Untangled Kiev

[tyrone.s]

I've been able to catch up a little on my hobbies in the past few weeks and I've just got round to playing with a Kiev / Jupiter 8 that I bought off of eBay last year (so many cameras, so little time). As per typical of my eBay luck I managed to buy a 4 that looks quite nice and which appeared to work. Almost. If rather crudely. During my initial exploration I ended up getting the shutter speed selector all tangled up and I reduced the film winder to the function of knob spinner. Anyway I pulled the top off the winder and saw that there was something amiss and I put that back in place and the winder worked once again (it originally got all tangled up when I tried to select 'B').

Anyway I rushed through a test roll of Kodak BCN400W last night and this morning and have a poorly scanned trio to share, 'cause I'm just that excited about the whole Kiev thing. Anyway I tested a range of apertures and shutter speeds and they all appear to work correctly with no capping or other problems.

I've also attached a cosy shot of the Kiev in the wild.

http://lh6.ggpht.com/tyrone.stapleton/SLJc8NbXEDI/AAAAAAAAAHg/4XO35Vl0AKU/kiev3.jpeg?imgmax=512
f2.8 1/10 sec

http://lh3.ggpht.com/tyrone.stapleton/SLJc8MXIE7I/AAAAAAAAAHY/gSlz_mCO4Xg/kiev2.jpeg?imgmax=512
f 2.8 1/125

http://lh6.ggpht.com/tyrone.stapleton/SLJc8JB_fXI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/QQB6J89YBx0/kiev1.jpeg?imgmax=512
f2 '1/1250'

http://lh6.ggpht.com/tyrone.stapleton/SLJfNMzD8TI/AAAAAAAAAHw/-NjaNOLgAzQ/imgp7671.jpg?imgmax=512

I can feel a CLA coming on. Not sure who can do that here in Australia. Or more to the point, do a thorough job. I might end up getting another Kiev to strip down and rebuild, I think.

Cheers,

Tyrone

[wolves3012]

Just to note that it's almost impossible for a Kiev shutter to cap.

NIce photos there and a nice-looking Kiev 4a. I think the 4a is a lovely looking camera anyway and very capable. I have the J-8 and J-12 for mine but have recently bought a Helios too, yet to try it though.

[oftheherd]

I own one but I am not that up on different models. But I think the Kiev 4 with the flash on the front, and a hot shoe (if yours has one), is the 4am. No matter, it is a Kiev and they are nice. I like mine. If you are considering working on yours...

The Kiev Survival Site is your best friend. http://www3.telus.net/public/rpnchbck/index.html