Kiev/Contax

I have a Kiev 4 with a dead RF and the shutter speeds except 1/500 sec, sounds to be ok to my ears and to Fuji

negative 200 ASA film.I have also the full lens set ( I mean 8,9,11,12 Jupiter-Saturn-Pluton :) etc.) The question is

that; does it worth to send the old Kievski for RF repair and shutter care or buy the shiny Contax II that smiling to me

in local store for 700 bucks? Do I have any other options?

By the way, forget about Bessa R2c, it's out of my reach here, and the aluminium princess Jup. 12 cannot be mount

in it . Thanks to the responders... MF

Get the Contax II. Eventually fix the Kiev.

Most certainly do <b>not </b> buy that Contax II for $700, that is an outrageous price!

 

Difficult call on the repair, as the cost is likely to exceed the value of the camera, especially if it's a later one. Either buy another Kiev from a reputable seller (look at rangefinderforum.com for suggestions) or try to get a Contax II for a lot less... I've seen them go with SOnnar 50/1.5 lens for $450 and below; check eBay completed sales for recent examples. Some people prefer the Contax IIa, but like the Bessa, your Jupiter 12 won't fit it.

In your shoes I would be looking round for a replacement Kiev 4. And if I could find someone to give an estimate for RF repair and shutter CLA, I'd follow up that possibility as well. Then compare the replacement cost with the repair cost.

If you don't mind sending your Kiev to Russia, I've heard that Oleg Khalyavin does good work on them for very reasonable rates. Google his name to find his site.

I'd advise against the Contax at that price unless it's really in perfect shape. The Contaxes don't last the years usually in

good photographic shape. It's a great camera, but I think it's the kind of great camera that needs an occasional overhaul.

And there aren't that many people who can overhaul them back to factory specs. There's a guy I send my cameras to,

and he's good, but I've had one camera there for about a year and a half and still haven't got it back so you REALLY

have to want to use a Contax. That said, when I got my other Contax IIA back from him it worked very well, as did the

lenses he overhauled for me.

 

I guess what I'm saying is that with 50 year old Contax IIs and IIAs there's a good chance they've been either not

serviced or serviced badly and it's not trivial to put them right if they have. So buy with caution.

The seller is mad about the serial number of his Contax so closed with sticker but, the machine (I say) is great in shape. Its a shiny little ..tch, all I wanna do is; not to lose the opportunity of shooting with Jup 12. Its a great lens to me, so sharp, so contrasting cast of colors.

Here is a frame with Jup12-Kiev 4<div></div>

My reading of Maizenberg is that the Kiev/Contax shutter usually only needs a CLA to get working, but the dead RF may be more difficult. Unless your Kiev is completely mint, I'd look for another working one... if it is mint, then send it to Oleg.

$700 is way over priced for a Contax II unless there is a rare lens (21/4.5 or 28/8 for example) that comes with it. Have the Kiev repaired instead. I can highly recommend Eddie Smolov in Brooklyn, NY who does excellent, fast, work for a very low cost.

 

If you can find a more reasonably priced Contax, they are well worth the money. Just nowhere near _that_ much money ;)

 

William

Your lens set is not quite full without the Jupiter 3, Helios 103, etc.

Its is quite full Fred. I already have them, just not so in love with those two...