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Interesting stuff
All Cameras, Technical stuff
Rangefinder cameras Images Useful links
ussrphoto.com
Items for sale Contact: Soviet Camera Exhibition: History of the Soviet Photographic industry 1930-1992 Kiev Street Fashions
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A few of the stories I have heard. And some myths confirmed. Some time in the 1970's a worker at Arsenal was sent to bring camera cases up from the cellar. Where there should have been several hundred leather ever-ready cases he found only a few metal fittings and buckles. The entire stock had been eaten by rats during a particularly cold winter. The design of the cases was, shortly afterwards, changed to black leather with a plastic nose to cover the lens. Someone from the test department told me that if a camera was found to be faulty or a lens misaligned they were put aside for visiting Communist party officials and visitors from Moskow, who always expected 'presents'. There is a commemorative version of the Kiev 4 & 4A '60 years of communism' that was made in 1977 and taken to Moskow for approval. Only 2 cameras were produced, one of each model, with dark red leather skin and a plaque beside the rangefinder window. Approval for this camera was not given and the 4A now resides in the collection of a former director of Arsenal, the 4 in the collection of the former chief of the lens production department.
A black topped version of the Kiev 4M does exist. 500 were made at Arsenal as a pre-production run and again approval was not given by Moskow for a full production run. The 1977 Kiev 4M manual features this model and shows photos inside of the camera. No Black 4AMs were made. I have one of these cameras. The front panel, baseplate and the light meter flap are not painted although the light meter flap has a skin patch
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.black-top Kiev 4M