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Balázs Zentai
Balazs
Hungary
2 Posts |
 Posted - Oct 11 2019 : 12:39:32 PM
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Hi everybody!
I am new here. I love the all metal bulky mechanical cameras.
My first camera was a Zenit TTL, which was used by my grandmother.
A couple of years ago I started to use film cameras again.
So I bought a Kiev 5 with jupiter 12, jupiter 9 and helios 94 lens in good condition.
But. There is a problem with the rangefinder. The jupiter 9 is useless for portraits from f/4 to wide open. The misaligent is not big but very annoying.
Can anybody help me, how to calibrate the rangefinder of the Kiev 5?
Which screws are made for adjusting the horizontal and vertical calibration?
Thank you for your help!
Balazs
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SteveA
United Kingdom
134 Posts |
Posted - Oct 13 2019 : 05:08:48 AM
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Hi are you sure the rangefinder is off? To check, find a thin object like a television aerial or similar which is more than 100 meters away and see if the rangefinder images overlap at infinity. If they do, then the issue is with the shimming of the Jupiter 9 lens block - this is easy to sort out as the lens block unscrews from the mount. In this case you will need a ground glass screen from an old SLR, and a magnifying glass. Lock the shutter open, fit the lens to the camera at maximum aperture (F/2). Its best to focus the rangefinder on a page of printed paper quite close. Now if you put the screen on the film guides in the back of the camera and use the magnifying glass, you will see if the lens image is blurred. Now move backwards/forwards until the image sharpens up. If you need to move backwards then a shim needs removing, forwards and you need to add a shim. Shims can be made from printer paper.
If however the RF does NOT line up at infinity, you will need to remove the top of the camera to access the RF adjustment screws. With Kiev 4 cameras you really need to remove the shutter mechanism to get to the screws. I believe the mechanism inside the Kiev 5 is basically the same as the Kiev 4 but someone else may confirm this. http://www3.telus.net/public/rpnchbck/adjust%20rangefinder.html shows how to adjust the RF on a Kiev 4.
Cheers,
Steve |
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SteveA
United Kingdom
134 Posts |
Posted - Oct 13 2019 : 05:12:37 AM
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| I forgot to say, to remove the lens block you need to grip the block above the aperture ring and firmly twist to unscrew - the focussing ring etc. remains attached to the mount, the aperture ring comes away with the block. |
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SteveA
United Kingdom
134 Posts |
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Balázs Zentai
Balazs
Hungary
2 Posts |
Posted - Oct 16 2019 : 02:50:16 AM
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Thank you SteveA!
It was very useful. Probably you are right with the jupiter 9. I will compare the jupiter 9 and Helios 94 focusing.
The focusing ring on the jupiter needs a relube because it moves hard. When I dismantle it, the focus will be checked.
Is there any major difference in assembly between kiev4/contax and kiev 5 mount version?
Balazs |
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SteveA
United Kingdom
134 Posts |
Posted - Oct 16 2019 : 02:56:23 AM
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Hi there shouldn't be as the outer bayonet fitting is identical on both Kiev 5 and Kiev 4/Contax.
Steve |
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Topic |
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Kiev 5 rangefinder adjustment
