Kiev/Contax Question

loman · Jun 4, 2007

Hello Everybody.
I used to own a Kiev 2a which I really liked. Now I'm thinking of getting a kiev 2 or maybe a contax II.
My question is on my kiev 2a, the shutter speed selector was very smooth when you turned it counter clockwise but quite stiff when you turned it clockwise.
Is this normal for the contax/kiev?

Thanks for your answers
Best Regards
Mads Hartmann

Peter Black · Jun 5, 2007

Hi Mads

I think the answer is that you should always turn it counter clockwise. It is listed on the site below as an "interesting quirk" on the Kiev 4.

http://www.photoethnography.com/ClassicCameras/index-frameset.html?Kiev4a.html~mainFrame

40oz · Jun 6, 2007

please disregard the above post, it is obviously not from a Contax/Kiev user :/ The linked site is handy for pictures and occasional knowledge, but the page on the Kiev is a bit inaccurate.

When you turn the shutter speed selector to the slower speeds, you are winding the mechanism. So the "stiffness" is natural. When you turn it to the faster speeds, the mechanism is essentially unwinding, so there is very little resistance. The slower speeds are to clockwise, the faster to counter-clockwise, so yes, it's normal for these cameras.

loman · Jun 6, 2007

I thought that was it.
Thanks for the answer!
Best Regards
Mads

Mike Kovacs · Jun 8, 2007

40oz said:
please disregard the above post, it is obviously not from a Contax/Kiev user :/

x2

If you want the ultimate super smooth wind and shutter speed changing mechanism, consider a Contax IIA instead. Still, I find myself liking the viewfinder and larger rangefinder patch on the Contax II.

loman · Jun 8, 2007

What really struck me about the kiev 2a that I used to have, was how precise the viewfinder was. I remember framing something in the lower left corner of a picture, which was about 1.5 meters away, and forgetting to compesate a little for the paralax effect, and to my great surprise it showed up exactly (99% give or take) as I framed it. The only problem I had with the camera, was that the viewfinder was rather dim, I found out that this is commen to the kiev/contax and was specific to my camera. Still though, you got use to it.

Mike Kovacs · Jun 9, 2007

Yes it is dim. Keep in mind that the Contax II it is a copy of is a 1935 design.

loman · Jun 10, 2007

Yes I know.
Is the IIa just as dim?

40oz · Jun 16, 2007

my 4 and 4a aren't too bad. If you let the windows get dirty, they can be very dim, but cleaning works well.

Kiev/Contax Question

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