Questions about Kiev 19M

[Pfreddee]

I'm not sure if this is the place for this post, but the Kiev in question is a modern Ukrainian SLR, so I thought I would start here.

Has anyone owned one of these cameras? I can get one, new, from Kiev USA, with a 50mm (my favorite FL) lens in Nikon mount, which means that all kinds of Nikon glass will work with it. It is also a new camera, and won't break the bank. I want an SLR for B/W photography, to complement my dSLR, which I use for colour. What can you tell me about them?

Thanks to all who reply.

With best regards.

Pfreddee(Stephen)

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Hello 🙂
Couple of weeks ago Kiev-19 was given to me by its first owner who purchased it new from the camera store in Israel. Kiev-19 is same as 19M (slightly improved TTL metering). Helios 81H (50/2) lens.
Prior to this old style SLR I used to have and let go to Canon of similar style, OM10 and I never wanted to take more than one roll with any Zenit which was given to try to me.
I'm not SLR person at all, but surprisingly this Kiev-19 doesn't feel like something I don't like. Easy to read focusing screen, simple exposure indication and somehow mirror flap doesn't bugs me as with previous SLRs I have tried.
It is heavy, but doesn't feel bulky. The shutter release is smooth and shutter itself isn't loud. Lens is OK.

 

[Wulfthari]

Nice pics Ko.Fe.

I don't have a Kiev 19m but I have a 17, nice (and heavy) camera, good quality overall. Probably Kievs were the best SLRs available in the SSSE, especially the 20 is well regarded (the 19m is supposed to be a low cost version of the 20).

One of my secret wishes is to get a Kiev 18 with motordrive and Volna 50mm f1.4 but it's like chasing unicorn.

Regarding the lenses, I have a mint 81N that I use on my Nikon F2s and FM. IMO a better lens than the Nikkor 50mm f2 and the Nikonians will hate for saying this...it has beautiful colours and a dreamy bokeh:

These are with Ektar, no PP.

These are taken with "simple" Superia 200.

 

[xayraa33]

There is nothing better than answering a question the OP made four years ago.

And just like the Kiev lenses for the Kiev 60, the Kiev lenses for the 19M also get the aperture blades stuck with creeping lubricant over time.

I'll stay using Kiev RF cameras but not their SLRS.

 

[Wulfthari]

There is nothing better than answering a question the OP made four years ago.

Well the poor guy never got an answer so right now he has two and some people can also appreciate few shots taken with Kiev SLR gear.:angel:

 

[tunalegs]

I wouldn't even use Kiev rangefinders. I gave them several chances, and they're just not nice cameras, despite appearances. Zorki or Fed on the other hand do just fine.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Regarding the lenses, I have a mint 81N that I use on my Nikon F2s and FM. IMO a better lens than the Nikkor 50mm f2 and the Nikonians will hate for saying this...it has beautiful colours and a dreamy bokeh:

Great color in yours pictures. Classic color film... I have tried mine 81N with color cinefilm, but something went wrong with exposure metering or/and developing. Only few frames came OK and colors are nice.

Thanks for saving me money, I was going to buy Nikon lens. 🙂

 

[xayraa33]

I wouldn't even use Kiev rangefinders. I gave them several chances, and they're just not nice cameras, despite appearances. Zorki or Fed on the other hand do just fine.

I had better luck with Kiev RF cameras, Zorki and Feds not so much,

..except for the newer Fed 5 series.


The Kiev 17 and 19 SLRs and their 120 format big brother would be more reliable with pre-set lenses like my 1973 Zenit E, IMHO

 

[Wulfthari]

Great color in yours pictures. Classic color film... I have tried mine 81N with color cinefilm, but something went wrong with exposure metering or/and developing. Only few frames came OK and colors are nice.

Thanks for saving me money, I was going to buy Nikon lens. 🙂

Sometimes I wonder if Soviet and DDR glass gives so vibrant colour because in Communist era the film available for normal people was not so great.

The CZJ glass I have gives colours even stronger than the Helios 81N.

These shots were taken with Portra 160 but a lot of people "guess" I was using Ektar or any other oversaturated film.

The Kiev 17 and 19 SLRs and their 120 format big brother would be more reliable with pre-set lenses like my 1973 Zenit E, IMHO

My NOS Helios 81N also had the same problem and yes the lubricant they used for the diaphragm wasn't that great, but my tech fixed the problem in 5 minutes and didn't even charge me for that.

My dream lens is N or K mount is the Volna 50mm f1.2:

Made by Lomo and Kiev for the planned professional Soviet cameras of the 80s the Almaz 101 and the Kiev 18, that remained a pipe's dream of the big bosses in the Brezhnev's government:

Still, an handsome camera!

 

[Ko.Fe.]

I have no complains for ORWO slide film from DDR which I used exclusively for many years with nothing but Industar-26M. It was available at least in Moscow.
These days the Industar-something lens in Smena-8m gives me most pleasing film colors. On pair with Color-Skopar 35 for the juiciness 🙂

 

[Ko.Fe.]

This is most recent roll with Kiev-19 camera and Helios 81H MC lens.

I was using camera exposure meter. It takes regular batteries.

 

[David Hughes]

I must put some film in my Smena 8M, perhaps a roll of Agfa...