For my Kiev 4 I use the KMZ jupiters from 1950 / 60 . My 1951 KMZ Jupiter 9 is a dream at 1:2 and a sharp landscape lens at 1:4 . Also my 1951and 1959 KMZ Jupiter 12 leaves me nothing to complain about , the other 12 from Arsenal is much less sharp at the edges than my KMZ Jupiter's 12 . So I think that the " Zeiss glass" Jupiter's are better than the later ones . I use also a Zeiss Sonnar 135 mm , a very sharp lens but the Jupiter 11 is also a very good landscape lens . Bright 50 mm Nikkors like the 1:1.4 and the 85 to 135 mm will not focus well in close ups . Only Nikkors marked with a C on the barrel will focus correct on the whole distance range on a Contax and Kiev . Maybe I buy in the future a Voigtlander SC-Skopar 25 mm , the Orion 15 for Contax Kiev is very exspensive up to 1000 Euro . Peter .
I have a kiev 4 and kiev 60.They are beasts compared to FED and Zorki.If you get them working the only thing you should be worried is the curtain belts that in some cases you might find one with new belts (they hold about 10-20 years it's up to the use,the quality and the maintanance) mine hasn't changed belts yet,it is from 74.
Thank you for your comment. The Kiev 4 is a little camera compared with the Kiev 5! I have had enough trouble with those Contax shutters to the point that it's better in the long run to buy a Nikon rangefinder and be done with it! The Kiev 60 is a beast indeed. I used to have one but sold it to buy a Pentax 67, still a beast but at least it uses a rectangular format, which I prefer. Happy shooting!
The rangefinder base window is almost the same distance as the Contax IIa, and IIIa as yes that the older Contax/Kiev did had a Longer Base Rangefinder window, and the Kiev5 is like the Contax IIa, and IIIa models.... In which I do have the Kiev5 model...
Thank you for your comment. The only difference between the Kiev 5 and the others is in the rangefinder/viewfinder design and the lever advance. We all know that the shutter straps on all Kiev/Contax cameras will eventually go, so no differences there with other models. The selenium metering cell can go too as in other cameras. The viewfinder is spectacularly good, by far the best in any Soviet camera and it's up there with the best of its era (Leica excluded) and that may come at a price, with rangefinder and frame lines out of alignment. The exclusive bayonet mount is complex and problem prone when it comes to coupling with the rangefinder. I would also point out that it's better to wind the film with the knob, instead of the lever, as the camera has both options. I really like the camera but I would never pay a high price for it, as it does basically the same thing as the other Kievs, exactly the same way, save for the viewfinder, film advance system and the exclusive lens Helios-94 that isn't available in any other camera.
What a unique rig 🙏🏽
Nice new intro! Glad to see you putting out videos again, they're always a good watch.
Thank you, you are always very kind.
For my Kiev 4 I use the KMZ jupiters from 1950 / 60 . My 1951 KMZ Jupiter 9 is a dream at 1:2 and a sharp landscape lens at 1:4 . Also my 1951and 1959 KMZ Jupiter 12 leaves me nothing to complain about , the other 12 from Arsenal is much less sharp at the edges than my KMZ Jupiter's 12 . So I think that the " Zeiss glass" Jupiter's are better than the later ones .
I use also a Zeiss Sonnar 135 mm , a very sharp lens but the Jupiter 11 is also a very good landscape lens . Bright 50 mm Nikkors like the 1:1.4 and the 85 to 135 mm will not focus well in close ups . Only Nikkors marked with a C on the barrel will focus correct on the whole distance range on a Contax and Kiev .
Maybe I buy in the future a Voigtlander SC-Skopar 25 mm , the Orion 15 for Contax Kiev is very exspensive up to 1000 Euro . Peter .
I have a kiev 4 and kiev 60.They are beasts compared to FED and Zorki.If you get them working the only thing you should be worried is the curtain belts that in some cases you might find one with new belts (they hold about 10-20 years it's up to the use,the quality and the maintanance) mine hasn't changed belts yet,it is from 74.
Thank you for your comment. The Kiev 4 is a little camera compared with the Kiev 5! I have had enough trouble with those Contax shutters to the point that it's better in the long run to buy a Nikon rangefinder and be done with it! The Kiev 60 is a beast indeed. I used to have one but sold it to buy a Pentax 67, still a beast but at least it uses a rectangular format, which I prefer. Happy shooting!
The rangefinder base window is almost the same distance as the Contax IIa, and IIIa as yes that the older Contax/Kiev did had a Longer Base Rangefinder window, and the Kiev5 is like the Contax IIa, and IIIa models.... In which I do have the Kiev5 model...
I've heard that Kiev 5 is generally unreliable and much more prone to malfunction than Kiev 4 (before 1974) or Kiev 2. How true is that?
Thank you for your comment. The only difference between the Kiev 5 and the others is in the rangefinder/viewfinder design and the lever advance. We all know that the shutter straps on all Kiev/Contax cameras will eventually go, so no differences there with other models. The selenium metering cell can go too as in other cameras. The viewfinder is spectacularly good, by far the best in any Soviet camera and it's up there with the best of its era (Leica excluded) and that may come at a price, with rangefinder and frame lines out of alignment. The exclusive bayonet mount is complex and problem prone when it comes to coupling with the rangefinder. I would also point out that it's better to wind the film with the knob, instead of the lever, as the camera has both options. I really like the camera but I would never pay a high price for it, as it does basically the same thing as the other Kievs, exactly the same way, save for the viewfinder, film advance system and the exclusive lens Helios-94 that isn't available in any other camera.
Thank you Paulo!
Really like your videos. I'd love to see a review of the Zorki 10 please, if you're in the market for suggestions.
Thank you for your nice comment. Suggestions are very welcome! Yes, the Zorki 10 is possible since I have it in my collection. Stay tunned!
How can i contact you?
You can send me a message using RUclips or if you prefer use instagram paulomoreira007. Thank you.