just arrived in my collection

quote:

---

Originally posted by Jacques M.


Today, an early Kiev 4, top withouit ridges.

---

Congratulations Jacques! My Kiev 4 s/n is 57199

Regards, Alexander

Thanks, Alexander and Andreas!
I just begin with these post-1955 Kievs: not always as simple as it seems...
Amitiйs. Jacques.

Alexander,

nice. Mine has serial number 57203 :-)

Ulrich

http://fotos.cconin.de

Fine!
I add all that in the wiki. Perhaps it would be interesting to open a thread about the different versions of the Kiev 4, including the prototypes?

Still concerning the Kiev 4, if you had some light to answer my thread about the 1968 ones without logo on the clip?

Amitiйs. Jacques.

There were some minor variations within the engravings on the Kiev. These engravings do not technically change the camera, so I would not call it a new type, but rather a variant. So for me, the ‘no-name’ is also just a normal Kiev 4a without engraving.

I would assume the following practice at arsenal for engraving the accessory shoe:

Until approx. 1958: Either just the serial number or (for export cameras) ‘Изготовлено в СССР / MADE IN USSR’ plus serial number. Kiev III models have also a ‘A’ or ‘Б’engraved.
From approx. 1958: ‘Сделано в СССР’ plus serial number
From around 1972/73 (?): The Arsenal logo appears in the viewfinder shoe
From 1980: The Kiev 4m/4am models only have the Arsenal logo and serial number engraved (a hot shoe contact was included, so there is less space). There is a small plate glued to the back of camera with the label ‘Изготовлено в ССССР’.

Thanks, Andreas. Do't hesitate to open a thread if you have more info and photos.
Here, a 1958 KuпB more, freshly received. It's the moment to show them...


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent2/832025_IMG_1862.JPG


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent2/832025_IMG_1864.JPG

Amitiйs. Jacques.

quote:

---

Originally posted by treehorn

There were some minor variations within the engravings on the Kiev. These engravings do not technically change the camera, so I would not call it a new type, but rather a variant. So for me, the ‘no-name’ is also just a normal Kiev 4a without engraving.

---

Hi Andreas,
Kiev "no-name" is wether type nor variant. It was simply an export camera without engraving not to violate Contax rights.
If you need more information you can write me directly in German

Regards, Alexander

http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent2/2242025_IMG_1876.JPG

Side by side, the Fed 3 type 1 "original" and its first evolution(on the left), recently received. The only difference: the presence or not of a rim around the finder. All that is well known, but this first evolution is not common now.

Amitiйs. Jacques.

Hi Jacques,
nice find, conratulation! Could you give a s/n please? Mine is 335, need s/n for some statistics. Thank you.

Regards, Alexander

Of course.
1000245 for the 3a type 1 original, and 1023245 for the "first evolution" (or 3a type 1 second version, by the wiki).

Amitiйs. Jacques.

Hello,

Always about the early Fed 3a, I have received this morning another first version, slightly different from the s/n 1000245 shown just above.


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent2/2042026_IMG_2012.JPG

This s/n 1018303 still has rims round the finder and cornered mouldings, but the engraving of the speed dial is a bit different: very fine on the 1000245, bigger on the 1018303.


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent2/2042026_IMG_2014.JPG

Another detail of this speed dial: two rows on the s/n 245, three on the s/n 18303


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent2/2042026_IMG_2018.JPG

http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent2/2042026_IMG_2019.JPG

I know, all that matters very little, except for a drug addict like me...

Amitiйs. Jacques.

Jacques,

very nice find. I like the early FED 3a :-) I have never seen such a fine engraving on the speedknob before.

Ulrich

http://fotos.cconin.de

Me neither, Ulrich.
Another different detail here:


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent2/152026_IMG_2057.JPG

The s/n 245 above shows "radius"patterns whereas they are "dotted" on the 18303 finder, like on the other Fed 3 until the end, as far as I know. That remembers the Fed 1 and 2, where the evolution was made little by little, most of time by cosmetical changes...

Acquired a while ago, a black Zenit B. Wat is interesting is that it came with a warranty card from Orwo Foto B.V. Zenit was distributed by E.W.A. (East West Agencies) in den Haag. Orwo foto did of course Orwo films, Praktica, Pentacon and other East German related photo products. I thing the shopping assistant filled in the wrong card by mistake. In fact, the card has barely been filled in at all like most of them...


This Zenit B was sold at one of the first mega shopping centers in the Netherlands; Maxis in Muiden. [url][/url]https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maxis_Muiden

The camera was sold in 1976. The serial number of both the camera and lens start with '73 like all black Zenit B camera's.

The black Zenit B is supposed to be rare, but shows up now an then on Dutch market places. Maybe more of them have been sold around here back then.

And at least here in Finland the B never sold in quantities at all, it was either E or EM. So all B sold here as new are rare!

Best regards,
Juhani

By the Princelle, 889000 of these cameras were made between 1968 and 1973, and 356 in 1977-78. I wonder why these 356 extra cameras?

Amitiйs. Jacques.

Zenit-B serial production: from 1968 to 1973 — 887467 units, in 1977 2,150 units were produced. Total: 889617 cameras.
(http://www.zenitcamera.com/archive/zenit-e/index.html)

OK, Alex. Numbers are a bit different. But why nothing between 1973 and 1977?

Jacques.

Jacques,

interesting details. The edge below the rewind button is also sharper on the older camera.

Ulrich

http://fotos.cconin.de

Milo,

the black Zenit B looks great; I have one too that looks like new, though it was made in 1972.

Ulrich

http://fotos.cconin.de