KIEV 4 ISO and Aperture knob stops turning half way through

[jusxusfanatic]

So yea, the not sure which is which but on the left side, the outer knob stops turning when it reaches till like the middle between 10 and 25. The second layer just doesn't even turn... Can someone help me? Or does the aperture and the ISO not matter on a RF camera? Thanks!!

 

[Michael Guzzi]

Welcome to APUG!

This is the Kiev with built-in light meter (meterless is Kiev 4A - love mine except for the squinty VF). It won't affect your picture-taking, but you will not be able to use the light meter to arrive at a adequate exposure for the scene, you will have to rely on "sunny 16" or an external light meter.

Maybe someone tampered with it and assembled it incorrectly? It can certainly happen with the shutter speed selector on the right knob.

The aperture control that really matters on these is on the front of the lens itself.

Here's a manual for the Kiev 4:

http://www.butkus.org/chinon/russian/kiev-4/kiev-4_kiev-4a.pdf

 

[jusxusfanatic]

Welcome to APUG!

This is the Kiev with built-in light meter (meterless is Kiev 4A - love mine except for the squinty VF). It won't affect your picture-taking, but you will not be able to use the light meter to arrive at a adequate exposure for the scene, you will have to rely on "sunny 16" or an external light meter.

Maybe someone tampered with it and assembled it incorrectly? It can certainly happen with the shutter speed selector on the right knob.

The aperture control that really matters on these is on the front of the lens itself.

Here's a manual for the Kiev 4:

http://www.butkus.org/chinon/russian/kiev-4/kiev-4_kiev-4a.pdf

Thanks mate!!!

 

[jusxusfanatic]

Welcome to APUG!

This is the Kiev with built-in light meter (meterless is Kiev 4A - love mine except for the squinty VF). It won't affect your picture-taking, but you will not be able to use the light meter to arrive at a adequate exposure for the scene, you will have to rely on "sunny 16" or an external light meter.
Maybe someone tampered with it and assembled it incorrectly? It can certainly happen with the shutter speed selector on the right knob.

The aperture control that really matters on these is on the front of the lens itself.

Here's a manual for the Kiev 4:

http://www.butkus.org/chinon/russian/kiev-4/kiev-4_kiev-4a.pdf

Btw, what's that button to do with the shutter speed selector on the right knob? Because I messed around with it lol

 

[jusxusfanatic]

Ahh one more question if you don't mind

The shutter speed knob on the right doesn't wanna turn after it reaches like 1/125, I've turned the knob till it stops turning then I lifted up the knob to adjust the shutter speed

 

[BMbikerider]

It is a while since I owned one of these, but a similar problem as I recall was due to several tiny screws holding the wind-on knob/shutter speed dial in place had come loose and things had got out of sync. It took a trip to a repairer to get the shutter speeds back in sequence again.

 

[Michael Guzzi]

There are exactly 8 screws on the shutter speed selector dial knob. 3 hold the "cover", 3 more hold the part that can get out of synchronization, and 2 hold the base where all the parts of this knob mount on to the top casting. They are rather tiny indeed. Make sure you get some good screwdrivers to work here, especially since the soviet steel (if it is really steel) seems soft.

The meter is completely uncoupled from the shutter winding and film advance knob. Have you messed with the speed selector/film advance knob? It's not hard to put it back to where it belongs, at most it will require a bit of trial and error. I have no experience disassembling the meter controls as I own the meterless version.

Does the knob moves beyond the "B" mark when you raise it to adjust the shutter speed? That is a surefire way to know it is assembled incorrectly.

And always, always cock the shutter before trying to change shutter speeds. Failure to do so may damage the internal mechanisms.

This site has basic info on the disassembly of the Kiev 4, I am posting a link to the page that most likely interests you:

http://www3.telus.net/public/rpnchbck/the basics top casting removal.html

But only proceed if you are comfortable with messing with tiny screws and the like.

Some people make it sound like there are a a gazillion pieces inside this thing - which is not the case indeed. I almost completely disassembled mine for a quasi-CLA, runs pretty good now. Even I was amazed, considering the fit and finish is quite lacking, and mine being a 1964 example, probably sitting neglected for the past 30 years or so.

 

[jusxusfanatic]

There are exactly 8 screws on the shutter speed selector dial knob. 3 hold the "cover", 3 more hold the part that can get out of synchronization, and 2 hold the base where all the parts of this knob mount on to the top casting. They are rather tiny indeed. Make sure you get some good screwdrivers to work here, especially since the soviet steel (if it is really steel) seems soft.

The meter is completely uncoupled from the shutter winding and film advance knob. Have you messed with the speed selector/film advance knob? It's not hard to put it back to where it belongs, at most it will require a bit of trial and error. I have no experience disassembling the meter controls as I own the meterless version.

Does the knob moves beyond the "B" mark when you raise it to adjust the shutter speed? That is a surefire way to know it is assembled incorrectly.

And always, always cock the shutter before trying to change shutter speeds. Failure to do so may damage the internal mechanisms.

This site has basic info on the disassembly of the Kiev 4, I am posting a link to the page that most likely interests you:

http://www3.telus.net/public/rpnchbck/the basics top casting removal.html

But only proceed if you are comfortable with messing with tiny screws and the like.

Some people make it sound like there are a a gazillion pieces inside this thing - which is not the case indeed. I almost completely disassembled mine for a quasi-CLA, runs pretty good now. Even I was amazed, considering the fit and finish is quite lacking, and mine being a 1964 example, probably sitting neglected for the past 30 years or so.

Alright thanks! The knob doesn't move beyond the "B mark".

 

[jusxusfanatic]

Also, how many times do I turn the right knob till I adjust the shutter speed?

 

[Michael Guzzi]

You should turn it till it locks. it is a very positive lock. This actually varies with the speed selected previously; with the slower speeds it is noticeably longer.

 

[jusxusfanatic]

You should turn it till it locks. it is a very positive lock. This actually varies with the speed selected previously; with the slower speeds it is noticeably longer.

That's what I though! Thanks

 

[jusxusfanatic]

One last question, how do I determine the shutter speed? The light meter on my KIEV is kinda broken lol.

Also, the ISO knob (outer left knob) only turns up to the middle between 10 and 25. Do I have to disassemble it to repair it or what? Thanks~

 

[Michael Guzzi]

From the way you describe it, the meter controls on the left knob have been messed with. I have no experience fiddling with these, but I would expect it to be harder to fix. You would need basic knowledge of electronics as well.

As it is, you will need an external light meter, or "sunny 16" rule. There are a few smartphone light meter apps out there, though I suspect they are less reliable than "the real deal".

 

[jusxusfanatic]

From the way you describe it, the meter controls on the left knob have been messed with. I have no experience fiddling with these, but I would expect it to be harder to fix. You would need basic knowledge of electronics as well.

As it is, you will need an external light meter, or "sunny 16" rule. There are a few smartphone light meter apps out there, though I suspect they are less reliable than "the real deal".

Yea, might have to take it to someone and let them fix it. Thanks btw!