My first Kiev, a 1950 one!!
Printed from: USSRPhoto Forums
Topic URL: http://localhost:8088/modern/Forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=997
Printed on: 5/31/2026 10:46:45 PM
Topic
Topic author: Jacques M.
Posted on: 20081212102816
Hello,
Incredible! I have just bought a Kiev, my first one!
A beautiful 1950 II one, with its Zorki 2/50 lens.
Till now, I often answered questions about Feds.
From now, I'm a student learning from great masters: Michel, Jed and of course Alain, to speak only of illustrious French collectors [:D]
A 1932 Contax I is hoped to be at the head of this new collection, exactly as I have some Leicas as references. I will tell you more when these two cameras are at home!
Amitiés. Jacques.
Replies
Reply author: Michel
Replied on: 20081212115024
Take it easy, Jacques !!!
"…illustrious french collectors"
Oh my God, noooooo…!
[:I][:I][:I][:I][:I][:I][:I][:I][:I][:I][:I][:I][:I][:I][:I][:I]
Reply author: Michel
Replied on: 20081212115220
Nevertheless, you are welcome ![:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]
Reply author: stephanvdz
Replied on: 20081212135617
attention contax/kiev are very addictive... what YOU need to find is a contax I or II or III (prewar models) with the very rare french importer engraving... S.I. made in Germany (Société Ikonta) on the rewind knob.
Stephan
Reply author: uwittehh
Replied on: 20081212141834
Jacques,
congrats to that find! The ones from the 50ies with ZK lens are rare nowadays. I own a 49 Kiev II with ZK lens.
Stephan: I have had about a dozen of prewar Contax II and III until today, the ones with "Made in Germany" are rare, but I have never seen one with the "Société Ikonta" engraving.
My rarest Contax II was one ot the latest series (serial starts with "O", so ist was made in 1943 or 44) with a Sonnar 2/50 with the additional engraving "MF" for "Marine Flieger". I have sold it, I don't know why...
Ulrich
http://fotos.cconin.deReply author: stephanvdz
Replied on: 20081212151834
very rare indeed... O series are very late production (just before the bombing or even after the bombing) and a MF engraving is totally possible. Marine used a lot of contax, and secret services too... leica was used by army and aviation. M, N and O contax II are really rare, the factory was making more III than II at that time.
I have a M serial contax II which is already quite rare (late 43)... and a super rare Sonnar 2/50 T n° 2936226 (that batch is better known as ZKised lenses...)
The exact engravings of a french contax are "Allemagne S.I." on the rewind knob... not made in germany (sorry)
I also have a "chinese" superikonta A with the engraving "made in germany" written in chinese...
Stephan
Reply author: Jacques M.
Replied on: 20081212165233
I had only one drug; now they are two [8D] Thanks for your understanding...
Sorry to be slow witted about what you say... for the moment. I think a 1950 Kiev II is not so common. For the Contax I, all I can say is that it is a black U one, reingraved Y, with A (for repaired) before the ciphers and TT after. With one dimple.
The ciphers are reingraved too, so it's impossible to read correctly the serial number.
And I don't know the meaning of "TT". If a specialist has an idea...
But I fear we are out of our matters. If Vlad can forgive me...
Amitiés. Jacques.
Reply author: stephanvdz
Replied on: 20081212180024
go to the ZICG list on yahoo and ask the list... they will know what TT means... what have got for lens onthe contax 1 ?
Stephan
Reply author: Jacques M.
Replied on: 20081213052331
Well in fact, it's PP, not TT![:I]
Thanks for the advice, Stephan: I've just sent the question.
About the lens, it's a black and nickel 2,8/50 Tessar of 1934 by the serial number: it was probably changed when repairing the body.
And thanks to everybody to help me in this new addiction!
Amitiés. Jacques.
Reply author: stephanvdz
Replied on: 20081213123501
i've a nice balcak and nickel sonnar 1,5 somewhere on a shelf... but no contax I...
Stephan
Reply author: Jacques M.
Replied on: 20090120092229
Here are my three Kiev/Contaxes and the beginning of a new collection.
I think there will be much less Kievs/Contaxes than Feds/Leicas...but who knows exactly?
Amitiés. Jacques.
Reply author: Jacques M.
Replied on: 20090120092648
Reply author: Michel
Replied on: 20090120113636
Hi Jacques,
Nice family.[:D]
Is your Contax I in working condition?
(Mine -1934/35- is not [:(])
Congratulations !
Michel.
Reply author: stephanvdz
Replied on: 20090120122315
nice family indeed...
but the tessar on the I is of later production (you should have the black ring version)
If anyone is good enough to lend me a Horizon, I'll take a picture of my collection of kievs and contaxes... (2 kievs and 10 contaxes... and many lenses too)
Stephan
Reply author: stephanvdz
Replied on: 20090120122623
Michel, you should ask photoclinic in Hannut (Belgium) to repair your contax 1, I suppose that the "belts" or ribbons are dead ? Photoclinic [photoclinic@tele2allin.be], tell the guy that I send you there...
Stephan
Reply author: Jacques M.
Replied on: 20090120172030
Hello,
Yes, Michel, my Contax 1a works perfectly (at least the shutters). But the U re engraved Y shows it was repaired at the factory in the thirties. As for the rangefinder, the contrast is almost invisible in some conditions.
I know this lens is not the good one. So Stephan, if you know somebody who has a spare black lens to trade... Tessar 3,5 or 2,8 or Sonnar 1,5: I don't mind! [:)]
Amitiés. Jacques.
Reply author: stephanvdz
Replied on: 20090122154608
Jacques... contact me directly... I have a black rim tessar for an exchange may be...
Stephan
Stephan
Reply author: Jacques M.
Replied on: 20090131085153
My old Contax feels better!
It has now a black rim 1931-32 Tessar, much more convenient than an all nickel one.
Thanks, Stephan!
Jacques.
Reply author: stephanvdz
Replied on: 20090201203611
send a picture ?
Stephan
Reply author: Jacques M.
Replied on: 20090204050057
Reply author: Michel
Replied on: 20090204051858
More than fine : <font color="yellow"><font size="2"><font size="3">beautiful</font id="size3"></font id="size2"></font id="yellow"> ! [:D][:D][:D]
Amitiés,
Michel.
Reply author: stephanvdz
Replied on: 20090204113647
noir c'est noir...
nice looking... take picture with it...
Stephan
