The Kiev 4A

[Brian Moore]

Kiev churned out tons of Contax clones over the decades since the end of WWII and I am fortunate to have one. Mine's a Kiev 4a, which is a bare bones, 35mm rangefinder: all mechanical and no meter.

Here's a link to a brief article on my experience with this camera.

http://filmphotographyproject.com/content/reviews/2011/09/kiev-4a-fpp-review

 

[Kev Pugh]

Great Blog..........how to fall in love with a red

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Nice write up Brian - the eastern bloc images of Longbeach fitted the theme perfectly!

That camera design, it reminds me of something modern, something maybe Hamish was going on about - can't put my finger on it....




... X something?

 

[Kev Pugh]

Now Now ...Hamish would go on about anything remotely red.......... ;-)

 

[Brian Moore]

Thanks a lot, Kev. Much appreciated.

 

[Brian Moore]

Chris: lol! And thank you. (One was in Irvine, though.)

 

[Pete Askew]

Thanks Brian. Interesting write-up. And from the picture above I can think of at least one member who'd be really interested in this camera as it has the sort of level control that he's very keen on!!

 

[Hamish Gill]

I have flirted with russian rangefinders ... had about 3 or 4 ... not one of them worked!
But dont get me wrong, this is just bad luck, they have a great rep! and if you pick a Leica derived one you have the choice of a LOT of LTM lenses ...

I'm all about red me, wit ma socialist tendencies and what not ... this is why i love running a community based website! ... as you may have read else where ... we are all equal here (i'm just a bit more equal)


As an addition to Brian's comment's, the Kiev has a long rangefinder base, ie the rangefinder as a long distance from the vf meaning focus is more accurate, especially with longer lenses ... not that shorter rf base means inaccurate focusing ... just that a long one can help

 

[Hamish Gill]

That camera design, it reminds me of something modern, something maybe Hamish was going on about - can't put my finger on it....

... X something?

im drawing a blank ...

 

[Brian Moore]

Thanks a lot, Pete and Hamish!

That write up was just drafted up real quick one morning as a kind of playful overview of the camera, and not intended to be a technical explanation. So Hamish,...I appreciate your comments about the rangefinder. I actually didn't know that.

(I have a couple of FEDs, too. a 3 and a 5. Both use the Leica screw mount lenses. I also have a Zorki C.)

 

[Hamish Gill]

They were FED's that i had... the name frustratingly escaped me before!
Do you rate a particular one? my brain has completely emptied of the info i once knew about them

did you see the email i sent out earlier Brian ... i hope you didnt mind my blabbing on about you and your endeavours?

I also emailed Micheal from FPP today ... no reply yet ... but im hoping he will have some thoughts on mutual promotion

 

[Brian Moore]

I haven't shot the FEDs in a while. I like the 3 best out of the two. Very clean and simple Leica-esque design. I'll be shooting with them again soon, though.

I did see your e-mail and responded via E-mail. Thank you very very much!

I'm sure Michael will respond. He is a good guy but also a real busy one.

Thanks again,...Hamish.

 

[Hamish Gill]

No worries matey ... anything to help an enthusiast!

 

[Dunga Gin]

I have a few Kievs, 3,4 and 5.

Here's a couple of photo's with the 4an about 2 years back.

 

[Brian Moore]

Nice Dunga. What lens? What film?

Thanks.

 

[Dunga Gin]

Brian, the lens was a std. 50mm 8m No. 80... something, with a light yellow.

And the film was .....

or .....

DG

 

[Brian Moore]

Thanks Dunga. Those C41 process B&W films are pretty nice.