KIEV ALPHA with external light metering

[Marc Marti]

I'm going to test this camera, the Kiev Alpha, but I don't know how to compensate the exposure with the fotometer, as the prism will absorb part of the light. Any tips?

[Dom Jaeger]

From the testing I've done, most of those viewfinder prisms divert enough light to lose about a third to a half of a stop. Haven't tested that baby though.

[Olex Kalynychenko]

I'm going to test this camera, the Kiev Alpha, but I don't know how to compensate the exposure with the fotometer, as the prism will absorb part of the light. Any tips?

 

Russian 16 mm cine camera Kiev-Alpha have semi-transparent mirror on light channel.

This is semi-transparent mirror to divide light from lens to ground glass of viewfinder and to film ( by shitter disk ) at one time.

You ask correct question.

If you will use a external light meter, you need take into account light-transmission factor by semi-transparent mirror.

The origial user manual, on page 14, told.

"At determination of value of the lens's aperture by means of external manual exposure meter, necessary to consider sensitivity a film in two times less, because, the

semi-transparent mirror double reduces light flow..."

 

If you will use film with speed 250 ASA, you need set 125 ASA speed on light meter.

 

And, you must be careful at setup a wide angle lenses with C-mount to camera.

The semi-transparent mirror set limitation at distance between film to rear parts of lens.

If the lens will have too big rear parts, you can destroy a semi-transparent mirror.

[Marc Marti]

Thanks for the responses!

 

Wow! 1-stop out is a bit too much of light loss... Shooting with Velvia in this camera is not a very good idea.