Wierd reason for prefering the Kiev 4 instead of Kiev 2 !

dee

dee

Well-known
Local time
8:33 AM
Joined
Dec 9, 2006
Messages
1,925
Location
M25 south UK
View My Gallery
At 10 years , I was fascinated by Dad's new 1957 Praktina .

When I saw pics of the Kiev 4 , it seemed so reminiscent of it .

I have my own Praktina now , and the Kiev 4 is similar in shape , weight etc .

So , the meter stands in for the pentaprism as being more ' familiar ' than a Kiev 2 which appears to be unfinished LOL .

I love using a Kiev 4 - and that selenum meter !
 
If nostalgia is a reason for photographic pleasure, good for you! I have a Kiev 4am that I enjoy. But I have often thought of a Kiev 4 with meter. But I understand it is hard to get a properly working meter. Did you have to have yours repaired?
 
pakeha said:
meter on mine works fine, camera came from scotland , probably has not seen much light.
Click to expand...

Ha, Ha ! It's certainly very dull and foggy today in Edinburgh. 🙁

Actually if it was supplied to the UK it would have gone through the UK importers who used to 'fix' new Soviet cameras before they were delivered to customers. 😎

Ronnie
 
ronnies said:
Ha, Ha ! It's certainly very dull and foggy today in Edinburgh. 🙁

Actually if it was supplied to the UK it would have gone through the UK importers who used to 'fix' new Soviet cameras before they were delivered to customers. 😎

Ronnie
Click to expand...

Hi,

I like to think that they checked them before selling them and fixed the odd one...

Regards, David
 
Both my k4 and K4m from Oleg had new cells , though being later cameras were messed with , the K4 with tan leather and silver paint and the K4m with purple leather .
The K4 needs further work now , but it was my play around camera .

Incidentally , I also used a Kiev IIIa with it's top heavy meter , which appears to me to be the Grande Dame of the Kontax world - a little awkard , but amazing in her day !

The amazing Helios from the K4m takes pride of place on my Amadeo adapted M8 [ though I painted out the white lettering on the face LOL ]

I am now awaiting my Contax IV and KNeB IV hybrids from Kiev - old body , K4 meter etc .
 
I have several Kiev 4 cameras and the meter on all of them work fine.
I also prefer the rewind knob on the 4 versus the one on the 4a for some reason.
 
ronnies said:
Ha, Ha ! It's certainly very dull and foggy today in Edinburgh. 🙁

Actually if it was supplied to the UK it would have gone through the UK importers who used to 'fix' new Soviet cameras before they were delivered to customers. 😎

Ronnie
Click to expand...

I knew i was safe with my weather comment, all my Scot mates have a sense of humour😉

Another plus with FSU cameras out of U.K. is that they have often been very well looked after...something to do with eccentricity perhaps😀
regards
CW
 
Often UK FSUs were second cameras , whereas in the USSR , they were heavily used , which might account for the condtion of home imports . I am not sure when TOE started importing , but I guess around the mid 60s when quality in Ukraine was taking a nose dive . Anything from the 70s , where they cheapened many parts , especially the K4m , can be chancy .

Also , we got the better cameras for export - I am reliably informed that most buyers in the home market had to have a new camera sorted by a back street tech .
I had assumed that most FSUs had to be substantially reengineered in UK , but rumour has it that most were OK .

For me , the best Kiev experience , has to be the ultimate hybrid of either , or both , Contax III / Kiev IIIa [ 1956 ] body and Kiev new cell meter and controls , rebuilt by Arsenal techs - with those ' borrowed ' parts ? LOL Cost with donors etc , each , £150 .
Indulgence I know , I can't wait for them to arrive .

Incidentally , new cells are available from Oleg - if you can find anyone to fit one .

My avatar is my Kontax from a box of parts - Contax non matching body and back plus all controls , Kiev II shutter , new front leather , original back leather with Zeiss stamp and bubbles eliminated . It's fabulous with the Contax mount 11959 J3 gifted by Brian Sweeney .
With IDee issues , I love my Kontaxes which become ' new ' with shattered scattered history .
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom