Anyone familiar with Kiev 35mm cameras?

[f/16]

I'm interested in getting a Soviet/Russian/Ukranian 35mm body and at least 1 lens, particularly the Kiev brand. Which models are most reliable if any lol? I know the Kiev 60 MF is not known for being reliable and dependable. I won't be using it much, but I would like it to be functional. I don't even care if the meter works, as long as the shutter is working. Which models have mechanical shutters that are not battery dependent? I know some models take batteries that are no longer readily available. As far as lens mount, it doesn't matter-M42, Kiev 10/15, or Nikon mount is fine.

 

[OptiKen]

I have (2) Kiev 4A's and find them a joy to use. A number of pics in my gallery are taken with them, especially the last group posted today.
No batteries anywhere and Russian lenses can be very sharp.

 

[Fotoguy20d]

Decide which mount and which ergonomics you like and go from there. I have a Zorki 1 which is a Leica IIIB copy. I also have a Kice 4 which is a Contax 2 copy. I can't stand the ergonomics of those. The Zorki doesn't have great fit and finish but it works well- don't expect Leica buttery smoothness and quietness. Kievs are prone to light leaks.

Dan

 

[Gerald C Koch]

I have 2 Kievs and find the Contax wheel focusing method a pain in the ass to use. I also have a number of other Russian cameras and lenses. In general Russian cameras and lenses can be a bit rough in manufacture. Their quality is also all over the map. My recommendation would be a Bessa-R with an Industar-61LD 50mm lens.

 

[f/16]

I forgot to mention I want a 35mm SLR not rangefinder.

 

[Fotoguy20d]

Try a Zenit-S (or C maybe - Im not sure which). It's a Zorki I (so Leica IIIB) that they grafted a mirror box to. It uses a special variant lens to accommodate the extra length of the body so the normal Industar 22 or Jupiter 8 wont work. I have one - I think its a pretty cool looking camera, and it still feels like an LTM camera.

 

[Sewin]

I forgot to mention I want a 35mm SLR not rangefinder.

Also look at the Zenit 3 and 3M.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

I forgot to mention I want a 35mm SLR not rangefinder.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiev_(brand) :

• The Kiev 10, which was among the first 35mm SLRs with automatic exposure.
• The Kiev 15, a successor to the Kiev 10.
• The Kiev 17, desirable due to its Nikon mount. Full manual without meter.
• The Kiev 19, which is partly restyled successor to the 17. Stop-down TTL-metering with red light-balance LEDs in Viewfinder. Top speed reduced from 1/1000 to 1/500.
• The Kiev 20, which adds aperture coupling and a self-timer to the 19 design. 1/1000 top speed.
• The Kiev 19m, which uses a molded polycarbonate body rather than the metal used in earlier models. Despite its model number, it succeeds the Kiev 20. Same top speed as the plain 19, though.

 

[f/16]

Thanks. Does the Kiev 15 have a mechanical or electronic shutter? It's supposed to be a semi auto exposure, so I assume electronic??? And what about the Kiev 19-mech or elec? I can't find owner's manuals for these 2 models online-can anyone help with that?

 

[kobaltus]

Kiev 19 has mechanical shutter. Very robust construction. Sounds and look like it was constructed by M. Kalashnikov. Othervise these cameras are fragile. Best to avoid it.

 

[cuthbert]

Thanks. Does the Kiev 15 have a mechanical or electronic shutter? It's supposed to be a semi auto exposure, so I assume electronic??? And what about the Kiev 19-mech or elec? I can't find owner's manuals for these 2 models online-can anyone help with that?

Old post, however I'm the more or less happy owner of two Kiev 15s and one and half Kiev 17.

The 15s are shutter priority cameras, you can't change the aperture manually on their lenses, they are couple with the lightmeter and with a complex leverage the camera decides the correct aperture...I still have to develop the results but what I can say is that the manual is just in Russian, the logic of the multi-function dial still escapes me, these cameras are very complex and a little hard to understand, they seem to be designed on another planet.

The 17 is simple, as simple as gets: it's a meterless SLR with a vertical travelling shutter, speed dial in the front, a shutter release and a nice advance level: I bought the first but there was something broken inside (it shook) so I bought another one as body replacement. The lens (Helios 81) is nice, and all the lense developed for the 17 work on Nikons as well. If you want a meterless SLR the 17 is a good candidate...oh usually they smell of tank oil: they were produced in the Kiev Arsenal along with the optic equipment for the T64s and T80s.

The metered 17 is the 20, a rare camera which fetches too much money for my taste and for the taste of the average Soviet citizen as well, I think 600 rubles in the early 80s. It was discontinued soon and replaced by the cheaper and more successfull 19 that was also exported outside SU. I don't have experience with it but I've seen the max shutter speed is 1/500 instead of 1/1000 as the other Kievs.

All my Kiev are heavy cameras, big and clunky, but sturdy, they were considered the best quality cameras produced in the SU, in terms of features the 20 is comparable to a Pentax KM or a Canon FTb.