Solinar
Analog Preferred
Richard, I didn't look at each and every Z-4, but did look for those that appeared to have been made before 1962. Remember, there will be more Zorki 4 cameras next week, then the next and the following week.
Item # 3855628535, which may have cleaning marks on its lens is good example of a 1962 Early Z-4. The top cover no longer has the faux frames around the viewfinder and rangefinder windows or the engraved scripts of the 1956-1960 Z-4. It does however retain the vulcanite covering and strap lugs. You may want to consider it, as it is cheap and looks to be clean.
For reliable seller, cupog in the Czech Republic has a late edition Z-4, item # 3855027043 - Since it is a late edition, it has the vinyl body covering and no strap lugs. I've dealt with Gezja before and he stands by what he sells. At least you won't have to CLA the camera before using.
By the way, I really like my Zorki 4. It was produced in 1957. The seller was evgen_sp . It had been cleaned up on the outside but it really needed a CLA. Eugene, which is the Anglized spelling of his first name, was really good about returning emails before and after the sale. I got a pretty good idea from the emails was less knowledgeable about the camera than I would hope, but he did check the curtains for me. Amazingly, it arrived within 14 days, as promised.
My Fed 2, which I love looking at, but don't like to use as much came from Rusfoto. It was cleaner than a baby's behind after bath time. Denis was good in correspondence, but I did need to adjust the RF and oil shutter gear train before using the camera.
Soviet photo uses a stock photo and ships whatever camera he has on hand. At least this is what he told me.
I bought a collapsible I-22 from Kubanoid, his name is Andrey. He is a superb person to deal with. Alex-photo for curtains, lens caps and a lens was also superb.
In my sample survey of two cameras, both needed work before using them. However, the Zorki 4 is a surprisingly good 35mm RF with a great viewfinder and seems to have a better build quality than the Fed.
Item # 3855628535, which may have cleaning marks on its lens is good example of a 1962 Early Z-4. The top cover no longer has the faux frames around the viewfinder and rangefinder windows or the engraved scripts of the 1956-1960 Z-4. It does however retain the vulcanite covering and strap lugs. You may want to consider it, as it is cheap and looks to be clean.
For reliable seller, cupog in the Czech Republic has a late edition Z-4, item # 3855027043 - Since it is a late edition, it has the vinyl body covering and no strap lugs. I've dealt with Gezja before and he stands by what he sells. At least you won't have to CLA the camera before using.
By the way, I really like my Zorki 4. It was produced in 1957. The seller was evgen_sp . It had been cleaned up on the outside but it really needed a CLA. Eugene, which is the Anglized spelling of his first name, was really good about returning emails before and after the sale. I got a pretty good idea from the emails was less knowledgeable about the camera than I would hope, but he did check the curtains for me. Amazingly, it arrived within 14 days, as promised.
My Fed 2, which I love looking at, but don't like to use as much came from Rusfoto. It was cleaner than a baby's behind after bath time. Denis was good in correspondence, but I did need to adjust the RF and oil shutter gear train before using the camera.
Soviet photo uses a stock photo and ships whatever camera he has on hand. At least this is what he told me.
I bought a collapsible I-22 from Kubanoid, his name is Andrey. He is a superb person to deal with. Alex-photo for curtains, lens caps and a lens was also superb.
In my sample survey of two cameras, both needed work before using them. However, the Zorki 4 is a surprisingly good 35mm RF with a great viewfinder and seems to have a better build quality than the Fed.
ddutchison
Well-known
marlinspike said:
Although this has already been answered, go to Cameraquest (http://www.cameraquest.com/classics.htm) and scroll down until you get to the Kiev section. Since the Kiev is a soviet made Contax II/III, you might want to check their articles on Contaxes as well, and there is also similar info on a hundred or so other good RF cameras.
More Kiev info:
http://www.photoshot.com/articles/collector_corner/kiev.htm
http://www.classiccamera.org/kiev rangefinders by peter hennig.htm
http://www.btinternet.com/~stowupland/kiev.htm
W
wlewisiii
Guest
Pherdinand said:I am also fantasizing about a J9, realizing that i can't afford a sonnar...
Heck, I can't even afford a Triotar, much less a Sonnar...
Not so much that the risk is too high, just that the known quantity is so good. If I didn't already have a good business relationship with Yuri, I'd be all over a couple of those J9s right now. But I can get one at what I consider to be a fair price with a guarantee from him, so that moves it to the "no risk" category and is worth the extra money to me. I'm too poor to play russian gear roullette...
William
Solinar
Analog Preferred
William, if you impatiently check eBay each Sunday night, I'm sure you'll eventually see a nice J9 turn up from a seller whose ID is cupog. He is in the Czech Republic.
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wlewisiii
Guest
(hmm. click click snoop). He'd really be dangerous if I owned an Exakta. Thanks for the tip, I'll keep an eye on him for a J3. I've already got a J9 on hold with Yuri, but there are still other goodies to be had. Maybe he'll pop up with the Tessar of my lus^h^h^hdreams...
William
William
R
Roman
Guest
'cupog' is known to look for certain items, if you send him a message...
Roman
Roman
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marlinspike
Guest
Hmm, all these replies and I never got an e-mail letting me know. Thanks for letting me in on the Zorki's Andrew in Austin, but I'm actually intrested in the Kiev 4 Something I've failed to ask about up until now is do the lenses for any of these (these being Kiev 4, contax IIIa, canon 7, or even the older not as expensive leica m mount lenses) accept a threaded filter?
Richard
Something I've failed to ask about up until now is do the lenses for any of these (these being Kiev 4, contax IIIa, canon 7, or even the older not as expensive leica m mount lenses) accept a threaded filter?Richard
furcafe
Veteran
Of course they take threaded filters, but in different sizes: Kiev/Contax usually 40.5mm (also 49mm & 25.5mm), Nikon RF usually 43mm (also 48 & 52mm) Canon RF can be 40mm or 48mm (w/exceptions), most Leica is 39mm (again, some exceptions).
marlinspike said:
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marlinspike
Guest
So a Jupiter 8M would be 40.5mm?
Thanks,
Richard
Thanks,
Richard
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Roman
Guest
Exactly (and the J-12, too)!
Roman
Roman
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srosenbach
Guest
Marlinspike - ignore everything except the advice to go Commie! You can't go wrong with an inexpensive Soviet rangefinder. Zorkis, FEDs, Kievs - the price is right, and you can get relatively inexpensive and good-perfoming lenses easily form 35 to 135mm.
My favorite is FED-2, but it's highly personal. I would by a Kiev 4 (or 4M) AND a FED-2 - they're really cheap.
I've been very happy with eBay seller alex-photo - here you go, a Kiev 4 from 1969 (a good year) in VG condition - with a BIN price of only $40:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=30028&item=3858066247&rd=1
Best regards,
SteveR
My favorite is FED-2, but it's highly personal. I would by a Kiev 4 (or 4M) AND a FED-2 - they're really cheap.
I've been very happy with eBay seller alex-photo - here you go, a Kiev 4 from 1969 (a good year) in VG condition - with a BIN price of only $40:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=30028&item=3858066247&rd=1
Best regards,
SteveR
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marlinspike
Guest
My Kiev 4 is actually in the mail. I paid $36 + $14 shipping. I didn't get one of the good years though (72) but when I asked him for a detailed description it seems like the camera is in extremely good condition, except the case has a few marks on it, and for a $4 premium I got a mark free case. It'll probably be arriving within the next 7 days, though since the seller couldn't gaurantee that I would get it by the 15th, I had him send it to my house so I'll see it no earlier than when I go home for Xmas on the 16th. If anybody cares to see it, it's item 3855479971 on eBay.
Richard
Richard
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Roman
Guest
Hi Comrade Stoisha,
nice to meet you here, too - your ex-(now my) Kiev 4 is still going strong!
Roman
nice to meet you here, too - your ex-(now my) Kiev 4 is still going strong!
Roman
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sychan
Guest
Hello!
Hello!
If you want lever wind, the Kiev 5's are the way to go - they also have the brightest viewfinder of any Contax style RF (aside from the Bessa R2C).
I'll offer my suggestion for a bargain RF kit with a fast 50: the Bessa T and a Canon 50/1.2. The bessa goes for $185 new, and the Canon 50/1.2 is underrated and goes for about $250. That leaves you about $65 to work out a viewfinder.
Hello!
If you want lever wind, the Kiev 5's are the way to go - they also have the brightest viewfinder of any Contax style RF (aside from the Bessa R2C).
I'll offer my suggestion for a bargain RF kit with a fast 50: the Bessa T and a Canon 50/1.2. The bessa goes for $185 new, and the Canon 50/1.2 is underrated and goes for about $250. That leaves you about $65 to work out a viewfinder.
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RML
Guest
And another new member! Welcome, Sychan!
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marlinspike
Guest
It came today (which is strange because he said he would send it to my house address, not college address). There are two things I can't figure out. Other than rewinding, what purpose does the left dial serve? Also, how do I read the light meter? There is a dot, a 4, a 2, and a diamond.
Thanks,
Richard
Thanks,
Richard
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marlinspike
Guest
Also, where can I get a snap in lens cap for this? What kind of filter do I need to use daylight film indoors without a flash (and is this even necessary with 4 layer film like Reala?)? And do UV filters serve any purpose with modern film?
Thanks,
Richard
Thanks,
Richard
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marlinspike
Guest
And finally, where can I get a strap that has hooks to fit in these little strap holes on the camera?
Thanks,
Richard
Thanks,
Richard
R
RML
Guest
Any camera shop will do. Or else order snap-on caps and straps online.
Are you sure you need filters? Are you already confident using your selected films, lenses and cameras? If not, using a filter will add even more unknown factors in the equation. Best to get used to one factor at a time, keeping the other factors the same.
Are you sure you need filters? Are you already confident using your selected films, lenses and cameras? If not, using a filter will add even more unknown factors in the equation. Best to get used to one factor at a time, keeping the other factors the same.
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marlinspike
Guest
Outside of the left dial, which to me seems to erve no purpose other than remembering what speed film you use, I think the camera was pretty easy to get used to. Just gotta keep my right index finger out of the way of the rangefinder. As far as films, all I use are daylight/flash color films (fuji reala for 100, agfa optima for 200, fuji press for the high speed stuff) and I only have one lens for this, the 50 f/2. From what I've seen using film in my brothers film canon, yes I do need filters to take indoor shots without flash, otherwise the pictures come out pink.
My usual stores (b&h and adorama) dont seems to have 40.5mm snap caps or straps that will work with these circular strap holes.
Oh, and btw, even though the seller said the light meter works, it doesn't :-( Oh well, for $36 I took my chances. I guess I'll just learn the way of sunny 16.
Richard
My usual stores (b&h and adorama) dont seems to have 40.5mm snap caps or straps that will work with these circular strap holes.
Oh, and btw, even though the seller said the light meter works, it doesn't :-( Oh well, for $36 I took my chances. I guess I'll just learn the way of sunny 16.
Richard