Took a Kiev 4 apart for fun recently. Holy... Those contaxes and their copies are so complex compared to leica based cameras. The most famous soviet repair guide told people not to try and service them at home. They're certainly a joy to hold and use though.
An east coast uncle died that I met once while I was stationed back there in 1971. He still owned a string of theaters including driveins. Earlier in his day he was V.P. of Publicity for Paramount films. He knew I was into films and was a photo lab tech in my 3 years in the Army. Move ahead 7 years and I'm working at a photo lab here in San Francisco and a big box arrives there for me. He had died and left me a bunch of camera stuff. A 4x5 Speed Graphic in its case with a bunch of bulbs in its special drawer, a roll of 35mm sound film of Alfred Hitchcock donating a book to a library in Boston with him standing next to Dorothy Lamour outside, and the first Contax 35mm you see here, in its case. Just outta nowhere.
You make it sound as if it was easy to bring this back around…this would be an excellent addition to my collection. I am a big Contax/Zeiss guy. I am trying to avoid temptation ( thanks 😞 )and divest myself of a lot of my lesser cameras…seems like a buyers market overall IMHO . Thanks for the informative and interesting video. Loved it🤓😇
Worst thing about the Contax and the Kiev derivatives is the rangefinder window right where you grip it with your right hand. "Where's my rangefinder patch?! Oh...." The shutter sound is cool on these.
I have a very early version of this camera. It looks really nice in person and it's fun to shoot with when it works. But that's the problem. I've repaired it several times but every time something else breaks. The later models are much better in this regard so if you want to get one then make sure that it is a late model. Or put it on the shelf and buy a Nikon SP for shooting like I did.
I still want this camera due to its more minimalistic box form (not really a fan of Contax II). Wonder if this camera is really tricky to repair? Some experienced members on few film camera groups say yes.
Took a Kiev 4 apart for fun recently. Holy... Those contaxes and their copies are so complex compared to leica based cameras. The most famous soviet repair guide told people not to try and service them at home. They're certainly a joy to hold and use though.
An east coast uncle died that I met once while I was stationed back there in 1971. He still owned a string of theaters including driveins. Earlier in his day he was V.P. of Publicity for Paramount films. He knew I was into films and was a photo lab tech in my 3 years in the Army. Move ahead 7 years and I'm working at a photo lab here in San Francisco and a big box arrives there for me. He had died and left me a bunch of camera stuff. A 4x5 Speed Graphic in its case with a bunch of bulbs in its special drawer, a roll of 35mm sound film of Alfred Hitchcock donating a book to a library in Boston with him standing next to Dorothy Lamour outside, and the first Contax 35mm you see here, in its case. Just outta nowhere.
You make it sound as if it was easy to bring this back around…this would be an excellent addition to my collection. I am a big Contax/Zeiss guy. I am trying to avoid temptation ( thanks 😞 )and divest myself of a lot of my lesser cameras…seems like a buyers market overall IMHO . Thanks for the informative and interesting video. Loved it🤓😇
Worst thing about the Contax and the Kiev derivatives is the rangefinder window right where you grip it with your right hand. "Where's my rangefinder patch?! Oh...." The shutter sound is cool on these.
true but that's what gives the Contax almost the same Effective Base length as the Leica M6 :) extremely accurate for fast lenses
I have a very early version of this camera. It looks really nice in person and it's fun to shoot with when it works. But that's the problem. I've repaired it several times but every time something else breaks. The later models are much better in this regard so if you want to get one then make sure that it is a late model. Or put it on the shelf and buy a Nikon SP for shooting like I did.
Is "mas" really "mashita"?
I still want this camera due to its more minimalistic box form (not really a fan of Contax II). Wonder if this camera is really tricky to repair? Some experienced members on few film camera groups say yes.
Try a Nikon copy of that Container its much bettr