Ultimate Kiev IV finally awaited ?

[dee]

The 1st Kiev 4 examples were made in 1957 alongside the Kiev IIIa .

The compact meter and controls copied from the contemporary post war Contax , were undoubtedly an improvement upon the heavy IIIa , but the revised body compromised film flatness as they altered the back , but made only catch changes to the body etc .

The demand for quantity rather than quality also affected the revised cameras with after market engineers offering repair for new ex-factory cameras !
T.O.E , the UK importers being adapt in sorting defects in the USSR equipment they imported such as my mint 1979 boxed Kiev 4 .

The initial batches of Kiev 4 , were comparitively well enginneered and finished , presumably , as with previous models , many were gifted to Soviet stalwarts for serviced rendered . They also had meter covers without the ridges added as the thin aluminium was prone to dints .

Mild , but deesruptive autism affects my response to profiles / shapes as right or wrong , and dual script dee'sturbs , so a 'set ' of 1951 KNeB ii , 1954 KNeB III and 1956/7 KNeB IV would be inauthentic , but ideal .

I will also have a Contax IV created from 2x Contax III cameras , one of which has been restored the other , donating a body for the Kiev Hybrid IV .
I already have a lovely Contax II , literally from a box of parts , rebuilt with Kiev II shutter . I guess Contax purists would not approve !

Hybrid K iiiia bodies with K4 meters have been seen . It's unsure whether they are prototypes or modifications to what in Ukraine , would have been a substantial investment when the meter of KIII/IIIa died . Maybe just to have the latest, as those moonlighting techs would ' find ' the parts when working at Arsenal !

Following some 2 years of delay , due to a situation with the Arsenal factory , I hope , shortly , to receive my cameras from Ukraine together with what was a really rough Contax II revived with polished metal body and tan leather .

[oftheherd]

Thanks for the info in the post. Also good to see you posting again. Or have I just not kept up with the right threads?

I had always thought I might opt for a Kiev over a Contax due to cost, and a like of Zeiss lenses. I think it was your posts of love of those cameras that tipped me over.

[dee]

Thanks oftheherd, I have been away with the fairies 'cos ASdee causes wierdness .

[reagan]

Yeah, some very interesting stuff there, dee. Good for you. Would love to see some pics of those when they arrive.

[dee]

I will post pics if they arrive LOL