RJ-
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- Joined
- May 31, 2004
- Messages
- 122
- Format
- Multi Format
There's a lot going for the Kiev IVa Don.
Mine worked straight out of the shipping box - that was over 14 years ago, and it has never failed.
The shutters remain reliable within tolerances which surpass the Contax IIa/IIIa series. Reskinning required - the rangefinder is crisp and bright. Apart from the duller pig metal style, lacking the finesse of the Contax, its mechanics are exemplary. The Contax IIa perhaps takes more effort to get working. We used to have the Classic Camera Repair Forum which was a stellar resource for tackling self-repairs - notable for its generosity and spirit of an age of bonding between its participants which modern forums fall short of. Perhaps it might take a few hits to get a working Contax IIa with its easily dislodged rangefinder system. The Contax II is my favourite - however its shutter has required repairing twice as the ribbons fail. We are fortunate in the United Kingdom to have skilled repairers from the golden era of the classic camera with the experience to revive these.
The Russian lenses are very typical of their era: surprisingly sharp with good definition and contrast, way better than their monetary drop. The Jupiter 35/2.8 lens with the bulb like rear causes some problems for the later Contax IIa due to its depth, but it works well on the Kiev IVa. Like the other 35mm focal lengths for this rangefinder, it has a rather long throw to infinity from the minimum distance. The Zeiss Opton Biogon 35/2.8 (Germany) is my favourite - it is a true classic high definition lens of its era, perhaps harder to find amidst the Carl Zeiss Jena versions. The Biogon design has a very different rendition from the cult classic Zeiss Opton Biometar 35/2.8 I like its rendition a lot (behaves more like a Planar design) however in practice, the aperture turning requires turning the lens side to inspect its value, in contrast to the Biogon where the aperture scale can be read from the operator side. The cost of the Jupiter 35/2.8 makes it a great low entry foray for starters. If you ever come across an Orthometar, this is more of a curiosity (I've never used it) we'd love to hear more about. Nikkors also work for this focal length.
For the other lenses - the 5cm f1.5 Carl Zeiss Sonnar has a number of iterations (collapsible; pre-war; rigid; post-war; copies; clones; transplanted elements of Jupiter versions into German barrels) and requires more research before setting on a particular one for this focal length. The 5cm f2 is a beautiful lens but sorely lacking compared to the 5cm f1.5 (just my view - I've owned five of these and kept one, compared to the f1.5 versions). The Jupiter 85mm f2 lens which costs less than a 3 pack of Tri-X these days, is just as sharp as the Zeiss Sonnar 82 f2 at a fraction of the cost. If you're prepared to work through getting a working rangefinder body, this trio of lenses is incredibly affordable. We were fortunate too, that the head of Voigtlander/Cosina released a limited run of 21mm f4; 25mm f4 and 35mm f2.5 Voigtlander Skopar lenses in the Contax rangefinder bayonet which mates with the Contax II, IIa, III, IIIa series and all the Kiev copies. The 21mm f4 has a rather appalling performance wide open and requires stopping down significantly. It's not a lens I've kept (compare with the modern Carl Zeiss 21mm f2.8 or f4.5 Biogon T* in ZM mount). It is sharper and more modern than the classic 21mm Biogon f4.5 which is legendary. The Voigtlander 25mm f4 is utterly delightful: the best pancake wide-angle ever and is so thoughtfully designed with the two tone silver and black body and hood; the aperture scale legibility and the focussing wheel smoothness of rotation. Likewise - the Voigtlander 35mm f2.5 Skopar - if you wish for a modern cutting edge lens with flare resistance, this is it.
If you can find a Contax 21mm f4.5 post-war Biogon with its original viewfinder, go for it if the cost is less than the Contax or Kiev rangefinder and 3 lenses above!
Kind regards
RJ
Mine worked straight out of the shipping box - that was over 14 years ago, and it has never failed.
The shutters remain reliable within tolerances which surpass the Contax IIa/IIIa series. Reskinning required - the rangefinder is crisp and bright. Apart from the duller pig metal style, lacking the finesse of the Contax, its mechanics are exemplary. The Contax IIa perhaps takes more effort to get working. We used to have the Classic Camera Repair Forum which was a stellar resource for tackling self-repairs - notable for its generosity and spirit of an age of bonding between its participants which modern forums fall short of. Perhaps it might take a few hits to get a working Contax IIa with its easily dislodged rangefinder system. The Contax II is my favourite - however its shutter has required repairing twice as the ribbons fail. We are fortunate in the United Kingdom to have skilled repairers from the golden era of the classic camera with the experience to revive these.
The Russian lenses are very typical of their era: surprisingly sharp with good definition and contrast, way better than their monetary drop. The Jupiter 35/2.8 lens with the bulb like rear causes some problems for the later Contax IIa due to its depth, but it works well on the Kiev IVa. Like the other 35mm focal lengths for this rangefinder, it has a rather long throw to infinity from the minimum distance. The Zeiss Opton Biogon 35/2.8 (Germany) is my favourite - it is a true classic high definition lens of its era, perhaps harder to find amidst the Carl Zeiss Jena versions. The Biogon design has a very different rendition from the cult classic Zeiss Opton Biometar 35/2.8 I like its rendition a lot (behaves more like a Planar design) however in practice, the aperture turning requires turning the lens side to inspect its value, in contrast to the Biogon where the aperture scale can be read from the operator side. The cost of the Jupiter 35/2.8 makes it a great low entry foray for starters. If you ever come across an Orthometar, this is more of a curiosity (I've never used it) we'd love to hear more about. Nikkors also work for this focal length.
For the other lenses - the 5cm f1.5 Carl Zeiss Sonnar has a number of iterations (collapsible; pre-war; rigid; post-war; copies; clones; transplanted elements of Jupiter versions into German barrels) and requires more research before setting on a particular one for this focal length. The 5cm f2 is a beautiful lens but sorely lacking compared to the 5cm f1.5 (just my view - I've owned five of these and kept one, compared to the f1.5 versions). The Jupiter 85mm f2 lens which costs less than a 3 pack of Tri-X these days, is just as sharp as the Zeiss Sonnar 82 f2 at a fraction of the cost. If you're prepared to work through getting a working rangefinder body, this trio of lenses is incredibly affordable. We were fortunate too, that the head of Voigtlander/Cosina released a limited run of 21mm f4; 25mm f4 and 35mm f2.5 Voigtlander Skopar lenses in the Contax rangefinder bayonet which mates with the Contax II, IIa, III, IIIa series and all the Kiev copies. The 21mm f4 has a rather appalling performance wide open and requires stopping down significantly. It's not a lens I've kept (compare with the modern Carl Zeiss 21mm f2.8 or f4.5 Biogon T* in ZM mount). It is sharper and more modern than the classic 21mm Biogon f4.5 which is legendary. The Voigtlander 25mm f4 is utterly delightful: the best pancake wide-angle ever and is so thoughtfully designed with the two tone silver and black body and hood; the aperture scale legibility and the focussing wheel smoothness of rotation. Likewise - the Voigtlander 35mm f2.5 Skopar - if you wish for a modern cutting edge lens with flare resistance, this is it.
If you can find a Contax 21mm f4.5 post-war Biogon with its original viewfinder, go for it if the cost is less than the Contax or Kiev rangefinder and 3 lenses above!
Kind regards
RJ
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