|
The Kiev
4a is a well known Russian (Ukrainian to be politically correct) Contax
II copy. This was a long running production model - with some slight changes
Arsenal factory in Kiev produced it from 1958 to 1980. Kiev-4a is very
similar to its predecessor - Kiev IIa, it introduced some cosmetic changes.
The lens was also modernized - the aperture dial was engraved on both
sides of the lens, so the setting is visible regardless of the lens position.
The aperture dial has stop-click settings. And, of course, the name was
changed to Jupiter-8M. All these changes made the proven Contax design
more convenient to use.
There were
two major Kiev-4a variations - the original Kiev-4a (1958 -
c.1974) and
the Kiev-4a type 2 (c.1974 -1980). In the Kiev-4a type 2 the Arsenal engineers
finally admitted that the top speed of the shutter was seldom as fast
as 1/1250, and a more realistic 1/1000 was engraved as a top speed. The
last model, Kiev-4m, was in production from 1980 to mid-80's.
This Kiev-4a
was made in 1978. It is a type 2 model.
Technical Characteristics
Kiev-4a Body
|
Shutter
Speeds
|
B, 1/2
- 1/1000
|
|
Shutter
Type
|
Focal
plane, metal/leather curtains, vertical movement
|
|
Rangefinder
Base
|
90mm |
|
Viewfinder
Magnification
|
0.9x
|
|
Flash
Synch
|
X-type
|
|
Film
Type
|
35mm
film in standard cassettes |
|
Self-timer
|
9 to
15 seconds
|
|
Lens
Mount
|
Contax
Rangefinder Bayonet. In
ternal and external bayonets fully compatible
with Contax II, III, IIa, IIIa |
|
Body
Finish
|
Black
Enamel, Leather covering |
Lens: Jupiter-8M,
50/2, CZJ Sonnar 50/2 Copy
|
Focal
length
|
50 mm
|
|
Aperture
|
1:2,
settings from 2 to 22, stop-clicks
|
|
Angle
of Coverage
|
45? |
|
Focusing
|
0.9 m
- Infinity
|
|
Filter
size
|
M40.5x0.5
|
|
Optical
Design
|
6
elements in 3 groups, click
to see drawing |
|
Optical
registration (back focus)
|
31.85?0.02
mm
|
|
Mount
|
Contax
Rangefinder Bayonet (Internal). Will fit all Kievs, Contax II, III,
IIa, IIIa |
|
Glass
|
Coated |
|
Finish
|
Polished
chrome |
This camera
is special, it is finished in black enamel, as was its grandmother
(or grandfather) - the Contax I. As far as I know, there were no black
Kievs produced by Arsenal plant; what you see is a great and detailed
work of a skilled repairman/restorer from Odessa, Ukraine (this is where
the camera was bought). The camera was disassembled, all chrome panels
were painted with a high quality enamel. New finish is baked in a controlled
temperature chamber; the resulting finish is tough and durable.
I've never
seen a black Kiev in the past and wonder why Arsenal never tried this
- it looks so great! Well, I can guess why - they did not really care,
since the only customer they had was the Government, and it did not care
either.
The camera
comes with a plastic lenscap
, clean leather case.
As well as
any Soviet Contax copy, the Kiev-4a is a rugged and precision camera,
equipped with a great lens. It is capable of taking advantage of modern
films, and is simply a great fun to use.
|
