Where is Michael Foreman now?
Any thoughts on the Kiev 4a?
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Unfortunately, I don't know; the business and its website suddenly ceased about 12 or so years ago. I've no doubt that Mike Fourman could help a lot with Kiev factory history. For some years now Kiev cameras have been marketed by Arax in Ukraine (an excellent website) but this is run by completely different people.
Neither the original Contax II and III are up to the quality level of the postwar IIa and IIIa. They're a step up in fit and finish, as well as internal quality.
I have two Kiev cameras, none working due to various reasons that have more to do with how well were they cared for.
Also a fully working Contax Ii; i put the rangefinder prism of the 4A, which was remarkably clear, into my Contax Ii.
Based on my Contax, I would say a working Kiev is probably a very good rangefinder: reasonably Quiet, excellent rangefinder patch, and a shutter that always provides uniform, predictable exposure.
My main RF cameras, however, are my Contax IIa and IIIa. They're better in almost every way, most importantly on the lightness and smoothness of the film advance, even though the RF is smaller and they can't mount the Jupiter-12.
Soviet lenses can be great, but IMO to enjoy them you must have a technician check them for correct focus calibration and, in some cases, to correct focal length. There are some soviet lenses out there that will not have a correct infinity calibration.
I had an helios-103 and it was wrongly shimmed for infinity. I corrected that and yes it's an extremely sharp lens. I've since bought another one, and I have blackened the internal surfaces to reduce flare. I also have a late Carl Zeiss Sonnar 50/2 and Triotar 85/4.
When you get a good copy of a Soviet lens, they're just great, at least in terms of rendering.
A quick recap of the easily-available USSR lenses for kiev mount:
Jupiter-12 35/2.8
Jupiter-8 50/2
Jupiter-8M 50/2 (optics recomputed, click stops)
Helios-103 53/1.8
Jupiter-3 50/1.5
Jupiter-9 85/2
Jupiter-11 135/4
Also a fully working Contax Ii; i put the rangefinder prism of the 4A, which was remarkably clear, into my Contax Ii.
Based on my Contax, I would say a working Kiev is probably a very good rangefinder: reasonably Quiet, excellent rangefinder patch, and a shutter that always provides uniform, predictable exposure.
My main RF cameras, however, are my Contax IIa and IIIa. They're better in almost every way, most importantly on the lightness and smoothness of the film advance, even though the RF is smaller and they can't mount the Jupiter-12.
Soviet lenses can be great, but IMO to enjoy them you must have a technician check them for correct focus calibration and, in some cases, to correct focal length. There are some soviet lenses out there that will not have a correct infinity calibration.
I had an helios-103 and it was wrongly shimmed for infinity. I corrected that and yes it's an extremely sharp lens. I've since bought another one, and I have blackened the internal surfaces to reduce flare. I also have a late Carl Zeiss Sonnar 50/2 and Triotar 85/4.
When you get a good copy of a Soviet lens, they're just great, at least in terms of rendering.
A quick recap of the easily-available USSR lenses for kiev mount:
Jupiter-12 35/2.8
Jupiter-8 50/2
Jupiter-8M 50/2 (optics recomputed, click stops)
Helios-103 53/1.8
Jupiter-3 50/1.5
Jupiter-9 85/2
Jupiter-11 135/4
My black paint Kiev 4a was aftermarket. While the camera looked very nice from a distance, the paint was directly applied over the stock chrome finish and so was very delicate to handle. It already was flaking off by the camera back release tabs/keys.
I had one of the same models in chrome way back around 1976-78 and the speed selection knob insisted on slipping and eventually this was traced back to a tiny grub screw holding it in place. Over time this would work loose and slip. This was rectified by a watch maker family friend who drilled and tapped a tiny hole and inserted a 2nd screw diametrically opposite to the original enabling the grip on the speed selector wheel to be gripped very firmly so it never slipped again. I didn't have a problem with the film wind-on which to me it was normal.
The lens was the standard 50mm/F2 and while Russian lenses have a reputation of being variable quality. The one I had was outstanding. I remember when walking along the south bank of the River Thames I took a picture of a ship travelling upstream. In the background about 1/4 mile away was a tall monument which had metal railings at the top, each of the railing bars was clearly defined.
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Yes, it’s hard to be discreet when shooting my shiny chrome 2a with shiny chrome lenses accompanied by shiny chrome lens shades. But when new, they cost almost as much as a Buick.
About 15 years ago a friend of mine sold me his Kiev collection, 4 bodies and a set of Jupiters, 35, 50, 85mm and a Nikon S2 with 5cm 1.4. It gave me some insight on why soviet submarines sank so often. Shutter speeds off, way off, rangefinders off and backfocus of lenses and bodies off. The bodies were from 76-82. It is hard to tell if this was from the factory or due to poor repairs. Later my son bought one off ebay a 57 with a 57 lens a Jupiter 8m and the shutter speeds were close and focus was spot on. The fit and finish was very nice. That's when I decided to buy an older one (54) with a 54 J8. Meter didn't work as expected but again the fit and finish was really nice and shutter speeds were close and focus was spot on. It was a very nice camera and the pictures were as good as anything else I owned. But a shutter ribbon broke and now needs to be repaired. With the crap going on in Russia and Ukraine now I don't want to send it off to be repaired. I could play Ukrainian roulette and buy another one off flea bay because they are a lot of fun to use. I think that the earlier they were made the better they were made and worth having and repaired.
Tbf the Soviet/Russian Navy also simply had a lot more submarines than, for instance, the United States:
Out of 269 overall (counting all classes of nuclear subs) seven were lost (that the public knows of...), so that's is a loss rate of 2.6%.
For the US Navy it's 191 nuclear subs with a loss of three boats (...) which comes down to 1.57%.
The Soviet Union lost more subs but overall not such a crazy difference.
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That matches my experience. My 1955 Kiev 2 appears to work perfectly; my 1971 Kiev 4 has a good shutter but overlaps frames or just plain fails to advance, my 1973 Kiev 4 has a slow shutter, and my 1983 Kiev 4M doesn't work at all. Build quality, (lack of) maintenance, don't know which -- but the Kiev 2 was freshly serviced and film tested and the price reflected that.
The Thresher and Scorpion were the two Nuclear Submarines that the US lost at sea. The USS Miami was a victim of Arson, while in port.
USS Guitarro (SSN-665) - Wikipedia
List of lost United States submarines - Wikipedia
There were two Diesel/Electric Submarines lost due to accidents after WW-II, for a total of four Submarines lost since 1945.
Listed here:
List of lost Russian or Soviet submarines - Wikipedia
A total of 18 Soviet and Russian (after the USSR Collapse) Submarines lost after WW-II.
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I recently picked up a 1972 Kiev 4 that was most likely CLA'd by an expert. Smooth, all speeds accurate. Feels like a Contax II in my hands.
I also have a 1957 Kiev 4- works, meter works, but not as smooth as the newer one.
Like a Contax II or III, a Kiev will work better of you have an expert do a CLA. Sometimes this means they will get rid of rough edges.
I also have a 1957 Kiev 4- works, meter works, but not as smooth as the newer one.
Like a Contax II or III, a Kiev will work better of you have an expert do a CLA. Sometimes this means they will get rid of rough edges.
The Thresher and Scorpion were the two Nuclear Submarines that the US lost.
There were two Diesel/Electric Submarines lost due to accidents after WW-II, for a total of four Submarines lost since 1945.
Listed here:
List of lost Russian or Soviet submarines - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
A total of 18 Soviet and Russian (after the USSR Collapse) Submarines lost after WW-II.
Admittedly, I simplified by comparing nuclear subs because of the implication of technical failure.
Now, of all the diesel/electric subs lost, only two were due to technical failure, while two nuclear subs were lost due to human error, so it actually evens out.
While you're all here talking about the 4/4a, may I ask you to check the take-up spool clutch and tell me if spring, part number 8.383.012 is present on the take-up clutch? I'm missing that spring, and I can't tension the clutch correctly: I get film jams after around 25 frames. I've been told that the spring is missing on later models, but I'm not sure I believe that.
I haven't disassembled mine, but slipping advance clutch is what's wrong with the transport in my Kiev 4 with a good shutter.
I can vouch that the film spool advance spindle has a lot of tiny parts: lots of washers, spring, etc. And on a Contax and a Kiev 4A i disassembled, it was completely dirty, grungy, you name it.
A full disassemble is important for getting smooth operation.
I can't imagine this assembly working without a spring. It needs friction (it requires some slip) thus, i guess, it MUST require a spring to work correctly.
Latest models (i.e. 4AM) have a fixed spool so maybe the slip is provided in a different way.
I picked one up today in sexy black and the even rarer Olympic model, built like a female Russian gold medalist.....except the focus is jammed, should be an easy fix.
OP
OP
Very nice! I presume this is a factory black camera? Pretty rare. What year was it manufactured?
Not sure if it is factory black (pretty unlikely) but still, Olympic versions on the Kiev 4 are rare. Look really cool.
Definitely factory, pretty sure they were made for the KGB to spy on the Yankees during the games, but as they were a no show they never got used.
The lens and camera serial numbers start with 78, is that how you tell?
Got the focus working with out even taking it apart, all seems to work good.......might even not have any light leaks.
Comes with a stylish camera case...not bad for $75 AUD
Already have a J12 with finder and an early 50's J8, dont have an use for a longer lens.
OP
OP
78=1978, just like mine. AU$75 is a great deal.
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