Other camera to try ?

[manfromh]

I actualy like the smell of the two Kievs I have. Too bad they aint working.

 

[ruben]

Thanks ! It's top to have site Kiev Survival master Ruben here ! What great forum ! I'm very happy to have find RFF.

Okay I think I go buy old KNEB from friend, not plastic Kueb-Kiev. But some one or too things are make me fear yet.

Kiev Master write, that Kiev camera have to be myself repaired all time to stay good mechanics, or I have to say good bye to other members ? True ?

Also, I have to smell Kiev before to use ? Why ?

Thanks !
Wlad

Hi Wlad,

I have to repeat that I am not any "kiev master" at all, but a proud Kiev Enthusiast. My technical knowledge of the Kievs is in my opinion around the minimum to have a Kiev running in highly good health, provided no complex fixings are required.

Nevertheless, had I been what I am not, a "Kiev Master", I still would follow HCB personal example when he defined himself as an "amateur", a lover of photography, instead of a big shot.

I think that people speaking from the big shot stage, in any aspect of life, should digg in their own past for the reason. There cannot be a biggest ignorant of the basics of life than the one that considers himself a big shot.

Since ancient times some of us seem to question our very democratic mortality by enhancing our egos beyond our life time. What a waist of time ! In some cases very few of us have succeded - So what ? Have they enjoyed it ? It doesn't look like.

Back to our issues, what is a complex fixing ? At this moment I can only think about an issue called shutter synchronization. It means to bring all the small parts of the shutter back to harmony action. This I have not learnt how to perform, as I regard it an issue I hope to avoid. Other highly important issues that I have never performed have been related to the disassembly and cleaning of lens optics, or another "profession" called collimation, whose real master is our RFF member Brian Sweeny

What are non-complex fixings? Light streaks, range finder adjustment, shutter distension and reasonable shutter calibration, ribbons exchange, camera internal cleaning and lubrication. And perhaps some other issues I may be forgetting now.

In a single word, I am not a Kiev fixer but an amateur photographer able to run his Kievs at much higher level than the average. That's all, and it is not much. But it is something.

It is this practical knowledge, which I developed here at RFF, with the backing of the Kiev Survival Site, and togethere with many good and knowlegeable RFF members like Noel, Spyderman, Phisiognomy, rxmd (Phillip), that has filled me with a great enthusiasm for these disdained cameras, after been able to measure in practice, their high potential.

I would recommend a Kiev to any person with a technical inclination. It doesn't mean you must start disassembling your Kiev the day you get it. But it means that if you want to extract all the honey hidden inside these cinderellas, you will have to perform one day your own overhaul of the camera. To be able to do it, you will have to learn bit by bit, from many different sources and the KSS first of all.

Here we come back to the point where I said that for a Kiev you need a minimal technical inclination. A technical inclination is not knowledge, it is the desire or curiousity for technical knowledge.

Now, why not sending your Kiev to a professional fixer ? I have nothing against it, if we take for granted that a professional fixer will do a kind of 'ambulance first help' work. And we should not disregard this first help, if you want to use your Kiev day by day.

Contax cameras today still enjoy of high quality profesional fixers with Henry Scherer at the top of them. Unfortunately Kiev cameras don't enjoy of high level fixers of a talent alike Henry Scherer.

Both Contax and Kiev cameras demmand a lot of the fixer time due to having many many screws and components. Therefore, in my opinion, the Kiev fixer working for a low price against the clock, should be avoided as much as possible. This is not the situation with the Contax fixer.

There are two basic instances at which I would not avoid a Kiev fixer. First when I purchase my camera. Then I would send it straight away for an overall CLA. The second instance it would be upon meeting a very serious issue to fix.

Nevertheless after sending the Kiev for its first CLA immediately after purchase, I would not consider it a for-granted-reliable CLA-ed Kiev. I would consider it in the best of cases, a humbly working Kiev.

A great CLA for a Kiev is not so much an issue of expertize, although a minimum is necessary, but mainly an issue of working hours time input. Here you will always have the upper hand over the professional fixer.

You will need some 50 working hours. But 50 high quality working hours. Meaning working hours during which you enjoy of your best patience and don't work against the clock.


As for the issue of the smelling, touching, seeing, and letting your instincts decide, my previous friends have answered you pretty well.

Kievs are for some of us very attractive cameras arising many kind of feelings, appealing us for different reasons. They are very temperamental cameras in their external look as well. If they attract you and you want to marry with them, they will be very time-demmanding cameras, not tolerant of competition, not enabling you to use them very much alongside other cameras.

If you are not prepared for this situation, after buying Kievs, most of the chances are that you will not use them most of the times. And for all these reasons I recommended you to visit your friend and check if the Kievs produce a click within your heart. You see, life is not just mathematics, but emotions too.

Cheers,
Ruben

 

[Wladimir]

Mr Ruben thank you lots for very very long input I have took many time to read before I go to see girlfriend in park on afternoon today. Problem, now I don't know what to do again. 567253 KNEB seem very attractive. And friend don't sell it for to expensive (for amount near fifthy dollars americans around).

But now I have read all posts I still fear this is very too complicated camera for me. I don't take photographys for long you know and I like very simple mechanical calm film camera, I like small FED-2 for that causes.

You write I have to spend fifthy hours of difficult work on KNEB after I have smelled it. Also you say I have to be married to have KNEB because they demand more time? I dont understand. Girlfriend is my honey, ok, but want not be married now already. And in other very good thread of forum you also tell about sex-pipe show to be visited with eye put in Kiev camera. This is not too easy job for absolute beginner like me! And I don't want trouble with police my country!

Also strange thing is that KNEB of friend is marked for made in USSR but CCCP also. I don't want using camera made by poor goulag prisoners! Friend have made very very good macrophoto for me with big professional TV camera shot to show to you serious expertises when camera in fact is make. I hope attaching photo work, I made never links attachings before here on forum.

Thanks!
Wlad

 

[brachal]

Ruben,
Please forgive me if you've taken offense at my use of the term Kiev Master. I have a great deal of respect for your knowledge and enthusiasm regarding Kiev's and thought it was an appropriate term.

Wladimir,
Don't be afraid of the camera. It's not much more complicated than your Fed to use. If you have to repair or tune it at some point, then you can worry about the difficult work. I have had a good Kiev that was serviced before I bought it, and I've never had any difficulties. As mentioned above, I have great respect for what Ruben does with his cameras, but I do not have the time or skill to become a camera repair man. So, when I have a problem with one, I send it to somebody qualified to fix it. The camera may not get the amount of detailed attention that Ruben gives to his, but it should return in good working order.

The markings on the shoe are common on Kievs of that period. The inscription is in Cyrillic and Roman characters as many of these early Kievs were intended for export. No Kiev was made in a gulag. All were produced at the Kiev arsenal in the Ukraine.

 

[timmyd18]

Wladimir-

definitely don't be afraid of a kiev. one week after obtaining my first i am enjoying it completely. as ruben and others have said, the very accurate focusing lets you do wonderful things with depth of field (focusing on your target and letting everything else either be blurry or clear depending on what you want.)

except for mounting lenses, it is not harder to use than a Fed-2.

also, one advantage of a kiev or a contax seems to be that the lenses for them are easier to get more cheaply. i really wanted a jupiter 12 for my Feds, but i found that for the same price of the j12 in that mount, i could get a kiev mount j12, a kiev 4aM, a case, and a helios 103 lens. that was my justification for getting one more camera!

 

[mhv]

What is "Kiev 4am" ?

It's an Ukranian-inspired side dish usually served with slaczek after a long drinking evening (hence the 4 AM name).

It is best eaten with mineral water.

Eih bennek, eih blavek!

 

[Wladimir]

On fläsz Klowaswa vüh Kiev 4 AM, döh dzapeih blaveh !

I think I not buy KNEB, but keep FED-2 my now, take very very good pictured. I link flower, I think it work attaching.

Güdd oh Zrädjzmo !
Wlad

 

[tunznath]

Dan dzetronn eszt ervüh

 

[rxmd]

On fläsz Klowaswa vüh Kiev 4 AM

They're not waterproof though. Szplug!

Philipp

 

[Wladimir]

Nah dzem hoepxbeh, 30ha Döszt, ihn dzekhoujchz szoe ebb thoun, hkom KNEB Carlitz zsãlu fzotos nhiemtz FED-2 endzoekhoszd !

Zhoe ghounh dzoeteuih Hzforrhom !
Wlad

 

[micromontenegro]

Basta! Dan tronn eszt pho mâ!

 

[Wladimir]

Dã ön estcãr alpùkzommetz Paffeh Ruben ?

Crom szù öpp Dàszbiek öpp cãrrö ? Güdd KNEB Khäzhy ?
Dobb ihff, Halmaszout ? Medt Rhonsönol ?
Wlad

 

[micromontenegro]

Khäzhy nicht kalinskÿ Rhonsönolich, Khoshmoline eszt Güdd, Trynytretoúlene Bätczer.

Edit: Bätczer jett: On fläsz Klowaswa

 

[Wladimir]

Dzäpet FED-2 szmit Szsnõrr Jupiter-8, zslasktij, eih güdd.

Ow !
Wlad