Newbie question regarding turret viewfinder

[Tim Murphy]

Dear Board,

I own a Zorki 4 and a Kiev 4A. I couldn't decide which brand to collect so I covered both bases.

For the Zorki I have a 135mm/f4 lens. For the Kiev I have the full compliment of 35mm, 85mm, and 135mm along with the 50mm that came with the camera.

I bought a turret finder that was advertised on ebay as for the Zorki. I apologize if this seems like a stupid question but what I would like to know is will it work with the Kiev?

It has finders for all the same focal lengths so I assume it will work but I'd appreciate if someone with more knowledge and expertise can either confirm or deny that?

Regards,

Tim Murphy

 

[Ko.Fe.]

If I remember correct, it is position of the "leg". For LTM it is on one side, for Contax on another.

 

[Roger Hicks]

If I remember correct, it is position of the "leg". For LTM it is on one side, for Contax on another.

Yes. One is a mirror image of the other. Both work with both cameras (focal length) but as far as I recall the "wrong" one restricts access to the shutter speed dial.

Cheers,

R.

 

[nukecoke]

Did you get the one on the right?

It will work on both Zorki and Kiev well.
The one on the left would hinder you from changing speed on some Zorki models.

 

[Tim Murphy]

Thanks for your help

Thanks for your help

Did you get the one on the right?

It will work on both Zorki and Kiev well.
The one on the left would hinder you from changing speed on some Zorki models.

Dear nuke,

The finder is not sitting in front of me right now so I am not sure which one I actually own.

Knowing the layout of both the Zorki and the Kiev I can be reasonably sure that either finder will work with the Kiev because the shutter speed dial is on the far right of the camera so I should be good to go.

Regards,

Tim Murphy

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

Unless I have a unique Kiev it doesn't matter if your VF is right handed or left handed. The accessory clip/hot shoe is positioned with a lot of space either side.

On the FED/Zorki clones of the Leica II the position of the shutter speed button means you have to get the right version of the VF. For them, as you hold the camera, looking from behind, the eyepiece should be on the right hand side of the universal VF.

Regards, David

 

[Spanik]

Never know there were 2 versions of this finder. I was lucky and got the right one (in both meanings) for my Zorki. On the Zorki 4, the one left on the photo would indeed be partly over the speed dial.

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

It shows how those lucky people in the old USSR got the best of both worlds with the Leica clone bodies and the Zeiss clone lenses (J-8 for example) and the Zeiss clone VF.

Try and look through an early Leica universal VF to see what I mean.

Regards, David

PS Couldn't sleep last night thinking I shouldn't have said the "right version" but the "correct" version...

 

[Roger Hicks]

Never know there were 2 versions of this finder. I was lucky and got the right one (in both meanings) for my Zorki. On the Zorki 4, the one left on the photo would indeed be partly over the speed dial.

Crazy thing is, I HAD two and didn't notice they were different until I got both of them out from different drawers and had them side by side. Once they'd started making the Zorkii version (works on both cameras) I wonder if they carried on making the Kiev version.

Cheers,

R.