Spool and back problem on Kiev4a

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Todd Frederick

Todd Frederick
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I have 2 Kiev 4a cameras and plan to buy another. I also once had a Contax II with the same problem, and a friend who just bought a 4a has the same problem, which is:

It is very difficult to attach the back and bottom of the camera with the film spool flopping around. it is very time consuming.

Does anyone have any tricks or suggestions how to accomplish this task easily?
 
Todd Frederick said:
I have 2 Kiev 4a cameras and plan to buy another. I also once had a Contax II with the same problem, and a friend who just bought a 4a has the same problem, which is:

It is very difficult to attach the back and bottom of the camera with the film spool flopping around. it is very time consuming.

Does anyone have any tricks or suggestions how to accomplish this task easily?
Click to expand...

I stuff a small cotton ball on the top part of the spool where it mates with the wind fork.

I holds the spool straight enough to close the back first time around.

A small ball of masking tape might work even better.


My home-made take-up spools suffer less of this problem and that is because they have a 35mm cassette metal end cap glued to the bottom flange of the spool that increases its diameter and holds it more in centre for the back to close properly.
 
Not sure what your technique is but I just turn the body upside down so the spools tend to balance near enough central. Near enough to get the back on, anyway. Works for me but I'm sure the usual caveat of "YMMV" applies!
 
I have encountered the same problem, but I do the upside down method as well.

I try to ensure that the film leader + canister are all more-or-less aligned and as vertical as possible. Then I gently slide the camera back over the body while still holding the Kiev4 upside down. When I turn the locking mechanisms, usually the spools + canister will seat properly.

Good luck!
 
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