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KIEV 4 - RUSSIAN CONTAX
THE HISTORY
When the Soviet Armies entered Germany during the second world war one of the major targets were the cities of Jena and Dresden. These cities were one of the Third Reich's major centers of optical technology and home to Carl Zeiss and Zeiss Ikon. Before the war one of the most admired cameras had been the Zeiss Ikon Contax and Karl Zeiss was a leader in optical design. It was a major goal of the Soviet Union to capture these factories as part of their war reparations. They were successful beyond their wildest dreams. They captured the camera factory and the lens factory virtually undamaged. They even captured all the plans and experimental data.
The decision was made to immediately capitalize on this good fortune. The orders went out. "Dismantle the factories and send them to Kiev." The factories were loaded on trains going east.
So far this sounds too good to be true and it was. When the trains got to the Soviet border the problem arose. The width of the track on the Soviet rail system was different from the rest of the world. The equipment and documents would have to be unloaded from one train moved several miles and loaded on another train. But this should be no problem for anyone lucky enough to have these factories fall into their hands, should it?
Unfortunately it was a major problem. Military conscripts are fine to handle bullets and beans but lack something when it comes to handling precision equipment. Some of the equipment spent months sitting in the mud. When the factories finally arrived in Kiev they were incomplete and much was damaged. Defeat had been snatched from the jaws of victory.
At this point I am sure that there was much gnashing of teeth in Moscow and a search was implemented to find a way to recover their lost fortunes. The solution was not long in coming. Through another incredible stroke of luck Jena was within the Soviet zone of control. This area soon would be called the D.D.R but at this point was just USSR occupied Germany. The factory was returned to Germany and as more "War Reparations" the Germans were allowed to make the factory produce Contax cameras and lenses. After this the factory was returned to Kiev and began producing cameras (approximately 1948). Obviously, the soldiers who had been so helpful the first time around had found new employment. Kiev family is based on two Contax cameras ,the Contax-2 and Contax-3. The like numbered Kiev is descended from its respective Contax. These cam are basically the same. The difference is that the Contax-3 has an uncoupled light meter added.
Kiev 4A & 4AM
The back of this camera was redesigned to do away with the folding foot. This camera also introduced 1000 as the top speed replacing 1250. This did not represent a manufacturing change just the recognition of the fact that 1000 was the true speed. The lens has a different finish, all parts now all the same shade of chrome. The Accessory shoe no longer has the English engraving. This camera was produced from 1958. The case is also changed. It now has a chrome ring around the lens cover and two chrome rings around the top.
Comments: 1.
Flash Synchronization: These cameras can be used with electronic flash at 1/30.
However, you must immediately wind the camera to open the contacts or the flash
will fire continuously. Flash bulbs will sync at 1/25.
Technical Specifications
Film Size: 35mm
Image Size: 24X36mm
Dimensions:
height: 8.8cm
width: 15cm
depth: 6.8cm
weight: 675gm
Normal lens: Jupiter-8
Lens Mount: Contax bayonet
Typical serial no: 7722686
 Kiev 4 Lens: Jupiter 50mm F2 |
 Kiev 4 Lens: Jupiter 50mm F2 |
 Kiev 4AM Lens: Jupiter 53mm F1.8 |