Is the Kiev-60 SLR good?

[spystyle]

I am thinking of trying medium format

I see there is a 120 roll film (6x6) SLR camera with lens for about $200, the Kiev-60

Is it good? Is there something for similar price that is better?

I am a big fan of TTL metering and that camera looks like a regular SLR rather than a strange box camera

I want to see what all this medium format fuss is about

Is 120 roll film any good or should I sniff around elsewhere?

Cheers,
Craig

edit :

Well using the power of Google I was able to find out some more info about this medium format SLR with TTL metering.

Apparently =

Like most Russian cameras there is no guarantee of quality control from the factory, and it is comparatively inexpensive, and it is heavy like a brick. You can buy one and do all the "finishing work" / "upgrading" as a DIY project by following this website

Or you can buy a Kiev-60 which has already been upgraded and (hopefully) tuned up, click

See one here

[spystyle]

Well I've been offered this one for $160 shipped, via private sale

(click)

I'm considering it... It's complete with an 80/2.8 lens and everything. Being an f/2.8 lens it could be used indoors as well.

[spystyle]

Well good news and bad news. The good news is I found lots of really shining reviews for this camera (click)

The bad news is, I called my local department store (Wal-Mart in Auburn) and the clerk I spoke with thinks that it costs $15 to get a roll of "120 roll film" developed and takes 3 weeks, if that's true, it would suX

I wonder what medium format film is affordable to shoot and get developed?

[Tandan]

Желаю Вам удачи

[spystyle]

"I wish you good luck"

Thanks comrade

Well I bought it, we'll wait and see what arrives from Ukraine!

I buy and sell stuff just to try out all the time, prices on eBay are pretty consistent and I never lose much money (if any) trying something out and then re-selling it.

This will allow me to see what this medium format fuss is all about

Cheers,
Craig

[Tandan]

ochen xadasho....te govoresh pa russki?

[spystyle]

Yikes, I can't translate that one... I use Google translate and only speak English.

But I can guess it's context sensitive My response :

I am not Russian, I'm French. I've not been to Russia. I have owned Russian rifles SKS and Mosin Nagant. I am fond of Russian women, Spetsnaz, and especially Dragunov! I've owned Russian lenses but this will be my first Russian camera.

I think it will be interesting ... but since I've only used Japanese designed cameras before I probably should have bought the Mamiya for $100 more I hope it's not too much of a culture shock.

We'll see how it goes.

According to my Google investigation, I bought my Kiev 60 from a good dealer who upgrades them before selling - Mikhail Fourman aka Mike Furman aka Mike Fourman.

I had a lens made at the same factory, the "Photosniper" - I hope this Kiev 60 kit is as robust and interesting The PhotoSniper was really cool.

Have fun!
Craig

[Vedauwoo]

Originally Posted by spystyle

Well good news and bad news. The good news is I found lots of really shining reviews for this camera (click)

The bad news is, I called my local department store (Wal-Mart in Auburn) and the clerk I spoke with thinks that it costs $15 to get a roll of "120 roll film" developed and takes 3 weeks, if that's true, it would suX

I wonder what medium format film is affordable to shoot and get developed?

Don't take it to Wal-mart!!!! lol

I run all my 120 through a local pro-lab.....not much cheaper, but alot faster...anywhere from 2 hours for E-6 films to a couple of days for the slowest (cheapest) processing....not to mention the fact that a pro-lab knows how to handle larger films, they monitor their chemistry better and likely produce vastly superior
prints compared to the big blue stink-store....

The place I use even has a great deal for getting processing/prints AND a CD of web quality images (.jpg) for about $18 for a roll with 15 exposures (645 format), cheaper if you are shooting 6x6 (10 images) or 6x7 (7 images)....

[spystyle]

Aha, OK I'll do that

[DAVE PROUTY]

Originally Posted by Vedauwoo

Don't take it to Wal-mart!!!! lol

I run all my 120 through a local pro-lab.....not much cheaper, but alot faster...anywhere from 2 hours for E-6 films to a couple of days for the slowest (cheapest) processing....not to mention the fact that a pro-lab knows how to handle larger films, they monitor their chemistry better and likely produce vastly superior
prints compared to the big blue stink-store....

The place I use even has a great deal for getting processing/prints AND a CD of web quality images (.jpg) for about $18 for a roll with 15 exposures (645 format), cheaper if you are shooting 6x6 (10 images) or 6x7 (7 images)....

I guess since this is a second instance of your saying 120 6x6 giving 10 images, it wasn't a typo in the other thread. 6x6 gives 12 exposures on a 120, and 6x7 gives 10. Just clearing up that little mistake for those who are unfamiliar with the format.


Interestingly, some 645 format cameras, can get 16 exposures to a 120. But 15 is the usual frame count as you said.

[Vedauwoo]

Originally Posted by DAVE PROUTY

I guess since this is a second instance of your saying 120 6x6 giving 10 images, it wasn't a typo in the other thread. 6x6 gives 12 exposures on a 120, and 6x7 gives 10. Just clearing up that little mistake for those who are unfamiliar with the format.


Interestingly, some 645 format cameras, can get 16 exposures to a 120. But 15 is the usual frame count as you said.

Yep, yer right...I was off...but I knew it was something that didn't fill up my neg pages evenly....lol...

[DAVE PROUTY]

This story may interest you.

A friend of mine used to work at a local minilab. One day a customer came in and asked, "How many shots fit on a 120 roll of film?"

He answered with a question of his own, "What camera do you have?"

The customer, enraged, asked, "What difference does that make, it's medium format, how many frames does a 120 roll have?"

Again, he asked which camera, and the customer still and more enraged, says, "It's none of your f@#ing business which camera I have, just answer the question!"

My friend gave up. He tried to explain, but the moron couldn't understand why the camera model made any difference!

Talk about frustration!

Absolutely a true story!

[spystyle]

Maybe the customer was embarrassed to admit he had a Kiev-60

[spystyle]

Holy cow! My Kiev-60 arrived today, it's like a giant SLR.

As expected from a Russian camera it's robust and simple... and based on a German design. I found out it's a copy of a German camera called Pentacon six TL

It's got character

Just look at how big this beast is - below it is between a Canon AE-1 and a Nikon D40

[ulrauko]

Ну, товарищ, как уже было здесь сказано, желаю удачи, не надорвись
Jokes aside, the camera is quite good and reliable. The problem generally is with overlapping pictures (try to google the solution, it's quite simple). Speaking of pentakon six - this one is smaller, but not that reliable as kiev. Tripod is a must (mirror slap can be heard for miles around). Try and look for pentakon glass - CZJ glass was still Zeiss aus jena. 180 sonnar is the best portrait lense for this system. Творческих успехов

BTW, the camera is ukrainian, not russian.

[spystyle]

I thought the labels of "Ukrainian" and "Russian" were loosely synonymous ... But OK, I will be strict to differentiate them from now on

And good luck to you as well

[ulrauko]

nope, not really. Ukrainians are now independent. Of course it was different 20 years ago, but we @got little help from our friends@ and it is as it is.
Have you got any pictures from Kiev worthy showing us?

[spystyle]

I haven't tried it with film yet. I did buy some 35mm film and plan on exposing some of that soon with Nikon F75 and Canon AE-1, then working my way up to 120 film... I am new to film

[ulrauko]

have you got a lightmeter? sunny16iing can be tricky

[spystyle]

All my cameras (right now) have metering

*phew*