So I want to buy a Kiev

[cp_ste.croix]

And i was wondering if people had advice about which model to get as well as lens suggestions?

Which is the most reliable/hardy? Gandy has written that the earlier ones were superior to the later ones, how can I tell which is which when I go to buy?

Any and all advice will be greatly appreciated as I begin my foray into interchangeable lens rf photography.

ps. I've looked through the forum on sellers and will take that into consideration as well...thanks!

[thpook]

Kievs have the year of manufacture in their serial numbers (the first 2 numbers).

Kiev 2/3s will most likely run you a bit more money than a kiev 4.

[rover]

When I looked I was trying to find a Kiev from the late 70s with top shutter speed of 1/1000 not 1/1250. I don't know if any are better than others. Perhaps a better statement is that you can find a very good individual camera, or a dog due to inconsistent QC in the Kiev factory.

[taffer]

Your best bet is trying to get one that you know is working and has been real tested. Even then sometimes you may run into trouble with them, so another thing to look for is a refund option...

Sellers like Fedka or Oleg will give you that, many fellows here will do the same :) As for some generations working better than others... Common agreement is older models from the 50s and early 60s are better, my experience is you can find a dog no matter its production year. I had a 1981 4am (the worst year according to some) that nonetheless worked like a charm, it's on its way to an RFF gentleman from Canada as I write :)

That said, the most 'Contax-like' experience should come from an early 50s model.

[FrankS]

I have a 1959 Kiev 4a and would recommend that model. The first 2 digits of the serial number indicate the year of production. A Kiev from the 60's will be better built than a model from the 70's or 80's. I did have an 80's Kiev 4am model and there was a tactile difference in smoothness of operation in the samples that I handled.

[RML]

Post a WTB notice here on RFF.

I did and got a reaaaally nice Kiev 4AM from JoeFriday for a more than reasonable price.

[JoeFriday]

glad you like it, Remy.. I've got another 4a, but I doubt I'll sell it since it's now the rear cap for a Jupiter-12.. I'm still only halfway through the first roll of film with the J12 but it's a lot of fun with the separate viewfinder

and I agree with taffer and Frank that the earlier models are the most 'authentic' experience.. the mid 60s are still good and a lot easier to find

[JoeFriday]

the standard lens is either the Jupiter 8 or the Helios.. both are very good.. I'd say just start with whatever the body comes with.. if you're not satisfied with the results, it's probably not the lens at fault, anyway

keep in mind that the Kievs don't have framelines.. the entire viewfinder is a close approximation of 50mm

[RayPA]

Hi Chris,

I've got a '73 Kiev, with a Jupiter 8 and a case. I've used it once. It works. Seems like it's in pretty good condition. I'm just not an FSU kina of guy. I can probably get it to you (shipped) for around $50-$60. I've not shipped international before, but I *think* FedEx ground can get it there for around $15-$20. PM me if you're interested.

:)

:)

[cp_ste.croix]

thanks everyone...another question, if there are no framelines, then are external finders necessary for the 80mm and the wider stuff? I hate external finders, necessity though they may be.

i think I don want something from the 50's, as the reason i am getting a kiev is because i can't afford a contax...unless someone wants to part with one for a song ;)

[VinceC]

I have a Kiev 2 from 1957. Kind of a pain to use with eyeglasses because the viewfinder scratches them.

All lenses other than the 50mm require an external viewfinder (though you can kind of eyeball a 135 using the gold focusing patch). External finders are pretty easy to use with wide angles, pretty much a pain with telephotos. Also, quality of FSU external finders is spotty. I have a 35mm finder and 85mm finder, and both are crooked.

Also, I once had a 1973 Kiev that was mechanically very sound, but the 50mm f/2 lens had pretty poor characteristics -- poor resolution and kind of a grainy aspect. The 1957 f/2 lens is fantastic.

[wlewisiii]

If you really need framelines, you can always look for a 72 - 74 Kiev 5. It has a very nice finder with framelines for 50 & 85. The whole finder just about covers 35 and, as Vince mentions, with a bit of practice you can use the rf patch for 135.

Other than that, the real key is to find a good vendor & establish a good working relationship. I prefer http://www.fedka.com/catalog/ myself because of his warrenty, customer service and quality of the cameras he sells.

For example, I have a '77 4a that came with a J8. I had origionally ordered a later 4am, but he checks all the cameras before sending them out and he decided the only 4am he had instock wasn't good enough to ship. So he sent me a more expensive 4a instead. It has worked very well for me.

William

[xayraa33]

I would not put a lot of emphasis on the year of manufacture of a Kiev rf. remember, if a so called good year Kiev ,is not well maintained with a CLA, shutter ribbons etc, it is still poorer camera to a Kiev that has been well looked after. I really like Kievs, in fact I do most of my street photography with Kievs and to a lesser extent , with Zorkis, I guess I am an FSU kind of guy. Kievs really grow on you. I would not worry too much about the finder, Kievs are really 1930s style cameras(expt .the Kiev 5), & they have better finders than most LTM Leicas. If the finder is super important, & it has to be bright, & affordable, I would look at a Cosina Voigtlander.

[kiev4a]

The Kievs from the 1950s and 1960s are better built if you can find one in good mechanical shape. The finish is better and they are smoother operating. It seems like the quality went downhill from the 1970s on. That's not to say there aren't prefectly good examples made during that period. They just don't have the same feel. I agree with Frank that 1959 would be a good year

[JasonC]

I have a Kiev 3a from the 50s and a Kiev 4a from the 60s. The 3a has a very different feel than the 4a. The 3a feels like a pre-war Contax and yes I have Contax bodies too. After owning a couple of Kievs, you will start looking for Contaxes. :D Another good seller is cupog on eBay. He serviced all the cameras he sells. I have quite a few transactions with him and can highly recommend him. In fact, cupog has a Kiev 4 listed right now.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Kiev-4-type-2-Contax-mount-Russian-rangefinder_W0QQitemZ7549446805QQcategoryZ30099QQc mdZViewItem

Jason.

[CZeni]

I have a '55 Kiev 2 (no flash sync) and a '79 Kiev 4a - the older camera is built noticably better and functions more smoothly. The finders are both squinty little thinks though... :)

[Uncle Bill]

I have a Kiev III that came from Oleg and I can vouch for his work. The advantage of buying the earlier Kievs is they were made by the Zeiss Ikon trained workers. After the early 1970's its a more hit or miss game.

Bill

[ErnestoJL]

Mine is a K4 from ´66, and since I bought it 25 years ago, never failed. The lens is superb (J8). I handed other Kievs fron the ´70s and feeling is not the same... would I say crude?

[varjag]

I would agree that 1950s-60s Kievs tend to be smoother in general. I handled a 1962 Kiev-4, it was *really* smooth compared to 1976 4A that I use now. Mind you, the latter ain't any crude, but you need to compare to get an idea. With the 4 I had to bring the thing to my ear when testing shutter speeds, because I hardly could hear or feel *anything* even at 1/50 at slower.

I stuck with 4A though, as I just can't stand the ugly meter atop.

[cp_ste.croix]

thanks for all the opinions/advice everyone...anyone here have a early model Kiev they want to get rid of?

[rbiemer]

Chris,
I've got two (a '67 4a and a '68 4) Kievs now and another on they way. :rolleyes: I was surprised at how small the meter "box" really is. In pictures it seems very ungainly but when I got the K4(metered), I was pleasantly surprised. And the meter is close enough for print film. Another seller that I have heard/read good things about is SOVIET CAMERA STORE (http://www.sovietcamera.com.ua/products/35/kiev35.shtml) . When I was spending time at the Kiev Report, he was well regarded there. His shipping is still reasonable--$15 world wide for a Kiev2 I just looked at, he offers a warranty on most of the gaer he sells and states in each iitem description the time period is.
Two questions I would ask any seller are: Is a take up spool included? and Are the threads on the front of the lens OK?
I wear glasses and soon learned to cut a small peice of elctrical tape to cover the bezel around the viewfinder. It's not the most elegant solution but it works. I was rubber cementing a small O-ring but the rings wouldn't stay on very well and I didn't want to use a more permanent glue.
Let us know what you decide on and have fun!
Rob