Just bought a Kiev 4AM on E*bay

[tedwhite]

Auction #260084890608. Looks OK and seller has a good record. What do you folks think?

Question: Can you use regular cassettes or am I getting into something weird?

ted

[captainslack]

Kiev's are fun cameras. You'll like it. Just beware of the "Contax grip" ;)

[tedwhite]

The "grip." Yeah, I can see the problem. I'll begin practicing right-hand finger dexterity and start holding beer glasses with a weird, claw-like grip.

Ted

[Xmas]

Ted
The am is like a normal camera it has a fixed take up spool, the only thing strange about the cassettes is it will accept Contax or Kiev non velvet light trap ones if you are into loading from bulk.
Noel

[jan normandale]

Ted, it looks like a straight ahead 4 am.. it will take regular film in standard metal cannisters supplied at all stores. You don't need any film loading eq't or special cannisters for that camera model.

[abumac]

Looks great. Congrats. If you need a ever-ready-case. I have one in black for 15 dollars. I have bought it for an R-D1, which finaly I have canceled. Send me a privat. Greetings.

[tedwhite]

Abumac:

Thanks for the offer, but this Kiev comes with one, and in cyrillic at that. I never use cases anyway, by the time you get the camera out of its case the assassination's over with.

Ted

[rbiemer]

Hey, how come you get the
Extra sharp F2 Jupiter Lens?
Dang it! I just got the regular Jupiters with mine. :D
Looks pretty good, Ted!
Rob

[tedwhite]

Well, we all know the "extra sharp" Jupiters were made secretly under contract in the Leica factory.

TW

[mike goldberg]

Ted, how do I have a look at the K4am you just bought?
Where do I copy-paste the item number to? So... I have
a 1960 K4a with a superb J8M 53/2... both from Fedka.

TIP: An unpleasant characteristic of most Kievs, is uneven
neg spacing between frames. Ruben, our local expert on
Kievs, taught me to advance the film//cock the shutter...
this way: one half turn to advance the film until you feel
tension... then another half turn to advane the film some
more, and cock the shutter. What's important here, is NOT
to advance film with 4-5 small turns.

With half around, and then half around again, you're likely
to be OK. Another TIP: Take care NOT to lift the advance knob
as you turn, or you will inadvertently change the shutter speed.
Also, I've been told to change shutter speeds with the camera
cocked.

Good luck, and look forward to seeing your first pix.
Ciao, mike

[40oz]

nice price, IMHO. Nothing about using a Kiev is really tricky, except perhaps setting shutter speed. Just wind the film, then change shutter speed. You won't break anything doing it otherwise, it just is a bit tricky sometimes if you try to set the speed when the film isn't wound, given they use the same knob.

I find I rarely use the focus wheel, instead preferring to focus using the lens barrel. I only keep a finger on the wheel to trip the infinity lock. It has the side benefit of keeping my finger out of the way of the rangefinder window :)

I found a soft release was mandatory for me to keep from blurring slow shutter pictures due to the recessed shutter release, but YMMV. A screw from a PC for holding a hard drive works in a pinch, and is much cheaper than "factory made" soft releases.

[Screwy]

Ted, how do I have a look at the K4am you just bought?
Where do I copy-paste the item number to?

Just copy and paste the item to the Ebay search bar Mike .

This (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260084890608&ru=http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.ebay.co.uk%3A80%2Fsearch%2F search.dll%3Fcgiurl%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fcgi.ebay. co.uk%252Fws%252F%26fkr%3D1%26from%3DR8%26satitle% 3D260084890608%26category0%3D%26fvi%3D1) is Ted,s 4AM , and very nice it looks to .


Paul

[robin a]

Abumac:

Thanks for the offer, but this Kiev comes with one, and in cyrillic at that. I never use cases anyway, by the time you get the camera out of its case the assassination's over with.

Ted
Thats Funny

[tedwhite]

Greyhoundman:

Thanks for the link. I'll read it all when I get time. I like the strange-looking package. In My Photos I have a picture of a package I got from the Ukraine in 2005 containing an old FED 2. Notice it's tied with the obligatory string made from Yak hair.

Ted

[tedwhite]

Kiev 4AM arrived today. Cosmetically it is in EX++ condition, no markings at all on the bottom plate, top plate the same. Cladding is clean, unmarked, and tight. Serial #8000091 means it was manufactured in 1980? Our local camera guru says it's the best 4AM he's ever seen.

Love the way the back comes off.

I also have coming a Helios 103 that appears to be new. Probably the better lens for some photography, no doubt sharper and faster, but perhaps the J8 for the "Old Time" look?

Shutter speeds seem OK, but running a roll through it tomorrow will answer a few questions; that one plus frame spacing.

Ted

[Austintatious]

Hi Ted,

Nice 4Am indeed! The J8 is softer wide open, but will become sharp if stopped down.
The Helios is sharper and may be better for color film. The frame spacing issue which seems to affect many Kievs does not seem to be much of a problem on the 4AM.
They are a lot of value for the money! I love mine. Enjoy !

Charles

[tedwhite]

Question:

How does one rewind film on the Kiev 4AM? I'm not seeing any little button on the bottom plate to push in.

Ted

[Xmas]

The base release latch nearest to the shutter cocking knob should have a red mark you turn the latch to index this and it releases the sprocket drive just like the button used to. You can see the mechanism after you get the film out.

Noel

[tedwhite]

Noel:

You're a great friend, thanks so much for that info. I was going into my darkroom tomorrow, pull off the back and bottom and fish out the film. Much more civilized this way. By the way, the Helios 103 came and looks new. Is it a Sonnar copy?

Ted

[Xmas]

Ted
The H103 is a Mandler rip off,... i.e. a planar, Cooke speed pancro, double Gauss, summicron, ... near clone. Mandler was the leitz lens designer who designed the '79 summicron update with a computer and some priactical ability.

It is a symmetric ppnnpp four group with low radia and easy to make. where P = converging n = diverging

The soviet designs when ooooooooh and copined the leitz lens for their dying rngfdr and their SLR.

The Planar that zeiss sell for their G and M clone is pretty similar.

It (the H103) is a nice lens and with a lens hood has very few vices. I'd use it in preference to a J8 or J8M (except perhaps at night).

Noel

[tedwhite]

Noel:

Mine doesn't have the red mark, but does have a small, round, indent. I suppose it's the same as a red mark as there is no similar indent next to the other release knob.

Ted

[Xmas]

Ted

Clean with nail varnish remover, and add a dab of red varnish. the camera may have had a hard life, or missed out in factory, I'll check mine.

Noel

[tedwhite]

Noel. Probably not (a hard life, that is), as the bottom plate is scratch-free.

Anyway, I rotated the release knob to the indent, the take up spool released, and I had an effortless rewind.

Developed the roll and I'll post one in the gallery as soon as I can scan the print (it's of a 57? Buick in front of a bar). I'd post it here but don't know how.

Ted

[tedwhite]

Let's see if I can do this. Hoorah! I did it.