Arsenal Kiev 2A
The Arsenal Kiev 2A is a Contax RF-mount film rangefinder camera, introduced in 1955. Leica camera price index →
Reference maintained by Thomas Boots
General
- Mount
- Contax RF
- Release Year
- 1955
- Type
- Film
- Model Number
- Unknown
- Serial Range
- Unknown, year-coded serial practice and production details vary
Dimensions
Viewfinder & Shutter
- Framelines
- None, combined rangefinder/viewfinder with a fixed 50 mm field; accessory finders required for other focal lengths
- Shutter Speeds
- 1/2 s to 1/1250 s, B
- Shutter Type
- Metal
Features
- Hot Shoe
- No
- Tripod Socket
- Yes
- Self Timer
- Yes
- Flash Sync
- 1/25 s
Kiev 2A
The Arsenal Kiev 2A is the flash-synchronized development of the unmetered Kiev II. It retains the dual Contax RF bayonet, body focusing helicoid, long-base coupled rangefinder and vertically travelling metal focal-plane shutter [1][2].
The camera has a cold accessory shoe and a separate flash-sync terminal rather than a hot shoe. Electronic flash is used at 1/25 second or slower. Standard 50 mm lenses use the internal bayonet, while other focal lengths normally use the external bayonet and an accessory finder [2].
History
Development and Launch
The Kiev 2A appeared around 1955 as the synchronized successor to the Kiev II. Sources vary slightly on whether series production began in 1955 or 1956 [1][2].
Production Evolution
Production continued into the late 1950s. Engraving, covering and minor hardware details changed, while the core Contax-derived mechanism remained substantially unchanged [1].
Special Variants
Cyrillic, Latin and regional logo variations should be recorded as metadata. They do not constitute separate base profiles.
Collector Notes
Verify the sync terminal, because later modifications can make an ordinary Kiev II resemble a 2A. Check the metal shutter, ribbons, self timer, rangefinder and serial-era consistency.
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