The camera
This review is about the КИЕВ 60 (Kiev 60) single lens reflex camera. Built by the
Arsenal plant this Soviet (later Ukrainian) medium format single lens reflex
camera was the successor to the КИЕВ 6C (Kiev 6S) camera model.
The Kiev 6S was introduced in 1970 and was produced until 1986. The camera
design was no doubt influenced by the 1956 East German Praktisix and copied its
lens mount. Not only the Soviets were enamored by the 'big conventional SLR'
design, the Japanese Asahi Optical Company released the Pentax 6x7 in 1969 that
shares the same design philosophy. In fact, when I first laid hands on a Kiev
60 I was struck by how similar is was to the Pentax 6x7 - my first medium
format camera. In 1984 the Kiev 6S was replaced with the Kiev 60 and this
camera was built to at least 1999. It was sold by Arsenal for much longer
though thanks to a formidable stockpile of Kiev 60s. In fact, one can still
purchase new Kiev 60s, rebranded as ARAX 60s, today from ARAX which took over
the Arsenal stock after Arsenal closed down.
Specifications
Camera:
КИЕВ 60 (Kiev 60)
Built:
1984-1999
Mount:
Pentacon 6
Shutter speeds:
2-1/1000 seconds, B
Self timer:
yes
Mirror lock-up: no
Film type:
120 film
Weight:
1,950 grams with lens
Light metering: no, add-on TTL prism with light meters available
Battery:
none for the camera, 3x LR44 for the TTL prism
Shooting
Like the Pentax 6x7, the Kiev
60 is a big son of a gun. There is nothing delicate about this camera, it was
built like a T-55 tank and it will last a lifetime. It is a very
straightforward camera, anyone with 35mm SLR camera experience will immediately
know how to operate it. It shoots twelve of those big and gorgeous 6x6
negatives on 120 film. But the best thing of all: It uses the Pentacon 6 mount!
Hello Carl Zeiss Jena lenses! So we've got a simple, usable design and those
superb Carl Zeiss Jena lenses. Is all good? Well, there are issues reported
with this camera. Some have overlapping frames and/or light leaks. Not so
desirable. Also it has no mirror lock-up (MLU) which could be quite useful.
My Kiev 60 dates from 1994 and
is thus an Ukrainian rather than a Soviet camera. It was originally bought by
my uncle Wolfgang and he very kindly gave it to me. It hadn't been used for a
while and when I ran a roll through it it had developed a light leak. I decided
to have it refurbished by ARAX and MLU added. I also had it redone in a black
finish and the mirror box flocked to reduce flaring.
Images
I took my Kiev 60 into the field today to see how it
would perform after the overhaul and modification.
All in all my refurbished Kiev 60 really delivers.
After the attention it got from ARAX this camera doesn't only look and feel
like new, it works like new! No issues with film spacing, no issues with light
leaks and a fully operational MLU. And using the Carl Zeiss Jena lenses without
having to manually open up, focus and then stop down again is, well, a luxury.
I really like this camera. I realize that not everyone
gets one as a present but these medium format cameras are still affordable. I would however recommend investing in having it refurbished if you're
serious about shooting with it.
No comments:
Post a Comment