Kiev 4 without logo on the clip

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Printed on: 5/7/2026 2:42:54 PM

Topic

Topic author: Jacques M.

Posted on: 20250225111016

Hello,

Lately, I fell across a 1968 Kiev 4 without logo on the clip, just the serial number, like on the 4a "no names".
Here is a photo of the seller:

http://www.ussrphoto.com/resize/resize_image.aspx?ImgWd=800&IptFl=/UserContent2/2522025_6kfpthiy.png

http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent2/2522025_6kfpthiy.png

The (rare) visible cameras of this type date of 1968. A commemoration of the strikes in january 1918 at Arsenal's? Sovietcams shows too a case with "50 years to Soviet Ukraine" engraved on its plaque. See here, please: https://www.sovietcams.com/cameras/detail/420vjwc7gr6cwye2e4ppf3pw51

What do you think?

Amitiés. Jacques.

Replies

Reply author: AlexanderK

Replied on: 20250227132539

Hi Jacques,
I have also such Kiev-4 s/n 6817037. Regarding the case with "50 years..." I have a doubt, that it has something to do with this camera. I would expect some plate on the camera, such as "70 years..." on Kiev-19. It was absolutely common thing in the Soviet Union to put some soviet badges on the leather cases of different devices.
May be I am wrong, but I have never seen any other information except this case (it was rather long time on ebay).
If anyone has any it is very appriciated [:)].

Regards, Alexander

Reply author: cedricfan

Replied on: 20250227234408

"1968 the Soviet Union led Warsaw Pact troops in an invasion of Czechoslovakia to crack down on reformist trends in Prague. Although the Soviet Union's action successfully halted the pace of reform in Czechoslovakia, it had unintended consequences for the unity of the communist bloc"

Maybe a silent protest leaving "Made in USSR" away? Remember that they also did a version where Kiev was written in Ukranian, not Russian.

Best regards,
Juhani

Reply author: Jacques M.

Replied on: 20250228033952

In fact, I initially bought two of these Kiev 4 in reply to the thread "Kiev no name 1983". The "creation" of a no name 1968 would have been a joke, with the other one as a witness...[:I]

Probably no question to do so now. If these cameras are related in any way to the 1917-1921 Urainian-Soviet War, they will remain as they are, of course.

So, I have found three of these cameras without logo on the clip:
- a Kiev 4a # 6806307 (sold),
- two Kiev 4 # 6816322 and 6816711 (both mine). I will post photos when they are here.
Alexander, your # 6817037 has such a clip too?

Thanks to you and Juhani. We hope for other information and serial numbers!

Amitiés. Jacques.

Reply author: Vlad

Replied on: 20250228095617

Hahahaha Juhani, you're reaching with that Czechoslovakian theory [:D]. Honestly it's probably something stupid - a logo press broke or that particular assembly line didn't have one available.

Cheers,
Vlad

Reply author: cedricfan

Replied on: 20250228113213

Actually I must ask my friends in Ukraine if 1968 was somehow special year!

Best regards,
Juhani

Reply author: Vlad

Replied on: 20250228114859

1968 was 50 year anniversary of short lived Ukranian People's Republic (UPR) (1918-1921)

Reply author: Jacques M.

Replied on: 20250228153829

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Vlad
 1968 was 50 year anniversary of short lived Ukranian People's Republic (UPR) (1918-1921)
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

It's why there is a question about these clips.

Reply author: AlexanderK

Replied on: 20250304140431

Well, I have got today the second camera from 1968. It is Kiev-4a and also without any logo or "made in..." on the clip.
Here are my cameras:

http://www.ussrphoto.com/resize/resize_image.aspx?ImgWd=800&IptFl=/UserContent2/432025_Kiev-1968-1.jpeg

http://www.ussrphoto.com/resize/resize_image.aspx?ImgWd=800&IptFl=/UserContent2/432025_Kiev-1968-2.jpeg

Regards, Alexander

Reply author: Jacques M.

Replied on: 20250304152617

Very interesting. Thanks, Alexander.
I have not yet received my own ones.
So, we have now at least five 1968 Kievs without engraving on the clip (except the serial number).
Of course, it would be interesting to know if there are such other cameras. And I look for 1968 Kievs with "normal" clips: that can be useful too.

Amitiés. Jacques.

Reply author: Vlad

Replied on: 20250304155419

My suspicion is it's an export version. Often Сделано в СССР is eliminated, as it's not applicable in Cyrillic. And made Made in USSR stamp wasn't available at the time..

Reply author: AlexanderK

Replied on: 20250304160441

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Vlad
 My suspicion is it's an export version. Often Сделано в СССР is eliminated, as it's not applicable in Cyrillic. And made Made in USSR stamp wasn't available at the time..
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
I can agree with Vlad, but why only 1968? The last "no-name" export was made for USA in 1963/64. Export for Europe was hardly possible because of Contax copyrights.

Regards, Alexander

Reply author: Vlad

Replied on: 20250304160644

Maybe to East Germany or Soviet block were that copyright wasn't respected?

Reply author: AlexanderK

Replied on: 20250304160833

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Jacques M.
 
... And I look for 1968 Kievs with "normal" clips: that can be useful too.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
I have no Kiev Kameras from 1968 with "normal" clips, only these two. [:(].

Regards, Alexander

Reply author: cedricfan

Replied on: 20250305114008

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Vlad
 Maybe to East Germany or Soviet block were that copyright wasn't respected?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Finland was part of Europe and not Soviet block...

Best regards,
Juhani

Reply author: Vlad

Replied on: 20250305120509

But no one knows how it got there, maybe from DDR:)

Reply author: Jacques M.

Replied on: 20250306101859

Perhaps we fetch too far...
The "40 years Ukraine" exists: it's the IIIa with an Ukrainian logo. It is confirmed by a very rare special box shown by Ulrich: https://ussrphoto.com/Wiki/default.asp?ContentID=560&ParentID=1&WikiCatID=20

So, why not a "special 50 years" ten years later?

Amitiés. Jacques.

Reply author: cedricfan

Replied on: 20250306115103

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Vlad
 But no one knows how it got there, maybe from DDR:)
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

From DDR we got Praktica and AKA (toasters, hairdryers etc).

And I did find "proof": our "Kamera"-magazine used to publish a camera catalogue every year back then. And yes, it does list Kiev at least 1981! But poor success in sales, it cost about same as Zenit TTL. Importer is SU-owned "Koneisto" (means Machinery), which imported almost everything except cars from SU.

http://www.ussrphoto.com/resize/resize_image.aspx?ImgWd=800&IptFl=/UserContent2/632025_IMG_20250306_174613.jpg

http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent2/632025_IMG_20250306_174613.jpg

Also found UK-catalogue by Amateur Photographer from 1978 and even that had Kiev-RF's, importer TOE as expected

Best regards,
Juhani

Reply author: cedricfan

Replied on: 20250306120117

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Jacques M.
 
Perhaps we fetch too far...
The "40 years Ukraine" exists: it's the IIIa with an Ukrainian logo. It is confirmed by a very rare special box shown by Ulrich: https://ussrphoto.com/Wiki/default.asp?ContentID=560&ParentID=1&WikiCatID=20

So, why not a "special 50 years" ten years later?

Amitiés. Jacques.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

A small clarification: KIEV is written in Ukranian in that special version, not in Russian. They are not same languages, although not far from each other. Look at two dots above the "i" instead of Russian "e". And a very annoying thing for SU-Russians to openly show nationality back then!
Mine has no box, only camera & lens.

Best regards,
Juhani

Reply author: uwittehh

Replied on: 20250306161526

I also found a 1968 Kiev 4 in my collection (or the remains of it ...), but it has a normal engraving in the accessory shoe.

Yes, the box for the KIIV III is really rare. 6 to 10 years ago a box went for about 300 euros on eBay. Last year, a KIIV III with box was auctioned off for 9000 euros. I asked the auction house because I have a KIIV III left, they replied that they would expect about 2000 for the camera, the box would be more valuable. I was quite surprised :-)

Remember: Increase my household contents insurance :-)

Ulrich

http://fotos.cconin.de

Reply author: Jacques M.

Replied on: 20250306161918

Thanks Juhani.
I know well that Kiev is written in Ukrainian on the 1958 version: I own two of them... On the 1968 one, there is no mention of Ukraine anywhere. Just the absence of "Сделано в СССР" on the clip. Is it enough to mean something?

As for the 1968 Kievs with a "normal" clip, I have found only two numbers: 6804708 and 6836078, both for Kiev 4. For the moment, these two ones "border" our small series.

Amitiés. Jacques.

Reply author: Jacques M.

Replied on: 20250308084724

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">

Remember: Increase my household contents insurance :-)

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Ha ha![:D]
What is the s/n of your "normal" 1968 Kiev 4, Ulrich? It could be interesting to limit our special series.

Amitiés. Jacques.

Reply author: uwittehh

Replied on: 20250310125806

Jacques,

the number of mine is 6801427.

Ulrich

http://fotos.cconin.de

Reply author: Jacques M.

Replied on: 20250326110716

Thanks, Ulrich.
The Kiev 4 s/n 6816332, without logo too, is here.

http://www.ussrphoto.com/resize/resize_image.aspx?ImgWd=800&IptFl=/UserContent2/2632025_IMG_1871.JPG

http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent2/2632025_IMG_1871.JPG

I am going to put that in the wiki. Thanks for your remarks!

Amitiés. Jacques.

Reply author: Jacques M.

Replied on: 20250408075438

The book "1200 cameras..." knows this Kiev without logo.
But it doesn't give any explanation.
Here, a translated copy of the notice (p. 456)

Kiev IV
Model Group I
Modification 2
Issue 3
1968 F.
The number of copies has not been established.
Features:
on the terminal for attaching the devices above the
There is no "Made in the USSR" case:
Cable sync contact:
main lens "Jupiter-8" 2/50 mm.

Amitiés. Jacques.