Who shoots with a Kiev-60

Analogski · Mar 29, 2025

Hi,

For a while now I'm shooting 35mm (Pentax, Canon and Nikon, as well as soviet rangefinders) and my beloved Rolleiflex 3.5F.

But I can't get the Kiev-60 out of my head.
I read that it's a good camera overall. But it has some quirks.

Is there anyone shooting with this camera? And what are your thoughts on it?

Thanks!

loccdor · Mar 29, 2025

I have a Kiev 6C and I used to have a Kiev 60. The 60 needed a shutter service but after that was great for the few years I used it. The 6C was working well when I got it. They are not as pretty as Pentacon Six cameras, and heavier, but tend to have a lot less problems. My Pentacon Six repairer, after a $250 bill, could not fix the overlapping frames problem it had. He said the spacing was not adjustable on that camera.

The lenses are fantastic, especially the Sonnar 180mm f/2.8, which is easily sharp enough to use even with a teleconverter. I also like the Volna-3 and Flektogon 50mm.

Not great cameras for exposures between 1/60 and 2 seconds, due to the mirror slap. Some have been modified with mirror lock up.

I would recommend. However, I think it's a good idea to avoid unknown sellers from Ukraine when you buy one. Had a bad experience with that.

Here's a picture with the Sonnar wide open. I love the way it renders. Welcome to Photrio.

OAPOli · Mar 29, 2025

I had one a few years ago. The camera is awkward to hold and is quite heavy. I didn't like it.

I have a Praktisix/Pentacon and it is more ergonomic.

loccdor · Mar 29, 2025

I once had a Pentacon Six without frame spacing problems. They do exist. Worth their weight in gold!

Sirius Glass · Mar 29, 2025

Welcome to Photrio!

blee1996 · Mar 29, 2025

I tried both Kiev 60 and Pentacon Six, especially for their good selection of lenses. Kiev 60 seems have lesser frame spacing issues than the Pentacon Six. If you can find a good sample with good lens at bargain price, go for it. But in the end I settled on Pentax 6x7, not much more expensive but quite a bit more refined and reliable.

In general focal plane shutter medium format SLRs are fun, and you can adapt all kind of funky lenses (projection, brass) on it.

4season · Mar 29, 2025

It's a decent camera, though kind of big and heavy, particularly if equipped with prism viewfinder. My best example was produced in 1989, and overall fit and finish, including chrome plating and paint-filled engravings, was very good. On the other hand, I've also owned a camera produced in the 1990s when conditions must have been chaotic. And that camera had dull-looking chrome plating, the engravings looked rather crude. But I did prefer the newer-style TTL prisms which automatically shut themselves off, but they seem a lot less common.

Kino · Mar 29, 2025

I have a 6C and love shooting with it. However, if you are someone with a low tolerance for quirky operation and occasional surprise technical issues, best to avoid this camera and most former Soviet Union cameras in general...

Sirius Glass · Mar 29, 2025

Now I feel left out since I do not have a Kiev 60. I only have the Speed Graphic, Graflex, Widelux F6, Nikons, Kodak, Brownie Hawkeye, Voightlander Vito II and Hasselbalds to keep me company. Sniff

Sanug · Mar 29, 2025

If you catch a good sample, the Kiev-60 is a bargain. The focusing screen is very bright and superior to the dim glass screen of the Pentacon Six which does not show the whole image.

But there are some issues you should be aware of. You can solve them by yourself:

1. The frame space is very narrow, sometimes even zero. Easy to solve by thickening the taking spool with self adhesive tape or something similar.

2. The mirror box is reflecting light. It was painted glossy in the factory. Most of the complaining about stray light of the soviet lenses is in reality caused by this issue and not by the lens. Solve it by repainting with black chalkboard paint. Flocking is an other option.

3. There is some light leaking from the focusing screen to the mirror box. Avoid light to fall into the chimney during the exposure. I have a broken chimney viewfinder, encountered some strange light leaks, and could proof the issue with a torch. This is only an issue during the open shutter time.

Maris · Mar 29, 2025

I use a Kiev-60 with TTL prism with and a MIR-26 45mm f3.5 wide angle lens and a VEGA 90mm f2.8 lens. Importantly the equipment has been meticulously re-built by people from Zavod Arsenal who were the original makers during Soviet times.
They style themselves ARAX and are headed up by Gevorg Vartanyan. The work is good and I don't mind spending money that goes to Ukraine.

Kino · Mar 29, 2025

Maris said:
I use a Kiev-60 with TTL prism with and a MIR-26 45mm f3.5 wide angle lens and a VEGA 90mm f2.8 lens. Importantly the equipment has been meticulously re-built by people from Zavod Arsenal who were the original makers during Soviet times.
They style themselves ARAX and are headed up by Gevorg Vartanyan. The work is good and I don't mind spending money that goes to Ukraine.

I also shoot with the MIR-26, 45mm lens and it is super sharp. With an inexpensive adapter, I can move my Kiev 88 screw mount lenses to the 6C bayonette mount and share them.

Had ARAX refurbish 2 Kiev 88's during the first year of the ongoing war and was astounded at how efficient both Gevorg and the Ukrainian Postal Service got them back to me!

One bit of advice, if you are going to buy a Kiev 88, get the backs matched to the body.

Tel · Mar 29, 2025

Good to learn that Gevorg is still in business. Some years ago I had a Kiev 60 Arax rebuild that worked quite well. Big and a bit heavy and a bit too loud but made good pictures with a CZJ Biometar on the front. And many years ago he did a recoating job on an anamorphic lens of mine that was superb.

ags2mikon · Mar 29, 2025

My experiences may not reflect your experiences. I got my first ones in 1989, so here goes. I have had 4 Kiev 60’s and 2 Pentacon 6’s and 1 Kiev 88cm. The 2 Pentacon’s were by far the smoothest operating and were nice to use except the poor focus screen. Dim as Gomer Pyle. With the Kiev 60’s the waste level finder is nice, and the screen and prism is very bright. 3 of the K-60’s had spacing issues and mirror box reflection issues. The 4th one I inherited when a friend passed away with extra lenses. It was a black MLU version and worked perfectly, including the meter. The 88cm died within 2 years. I bought it from Foreman in Atlanta just before he shut down. After the Ukraine “special operation” is over I will send it in and have it repaired. I had the 3 with spacing issues fixed and found flocking kits for the mirror boxes for 2 of them. The other one I painted with this stuff here. https://www.culturehustleusa.com/pr...orld-s-mattest-flattest-blackest-art-material. It worked very well. I have no affiliation with them.

The lenses: I have had 2 of the 30mm lenses both very good, 2 of the 50mm flektagon’s both very good, 2 of the 65mm arsat’s, both very good, 4 of the 80mm volna’s 1 very good 3 so-so, 2 of the 80mm biometar’s both very good, 1 120mm biometar very good, 2 180mm sonar’s both very good, 1 250mm jupiter good and a 300mm sonar that is very good. Almost all of them have had diaphragm issues at one tome or another. The 2x is good and the Pentacon bellows and extension tubes are real nice. The ergonomics leave a bit to be desired but they do make pretty good images. I have sold off the Pentacon’s and 2 of the K-60’s and the duplicate lenses. I use them for 2 things, shooting where I don’t want to risk damage or theft my better cameras, and to make me appreciate my better cameras. As far as quirky goes they are quirky and draw a lot of strange looks from bystanders when you take them out. Your doctor will commend you for using them due to the level of exercise you will exert carting them about. If you are shooting in a situation where you may be accosted you already have a lethal weapon in your hands! The image quality won’t be as good as your Rollei 3.5F, but you can’t get a Rollei with a 180mm 2.8. Sorry for the long post. Have fun.

film4Me · Mar 30, 2025

No complaints here. The 60 I bought was NOS, so they said. It came in it's box with flash bracket and whatever else was in there. The meter readings concerned me a bit. I exposed a film through it and it looked alright. I'll re-lubricate the camera and hope that it lasts more than just a while. I then bought a used body with MLU, and 40mm and a 50mm lenses. The 40mm lens needed modifying, the aperture mechanism wasn't right and needed a strip of plastic glued onto it's ramp to correct the f stops. The mechanism is fairly rudimentary, nothing really scientific about it.

Sanug · Mar 30, 2025

A 40 mm lens? Or was it 45 mm? The only 40 mm with P6-Bajonett I know about is the ultra rare and expensive Schneider-Kreuznach.

film4Me · Mar 30, 2025

Sorry, 45mm, you are quite correct. I haven't looked at it for ages, it's still waiting for a test run since I did the modification.

Analogski · Mar 30, 2025

Wow, thanks for all the replies!
I already feel very welcomed here.

It's a strange feeling wanting to have this camera so bad... I feel a little crazy, but besides the emotion, I read that here are some very good lenses available that cost a fraction of the "non soviet" ones.

My plan is also to get an upgrade at Arax. I had very nice contact via mail with Gevorg and I also have no problems at all paying that amount of money for the upgrade of the Kiev to this nice Ukrainian company. These guys are still operational in wartime. Wow...

spark · Mar 30, 2025

Here’s a site with some DIY fixes, if you’re not afraid to take off covers:

Kiev 60 Kalibration

I have one that was purchased “new” from a Ukrainian eBay seller around 2010. It had a pinhole leak in shutter curtain that got fixed, but it’s a noisy beast.

Analogski · Mar 30, 2025

I just lost a bet on ebay to an automatic betting system... never again will I bet on ebay.

But, I came across an version with a orange ttl logo on the prism finder and an orange square logo on the body.

Anyone know what this version is?

Jojje · Mar 31, 2025

I photographed quite a bit with a 1991 produced Kiev60 in the 90's. When things went right it was a good camera. Overlapping frames problem I solved by taping some stuff to the winding spool to make it thicker, I still got 13 frames out of a roll. But in almost every roll there was one frame which had an annoying bit of overexposure. Finally the shutter gave up altogether and I couldn't get a repairman touch it with a ten foot pole.
Contrast of the Volna-3 lens was pathetic which was ok in black and white.

Analogski · Mar 31, 2025

Ok, I think I've made my decision. Today I send Gevorg an email because he has a body for sale. I think I'll buy the body, ttl prism finder, waist level viewfinder, and a standard arax upgraded Arasat 2.8/80 lens.

The only thing... online a read comments from people that are not happy with the overall quality.

What are your thoughts on this?
Anyone recent experience?

loccdor · Mar 31, 2025

ARAX is more respected than typical dealers of these cameras (and more expensive). They've been around a long time. Still, you'll find occasionally people who are not satisfied, because the cameras themselves aren't quite as refined or reliable as for instance, Japanese medium format.

ags2mikon · Mar 31, 2025

Get an 80mm Biometar from the Pentacon. You will be very happy with it. I have 2 and both are top notch lenses. The Volna's not so much. YMMV.

Kino · Mar 31, 2025

Analogski said:
Ok, I think I've made my decision. Today I send Gevorg an email because he has a body for sale. I think I'll buy the body, ttl prism finder, waist level viewfinder, and a standard arax upgraded Arasat 2.8/80 lens.

The only thing... online a read comments from people that are not happy with the overall quality.

What are your thoughts on this?
Anyone recent experience?

Read up here:

| Kievaholic Klub - The place for Kiev lovers everywhere |

Home of the Kiev FAQ. Also a source of information on these temperamental but fun to use cameras, including how-to's and do-it-yourself fixes for common problems.

kievaholic.com

It's a FSU Camera (former Soviet Union). They are not for everyone. Perfectionists do not need to apply...

Who shoots with a Kiev-60

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency