I love my Kiev !!

[shadowfox]

No, this is not Ruben

Hi all FSU fans, the last time I posted in this sub-forum was last year about my former Zorki 4 which I like the look of, but had to let go because it won't load a film.

Fast foward to April 2007, on a whim I ordered a Kiev 4AM from somewhere in "South Siberia". Why? reading too much about Contax and Nikon RF design, I guess , that and not being able to justify the price of a properly CLA'd one.

So, after about 40 days, a small box with Cyrillic writings arrived at my door. Nothing fancy, a copious newspaper padding, then the black leather case emerged. I eagerly opened the case and take a peek of my first Kiev... it's smaller than I thought and it's clean...

I opened the lens cap, making sure that I got what was promised to me, the Helios 53mm/1.8 peered back at me. Went on inspecting the camera... the shutter works... the film advance works... the film plate looks clean... and the aperture dial works... this is GOOD

Let me get something straight, as most of you who already knew me (not hard, just look at my signature ), I collect Olympus classics. The build quality of this Kiev is not even in the same league as some of my older Olympus like the Ace or 35 S.

However, the sheer beauty of the camera, it's unique, it's nothing like I've seen, and I know a pretty camera when I saw one. This one is decidedly "pretty".

So I took a test roll (expired Konica VX100), brush up on my "Contax Grip" readings, drive to downtown yesterday and eagerly finish and developed the film so I can scan it.

Let me walk you through some of the results:

No light meter, eh? fine, time to whip out the Sunny-16 rule. It's a rather cool but sunny day in Downtown Dallas, so I set the shutter speed to 250 and aperture f11:


first off, a sigh of relief... no light leaks, the film plate doesn't scratch the film, colors spot on, sharpness good. Next,



Let's see how it perform in the shade, I stopped down to f5.6 and took this. Not bad at all, the details are all there, the sharpness is more than ok...

At this point I noticed something, after reading all the "horror" stories about the Contax Grip, amazingly, I find it intuitive!! Using the small wheel to focus actually shaves the extra half-second I usually take to reposition my fingers to release the shutter from when I use my left hand to focus (Leica-style).

Next, how's the fabled long baselength focusing...



Wow... these miniature buildings are centimeters apart, and I actually can pick them up individually if I wanted to. Definitely a precision improvement compared to my XA (I know, that's an extreme comparison )

Now, let's put the lens through the test...


Contrast lighting? not a problem, you still can see what's going on under the "tent".



Details in the shadows? more than acceptable for me

Last but not least...



Nice and smooth bokeh... what else can you ask for?

more samples here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mastaka...27087156/show/

So, in summary, as if you guys can't tell yet, I'm MIGHTILY IMPRESSED with this camera. It's *very* conducive to taking (good) pictures. I can see now how Contax and then later Nikon RF did and rightfully so, challenged the design superiority contest against Leica.

The build quality is the only lacking part, I end up twisting the film rewind like a knob when I was done with the roll because that tiny flip-up lever is close to being useless because it's so flimsy.

Also, what's up with the variable frame spacing on the negatives? Fortunately, I know the lab personnel well enough to give them a warning about it, and they know me (the geek with weird old cameras) enough to just raise an eyebrow and didn't ask questions or complain

My scanner however was not very pleased with the variable spacing, as can be expected.

Next time I'll put a black and white roll in it.

And, oh, here's the shot of the camera itself:

[zhang xk]

Yes, That is what you can do with a nice Kiev( Contax)! Congratualtions.

[Stephanie Brim]

I'm going to take mine out today...as soon as I get a package in the mail. Most packages from Brian come to me in about 2 days when sent Priority mail...so I'm waiting at the door. :P I even found my meter.

[SCOTFORTHLAD]

Congrats!!

Lovely pictures and a great thread.

I am almost through my second roll(XP2) with a Kiev 4.There is definitely something about these cameras!!

Brian.

[Peter_Jones]

MMmmm Kiev - I feel a GAS attack coming on !

[ully]

as my Fed 5.

[PetarDima]

Thank's for posting this !

[dee]

Everyone should try a Kiev - but they are addictive - I cheated though - my Oleg Kiev 4m has a meter with a new cell ... i am waiting for my first roll to be printed .

[NickTrop]

That's my next camera. But I'm on the wagon (until I fall off...)

[Wayne R. Scott]

If you like dancing with Cinderella's step-sister (Keiv), wait until you dance with Cinderella (Contax)!!!

Wayne

[ruben]

Originally Posted by dee

Everyone should try a Kiev - but they are addictive - I cheated though - my Oleg Kiev 4m has a meter with a new cell ... i am waiting for my first roll to be printed .

Hi Dee,
I am extremely curious about the feeling of an Oleg Kiev. Would you like to comment ?

Hi Shadowfox,
Thanks for having posted this detailed account. I have one question. My Kiev 4AM produces equal space between frames but that space is about 7mm: what yours ?

Cheers,
Ruben

[shadowfox]

Thanks, y'all I am on the second roll with it.

It's funny that over the weekend I kept referring to it as Contax subconsciously. My wife picked it up (to my surprise) and corrected me

Ruben: The spacing is really not even, at the beginning of the roll, it's pretty wide, I'd say about 7mm, then towards the end of the roll it became very tight, I'd say around 2-3mm.

Of course it throws my scanner (Nikon Coolscan) out of whack, fortunately, nothing disastrous, just need extra cropping.

[rxmd]

Shadowfax, nice camera Congratulations!

Wayne,

Originally Posted by Wayne R. Scott

If you like dancing with Cinderella's step-sister (Keiv), wait until you dance with Cinderella (Contax)!!!

Except that the step sister is actually quite a good dancer herself!

Philipp

[John the Monkey]

Great review, and a beautiful looking camera.

Oddly enough, I seem to have acquired one myself after seeing this and Shadowfox' pictures from the Kiev on flickr.

Funny how that happens

[rolleistef]

Yeah it's true, there's this strange feeling about Kievs, and it's actually adictive. I don't know why : I shot nearly side by side a Kiev IIIa (57) and a Zorki 4 (63). The Zorki's got a much bigger and much clearer viewfinder with diopter adjustment, it's fast to focus, easy to use, BUT I still prefer the Kiev which has a ridiculously dim and small vf, is long to focus etc. But it's really quiet, and the Contax ergonomics defenitely rules. Have you ever noticed that you can shoot a Kiev with only one hand? The Contax grip is near perfect btw!

[shadowfox]

Originally Posted by John the Monkey

Great review, and a beautiful looking camera.

Oddly enough, I seem to have acquired one myself after seeing this and Shadowfox' pictures from the Kiev on flickr.

Funny how that happens

John!? is this the same John The Monkey from flickr??
Welcome to RFF!! you are in for a good time around good company here...

[shadowfox]

Originally Posted by rolleistef

Yeah it's true, there's this strange feeling about Kievs, and it's actually adictive. I don't know why : I shot nearly side by side a Kiev IIIa (57) and a Zorki 4 (63). The Zorki's got a much bigger and much clearer viewfinder with diopter adjustment, it's fast to focus, easy to use, BUT I still prefer the Kiev which has a ridiculously dim and small vf, is long to focus etc. But it's really quiet, and the Contax ergonomics defenitely rules. Have you ever noticed that you can shoot a Kiev with only one hand? The Contax grip is near perfect btw!

Eh, I don't remember it clearly, but as I far as I can visualize, the viewfinder on the Kiev 4AM is about par with the one on the Zorki 4. I don't have the Zorki anymore, so I can't make a definite comparison.

But yes, Contax grip is very cool!

[mike goldberg]

Great review, shadowfox. Looks like you've got a winner with the Helios as well. BTW, in the 4th picture down, the young lady is dining alone. Did you invite her for coffee?

QUESTION: Did this K4am have an Oleg CLA? I've just sent off a Fed-1g for an Oleg CLA; it was brought to me by my son from the Yerevan flea market.

COMMENT: Kievs are notorious for uneven negatives frame spacing. Mine occasionally, almost touch... but they never overlap.

Thanks for your post; it reminds me that I've been neglecting my K4a ;-)
Cheers, mike

[John the Monkey]

Originally Posted by shadowfox

John!? is this the same John The Monkey from flickr??

That's me - you were the second of my contacts to mention RFF, so I thought I'd have a look.

Welcome to RFF!! you are in for a good time around good company here...

It seems so, although no doubt it will lead to more camera acquisition

[Marc-A.]

Originally Posted by shadowfox

Eh, I don't remember it clearly, but as I far as I can visualize, the viewfinder on the Kiev 4AM is about par with the one on the Zorki 4.
But yes, Contax grip is very cool!

Rolleisteph's right, the viewfinder of the Zorki 4 is slightly bigger, but I find that the Kiev one is more accurate (obviously, it has a superior baselenght, and the wheel system is very efficient for close focus at wide aperture).
The Kiev (from 2 to 4am) is an amazing camera, very "sexy" and quieter than my Leicas (silent shutter: another Leica myth?). I can't believe I sold my Kiev 2. Well, I'm not a collector, and since I didn't use it much I thought it would be better to let it go. I regret that decision now ...= sigh =...
Jupiter 8 has a wonderful vintage look (Jupiter glow ) but the Helios 103 is sharp as hell: why do we buy Summicron at 20 the price of an Helios?

[shadowfox]

Originally Posted by mike goldberg

Great review, shadowfox. Looks like you've got a winner with the Helios as well. BTW, in the 4th picture down, the young lady is dining alone. Did you invite her for coffee?

QUESTION: Did this K4am have an Oleg CLA? I've just sent off a Fed-1g for an Oleg CLA; it was brought to me by my son from the Yerevan flea market.

Mike!!! you trying to get me in trouble with my wife?

This one came straight from seller altai on ebay, he's from a town in South Siberia (I can't remember the name). I don't know about CLA, from the looks of it, the camera probably didn't get used a lot.

[Wayne R. Scott]

Originally Posted by mike goldberg

COMMENT: Kievs are notorious for uneven negatives frame spacing. Mine occasionally, almost touch... but they never overlap.

Cheers, mike

On my Contax before cla the space between negatives was about the same width as a gnat's eyelash. The frames never overlapped and I could routinely get 38 shots on a 36 exposure roll of film. But it drove the modern film processer's nuts as they are set up for more space between frames. I think the Keiv's are following the Contax example. After a CLA the frame spacing on the Contax is similar to modern cameras.

Wayne

[shadowfox]

Originally Posted by Marc-A.

Jupiter 8 has a wonderful vintage look (Jupiter glow ) but the Helios 103 is sharp as hell: why do we buy Summicron at 20 the price of an Helios?

I'm so going to use this the next time someone brags about the expensive Leica glass.

Btw, that's a pretty shot of the Kiev, Marc!

[shadowfox]

Originally Posted by Wayne R. Scott

On my Contax before cla the space between negatives was about the same width as a gnat's eyelash. The frames never overlapped and I could routinely get 38 shots on a 36 exposure roll of film. But it drove the modern film processer's nuts as they are set up for more space between frames. I think the Keiv's are following the Contax example. After a CLA the frame spacing on the Contax is similar to modern cameras.

Wayne

Wayne, where did you send yours for CLA?

[ruben]

I strongly recommend to my Kiev fellows to regard Sherer processed Contaxes with utmost respect, and Contaxes in generall too.

After reading parts of Mr Sherer site, although with my common sense critical approach, you can learn a lot about the Contax myth, for good and for bad, among them his assertion that only one among each three Contaxes out of factory were really working. As I already said before, in my opinion Mr Sherer is underpricing his exceptional work, and we can learn a lot about a Contax not CLA-ed by him.

By being objective and not jelous about Contaxes we can only gain. At the Kiev Project we will not end wih the same camera technical level, but definitely we are going to have what I may call Super Kievs. Not bad at all.

in my opinion, Kiev and Contax owners should abstain from throwing bravados at each other, and join forces instead. At the Kiev Project, the technical upgrading of our cameras is only one about many aspects. At the end of it, Contax users may find their way to a Kiev besides their Contax, and Kiev users may find their apetite increasing, and thus buying a Sherer Contax.



Cheers,
Ruben

PS
for the Kiev Project Outline, see
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/foru...ad.php?t=40454