Kiev limps back...

Doug · 04-01-2005

Poor old Kiev 4a, still masquerading as a Contax II, came back today from the repair shop with only three accurate shutter speeds. I'm sure it was not working at all when I got it, and I just shook my head and figured what could I expect from a crudely-done fake. That it would work like a new Contax? Naw...

But I didn't make notes on its non-working behavior, and when I got it back out recently it seemed fine. So it went to the local repair shop for a look-see. The repairman says the shutter speeds are all over the place, way off, except 1/60, 1/125, and 1/250 which should be usable he figures. He cleaned it up as best he could without disassembly, so I guess I'll put a roll of film through it and see!

Kinda feel sorry for it, a poor handicapped Kiev all gussied up to look like a Contax... Do you suppose it's worthwhile to get it really sorted out?

Wayne R. Scott · 04-02-2005

Doug,

Why don't you ask it? After you shoot a roll of film through it at the useable shutter speeds see if you like the results. 1/60, 1/125, and 1/250 are pretty good speeds for a lot of work.

I have a 4AM that I have been debating about fixing up. The shutter speeds seem fine, but the rangefinder does not move, I think maybe a stripped gear inside may be the culprit. But it is not a "cool" black body and it does not say Contax on the out side. I have the real McCoys that say Contax. I would like to get it fixed up and recover with an exotic leather.

I kinda have a soft spot for Contax cameras and their ugly Kiev step sisters. It's only money to fix them up and you can't spend the money when you are dead.

Yeah, go ahead and fix her up. My GAS this year is starting to give way to CLA. I'm getting all of my camera users tuned up. It just feels so much better having a tool that works right and you don't have that nagging doubt in the back of your mind about photos not turning out because of equipment problems, just operator error.

Wayne

P.S. Wanna trade Kiev's?

gabrielelopez · 04-02-2005

Fix it!!

I just payed a lot to make a Fed2 work like it was brand new, and I'm having a lot of fun with it..
Things do not always have to be rational, after all..!

Have fun

phototone · 04-02-2005

The shutter speeds don't have to be "spot" on, for you to get good photos, as long as you "know" what the shutter speeds are. Your camera tech should test each speed, and write down what the "actual" speeds are and you can make a little card and carrry with you, and consult it, when making an exposure adjustment. 1/30 = 1/20, 1/500 = 1/300, and so on.

Doug · 04-02-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wayne R. Scott

Yeah, go ahead and fix her up. My GAS this year is starting to give way to CLA. I'm getting all of my camera users tuned up. It just feels so much better having a tool that works right and you don't have that nagging doubt in the back of your mind about photos not turning out because of equipment problems, just operator error.

I'm with you on that, Wayne; a very rational view I think, but then I'm just an old mechanical engineer. It's irritating when the tools aren't working as they should, and there's pleasure in a smooth-running "happy" machine!

Quote:

P.S. Wanna trade Kiev's?

We could trade shutters...

Quote:

Originally Posted by phototone

Your camera tech should test each speed, and write down what the "actual" speeds are and you can make a little card and carrry with you, and consult it, when making an exposure adjustment. 1/30 = 1/20, 1/500 = 1/300, and so on.

Good point! I will ask him...

Kin Lau · 04-02-2005

It should only take 1 roll to figure out how bad the other speeds are.. that's one of the reasons I roll my own B&W. Pick a well lit room or an overcast day outside, and do 1/125 f8, 1/60 f11 1/30 f16 1/15 f22, 1/250 f5.6, 1/500 f4 & 1/1250 f2.8 shots and also do 1 stop overexpose, 1 stop under. Don't use C41 film. If you don't soup your own B&W, then maybe just use slide film. A contact sheet should easily show whether the other speeds are off by 1 stop more or less.

BTW, when I bought my 3a, it came with a frozen shutter. A few drops of oil and a little nudge brought it back alive, and all the speeds are usable now.

T_om · 04-02-2005

I take it no one knows of a web site that details adjusting these old shutters?

Tom

rpinchbeck · 04-02-2005

Uh, I haven't had time to put the finishing touches to the procedural docuement that describes how to do a full tear down clean of a Kiev shutter.

I do however have some other especially useful pages for the brave at heart that like to muck around with their Kiev's.

Check out the Kiev Survival Site
www3.telus.net/public/kaylalyn/index.html

Cheers

Russ Pinchbeck