Kiev-4M USSR 35mm film rangefinder camera body Contax RF mount

Kiev-4M, vintage Soviet rangefinder camera, 35 mm, 841_7575, Contax RF mount "Arsenal" plant, Kiev, Ukraine, USSR Good condition. Shutter works partly properly: the only working speeds are 1/250 and faster. At slower shutter speed the curtains move lazy or can get stuck. Self-timer, light meter, rangefinder work properly. Body has small signs of age and use. With lens set the focusing block has a very small backlash which does not effect anything. Lens is not included, body only. History of the camera In 1930-s in Germany the company "Zeiss Ikon" started to produce cameras "Contax I" (scale-focus) and "Contax II" and "Contax III" (rangefinders). "Carl Zeiss" made lenses for that cameras. Comparing with contemporary "Leica", "Contax" had increased shutter speed range, more precise rangefinder (its base was much longer), progressive bayonet (instead of M39 carving) for high-speed lenses. After the II World War all the German patents were cancelled and free copy was allowed. For example, Nikon I was produced in 1948 borrowing good features from "Contax". Documentation, spare parts and equipment were moved to USSR as reparations. Main aim was to move the capacities for production of military optics, but photo technics was not shunned. The equipment was planned to be mounted in Kazan (the possible name of the camera was "Volga"). Initially, production was organized in Dresden in 1946 to restore the technology. Cameras were produced both with name either "Contax", or "Kiev". A large group of Soviet engineers and workers went to Dresden to adopt the technology. In Dresden about 2000 cameras were made. Finally, in 1947 equipment was moved to Kiev, Ukraine, USSR and "Arsenal" started to make cameras. Cameras were complicated, so, for example, in 1948 plant produced only 1400 cameras. In 1947_49 about 4000 pieces were made of original German parts. Lenses for that first set were made at Krasnogorsky Mechanical Plant (KMZ). In 1949 "Arsenal" started to produce cameras of its own parts. In 1955 the production of lenses was moved to "Arsenal" plant too. Inside the USSR the German origin of the cameras was secret. Cameras were produced up to 1985 with few changes. For example, in "Contax IIa" and "Contax IIIa" which were made in West Germany since 1950, rangefinder was completely changed (thus the right window was moved near to the lens). Rangefinder window was moved in Nikon S too. Soviet "Kiev" had rangefinder window very near to shutter speed barrel and was often blocked by fingers of a photographer. In this family there are cameras without built-in lightmeter based on "Contax II" ("Kiev-2", "Kiev-2a", "Kiev-4a", "Kiev-4am") and with built-in nonenveloping light meter based on "Contax III" ("Kiev-3", "Kiev-3a", "Kiev-4", "Kiev-4m"). Here I offer "Kiev-4M" which was produced since 1976 till 1985. This specific camera was made in 1984. Comparing with original "Contax" a flash cable synchrocontact and hot shoe were added, locks at the bottom mounted flush, lever support for heavy lenses disappeared, tripod socket was changed from 3/8" to 1/4", shutter cocking barrel was took from "Kiev-5", backwind was performed with roulette now, take-up spool became fixed (non-removeable), 1/1250 shutter speed was replaced with 1/1000. Its official price was 150 Soviet Rubles (average salary was about 150 Rubles per month). For example, "Zenit-E" cost 100 Soviet Rubles, In USSR "Kiev" had a reputation of reliable and complicated camera. Characteristics: S/number - 841_7575 Frame size - 24x36. Shutter speeds - 1/2-1/1000, B. Type of thread - Contax RF mount (Contax-Kiev) Body - aluminium. Dimensions (mm): 145*85*55 Mass - 639 g ********************************* Conditions: Economy shipping to the address stated at Pinkoi with tracking number, usually sent within 3 business days after payment. See the photos for details. Photos are actual - that is exactly the camera you will receive. Please, do not hesitate to contact me for any information required. Please, watch my other items. I combine shipping - write to me what items do you want to buy, and I will calculate the discount for combined shipping. Package is packed thoroughly and carefully and marked as a “gift”. If you need to add invoice in the envelope or not to mark as a “gift”, write to me. If you are interested in terms of shipment - write to me, and I will tell the minimum, maximum and average time of shipment to your country (I accumulated vast statistics). Return shipping (if the item is as described in the ad) is paid by the buyer. My price include the item and shipping cost and does not include Duties, Value Added Taxes, Customs Clearance Fees and other charges. These charges are the buyer's full responsibility. Please check with your country's customs office to determine what these additional costs will be before bidding/buying. Buyer needs to pay for the above fees in case that occurred for certain goods. If the package returns back to me due to the buyer refuse to pay those fees, I would not send the package again unless the buyer completes those fees and pay all the return and resend cost. Buyer can not cancel the order or request refund due to this reason. All the customs clearance and other affairs that can be necessary to get the package in the buyer’s country is buyer’s full responsibility. Please, be sure that you are aware of your post office working time, order and rules of package delivery and be ready to accept the package. If the package returns to me as “unclaimed” or the tracking system shows “unsuccessful delivery attempts”, refund to the buyer will be paid deducting the shipping and return costs. Resending must be paid extra.