads of fsu cameras, canon rangefinders, leica's everything you can imagine! I have to keep forcing myself not to spend all of my money there!

You know that it's getting bad when you think "shall i do some xmas shopping/food shopping/pay bills (delete as applicable) or spend some cash on a lens?" Then end up buying two lenses and a camera body!
 
Crack cocaine about sums-up the experience. Starting from a meager 1960 Kiev 4A + Jupiter-8M lens, I now own pre and postwar Contaxes, a bunch of Zeiss lenses and I still have a Jupiter-9 kicking around until I can locate a Sonnar replacement.

Its also the camera that really got me firing on doing repairs and restoration - its simply too expensive for me otherwise. I've attached a photo of a prewar Contax II, turret finder, and my latest toy, a prewar 85/4 Triotar.

Trust me, buy a Kiev, want a Contax!
 
THANKS

I am hoping the Triotar is as under-rated as I am told!

Did anyone else notice the Kiev Survival Site has been down for a couple of days? A couple of people have emailed me.
 
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