Difference between revisions of "Kiev 4"

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''The Kiev 4 type 1 rangefinder.''
 
''The Kiev 4 type 1 rangefinder.''
  
The Kiev rangefinders were devellopped after WW II in the [[Arsenal]] factory in Kiev. Soviet forces had "relocated" equipment and personnel from the Zeiss Ikon factories in Germany. In Kiev [[Zeiss Ikon]]'s [[Contax]] line of production was set up again and quickly started production under the Kiev brand name. Early models are said to have been made from original Zeiss Ikon stock the soviets had taken with them. There are reports of models with the original Contax name plate behind the new Kiev shield.
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The Kiev rangefinders were developed after WW II in the [[Arsenal]] factory in Kiev. Soviet forces had "relocated" equipment and personnel from the Zeiss Ikon factories in Germany. In Kiev [[Zeiss Ikon]]'s [[Contax]] line of production was set up again and quickly started production under the Kiev brand name. Early models are said to have been made from original Zeiss Ikon stock the Soviets had taken with them. There are reports of models with the original Contax nameplate behind the new Kiev shield.
 
 
One of the great things about this Kiev is its large rangefinder base: 9 cm. This allows for very accurate focusing. When you're trying to take a portrait for example, you see a clear difference when the nose or the eyes are in perfect focus. Combined with the clear depth of field scale on the lens, this will allow you to isolate your subject from the background.
 
Furthermore, the viewfinder and rangefinder are combined one large bright window so you don't have to look through another window when focusing and framing the picture. [[Leica]] didn't combine the two untill the [[Leica M3]] in 1954.  
 
  
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One of the excellent things about this Kiev is its long rangefinder base: 9 cm. This allows for very accurate focusing. For example, when you are focusing for a tightly composed portrait, you see a clear difference when the nose or the eyes are in perfect focus. Combined with the clear depth-of-field scale on the lens, this allows isolation of the subject from the background. Furthermore, the viewfinder and rangefinder are combined in one large bright window so you do not have to look through two windows for focusing and framing. [[Leica]] did not combine the two until the [[Leica M3]] in 1954.
  
 
== Contax Bayonet mount ==
 
== Contax Bayonet mount ==
In a lot of ways the Kiev is a reliable Contax clone. It's a sturdy piece of metal equipment. The bayonet for the lenses is the [[Contax mount]], so [[Carl Zeiss]] made Contax lenses can be used. This particular lens is a Jupiter 8m standard 50/2 lens.  
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In many ways the Kiev is a reliable Contax clone and a sturdy piece of metal equipment. The bayonet for the lenses is the [[Contax mount]], so [[Carl Zeiss]] made Contax lenses can be used. This particular lens is a Jupiter 8m standard 50/2 lens.  
 
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[http://www.flickr.com/photos/50678983@N00/163599761/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://static.flickr.com/76/163599761_68d01cf027.jpg]
 
[http://www.flickr.com/photos/50678983@N00/163599761/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://static.flickr.com/76/163599761_68d01cf027.jpg]
 
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It was made at the Arsenal plant and the serial number 62.... seems to suggest it was produced in 1962. The lens has an engraved distance scale and a ''two'' diaphragm scales; one visible from the top and another only seen from the bottom of the lens.
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It was made at the Arsenal plant and the serial number, starting "62", seems to suggest it was produced in 1962. The lens has an engraved distance scale and ''two'' diaphragm scales, one visible from the top and the other only seen from the bottom of the lens.
 
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'''Dates:''' 1950s
 
'''Dates:''' 1950s
  
'''Variants:''' Contax I, II, III, Kiev, Kiev 2, Kiev 3, Kiev 4a, Kiev 4am see: :[[Kiev rangefinder]]
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'''Variants:''' Contax I, II, III, Kiev, Kiev 2, Kiev 3, Kiev 4a, Kiev 4am see: [[Kiev rangefinder]]
  
 
'''Camera Type:''' 35mm rangefinder system
 
'''Camera Type:''' 35mm rangefinder system
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'''Rangefinder:''' [[rangefinder]] with a ''9 cm''  base
 
'''Rangefinder:''' [[rangefinder]] with a ''9 cm''  base
  
'''Lens mount:''' contax mount
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'''Lens mount:''' Contax mount
  
 
'''Shutter:''' vertical blade shutter <br>
 
'''Shutter:''' vertical blade shutter <br>
B and from 1 s to 1/1250 s
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B, 1&ndash;1250
  
 
'''Exposure meter:''' selenium cell
 
'''Exposure meter:''' selenium cell

Revision as of 02:12, 11 June 2006

163598902_5f1700b7cc.jpg

The Kiev 4 type 1 rangefinder.

The Kiev rangefinders were developed after WW II in the Arsenal factory in Kiev. Soviet forces had "relocated" equipment and personnel from the Zeiss Ikon factories in Germany. In Kiev Zeiss Ikon's Contax line of production was set up again and quickly started production under the Kiev brand name. Early models are said to have been made from original Zeiss Ikon stock the Soviets had taken with them. There are reports of models with the original Contax nameplate behind the new Kiev shield.

One of the excellent things about this Kiev is its long rangefinder base: 9 cm. This allows for very accurate focusing. For example, when you are focusing for a tightly composed portrait, you see a clear difference when the nose or the eyes are in perfect focus. Combined with the clear depth-of-field scale on the lens, this allows isolation of the subject from the background. Furthermore, the viewfinder and rangefinder are combined in one large bright window so you do not have to look through two windows for focusing and framing. Leica did not combine the two until the Leica M3 in 1954.

Contax Bayonet mount

In many ways the Kiev is a reliable Contax clone and a sturdy piece of metal equipment. The bayonet for the lenses is the Contax mount, so Carl Zeiss made Contax lenses can be used. This particular lens is a Jupiter 8m standard 50/2 lens.

163599761_68d01cf027.jpg

It was made at the Arsenal plant and the serial number, starting "62", seems to suggest it was produced in 1962. The lens has an engraved distance scale and two diaphragm scales, one visible from the top and the other only seen from the bottom of the lens.


163599761_68d01cf027.jpg
163598899_9b7fb857bf.jpg
163598897_55ad5319b5.jpg


Kiev 4 summary

Maker: Arsenal, Kiev

Dates: 1950s

Variants: Contax I, II, III, Kiev, Kiev 2, Kiev 3, Kiev 4a, Kiev 4am see: Kiev rangefinder

Camera Type: 35mm rangefinder system

Focusing: manual


Rangefinder: rangefinder with a 9 cm base

Lens mount: Contax mount

Shutter: vertical blade shutter
B, 1–1250

Exposure meter: selenium cell

ASA/ISO range: {{{iso range}}}

Shoe: coldshoe

Synchronized: {{{sync}}}

X sync speed: {{{sync speed}}}

TTL Flash: None

Motor drive: None

Battery: None