dee
Well-known
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 !
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 !
oftheherd
Veteran
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?
Damaso
Photojournalist
I'm IN Kiev right now. Just though I'd share...
pakeha
Well-known
meter on mine works fine, camera came from scotland , probably has not seen much light.
paradoxbox
Well-known
please take some photos of kiev with your kiev!
ronnies
Well-known
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
David Hughes
David Hughes
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
Hi,
I like to think that they checked them before selling them and fixed the odd one...
Regards, David
ronnies
Well-known
I believe they claimed to check them all before delivery but that doesn't explain my Dad's Helios 44 with a missing aperture blade.
Ronnie
dee
Well-known
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 .
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 .
xayraa33
rangefinder user and fancier
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.
I also prefer the rewind knob on the 4 versus the one on the 4a for some reason.
pakeha
Well-known
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
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
dee
Well-known
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 .
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 .