Question with Kiev 4 Lenses

[kl122002]

I have just won a Kiev 4 (with black plastic on the timer) from the evilbay. This is my fisrt Russian camera. 😱 The camera is coming from UK now but I want to get a JUPITER-12. However, I find there are many variations, especially the mark besides the name of the lens. Some of them is having a prism, a 'C' with circule and triangon, or cemented lens. What do these marks mean? And is there any differences between them?

Being heard that the Kiev shutter ribbon is one of the major problem source, I am worring my Kev. 😀

 

[xayraa33]

it just means that the lens was made by KMZ or after 1960, by LZOS.
I have both, from each factory and they are both very good.

 

[brachal]

The different marks represent different optical factories. Hard to say if any one is better than any of the others. I wouldn't worry about it.

Ribbons can break, but they're designed to last a long time. If they do go, there are a couple of folks who can fix it (fedka.com is one), or you can do it yourself -- if you're "handy." Visit this site:
http://www3.telus.net/public/rpnchbck/

you'll be glad you did. Kievs are great fun; enjoy it!

 

[kl122002]

Originally, I want to buy a contax, but it is too expensive for me. After reading posts about Kiev in this forum and due to I like to study the basic working princle of a camera, so I decided to buy to buy one.
But after reading an article from this place, http://www3.telus.net/public/rpnchbck/zconrfKiev.htm by Peter Hennig , I am worried with my Kiev.

I found most of the JUPITER-12 or other lenses are mainly come from Russia or regions that USSR control. I have never purchase goods from these regions, do their shippiong reliable?

 

[skahde]

I found most of the JUPITER-12 or other lenses are mainly come from Russia or regions that USSR control. I have never purchase goods from these regions, do their shippiong reliable?

Search the forum for reliable sellers of gear from the former USSR. I dealt with with leon1965 and alexphoto Within the last months and the gear was as described and perfoms as expected. Payment was through paypal and the shipping took about 2-3 weeks from ukraine/russia to germany, customs included.

Stefan

 

[kl122002]

I find some of their name is named in English, but not Russian. Does it mean the English one is for export?

BTW, how many kinds of lens do Kiev system have?

 

[januaryman]

kl122002 - Can't answer your Q's, but I did want to urge you to get a Helios 103, a 53mm/1.8 - I find it my favorite of all the "normal" lenses I own. Very inexpensive, excellent character to it.

 

[brachal]

If you're buying off of ebay, you'll have to take your chances -- go by feedback. Most of the sellers are used to shipping to the West. It can take a couple of weeks, but I've never had a problem.

All Kiev's, and I think all of their lenses, were made in the Ukraine, so it's natural that most of the sellers are in the former USSR.

Lenses for the Kiev are:

Jupiter-8, Jupiter-8m -- 50mm, f/2. This was the standard lens for most production. The 8m has click-stops.
Jupiter-3 -- 50mm, f/1.5.
Helios-103 -- 53mm, f/1.8. Standard lens for the late-production 4m and 4am cameras.
Jupiter-12 -- 35mm, f/2.8
Jupiter-9 -- 85mm, f/2
Jupiter-11 -- 135mm, f/4

Those are all of the common Kiev lenses.

 

[kl122002]

I also would like to have a Helios -103, but I read an article, saying that fitting a Helios-103 might be too tight for Kiev 4. And, is there a lens called 'Orion-15' for Kiev series?

 

[brachal]

The Helios should fit. Mine fits on my Kiev 2a and Kiev 4a (same model as yours). The Orion-15 was, apparently, made in Kiev mount, but is very uncommon. I've never even seen one for sale. At f/6 it's awfully slow. Leica mount examples usually go for over $150 ... I would imagine that the Kiev-mount version would be even more expensive. If you have to have a 28, you could look into the Voigtlander SC series lenses on cameraquest.com.

 

[kl122002]

I am not sure, but it is warned from this page : http://www.russianplaza.com/Kiev man/kiev4man.htm , "(Note that although the Jupiter and Helios-103 standard lenses will readily fit the 4M and 4AM models, a Helios-103 can be a very tight fit in a 4 or 4A and could even cause damage when trying to remove it.)"
Mean while, I found my Kive 4 is types 2, with black plastic timer.

 

[brachal]

I can't say it won't be a problem ... all things are possible with FSU gear ... but I can tell you that I've used a Helios-103 on a 4am, 4a (type2), and even an 1956 2a without any problems. In fact, its fit was too loose on the 2a, but that's easy to fix. There's a page for it on the Kiev Survival Site.

 

[xayraa33]

If you want to lessen the FSU gear heartbreak factor, buy from Fedka or Oleg, you might pay a bit more but it beats playing russian roulette.
A lot of the lenses for the rf Kiev were made in Russia, but it was all a big happy family back then, called the USSR.

 

[kl122002]

I find myself is playing russian roulette after I have purchased my first Russian camera. 😀

 

[januaryman]

I agree with xayraa33 - if you get a cheap ebay camera, THEN pay for a CLA, it'll cost more than getting it from Yuri or Oleg. I found out the hard way.

 

[ruben]

Originally, I want to buy a contax, but it is too expensive for me. After reading posts about Kiev in this forum and due to I like to study the basic working princle of a camera, so I decided to buy to buy one.
But after reading an article from this place, http://www3.telus.net/public/rpnchbck/zconrfKiev.htm by Peter Hennig , I am worried with my Kiev.

I found most of the JUPITER-12 or other lenses are mainly come from Russia or regions that USSR control. I have never purchase goods from these regions, do their shippiong reliable?

Buying a Kiev because of not having enough money to buy a Contax, could be in my opinion a great mistake.

Realities aside, when you dream about a Contax most of the chances are that you dream you are going to get a spotless high quality camera lasting for years.

Unfortunately by these days, the chances you will get a good Kiev are not great. It is possible, but your feeling of fear is correct, you are playing Russian roulette. You will have much better chances of getting a good working camera if you choose a Fed or a Zorki.

The Kievs sold by these days require that you learn to clean, lubricate and adjust them by yourself, with the help of the Kiev Survival Site.

On the other hand, if you have the will, patience and time to learn it, and master your Kiev, most of the chances are you will not wish a Contax anymore, and feel confident you will be able to buy any $50 Kiev, and make it to work at high standards.

Cheers,
Ruben

 

[giovatony]

Buying a Kiev because of not having enough money to buy a Contax, could be in my opinion a great mistake.

Realities aside, when you dream about a Contax most of the chances are that you dream you are going to get a spotless high quality camera lasting for years.

Unfortunately by these days, the chances you will get a good Kiev are not great. It is possible, but your feeling of fear is correct, you are playing Russian roulette. You will have much better chances of getting a good working camera if you choose a Fed or a Zorki.

The Kievs sold by these days require that you learn to clean, lubricate and adjust them by yourself, with the help of the Kiev Survival Site.

On the other hand, if you have the will, patience and time to learn it, and master your Kiev, most of the chances are you will not wish a Contax anymore, and feel confident you will be able to buy any $50 Kiev, and make it to work at high standards.

Cheers,
Ruben

Ah! Ruben.
Not everyone is into taking their camera apart. Most users would rather shoot with them . It`s hard enough for some people to find time to shoot,let alone repair their gear.
Most of the Contaxes I`ve seen on Ebay are in need of servicing too and those don`t come too cheap.
However getting a good Kiev isn`t difficult . Anyone can get a low priced Kiev off Ebay that needs some degree of servicing but savvy buyers know which ones to avoid and which ones to jump on..
Here`s a good one (link below) that someone smart snagged. I been watching it all along bit I have two good Kievs already .I think there is plenty of opportunities for lookers to latch on to a good one.
You can talk all day on this forum about fixing Kievs but at this price , (below) who wants to fix one?
John

http://cgi.ebay.com/Contax-II-copy-KIEV-4AM-USSR-camera-SERVICED-EXC-COND_W0QQitemZ160209249864QQihZ006QQcategoryZ107914QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[kl122002]

I will buy contax (ii/iia) surely, but after I have cut down my expenses. However, I must say that each time when I 'import' cameras from ebay, nearly all of them like playing Russian roulette.
AS the camera is getting older, it is needed to spend sometime to learn how to fix its problem, like my Retina IIIc. But after repairing, it has become a piece of gold, and very meaningful to me.

 

[ruben]

Hi John,

How can you know that the Kiev you refered to is indeed a good one ? After all it is not on your desk.

True, from time to time new FSU sellers appear selling highly good gear at moderate prices. I happened to buy an absolutely new Kiev 4, maintained in what Noel called "a temperate room", at a very very cheap price without relation with its status, from "Rusfoto" when he begun his break-in.

But like me you also have read here at RFF complains about Fedka's high priced cameras.

Now I ask myself what is for you a good Kiev. I have been purchasing Kievs along the years from many sources, including Fedka, Trofimov (Soviet camera store) Alex, Treasureseller, DVD, etc. And mostly I got "good Kievs".

But none of them matched even by far, including Fedka, the level of what I do.
This sounds like an arrogant self compliment. But what I am really trying to say is that if you have not put your own hands inside a Kiev, you have no idea what a Kiev can give you. Ask spyderman, ask physiognomy, ask Valkir.

There is a world apart between a "good Kiev" from the best selller, or best luck, and what you can do. The reason for this is very simple. Kievs are time predators to service, mainly due to the big amount of screws to unscrew and re-screw. We are talking about many many microscopic screws, requiring you 5 to 10 trials to re-screw. For this reason no bussiness can do a good job at a reasonable price, and only you can. It is very much like BW film processing.

However I do accept that many of us hardly have time to shoot. That's true, unfortunately.

Cheers,
Ruben

 

[ruben]

I will buy contax (ii/iia) surely, but after I have cut down my expenses. However, I must say that each time when I 'import' cameras from ebay, nearly all of them like playing Russian roulette.
AS the camera is getting older, it is needed to spend sometime to learn how to fix its problem, like my Retina IIIc. But after repairing, it has become a piece of gold, and very meaningful to me.

Hi Kevin,
If you do have "a hand" for camera repairs, then no question with Contaxes you will be waisting your scarce money. Go Kiev without looking aside.

Cheers,
Ruben