Kiev Rangefinder Cameras

Kiev rangefinder cameras are excellent representatives of Soviet photographic equipment that deserve special attention and respect. Kiev cameras were produced at the Arsenal plant in the city of Kiev, Ukrainian SSR and became one of the most popular and recognized cameras of their time.

Kiev rangefinder cameras were distinguished by excellent build quality, durability and reliability. Thanks to their optical rangefinder, Kiev cameras allowed precise focusing on the subject, which made them ideal for portrait and journalistic photography.

Kiev rangefinder cameras had a wide range of lenses, which made it possible to choose the best option for various types of shooting. One of the most popular lenses was Jupiter-8, which provided high image quality and was very compact.

History of Kiev Rangefinder Cameras

Kiev rangefinder cameras are rightfully considered among the best – if not the best – Soviet rangefinders. They are true successors to the legendary Contax cameras. Unlike FED and Zorki cameras, which were clones of pre-war Leica models, the Kiev is not a clone in the strict sense. Its history begins at the Zeiss factory, where the Contax II was developed in the 1930s as an advanced continuation of the original Contax model. Intended as a competitor to the high-tech Leica cameras of the time, Zeiss designed the Contax to surpass its rival in every way.

The Contax included all the top technological features available in that era: a high-quality shutter with speeds from 1 second to 1/1250 sec, a unique but convenient bayonet lens mount, an advanced film-loading system, a wide rangefinder base for accurate focusing, and a world-class selection of lenses.

These same qualities were inherited by the Kiev after World War II, when the Soviet Union took over the Zeiss factory, including its equipment and personnel, as part of war reparations. In the early years, Kiev cameras were even assembled using original parts brought from Germany. Later, Soviet-manufactured parts replaced them, but the overall quality remained nearly the same.

Kiev’s reputation is further supported by the fact that these cameras remained in production, with minimal changes, all the way through to the end of the Soviet era. They held their own against more modern Soviet designs well into the 1980s. Of course, by the end of production, the original German machinery – dating back to the 1930s – had worn out after producing hundreds of thousands of units, and the quality of the final Kiev cameras declined. Still, for most of their production life, they were among the best cameras available in the USSR.

Distinctive Features of Kiev Rangefinders

At the Arsenal factory, Soviet engineers successfully replicated Zeiss assembly technology. The cameras were built to a high standard, and the Jupiter lenses – copies of Zeiss optics – offered performance close to their German originals. That said, Kiev cameras had several design features that might seem outdated to modern film photographers. For example, all models except the rare Kiev-5 lacked a film advance lever. By the 1980s, most cameras had lever-based winding systems, and some even offered automation.

Another common complaint is the camera’s handling. Due to the wide rangefinder base, the right rangefinder window sits far to the right of the camera body. When held in a typical grip, the photographer’s right hand often blocks this window. Proper use requires a special “Contax grip” to keep the window unobstructed. The camera also features a removable back for film loading. While this was a major advantage in the 1930s – when Leica cameras had bottom loading—by the 1980s it had become a drawback, as most cameras had hinged rear doors.

Kiev cameras are also complex to service—much more so than Leica models or many later film cameras. These and other aspects may seem like significant disadvantages, but in our view, they don’t detract from the overall quality. The strengths of this remarkable camera more than make up for these minor shortcomings.

Unlike other rangefinder cameras that were produced in the USSR, Keiv cameras had a noticeably higher build quality.

The cameras in this series had all the necessary characteristics to become the most popular tool for professional photographers in the USSR.