Shutter is really quiet--is it working?

[Skara]

I'm new to rangefinders. Just bought a Kiev 4M. I've heard rangefinders are quiet, but... I can just barely hear a click when I press the shutter button. I'm pretty sure it's not working. How quiet should the shutter be? And am I possibly doing something wrong, or is it broke, or what?
I got it on ebay, and the seller said it worked great.

Thanks,
William

 

[erikhaugsby]

There are lots of different types of 'clicks,' and by just saying click we can't help much.
However, the easiest way to check curtain movement is to remove either the lens or the back cover and watch the curtains as you wind them on and shoot. If they don't move, something broke.

 

[Skara]

eh.. heh. Didn't think about removing the lens. How dumb is that.
Turns out it wasn't moving at all, but somehow I managed to fix it by jiggling the shutter/windup and pressing the shutter button a few times. I dunno. Weird.

Well, off to try it out.

Thanks.

 

[40oz]

one of my Kiev's was stiff from disuse, but working it many times got it to a point where everything works smoothly.

 

[raftman]

That's why I don't understand why people like quiet shutters... when they're loud it's somehow reassuring to me.

 

[Xmas]

Shaka

On Contax & Kievs the double exposure interlock and shutter release are separate and you may need to press the release more positively then your normal method to clear the double exp mechanism. This is pretty normal and does not bother me.

Noel

P.S. Shoot a few hundred frames at 1/60 or faster before you try the slows they make only make a cat sneeze style sound.

 

[Skara]

That's why I don't understand why people like quiet shutters... when they're loud it's somehow reassuring to me.

Yeah, but it's hard to be sneaky with a loud shutter. If it's barely audible, no one will notice you took a picture. 😉

Thanks for the help. I shot a test roll and everything seemed to work fine. I'll see once I get it developed.