Economic MF camera. Good lens (Astar 80 mm), very sharp. Heavy, but fine to keep it steady.

After some 50 films, the transport mechanism failed. I just try to get the broken part manufactured by a friend - he is watchmaker. In parallel I ordered a new one. Do NOT rely on the TTL - meter!

Buy a fresh one if the first is broken. External meter recommended.

Customer Service

Where? Would be a great idea to have it!

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Rolleiflex 6x6 twin-eyed, and chinese copies of the Rolleiflex.

Very nice solid camera. A bit heavy, but having a good feel. Very easy to compose a nice shot. Lens is very sharp, giving good contrast in my b&w negs. Many nice accessories come with the camera for a low price.

The film advance lever is defective. Half the time it works, the rest of the time it really messes up. Just sent it in for repair. The metering mechanism is time consuming and awkward, but seems reliable.

A camera worth buying, but be aware that unless you buy from a rebuilding firm, you will probably have mechanical problems. Overall, I am extremely pleased with the quality of my photographs from this camera . . . when it is working properly.

Customer Service

Will let you know.

Similar Products Used:

NA

I shoot a lot of slide film and when everything is properly calibrated the Kiev is more than accurate enough to shoot slides.No other new medium format slr offers the ability to shoot slide film consistantly and come in at under $200. Many complain about the TTL meter but when it's calibrated properly it gives you a 4 to 17 EV range with an error of 1/2 stop only at low light levels (1/8th,f/2.8@100ISO) for a fraction of the price of any other system.

It's not the most durable camera in the world and few know how to calibrate the meter properly (only two that I know of). Then again , how many hassy users will take their cameras out in the rain and think to themselves "If it breaks I just get another one"

Save your money and buy from one of the wholesale distributers and have the camera calibrated by some body that's qualified and loves the camera not the money.

Customer Service

Keiv USA has been slow to respond to my multiple emails and faxes. I guess they are just too busy to promtly (within 5 days)respond.

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Exakta 66 , Pentax 6x7 , Pentacon

A great way to get into medium format quality. Invest the extra money to get a Kiev with Mirror Lock Up (MLU). These have the interior flocked to avoid flare as well. Many of the Russian lenses are superb, particularly the 30mm fisheye and the 120mm Vega telephoto.
If you can find any Zeiss Jena lenses for this camera-BUY THEM!

Quality control is inconsistent, so make sure you get return or exchange privilidges where you buy. Some cameras and lenses are duds, others are stellar. Watch out for frame overlapping. The Kiev was designed to use thick Russian film. Kodak or Fuji needs special loading to avoid frame overlap.

This is a potentially superb medium format system that suffers from production quality problems. Inspite of that, it is more than worth the price for those wanting to move up from 35mm. Get as many lenses as you can, they seem to be getting scarce. The lenses have a "European" quality very different from Japanese lenses.

Customer Service

None from the factory. That's why you need to check the vendor's policy carefully. Avoid buying the camera used unless it can be returned.

Similar Products Used:

Rolleiflex TLR,
Hasselblad 501C

Robust, sturdy camera with excellent optics. A great buy for the money.
Can be mounted with even better
Carl Zeiss Jena or Schneider-Kreushnach lenses for Hasselblad-quality results

No quality control at their factory, the cameras need to be painted flat black inside (some Einstein used glossy black at the factory) in order to avoid internal flare, etc.

Anyone interested in purchasing this camera should log on to Delphi under Kiev60 or
Russian/Ukranian Camera Enthusiasts. There you will be able to contact everyone
and anyone who knows about this camera, how to get it serviced, and people that just love to use it and share techniques, technical info, etc.

I recommend the camera from novices through professionals. It is user-friendly.
Jay

Customer Service

Basically there is none based at the factory (The Arsenal in Kiev). You must rely on US or European-based independent repair services familiar with this camera.

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Pentacon6TL, Kiev6-C, Praktisix, Exakta66

Its big and clunky in a Ukranian sort of way. The standard 80mm Arsat lens is very good. I have 3 Zeiss lenses, the 50mm flectogon, 180mm sonnar and the 300 mm sonnar and the arsat compares very well! Ok, so the Zeiss lenses are better, but not by that
much!

On occasion frame spacing will be too close for some unknown reason. Just have to be careful when loading the film. Spacing is so close that getting 13 shots on velvia cost no more than 12. The TTL meter isn't even close to accurate, get a meter if you buy one.

I have less than $1000.00 into an outfit that would make some MF owners cry when they see the sharpness of the Zeiss lenses.

Customer Service

Whats that?

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Traded the Kiev 88 off for a Yashica Mat 124G. Another capable MF camera.

I like it because it is cheap, and I believe the quality is good for such a low price. The body is heavy which is a major plus for me because (this is the same with shooting rifles) A heavy camera is by much more easy to hold steady than a light camera. Also I like that it is sold with the metered prism, AND the waist level finder.

The only real problem I have expreienced so far is the tripod socket. IT is a European 3/8 inch instead of Standard 1/4 but Porters Photo Video sells adapters for 2.95

Great camera for the money

Customer Service

Haven't needed any but is almost non-existant in US

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I dunno

This is a camera with a personality. Properly working, it's capable of surprising results.

Spotty construction, hefty build, noisy operation.

The Volkswagen Beetle of medium format - low cost, no frills function. Style and ease-of-use take a back seat. Good for a student or as a teaching tool. Get a warranty. More info at http://www.lost-oasis.com/kiev

Customer Service

Kievcamera has stood behind their 1 year warranty, but I had to return twice. The initial camera had a broken frame counter, the replacement had no film advance!

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Nothing quite like it!

I bought the body, 80mm lens, and 30mm fisheye for under $500. Capabale of producing excellent quality images

Meter is worthless, camera is a bit slow to use (I'm an EOS man, so just about everything seems slow to me)

The only way into a medium format system for under a grand, and once you've figured out the quirks of your particular camera it's a supprisingly effective tool. I found my 80mm to be a little short on contrast, so I bought a couple of ziess lenses(180mm and 120mm) for $150 each on Ebay (email me, I'll give you the name of the seller, lenses were great). I like the 35mm style, and the huge size gets a lot of looks. Can be used as a weapon if need be because it's so d*** heavy. Can take anywhere because I'm not worried about losing a several thousand dollar system. Tip: when loading insert leader into take up spool and roll on a few inches. Insert take up spool. Insert supply spool. Hold edge of supply spool under tension and wind take up spool until line is at red dot. Gives me 12 and a half frames per roll consistantly with fairly even spacing.

Customer Service

Not needed, but the guys at kiev camera seem reputable.

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Rollei twin lens

Easy to handle and bulky but, at the same time, with years of work, some pieces are delicate. Russian Lenses quality ok, but Carl Zeiss Jena Lenses... better and cheap... normally.

Every body needs a complete and accuracy calibration but, with this price, works better than others more expensive.
Care with lenses diafraghm.

I bought my first Kiev Camera 6 years ago. Each time I finish my work I shoot the shutter because the tension of the shutter, year to year, is too much for this inacurate camera.
This body gave me problems witn the tension film because the space between frames was very poor and normally I have 13 frames each 120 film.
Don´t need batteries and, I this camera falls from your hands, don´t worry, when it´s jump from the floor, in this moment, just caught it and clean it... is like Terminator.
Perhaps, for beginners will be the BEST option because, in a professional work you COULDN´T depend from the fails of a cheap equipment.

Customer Service

Where??

Similar Products Used:

Kiev 88, Fuji GSW III67