Kiev III with B in the serial number

Hi to all.

I have Kiev III with B above the serial number. I read the old thread about this serials and no conclusions were given about what the "B" means. Did anybody since then solved this puzzle? Are these cameras still considered as rare? Any production numbers known?

I also wonder if the Jupiter lens is any special since it was produced by KMZ, but has Kiev mount.

I have another Kiev III in working condition with working meter and Jupiter 3 lens, however, from 1957 and with double name logo. This "B" Kiev is unfortunately not working and has a dead meter. I don't know which one to keep... I have a tendency to keep older and rarer cameras, but working Kiev III with working meter is also rare :)

Additional question: Does anyone have the lightmeter glass cover spare part on hand and what would be the price?

Thanks in advance for your comments!

http://shrani.si/f/2b/Qt/1EgNme8g/kieviii00.jpg

http://shrani.si/f/1J/tQ/4TwiuF87/kieviii01.jpg

http://shrani.si/f/2n/Vv/2nkrBmjY/kieviii01a.jpg

Hi,
so far as I know, there are no special differences between KMZ Jupiter-8 for Zorki and Kiev, only the mount.
Serial numbers: my Kiev-III has s/n Б 540956.

Regards, Alexander

Hi, yes A and Б are classes of selenium exposure meters

Hi,
Your camera is a must-have for every Kiev collector. What's wrong with the shutter ?

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="MS Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Vlad</i>
<br />Hi, yes A and &#1041; are classes of selenium exposure meters
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Vlad, do you know the difference in the meters? I have both A and B Kievs always wondered about this.

Hi. Thanks for the info! I saw there are different scales on the light meter window scales but I didn't know you managed to connect them with the "A" and "B". Or is there any other / additional difference?

Shutter is stuck. Ribbons are OK. I believe it can be repaired.

Sorry I neglected this thread.. Yuri, here's the old thread on this:

http://ussrphoto.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1643

The links to Anatoliy's site don't seem to work but you'll get the idea.

Thanks,
Vlad

Thank you Vlad. As always, quite interesting to see the arguments from various sides.
There are follower and there are skeptics. I am not sure yet if I am sold on the light meter class, but a good theory.

I'll go and examine my "B' now

Yuri


<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="MS Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Vlad</i>
<br />Sorry I neglected this thread.. Yuri, here's the old thread on this:

http://ussrphoto.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1643

The links to Anatoliy's site don't seem to work but you'll get the idea.

Thanks,
Vlad
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

It would be great if people with the Kiev III can post their serial numbers and the letter if there is one so we can build more extensive database for analysis.

Thanks!
Vlad

Vlad,
Posting my numbers for Kiev IIIs that I've encountered in the past 20 years

557756
558841
560983
A522554
A523834
A524327
A531409
A531812
A535253
A545224
A548855
A549780
B541139