Kiev body which one?

[Attila]

I won on a Jupiter-12 lens locally with KIEV /Contax mount which camera should I look for ?

[ludoo]

A Contax II

[Attila]

I bought once a Contax body it was unreliable I had same experience with Leica III both did required cla immediately. In this case a cheap Russian clone I think just same good for lot less.

[themoleman342]

I'd personally go for a Kiev 4am. It was the last of the line so you'd be getting the newest available. Less age related problems. It has a built in take-up spool which is great for sheer convenience.

[Attila]

[themoleman342]

A quick search in US ebay gives me about 26 results for the 4am. It would probably be easier to find an original Kiev 4 (because it had a longer production run) but the price is often not much different between models. I simply recommended the 4am if you had a choice.

[Attila]

[berraneck]

that´s a good advice

all at all, i don´t think it´s a great deal to buy eastern cameras on us ebay when you(we ) live in post-communist country:)

[themoleman342]

Not a single kiev 4am on US ebay is from the US.

[Attila]

[Sevo]

I'd stay off the Kiev 4m/4am, or indeed any post 1970 Kiev - by that time, the Soviet disregard for investments into tool maintenance had not played nice with the Kiev production lines at Arsenal, and production quality had declined to the point that that majority of them did not even work properly when they left the factory.

The pre 1970 Kiev 4/4a was mostly solid, the pre 1964 ones often even excellent in make - while the tools were new, the Kiev 4 was the most reliable Contax mount camera ever. The Kiev 4 series is the only camera of the type with a shutter not prone to capping and fading that kept the old, superior non-misaligning Contax II rangefinder (by contrast, the West German Contax IIa, while it improved on some shutter problems, added a whole host of new vulnerabilities in the rangefinder and shutter). And it is eminently serviceable - the IIa/IIIa was downsized, which replaced the nicely structured internal layout of the II (and Kievs) with a mess of multi-purpose gears to the point that few living technicians can competently service it.

Older ones, i.e. 2/3/2a/3a or Kiev Contaxes are more beautiful and even better machined, but they have the said shutter design issues, and like their German predecessor they are beginning to show their age - these now usually need refurbishment rather than cleaning if they are to be used. Not worth the extra price, unless they are there to look at rather than to use.

[Attila]

Many thanks Sevo as always! You are a real living Encyclopedia indeed!

[Sevo]

Well, even though I do more in large and medium format or digital, I still use some 35mm - mostly to photograph the kids. What with most lenses to the Kiev and Contax being outstanding for portraits, I've used the Kiev 4a or Contax IIa almost every day this winter, even more so now that Orio sold me the legendary f/1.5 Sonnar!

[Attila]

This cameras have good feeling I love them just keep in my hands. Congrats for your rare gem !

[Attila]

I did pick up Kiev-4A at post office at first look I am impressed, even light meter works and pretty accurate. Speeds are slow as usual max speed is 1/125 no matter I set to 1/250 or 1/500 or higher. Perhaps I will put on maintenance it. At first look I like FED-2 better, but I don't like much screw mounts so I will take a chance with KIEV too. For both camera I have Jupiter-12 already.

[Nesster]

Congratulations - I've played with and made flutter eyes at a Kiev at the camera show... though the same guy had a Miranda D that is an absolute jewel also... he uses both... maybe next week... I'd love to hear more of your experience with the Kiev.

[Attila]

Thank you Jussi! I hope I can take her out soon and made a roll with J8 and J12 here they are insane cheap so no big deal if they will not meet my expectation.

[Attila]

Today I did finish first roll with KIEV, turret finder more usable with KIEV than with FED-2. On Fed-2 built-in finder and Turret sits too close together. Distance on KIEV just perfect. My first impression was very positive , light meter works in my camera it was a joy to use it.