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Anonymous
Hello /p/

Lets discuss soviet cameras, shining jewels in the history of photography that only seem to attract amateur photographers anymore

Pic related, Its Kiev 88cm.
>> Serenar !m827jEgWi.
They only attract amateurs because they don't have the long term reliability that pros need. What pro sits down with a screwdriver and lens spanner every time his camera coughs up? That's the kind of attention many of the FSU cameras need.

That said, I've been planning to take up camera repair over the summer and a Kiev rangefinder is probably something I'll pick up to practice on.
>> Anonymous
Yeah, isn't the Kiev just a shitty copy of a Hasselblad? Why would someone who will make the cost back in a month or two (if that) of something that'll last forever buy something that will break all the time?
>> Anonymous
>>192544

it all really depends how much you want to spend on a kiev. By al accounts ive seen and wih the one ive seen break i would say stay away.

get a 6x6 tlr, a yashica mat can be found for cheap on ebay...or the yashica 356...etc. much better imo.
>> Anonymous
>>192592
I didnt ask whether I should buy or not to buy Kiev.

This thread is for general discussion and experiences about soviet cameras. Pics taken with soviet cameras are also welcome.
>> Anonymous
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Zenit Fotosnaiper

Camera-Specific Properties:Equipment MakeCanonCamera ModelCanon PowerShot A550Camera SoftwareAdobe Photoshop CS3 WindowsMaximum Lens Aperturef/2.6Sensing MethodOne-Chip Color AreaImage-Specific Properties:Image OrientationTop, Left-HandHorizontal Resolution180 dpiVertical Resolution180 dpiImage Created2008:03:17 16:53:50Exposure Time1/60 secF-Numberf/2.6ISO Speed Rating800Lens Aperturef/2.6Exposure Bias0 EVMetering ModePatternFlashFlash, CompulsoryFocal Length5.80 mmColor Space InformationsRGBImage Width640Image Height480RenderingNormalExposure ModeAutoWhite BalanceAutoScene Capture TypeStandard
>> Depressed Cheesecake !wFh1Fw9wBU
>>192603
Hey, I've got one of those
>> sage !i/euDJmWr2
I've been meaning to buy a bunch of Feds and Zorkis, they're cheap enough that its hard not to.
>> Anonymous
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I have ZENIT-E USSR camera! Makes, premium photos! I greet the women and request to make their photograph. Then, once I am finished, I am carnal with them because I am such a premium photographist! Mostly though, I use this to drive nails. Is strong enough, and cheaper than hammer!

Picture is relevant!
>> Anonymous
>>192643
>I use this to drive nails
Tools for professionals, yes sir.
>> Anonymous
In mother Russia, we don't use tool, tool use us.
>> Anonymous
>>192675
In Soviet Russia, you don't USE tool, you ARE tool!
>> Anonymous
I have a Mockba 5, a Zeiss Super Ikonta BX and Super Ikonta A.
The Mockba is worthless in comparison.
Direct copy of design sure but man that build quality is shit.
>> Anonymous
>>192690
Moskva, not Mockba. learn2transliterate

Basically, every direct Soviet copy of Western cameras is inferior, but remember that unlike the Zeiss/Leica originals, the copies were reworked for cheap mass production. It would be impossible to produce millions of them while retaining the build quality.
>> Anonymous
>>192677
How do I failed meme?
>> Anonymous
>>192572
Not really. The original Kiev 88 was based on a camera that was based on the Hasselblad 1000F, but the current Kiev 88CM bears no similarity other than outside appearance to a modern Hasselblad 500 or 200 series.

Kievs are not shitty either, they just suffer from poor quality control. If you get a good one, it's a perfectly good camera. They also (now) use the Pentacon 6 lens mount, so you can use lots of cheap and excellent Zeiss Jena lenses.

I have owned a number of Kievs and a number of Hasselblads and in a few ways like the Kievs better, overall the Hasselblad is a better camera though especially if you count in the quality control. The biggest factor that prevents me from owning a Kiev is price, oddly enough. They used to be the cheapest MF SLR you could get, but now that digital has come along and flooded the market with used Bronicas, Mamiyas, and Blads, and the Kiev prices have actually increased, that's no longer the case. The poor quality control is no longer worth it because for the same price I can get Bronica (or even Blad, if you wait for a good deal) kit that is more likely to work right for the same price.
>> Serenar !m827jEgWi.
>>192753
There are places that supposedly sell checked and overhauled MF Kievs, and I hear they're good. But the prices they charge are reaching Bronica/Mamiya/Blad levels like you said, so I'd only buy a Russian camera if I got a screaming flea market deal on it, or if I was fully aware that I'd need to repair it myself.
>> Teus !QbSstcPD6U
Jupiter-3

50mm Zeiss Sonnar, made in Russia with their equipment/engineers, with added coating. a GEM of a lens, outperforming my Summicron from that time
>> Anonymous
>>193182
About eight years ago I bought two overhauled Kiev 88CM bodies from a reputable dealer. One was dead a week after I got it, the other is still going fine today. It really is a good camera, but I wouldn't pay more than $200 for a complete kit. Dealers are still wanting $500-600 for an overhauled 88CM kit, and you can get a lot of other stuff for the same price.
>> Serenar !m827jEgWi.
>>193199
Unless you get really lucky or collimate it yourself, you'll probably not get a good one no?
>> Anonymous
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kiev4 with realy bad scanning \=

Camera-Specific Properties:Image-Specific Properties:
>> Anonymous
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another one. not bw this time.

Camera-Specific Properties:Equipment MakeHPCamera ModelHP Scanjet djf300Image-Specific Properties:Horizontal Resolution200 dpiVertical Resolution200 dpiColor Space InformationsRGBImage Width838Image Height1221SaturationNormalSharpnessNormal
>> Anonymous
kiev photocameras are copies of german ones. and are made on german machines in arsenal. they are cool. anyway.
>> Teus !QbSstcPD6U
>>193361
mine was good. I re-lubed it myself, its great now, but build quality is really bad. it had been serviced a few times before, 1 screw is missing, 1 damaged and the others pretty worn as well.