Kiev 4

[Krzys]

I got the Kiev 4. Everything is sound except I noticed that the pressure plate is not flat. Is this as big a problem as I think it is?

 

[Xmas]

You are going to have to try a test (i'd suggest C41) film anyway so try and straighten it if it is really bad, otherwise try it anyway, it may work ok.

Typically you will get light leaks and torn sprocket holes, so the plate may be least of worries. If you were nearer than Aus I could send you a plate. Someone nearer must have spares to hand.

After you fix and they are real easy to fix, they are real good.

Noel

 

[Krzys]

Thank you. The Kiev 4 also does not have any frame lines in the viewfinder. Does anyone know if I should just compose with the whole window?

 

[Xmas]

Thank you. The Kiev 4 also does not have any frame lines in the viewfinder. Does anyone know if I should just compose with the whole window?

Yes the whole window is near to 5cm lens field of view but there is no parrallex correction.

Noel

 

[FM2N]

Just started using the one i picked up on the bay. Nicecamera. Speeds seemed a little off but after firing the shutter more times than I can count it seemd to be in the ball park.

 

[Xmas]

The shutters are normally ok except they can snap ribbons. The ribbons are abraded every time you wind on.

Noel

 

[BlueWind]

Lenses (in)compatibility

...Regarding the lenses, beware of the Helios-103! Bayonet design and/or tolerance changed slightly along the years and it can be very difficult (understand almost impossible) to fit to an older camera. It is a matter of millimeter but it is enough to create a mess. So, recent camera = recent lens, older camera = older lens, to play it safe! ...QUOTE]

I second this advice! I use a "new" Kiev-4AM which accepts a Jupiter-8, a Jupiter-12 and a Menopta (Helios-103) with fine results. The older Kiev-4 only accepts an old Jupiter-8 lens... so be careful when buying lenses.
Use your Kiev, you will enjoy it
Regards
Joao

 

[Xmas]

There are interchangeability problems with the J12 and the Helius.

The J12 may fail to focus easily on any camera, from Contax II to late Kiev, Nikon wide angles, CV wide angles, and Contax wide angles are more generally compatible, dont think the Ukranians worried too much.

If you really want to use a J12 and many are ok optically, then there are lots of things you might need to do.

Noel

 

[paradoxbox]

I recently traded in a few of my unused Nikon lenses for a Kiev 4 in good condition with a Helios 103 lens.

I love the camera itself. It's a really nice unit to use and the weight seems to be just right. When I use this camera it gives me confidence to handhold even at extremely slow shutter speeds.

At first I did not like the focusing wheel either but I think that is just a habit people have from using SLR's all their lives. I got used to the focus wheel quickly and now I use it exclusively to focus unless I need to rack focus from infinity to minimum focus distance in a hurry.

I haven't developed my film rolls from it yet but I'm expecting they'll look great since the rest of the camera is in good shape.

One thing I don't like is how loose the lens is, it rattles around and needs new grease packed into it to stop that. I'm considering doing that myself but it doesn't really negatively affect the camera's performance, it still focuses fine especially when just using the focus wheel.

The best thing about it: No batteries! Just yesterday I was with a friend photographing in a trendy area. Her SLR's little coin sized batteries bit the dust! I just kept snapping away with my manual powered Kiev 4.

Fantastic camera so far

 

[Krzys]

I don't like the tiny viewfinder with no frame lines. Since im used to frame lines I tend to compose everything in the center with the Kiev and forget parallax...Other than that it is great. I don't touch the focusing wheel and just turn the barrel - its annoying that it buzzes but its quiet enough in public. This camera does indeed give you confidence at slow speeds.

 

[paradoxbox]

I don't mind the viewfinder - it's not that far off from what the current consumer dslr's are sporting, though the pro models like my old d2x are better, and the latest incarnations are even better..!

my camera's RF patch is very bright though and I have no trouble focusing even at night. The super wide base makes very sharp focusing a breeze. Not sure what you mean by buzzing, do you mean during focusing? If so, something's wrong with your camera. Mine is dead silent.

When using the shutter at reasonable (normal) speeds it's very quiet. Like someone turning the page of a book in a library quiet. I snapped a pic of some senior citizens cutting some shrubs about 15 feet away from me. They were looking right toward me and they had no idea I'd just taken their pic.

Really great camera. I haven't figured out the self timer yet though don't think I will ever use it.

 

[Krzys]

When I turn the barrel of the lens fast the little focusing wheel will move and the sound of the gears is audible.

 

[Splin]

I have one and two of my film shooting buddies have as well. I haven't used it, my pals aint using it as well anymore. Although picture quality is stellar and leaves nothing to desired, it is a one very unreliable equipment. They break down consistently, time to time it did like to shred film apart as well. It is fun though, unless getting pictures is upper most important. I am sure there are people who have different kind of experiences with this camera, you may be very well one of those.

 

[Xmas]

One thing I don't like is how loose the lens is, it rattles around and needs new grease packed into it to stop that.

The focus threads (Helicod) work best dry, but will then have some slack, i.e. rattle.

The 5cm lens should be tight on the inner bayonet lugs, carefully bend the lenses 'springs', until there is no rattle, with very small screw driver. The springs pull the lens down onto the registration plane.

The Kievs have a tendancy to leak light, and to have uneven spacing or even to tear film sproket holes. Leakage needs a strip, torn sproket holes should be addressable in situ, ignore uneven spacing.

There is a Kiev maintenance site it is your friend.

Noel

 

[Erik Petersson]

Hi,
I have a problem with the uneven spacing, a lot of overlapping occurs. Do you have a link to the maintenance site?
Erik

 

[Xmas]

Hi,
I have a problem with the uneven spacing, a lot of overlapping occurs. Do you have a link to the maintenance site?
Erik

Yes

http://www3.telus.net/public/rpnchbck/index.html

But the first step is simple and may make some improvement, use a darning needle, with a drip of fine oil, to lube the take up spool clutch.

The oil needs to go just outside the coaxial screw in the take up fork, but stay inside the fork assembly piece, as the slipping clutch that controls the tension of the film on the take up spool is just under the coaxial screw. The clutch should slip resonably easily.

Keep the camera upside down and slip the clutch to work the oil unto the clutch surfaces, hold the forks between finger and thumb and rotate, with the camera wound on, it should not hurt your fingers...

This may improve the spacing a little, but it wont be like a leica (or clone), the Contax II and III have the same design problem, it is not helped by lack of maintenance and/or lack of use.

If it is not ripping sprocket holes you are not too bad, you may have to live with that, sorry.

Noel
P.S. I do use mine.

 

[michaelbsc]

I hear that you can easily make one from the spool inside a 35mm canister, or feed your film into a 2nd canister and use two.

This works fine. What I did was open an old cartridge to steal the spool, and also keep one of the ends of the cartridge to use as a spacer for the bottom of the spool in the camera. It will be obvious when you haveit apart thinking -wow, this is going to flop around - where to put the spacer.

You may have to get creative in how to put the film into the homemade spool. Depending on the film type the slot may not be where you expect on the spool. The spools, after all, aren't designed to be used this way.

As for the camera, mine is superb. Watch the bay for lens bargains. Some of the folks are completely unreasonable in their expectations. The Russian glass is excellent if in good shape, but there's no way it's worth as much as some folks think it is.

 

[Xmas]

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

Try Ricks site...

 

[Krzys]

Is anyone else here loving their Kiev but tempted to hack out the plastic around the squinty viewfinder port so they can see the rangefinder patch easily, then just use an axillary finder for framing? Would this work. I hate how tiny the port is for the viewfinder.

 

[gmolzahn]

I use mine as is and just put up with the quirks. Pictures are sharp and contrasty. You get used to the squinty viewfinder with time. This thread has inspired me to get mine out and burn some TRI-X through it. Enjoy yours!

 

[Xmas]

Is anyone else here loving their Kiev but tempted to hack out the plastic around the squinty viewfinder port so they can see the rangefinder patch easily, then just use an axillary finder for framing? Would this work. I hate how tiny the port is for the viewfinder.

The small rear glass has the two similarly sizes eyepiece lenses immediately in front of it.

You would need to replace all three.

The problem is the chassis of the camera just clears the eyepiece lenses, and if you milled the chassis you would be close to the cassette chamber. I'll look again but I dont think it is practical. The result is the Kiev is not easy to use in poor light, and yes I normally use an external view finder.

The Contax II was a Leica III contemporary, the Kiev (a rebadge) is still in the past.

Noel

 

[highliner]

like many russian cams, these machines suffer for two main problem:

1- poor quality control, since the demand is constant ant the material is precious, its better to sell (actually give) the faulty items to customers than trow it as spare in soviet mentality,

2- the material: the lack of chrome affected the earlier model since their parts were not strong enough. the gears mosty cracked during operations. the later model is a bit storng but the quality control always matters.

I have a kiev 4-am which is produced '88 I think (from the serial), it is a decent one, with all proper functions and a clear lens. But having many practices with zenit etc. it doesn't feels like a rollei 35s or contax or even prakticas!, it feels like zenit, may be broken just a few years. cant trust russians.

overall, not ergonomic cam but having a good optics. I can send you examples that I scanned with fp4 plus.

 

[Xmas]

Hi Highliner

A 4AM will work ok but the finish is poor compared to the Contax II or an early Kiev, the early Kievs are so nice they are appreciating in price and nice ones can fetch more than a Contax II in similar condition!

The Contax II had its own problems e.g. with chrome plate finish dissappearing, especially on cameras manufactured during WWII.

A Kiev given lots of use will wear gears and bushes but I've not seen one damage gears from material problems, yet. The early ones are close to Contax clones in every way, apart from minor omissions by the Russian engineers, who seem to have been trained to simplify things on T34 tanks.

Most suffer from lack of maintenance or unskilled maintenance.

Unless you are willing to maintain yourself a Contax II or Kiev are not really practical, unless you adopt if it breaks I'll buy another approach.

Noel

 

[lapzod]

I stumbled across a review for a Kiev 4, and decided that I wanted one, and found this thread highly valuable!

Now to go and buy one

 

[T42]

This works fine. What I did was open an old cartridge to steal the spool, and also keep one of the ends of the cartridge to use as a spacer for the bottom of the spool in the camera. It will be obvious when you haveit apart thinking -wow, this is going to flop around - where to put the spacer.

You may have to get creative in how to put the film into the homemade spool. Depending on the film type the slot may not be where you expect on the spool. The spools, after all, aren't designed to be used this way.

Hello Michael.

My 1969 Kiev 4a came from Ukraine in October 2001. Without a spool. I did the same as you, except I allowed for that cartridge end/washer to spin freely. I cut a 24mm slot in the spool with a Dremel tool. That cartridge end spacer does get rid of the wobble and makes loading a lot easier, doesn't it?

Here is the link to Rick's site in that respect:
http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/kievspool.jpg

I also found Rick's site useful when I needed to replace a ribbon about a year after the camera arrived.
http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-29.html

To stop the viewfinder window from scratching my glasses I just punched a 1/4 inch hole in some black electrical tape, and taped over the window. Then I trimmed around the knurled rim which would have otherwise scratched my glasses.

To help in viewing in low light, I added a Voigtlander Kontur "finder." I put that in quotes because the Kontur has no view. It just adds framelines. The other eye sees the subject. The mind combines the two. Unusual, but it works in any light, and one can see the entire frame area with no difficulty.

Regards,