Paulo J Moreira
Kiev 5
This is the last major evolution of the Contax rangefinder system presented at the beginning of the 1930's. After the still born Nikon SPX that brought a major redesign to the Contax rangefinder system, the Soviets took note of some ideas of the SPX. Like the Nikon, gone is the focusing wheel on top, a trademark feature that was never consensual, replaced by one (and only) external mount. Gone is also the super wide rangefinder base that forced the photographer to become a contortionist if he wanted to use the top focusing wheel.
You might find odd to find Nikon, Contax and Kiev in the same text, but these companies did share the same basic DNA, the Contax rangefinder system. However, this Kiev is far from being a Soviet Nikon or Soviet Contax, like its forerunners were. The Kiev 5 is ugly as sin and it's not in the same quality league as the first Kiev's. The camera is rougher to operate than other Kievs. The advance system is a curious mix of knob and lever, it's up to the photographer to choose, this is also the reason for the ungainly design.
However, there are some nice things, like the rewind crank moved to the extreme left side, truly one of the most complex and beautifully engineered cranks out there. The camera is the first Soviet focal plane rangefinder to have projected frame lines in the viewfinder. The viewfinder is nice, miles away from the Zorki/FED brigade, but it's no Leica M. In my camera there is no auto parallax correction, no big deal. There is a selenium meter, totally uncoupled that is useless and contributes to the camera's awkward design.
In spite of some good ideas, the basis of the camera remained the old Contax II, you get a super quiet shutter, but no hinged film door or take up spool. I am a bit curious about the Helios 94 50/1.8 lens that seems to have been developed only for this model. I will let you know soon about my findings.
Kiev 5
This is the last major evolution of the Contax rangefinder system presented at the beginning of the 1930's. After the still born Nikon SPX that brought a major redesign to the Contax rangefinder system, the Soviets took note of some ideas of the SPX. Like the Nikon, gone is the focusing wheel on top, a trademark feature that was never consensual, replaced by one (and only) external mount. Gone is also the super wide rangefinder base that forced the photographer to become a contortionist if he wanted to use the top focusing wheel.
You might find odd to find Nikon, Contax and Kiev in the same text, but these companies did share the same basic DNA, the Contax rangefinder system. However, this Kiev is far from being a Soviet Nikon or Soviet Contax, like its forerunners were. The Kiev 5 is ugly as sin and it's not in the same quality league as the first Kiev's. The camera is rougher to operate than other Kievs. The advance system is a curious mix of knob and lever, it's up to the photographer to choose, this is also the reason for the ungainly design.
However, there are some nice things, like the rewind crank moved to the extreme left side, truly one of the most complex and beautifully engineered cranks out there. The camera is the first Soviet focal plane rangefinder to have projected frame lines in the viewfinder. The viewfinder is nice, miles away from the Zorki/FED brigade, but it's no Leica M. In my camera there is no auto parallax correction, no big deal. There is a selenium meter, totally uncoupled that is useless and contributes to the camera's awkward design.
In spite of some good ideas, the basis of the camera remained the old Contax II, you get a super quiet shutter, but no hinged film door or take up spool. I am a bit curious about the Helios 94 50/1.8 lens that seems to have been developed only for this model. I will let you know soon about my findings.