Kiev Viewfinder/Batteries

[lharby]

Hi there

I recently purchased a Kiev 60 on ebay. I love the thing. I've run through film in the studio using a colleagues light meter, I've also shot at night judging the exposure, and the results seem fine.

However I recently purchsed the necessary batteries for the viewfinder, and I can't get them to work. What's more the manual (transl. from Russian) doesn't really help much. Even if I can get the batteries to work, is the Kiev's metering system reliable?

Can anyone throw any light on this (ar-ar).


Thanks in advance
Luke

 

[Nick Zentena]

IIRC two different vintages of TTL finders exist. The older one I have. and a newer one. The newer one uses modern batteries. The older one needs an adapter.

http://www.araxfoto.com/accessories/battery1/

I personally like the WF better so have never gone to the trouble of getting the TTL meter working. From what I hear it's okay but certainly not the worlds greatest meter.

 

[Dimitri]

Have you looked at the Hartblei site?

http://www.hartblei.com/products/operating_manuals/ttl-60_manual.htm

There is some info on the prism and the battery.

I don't know much about the 60, but the prism of the Kiev88 is also a touch and go situation. I have the newer version (which cannot be calibrated), but I was lucky and it is spot on (but it goes through batteries like there is no tomorrow )

 

[lharby]

Yes, that's the manual I have, the bit about metering borders on the incomprehensible.

I don't mind if the battery adapter/batteries are expesnsive, just that the metering is accurate.

Thanks for your help folks. I shall invest in the adapter.

 

[Nick Zentena]

Make sure you need the adapter. That's only for the older finders taking soviet batteries.

 

[lharby]

Well I've got 3 LR44's in there, and they're rattling around like a skeleton on a corrugated iron roof.

They aint working currently.

 

[Dimitri]

Just use some gaffer tape (or similar) to tape them together (like a larger battery cell). This way they wouldn't rattle in there and it will be easier to get them in and out (I always manage to flip one or two cells when I drop them in and have to start all over again)