The Prettiest Kiev

[sockeyed]

This is the prettiest Kiev I've seen:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=15234&item=3879574702

Built in 1949, it probably has Contax internals.

Alas, I don't have $250 to spend on it.

 

[cacs88]

It most likely is a fake. The back is from a 2a or a 3a, judging from the feet and the tripod mount.

 

[xayraa33]

That engraved writing around the lens does not look right, too crisp, and yet smugded. compare that Kiev to the ones on the cameraquest website.

 

[Socke]

To be true, I'm more than happy with my 1970 4a. If I only could figure out how the meter knob is correctly assembled!
After I cleaned the potentiometer the meter needle somewhat reacts to the dial, but I still can't make any sense of the reading. Seems to be connected to the moonphase and roomtemperature.
Looks as if I have to get a second one to look if the dial is different there.
Or even better, an unmetered one 🙂

 

[zhang]

This is the prettiest Kiev I've seen:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=15234&item=3879574702

Built in 1949, it probably has Contax internals.

Alas, I don't have $250 to spend on it.

I agree with others. It looks like a fake. The seller also has a 1948 Kiev 3 for $$$? that also looks like a fake IMHO. According to my survey of Kiev 2s offered at Ebay for the last few weeks, the dual logo Kiev 2s seem like rare birds.

 

[iskra]

Hello,
the prettiest KIEV is a KIEV II export model with included
3 engraves in atttachement shoe. Two engraves KIEB/KIEV are for this export model usual. My KIEV II is 1956 Made and in quality Contax like.

 

[Zorkiiglaza]

Well guys, I am holding my Kiev 2 (1951) in my hands and compared it to each of the the different views shown and it seems that it is the same as mine. Mine of course doesn't have ZK lens but an early Jupiter 51 serial number. So in my opinion it is an original. The Kiev logo above the lens looks crisp because the paint has worn off. The paint on mine is starting to go.
I purchased mine 10 years ago and you don't want to know for how much... 😎

 

[cacs88]

Take a look at the back. The two feet should have a lot more (finer) rings than the four shown in the "1949" Kiev. Also, at the tripod mount, there should be several more finer rings than the residual rings as shown in the "1949" Kiev. That back is typical of the "2a" or "3a" backs, made after 1956.

My '52 Kiev 2 has the back that looks just like the Contax backs: fine rings around the feet and the tripod mount. A '56 Kiev 2 has a back that has fine rings around the feet but a smooth tripod mount. A '56 Kiev 2a has a back that has 4 coarse rings and the residual ring around the tripod mount.

Of course it could be (i) that the "1949" body is genuine and the back is mismatched, and (ii) that some or all of my backs are mismatched.

 

[Zorkiiglaza]

Yeah, mine has more rings around the turnbuckles- hard to count! worst than counting tree rings but the tripod ring is the same

 

[dll927]

Socke talks about a 4a, then talks about a meter. A 4a doesn't HAVE a meter. That's the 4.
In Contax terminology, II had no meter, III did. In Kiev, 4 has a meter, 4a doesn't.

 

[Socke]

Ok, it has been sold to me as a Kiev 4A

It's serial number starts with 70, it has a meter and no hotshoe. Shutterspeed goes down to 1/1250th and in this thread I posted pictures http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2122.

I appreciate any help I can get 🙂

 

[dll927]

I have three Kievs, a 3, a 4, and a 4a. Both of the first two have meters - which probably no longer function normally. On the 4, the meter has a somewhat lower profile than on the 3. I wanted one without a meter, so ordered the 4a, which I bought from Fedka.com. To be honest, I think the 4a is a better-looking rig. Even back in Contax days, there were those who preferred the non-metered version.

 

[pshinkaw]

The meterless 4 is really a 4A. The metered 4 is the 4. On this latter model the meter housing is lower than the classic Contax. Both 4's are also missing the flip-out foot on the tripod socket.

The meterless M seris is the 4AM while the metered 4M is the 4M. Usually these have hotshoes, although I think I saw one w/o one once. They also have a rewind crank and a permanently mounted take-up spool. Another characteristic is the missing bulge under the rangefinder window.

Soviet cameras were continuosly modified through their production, not unlike their miltary hardware. Even when you can identify hard and fast model differences like between the 4 and 4M series, there are transitional models in between with cross-over characteristics such as the type of self-timer lever, existence of a hot-shoe etc. Also, the manner in which serial numbers were assigned seemed to be in batches, so it is also possible to find a more recent adaption with an older SN than a newer SN with the older characteristics.

My observation is that meterless models todaty generally sell for more than models with a meter. So, if you are bargian shopping, there a a lot of good deals on 4s and 4M's compared to the meterless A models.

-Paul