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just bought a weird 1955 Kiev II :)

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Printed on: 5/31/2026 6:40:59 AM


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Topic author: jed

Posted on: 20081212064153

Just see :

http://cgi.ebay.fr/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=110320909003&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=001

The lens is a mix between a Jupiter 8 and an Industar 22 - go figure !
Nethertheless I bought the item mostly for the Kiev II body. "Kiev" name is executed using <i>engraving</i> on the front plate. I believe it's only around 1954-1955 that such camera where produced. Any comments ???

Best,
Jed

Replies

Reply author: Vlad

Replied on: 20081212085132

Congrats Jed! It's a nice homemade piece! Glad to see you get it! Sorry for driving your price up! [;)][:D][:D] Now I know who I was bidding against LOL.

Vlad

Reply author: jed

Replied on: 20081212095000

Hello Vlad !

[:)] Despite obviously never produced at Arsenal or Kmz the lens is valuable to me. I'll test it with film and show results.
I've got the camera at a very reasonable price considering the recent price increase. I was planning to spend 60 usd
That front plate is very uncommon.

Best,
Jed

Reply author: Jacques M.

Replied on: 20081218142532


Hi Jed,
What an interesting combination!
The lens doesn't seem to be straight on the picture, but it's probably a problem of parallax.
Very curious to see your results indeed.

Amitiés. Jacques.

Reply author: nathandayton

Replied on: 20081218144950

Lens is probably collapsible and not straight. As far as the front plate goes It is held on by six screws. I will make any combination that you want to pay for!

Reply author: jed

Replied on: 20081218162417

Hello,

I've got the camera [:)]



Here's a close up picture of the front plate :



http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/Ré-exposition de PICT0729.JPG


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/Ré-exposition de PICT0729.JPG

Now see an early Kiev 4a front plate :



http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/PICT0008.JPG


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/PICT0008.JPG

Nathan is right, it's easy to remove the front plate but I believe that camera is genuine - ( forgot the lens and the flash synchro neither were an Arsenal manufacture [:D] ).

Please see the DVD technik database :
http://www.dvdtechcameras.com/collect/arsenal/arsenal.htm

He owns same model s/n 541866. Mine is 552219. It's only assumption but maybe Arsenal produced few cameras around 1954 or 1955 with that uncommon front plate.

The Jupiter-Industar lens is 'rigid'. To me the rear element is too far out from the film. I'll test it anyway [:)]

Best,

Jed

Reply author: jed

Replied on: 20081219132730

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="MS Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by nathandayton</i>
<br /> As far as the front plate goes It is held on by six screws.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

You're wrong, it's seven screws [:D]
The hidden one is sometime hard to remove [}:)]

Best,
Jed

Reply author: jed

Replied on: 20081222131304

Hello,

Here's what I've got with the lens :
(note the lens is hazy and there's numerous cleaning marks on both front and rear elements ; film is Polypan F, aperture is f4, shutter speed 1/25)



http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/Rtestjupindustar.JPG


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/Rtestjupindustar.JPG

The print is better, really. The lens is average.
Anyway, focusing is ok. Hats off to an unknown repairman [8)]

Best,
Jean