I just recently got into the Soviet cameras. I have a 1950 Kiev II, and a 1953 FED 1. I really like how compact the Fed 1 is with its collapsible lens. They both take great photos.
Great review of the Keiv 4a, I shoot a Contax IIIa as my only rangefinder (I should send it to you for a review later). And your fiancée sounds amazing for being super encouraging, Heather is the same way when I get frustrated when things aren't working. :)
I really love the edges these cameras have, the 6c and 60 also having that edge makes them so nice for holding and to look at. Great video and infor-may-teeooonnn.
Another camera you should try is the Zorke 4. I have a very nice one from 1958 in very good condition & I think they are very underrated. I have a Fed 2 & a Kiev 4a also & while they are good cameras the Zorki is the nicest to shoot of my Soviet Union rangefinder cameras. I also have a Leica M3 & I will admit it is my favorite but the Zorki for the money is very good. I enjoy you blog & TH-cam channel & it has made me realize you don’t always need a planned photo shoot to make good photos. Just shoot! Thanks
Thank you for the video. Your colourful pictures were uplifting, because today England was raining all day. At least I did see some "sunshine" be it second hand.
Hey great video! The closest I have to using a Russian camera is an old Sears Tower camera which is a fixed lens rangefinder made in the 70s I think. Keep up the good work.
I missed you and your terrific review style and content. While I was waiting for you to post again, I happened to look up some reviews of a digital camera I already own, mostly for curiosity's sake. Most of them consisted almost entirely of technical information that I could've looked up easily on the manufacturer's web site, and I was surprised when some of those allegedly professional reviewers didn't even turn the camera on, much less show anything they had actually produced with it! Interestingly, the ones who did the best reviews were clearly amateurs. That is, it was obvious that they didn't know a lot about photography or making slick TH-cam videos, but they did know that anyone interested in buying a camera would want to see what it could do and what it was like to use it in the field, and that was mostly what they showed. You know, exactly like you do with film cameras! Thanks for posting another video, and it's great to see and hear you again.
Hi Aly. Excellent review. The only Russian camera I have is the Zorki 4K. Worth you trying that as it’s a great little rangefinder. I do have an original Contax ii but have always thought about getting a Kiev to compare. You have tempted me. More camera purchasing madness !! Your black and white pictures on Kentmere are superb and I like the second set of the colour photos that you showed. The only thing I would mention is with regard to the dates that you mentioned re production. The first model, named Kiev-II, was actually introduced in 1947 and as you say contains original Contax II parts. The Kiev-II was followed by the Kiev-III, a copy or as you say a clone of the Contax III with an exposure meter on top of the body. The later versions of the Kiev were indeed produced in the 1950’s but they started with the “clones” just a couple of years after the Second World War finished.
Your two rolls with the Kiev are lovely. The unintended color shifts are pretty rad, especially the purple sky + rainbow. I have a love-hate relationship with my KMZ Moskva-5 (6x9 folder which resembles a Super Ikonta). I love using it, but it is finicky. The camera is unwieldy for hand-holding, leading invariably to shaky-cam images. On a tripod, I can get razor sharp images if the remote shutter release decides to trip the shutter (and not just the double-exposure-prevention aka film-waster).
A quick tidbit I'd like to add: the Helios-103, 53mm f/1.8 lens that was also sold with these bodies, can also be an excellent lens (quality control really seems to have depended on who was working which day at the factory...). Quality control may also be the cause of the colour cast issue, if the coatings weren't applied correctly. With a bit of creative engineering, the lenses can be adapted for digital mirrorless, for added usefulness. I find the 103 underappreciated in fact, because of that wonky lens mount. Shame they didn't make an m/42 version.
@@Uncle_Devil that’s awesome! I love to hear it. Thanks for letting me know. This Kiev was actually not mine. I was borrowing it to review and now a viewer sent me one so I am excited to actually have one to shoot with regularly too
I have a Kiev 4a and a Kiev 6c 6x6 slr. I hate that wheel. My favourite soviet rangefinder is the the Zorki 4k also with the awesome Jupiter 8 50mm f2 lens. Eyesight correction lever on the viewfinder and no wheel. The one downside is it doesn't have any strap lugs on the body so you have to use the case.
The later black dials were much easier to use. On earlier chrome models the shutter speeds were crowded close together at the high end and difficult to see. The shutter is surprisingly quiet - almost Leica-like.
buy a couple of black rubber " O " ring seals and superglue the one that fits best over the metal ring of the rear eye piece, it saves the glass of your glasses.
I am really glad to find your channel. Thanks a lot for your contents. I would like to ask a question about this particular germ. Is it possible that this camera can be manipulated to take multi exposure on same frame?
Thanks so much. Unfortunately I don’t think it can. The shutter was specifically designed to prevent it. So you can’t take another shot unless you wind on to the next frame.
Oh! Is Ray Christofer the same person as Aloy Anderson? If so, he had a great reviews about Russian lenses and filmphotography. I know him. He was a great man and a nice person on al his answers of communications with me on youtube.
@@LeendertCordemans unfortunately I’ve never found out. That’s part of why it’s been so upsetting. I did message his wife afterwards to find out. She read my msg but never responded so I’ve never found out what happened.
The true is.... Kiev isnt a copy. Kiev is a Contax. After World War II Workers and factory was send to Kijów in Ukraine. Kiev 4a is the same camera as Contax and i can't belive that people still sell it much pricies than Kiev. Offcourse all about Zeiss Lens. The lens in Kiev is a Jupiter 8 but in COntax was Oryginal Zeiss Sonar i belive. Cheers o/
I really enjoyed your images and the tribute to Aloy. My favorite USSR camera is the original Lomo LC-A, such a fun little shooter.
Thank you.
Great little camera. Just sold mine. May buy another in a few years when prices come back to reality. Currently unloaded all my cameras
I just recently got into the Soviet cameras. I have a 1950 Kiev II, and a 1953 FED 1. I really like how compact the Fed 1 is with its collapsible lens. They both take great photos.
Cool. Which lens is the collapsing one?
@@AlysVintageCameraAlley it's the Fed f3.5/50mm. I believe it's basically an Industar 22 just with the Fed name on it.
Great review of the Keiv 4a, I shoot a Contax IIIa as my only rangefinder (I should send it to you for a review later). And your fiancée sounds amazing for being super encouraging, Heather is the same way when I get frustrated when things aren't working. :)
Thanks. Yea I’d love that. Yes kelseys really good at being positive when I’m not
I really love the edges these cameras have, the 6c and 60 also having that edge makes them so nice for holding and to look at. Great video and infor-may-teeooonnn.
Thank you LOL
Love all the pics, especially the palm tree image.
Thank you 😊
Another camera you should try is the Zorke 4. I have a very nice one from 1958 in very good condition & I think they are very underrated. I have a Fed 2 & a Kiev 4a also & while they are good cameras the Zorki is the nicest to shoot of my Soviet Union rangefinder cameras. I also have a Leica M3 & I will admit it is my favorite but the Zorki for the money is very good. I enjoy you blog & TH-cam channel & it has made me realize you don’t always need a planned photo shoot to make good photos. Just shoot! Thanks
Thanks so much. Yes I think the zorki will be my next try.
Thank you for the video. Your colourful pictures were uplifting, because today England was raining all day. At least I did see some "sunshine" be it second hand.
Thank you 🙏
Hey great video! The closest I have to using a Russian camera is an old Sears Tower camera which is a fixed lens rangefinder made in the 70s I think. Keep up the good work.
oh nice one. Thank you for watching.
Nice camera, I have one that my father gave to me. I shot a Contax III ages ago, now I will give it a try… thanks for the nice review!
Thanks so much
I missed you and your terrific review style and content. While I was waiting for you to post again, I happened to look up some reviews of a digital camera I already own, mostly for curiosity's sake. Most of them consisted almost entirely of technical information that I could've looked up easily on the manufacturer's web site, and I was surprised when some of those allegedly professional reviewers didn't even turn the camera on, much less show anything they had actually produced with it! Interestingly, the ones who did the best reviews were clearly amateurs. That is, it was obvious that they didn't know a lot about photography or making slick TH-cam videos, but they did know that anyone interested in buying a camera would want to see what it could do and what it was like to use it in the field, and that was mostly what they showed. You know, exactly like you do with film cameras! Thanks for posting another video, and it's great to see and hear you again.
Thanks Mark. I’m glad you liked it. I know what you mean.
Hi Aly. Excellent review. The only Russian camera I have is the Zorki 4K. Worth you trying that as it’s a great little rangefinder. I do have an original Contax ii but have always thought about getting a Kiev to compare. You have tempted me. More camera purchasing madness !! Your black and white pictures on Kentmere are superb and I like the second set of the colour photos that you showed. The only thing I would mention is with regard to the dates that you mentioned re production. The first model, named Kiev-II, was actually introduced in 1947 and as you say contains original Contax II parts. The Kiev-II was followed by the Kiev-III, a copy or as you say a clone of the Contax III with an exposure meter on top of the body. The later versions of the Kiev were indeed produced in the 1950’s but they started with the “clones” just a couple of years after the Second World War finished.
Thank you for the info!
Thank you for the info!
really like the bw image of the town hall steeple with the leaves surrounding it. great composition decision, in my opinion.
Thank you.
Lovely photos Aly.
Thank you.
Your two rolls with the Kiev are lovely. The unintended color shifts are pretty rad, especially the purple sky + rainbow.
I have a love-hate relationship with my KMZ Moskva-5 (6x9 folder which resembles a Super Ikonta). I love using it, but it is finicky. The camera is unwieldy for hand-holding, leading invariably to shaky-cam images. On a tripod, I can get razor sharp images if the remote shutter release decides to trip the shutter (and not just the double-exposure-prevention aka film-waster).
Thanks so much.
Is that a rangefinder or zone focus.
@@AlysVintageCameraAlley It’s a rangefinder, and that is actually coupled to the focus ring (which is apparently uncommon in folders).
@@timdarklighter yea that’s pretty cool. I hate zone focus cameras
A quick tidbit I'd like to add: the Helios-103, 53mm f/1.8 lens that was also sold with these bodies, can also be an excellent lens (quality control really seems to have depended on who was working which day at the factory...). Quality control may also be the cause of the colour cast issue, if the coatings weren't applied correctly.
With a bit of creative engineering, the lenses can be adapted for digital mirrorless, for added usefulness. I find the 103 underappreciated in fact, because of that wonky lens mount. Shame they didn't make an m/42 version.
Hi Aly , nice upload I can recommend the soviet lubitel 2 camera . Have the Kiev in my collection but haven’t used it yet 👏🏻👏🏻👍🏻
Ok. Thank you.
Thanks a lot for the video. I want to buy a rangefinder and I've been considering options
Thank you. This is a great option
Nice looking camera. I'm glad your fiance encouraged you to go back and take more shots. RIP Aloy.
Thank you
You convinced me to buy one! Working on putting a roll of Fuji 200 through it!
Awesome. I love when I hear that I’ve helped people to find a new camera to enjoy. Have fun!
@@AlysVintageCameraAlley Checking in almost a year later and my 4a has become my most used shooter. Thanks for pushing over the edge into buying one!
@@Uncle_Devil that’s awesome! I love to hear it. Thanks for letting me know. This Kiev was actually not mine. I was borrowing it to review and now a viewer sent me one so I am excited to actually have one to shoot with regularly too
I have a Kiev 4a and a Kiev 6c 6x6 slr. I hate that wheel.
My favourite soviet rangefinder is the the Zorki 4k also with the awesome Jupiter 8 50mm f2 lens.
Eyesight correction lever on the viewfinder and no wheel.
The one downside is it doesn't have any strap lugs on the body so you have to use the case.
I think a Zorki is what I’d like to try next. The FED2 had the eyesight correction lever. I liked that.
Great pictures
What did you use for exposure measurements?
Thank you. I used my voigtlander meter that I usually have on my Leica m2
The later black dials were much easier to use. On earlier chrome models the shutter speeds were crowded close together at the high end and difficult to see. The shutter is surprisingly quiet - almost Leica-like.
It’s a beautiful camera. I’ve missed it since I had to give it back to its owner lol
buy a couple of black rubber " O " ring seals and superglue the one that fits best over the metal ring of the rear eye piece, it saves the glass of your glasses.
I am really glad to find your channel. Thanks a lot for your contents. I would like to ask a question about this particular germ. Is it possible that this camera can be manipulated to take multi exposure on same frame?
Thanks so much. Unfortunately I don’t think it can. The shutter was specifically designed to prevent it. So you can’t take another shot unless you wind on to the next frame.
Oh! Is Ray Christofer the same person as Aloy Anderson? If so, he had a great reviews about Russian lenses and filmphotography. I know him. He was a great man and a nice person on al his answers of communications with me on youtube.
Yes that was him. Yes he was a great guy
@@AlysVintageCameraAlley thanks. How? Was he il?
@@LeendertCordemans unfortunately I’ve never found out. That’s part of why it’s been so upsetting. I did message his wife afterwards to find out. She read my msg but never responded so I’ve never found out what happened.
@@AlysVintageCameraAlley I sow the message to day for the first time. I was shock about it and was lookong on his website an instragam account.
My understanding is that the fast shutter speeds on the Contax were quite overrated. The speeds on the Kiev would be a bit more honest. Nice review.
Thank you
The true is.... Kiev isnt a copy. Kiev is a Contax. After World War II Workers and factory was send to Kijów in Ukraine. Kiev 4a is the same camera as Contax and i can't belive that people still sell it much pricies than Kiev. Offcourse all about Zeiss Lens. The lens in Kiev is a Jupiter 8 but in COntax was Oryginal Zeiss Sonar i belive.
Cheers o/
My Kiev is nice but I don't know what model it is.