Kiev/Contax questions

dwpayne · 11-30-2004

.... 2 actually:

Is there such a thing as a rear lens cap for the 50mm lenses that have no focusing helical such Helios-103, etc? These lenses all seem to come attached to a body, with no rear cap. I see that you can buy a new Helios that comes with rear cap, but I can't seem to find any anywhere else. Since I already have a nice Helios, I don't think I'll buy another one just to get the cap

I know there are two versions of the turret viewfinders, one designated for Leica-mount bodies with the optics to the left of the shoe, and one for Contax-mount bodies with the optics to the right. Anyone know *why* this?

Roman · 11-30-2004

Don't know about question 1 - you might ask 'alex-photo' on Ebay whether he has them...

Question 2: The Contax-type is the original, but mounted on a Leica-type body, it partly blocks access to the shutter speed dial, that's why the mirrored version was made...

Roman

dwpayne · 11-30-2004

Quote:

Originally posted by Roman
Don't know about question 1 - you might ask 'alex-photo' on Ebay whether he has them...

Question 2: The Contax-type is the original, but mounted on a Leica-type body, it partly blocks access to the shutter speed dial, that's why the mirrored version was made...

Roman

Thanks Roman. That explains why I didn't know the diff; I have a Leica-type vf that I use on a Contax (Kiev) body and have no Leica bodies. Yet

pshinkaw · 11-30-2004

About 2 years ago I purchased a couple of Kiev back lens caps from a Ukrainian seller on e-Bay. They look almost exactly like the original Zeiss ones. They fit on the Jupiter-8 and Helios-103.

They occassionally pop-up on e-Bay.

-Paul

dwpayne · 11-30-2004

Thanks, Paul. I've since contacted Yuri at Fedka, who says he has one he can sell me. I've been looking on eBay for a while, haven't seen any, which is why I asked here (I didn't even really know if there was such a thing).

Paul Connet · 11-30-2004

I read about this elsewhere but can't remember where. Just pull the plastic cap off of a Kodak print film can, take a sharp knife and trim away the inner lip of the cap leaving only the outer lip. It will slip onto the rear of the lens with a reasonably tight fit and will give the lens the dust and finger print protection needed for storage.

Regards, Paul C.

pshinkaw · 12-01-2004

This is whatt I purchased a few years ago. Listed again by Alex-photo on e-Bay.

Note that it has the three lugs to lock down on the lens mount. There is also a deeper model for the J-12.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...sPageName=WD1V

-Paul

dwpayne · 12-01-2004

Yes, but those caps for the J-9's, J-11's, J-12's, etc. are for lenses that fit the outer mount on the body. I'm looking for a cap for the 50mm lenses that mount to the internal bayonet, like the J-8, J-3, Helios 103 (that latter one in particular). I managed to find one at Fedka, and I like the idea of making one out of a film cannister top, so I'll try that too.

pshinkaw · 12-01-2004

The one shown above has lugs which fit into the outer bayonet fitting on the back of the lens.

It is identical to that which I have mounted on my spare Jupiter-8. It is probably the same thing that Yuri is selling you, without the added expense of shipping from the Ukraine.

-Paul

rick oleson · 12-01-2004

....but there is no outer bayonet fitting on the back of a 50mm lens. what am i missing?

dwpayne · 12-01-2004

That's kinda what I keep saying...

The back end of a 50 is just essentially a tube, no flanges to hold the kind of cap that fits the other focal lengths.

Anyhow, I have a push-on on order, and the suggestion of a film cannister cap looks like it'll work too.

Thanks to all for the suggestions.

pshinkaw · 12-01-2004

Oops. You're right. The one in the auction is for the Jupiter-9. The one on my Jupiter-8 is a slip on cap. Sorry to run you around.

-Paul