hks3sgte
Established
That is true, blaze. Even though my Kiev 2 has a smaller finder than my Zorki 3-C, the Kiev is A LOT easier to focus!
fanshaw
Well-known
It's selenium. Most are unreliable due to age, even if they react to light, in my experience. A very nice retro design though.
stephen_lumsden
Well-known
Leningrad 4 models are a bit newer and may be more reliable, and you can adjust them. I use two which are generally accurate
nzeeman
Well-known
i had all possible versions of fsu cameras, canon p, leica m4 and contax. so from my experience - both kiev II and kiev 4 and super smooth and easy to focus. my kievs are much more silent than any of the camers i had. if you dont mind the small viewfinder you will be super happy with any of kievs. the later kiev 4
versions with black plastic rewind button are slightly louder but i never saw any problems with them.
many people will tell you that QC was bad in SSSR but the problem is not in QC but in conditions cameras were stored in. when someone has leica he cuddles it and all and russian cameras were found mostly in flea markets and kept often in really bad conditions last 30 years or totlaly unused. so if you buy from anyone who was at least using camera a bit - you wont feel any difference between contax,leica or kiev or any other fsu camera in general.
versions with black plastic rewind button are slightly louder but i never saw any problems with them.
many people will tell you that QC was bad in SSSR but the problem is not in QC but in conditions cameras were stored in. when someone has leica he cuddles it and all and russian cameras were found mostly in flea markets and kept often in really bad conditions last 30 years or totlaly unused. so if you buy from anyone who was at least using camera a bit - you wont feel any difference between contax,leica or kiev or any other fsu camera in general.
xayraa33
rangefinder user and fancier
Yes, the Kiev 2a was more to Contax II fit and finish and the Kiev 2 even more so. Any Kiev 4a from 1972 and earlier is also a decent camera, but these are old cameras now so condition matters and many will need a CLA and new shutter ribbons.
santino
FSU gear head
…and organic lubricant does not age very well.
My 1972 Kiev 4a works perfectly, was most likely recently serviced. My 1957 Kiev 2- also works well, I did a CLA on it.
More important to find one that was recently serviced by a good technician. Who ever did the Kiev 4a - thorough job, as smooth as my serviced Contax II. Better than my Kiev 2.
More important to find one that was recently serviced by a good technician. Who ever did the Kiev 4a - thorough job, as smooth as my serviced Contax II. Better than my Kiev 2.
mconnealy
Well-known
Oleg fixed the shutter on my Kiev IIa about fifteen years ago. Still works well. He charged me forty bucks. He can't do it at that price today, but I think his prices have stayed pretty close to simple inflation.
titrisol
Bottom Feeder
Kiev 4a is a great camera, it was easy to take pictures, precise and silent.
Matched with a J-3 it was lovely.
Matched with a J-3 it was lovely.