Advice needed on a Kiev TTL Spot meter prism

[Trond]

Hello everyone,

I´ve just recieved a Kiev prism which I bought on eBay. It looks like a nice piece of equipment, especially for the price, but I think there is someting wrong with the one I've got, and I need someone to confirm it.

There seems to be a little piece of something that looks like plastic on the upper 1/4 of the viewfinder, which makes it difficult to see the whole frame at the same time comfortably.

I've attached some photos of it, and it would be great if someone who owns a similar prism can tell me if it's supposed to be like this or not. The seller claims that the prism is OK, but I find it hard to believe that the prism has been designed this way.

Thanks,
Trond

 

[JHannon]

I have the Kiev TTL too and I don't see any tape in the viewer.

There is normally a small black display at the top with the three LEDs to indicate light levels. Looks like someone taped it down or something may have shifted inside.

 

[P C Headland]

A crude attempt at masking to 6x4.5 perhaps?

 

[Dan Henderson]

my old Kiev has a black area at the top of the frame, but it does not extend 1/4 of the way into the viewfinder. Perhaps 1/12 or 1/16. I'd concur that yours may have come loose and moved down further than its supposed to.

 

[JHannon]

my old Kiev has a black area at the top of the frame, but it does not extend 1/4 of the way into the viewfinder. Perhaps 1/12 or 1/16. I'd concur that yours may have come loose and moved down further than its supposed to.

Thats what I thought too. If you look closely at the right hand photo, the black area is visible as well as what looks like tape.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

I've converted one of these for my Bronica S2a, and I agree, either the display has come loose or someone's tried to mask it off internally. It would be much easier to mask the finder externally, so I'm more inclined to believe that the display has come loose.

 

[Phillip P. Dimor]

I have a Kiev meter, mine doesn't have that either. I broke mine
Optically it was awesome. The meter even worked great. It was linear, I calibrated it too. Dead on. Then one day the knob broke off. There's a weak screw which holds the dial together.. Yuck. Just snapped off. I was able to find a replacement screw but I never got it back together properly. It still sort of works but it's very loose..

Just wanted to let you know to be careful..

 

[Trond]

Hello,

Thanks for the advice everyone! I´m going to return it and as for a replacement.

Btw David, I´m actually going to convert mine for use on a S2A, after reading somewhere about you having done a similar conversion. Do have any photos of the base of your prism, just to give me an idea on how you did it?

Thanks,
Trond

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

I don't have any photos handy, and I'm 6000 miles away from my Bronica kit at the moment, but if you remind me in about a month, I can make some photos for you.

I didn't do anything that sophisticated--all with a screwdriver, file, and a Dremel.