ARAX Cameras

[doomtroll]

I have been looking at ARAX Cameras and wanted to know if anyone has had any experience with them. I am looking at picking up there version of the Kiev 88 MLU. I am aware that these are no Hassy or Bronica, but this would be for my hobby and even the ARAX cameras are pushing over my budget. I do want a low end Medium format SLR I can keep for a long time, I only hope these have a reputation to fit that bill...

 

[Anscojohn]

I can only comment first-hand on the fact that the dealings I have had with ARAX have been very satisfying. This includes various small purchases, plus a major overhaul of a 45 mm lens for my Kiev 88. Moreover, everything I have read or heard about Georg and his work has been positive.

 

[rawhead]

I have a custom converted Kiev-60 with MLU. I thought about the Kiev-88CM as I have the entire lineup of CZJ P6 lenses, but... well, let's just say, if you want something that is low maintenance, Kievs aren't for you. At some point, something's gonna go wrong, and you will have to fix it. It might be something that you can fix yourself, it might be something that you'll need to ship back to Kiev for (btw, same goes for Pentacon Sixes). Three Kiev-60s and five Pentacon Sixes have passed my hands, and I swear, none of them was entirely problem-free.

A Bronica SQ-B and a Hasselblad 501c have also landed in my hands (and I still have the 501c), and neither of them had a single problem with it. If you want a low-maintenance, relatively cheap MF SLR, go for a Bronica SQ (if 6x6 is what you want); if you don't mind 645s, then you have more choices (Bronica, Pentax, Mamiya...). The Arax starter kit is $419. You can pick up a Bronica SQ-B w/ Zenzanon PS/B 80/2.8 for $300-350 on Ebay (I should know, I just sold one for $310). The Bronica will more likely than not outlast the Arax. Just how they are built.



If you don't care about maintenance, though, the Pentacon 6 mount Kievs are WICKED FUN. Tons of lenses to choose from, from Carl Zeiss Jena to Schneider Kreuznach to Mir/Arsat/Volna/Vega/Kaleinars, not to mention, if you can afford it, the Hartblei Super Rotator 45mm f3.5 :-D

 

[Nick Zentena]

I've bought lenses and I think one 6C body. Might have been two. All quite nice.

OTOH that was years ago. Todays prices Arax isn't much [if any] cheaper then bgn or better grade models from KEH. I'd consider any of the big names from KEH first these days.

 

[P C Headland]

I've bought a lens (30mm fisheye) and a couple of other bits and bobs from Arax, and the service was great.

If I were you, I'd go for the simpler, more reliable Arax 60, unless you really must have interchangeable film backs. You'll save a bit of money initially too.

You'll then have access to a huge range of accessories and lenses at very good prices. Even the specialty lenses, like the 30mm Arsat, are well priced. Lenses like the 50mm Flektogon, 120mm, 180mm and 300mm CZ Jena lenses are more than respectable.

You can go second hand of course, and you may be able to get a 6x6 Bronica SQ-A/SQ-B for a similar price. Accessories and extra lenses will cost more than the Arax, but are still reasonable.

Remember, eventually, with any camera, you're going to need to get it serviced.

 

[polka]

Yes, I agree with that last point : in any more reputable brand than Kiev (eventually remastered by Arax) a basic system (body + standard lens) can be bought for about the same price, but if you want more lenses and accessories, then the Kiev with P6 mounts are the first and both cheapest choice for altogether cost/quality. I bought an Arax (88) several years ago, with two backs and all the lenses I could need (30mm, 45mm, 80mm, 150mm, 250mm : I find all these lenses valuable), and today everything still works well (as long I took always care to do everything "by the book"). Of course, my use of this camera is not so intensive as if I were a professional, but I dont feel they are fragile. And given their prices, they are easily replaceable in case of an accident (...for the time being).

Paul

 

[ldh]

I bought my refurbished Arax 60 for the primary purpose of using it as a camera to work with a set of Holga lenses which I fitted on to spare arax bodycaps...essentially the images look like they are taken with a Holga but I have more exposure control by using the shutter dial...also I can see through the lens so its better for composition...easier to load and work with...still get the classic vignetting and other worldly results of a holga...I ended up getting a few lenses for it and all of a sudden I found myself shooting with it for professional editorial and lately a couple of high-end fashion gigs for one of the most prestigious lifestyle mags in Europe...Im going to buy a couple more bodies from araxfoto to have for backups in case of mechanical failure. I make most of my living shooting stills on movies and shooting keyart for movie posters...working with Hasselblad H system digital and Canon DSLRs, so when I get my Arax out it is very refreshing and I love the old CZJ and russian glass...have a couple of lenses with really strong flare characteristics and absolutely love them...three full bleed pages in the fashion mag were shot with these flare prone lenses backlit at magic hour...kind of like working with Panavision flare lenses on a film camera...I have a closet full of East German and Russian glass and use all of it. The Arax has become my principle film camera...so far no mechanical problems.

 

[Joe Grodis]

With Mamiya and Bronica bodies going for under $100 why bother with ARAX? Maybe if you're in Europe they maybe a deal but surely not in the USA. Reliability is VERY VERY important to me! Why buy ARAX when it's common knowledge it WILL give you problems much more often than a Bronica or Mamiya?
Bronica was my very first love when it comes to cameras. Right now I have and use a Bronica-S and an ETR (Chrome), now my Bronica-S has been in service since 1961 and it still feels and handles smooth as silk. I don't know about you but, when a Camera of mine malfunctions and needs repairs I pretty much have a fit. Nothing slows a photographer down more than having to ship his primary camera out for repair. The best way to avoid problems in photography is by not buying them.

 

[PHOTOTONE]

I have both ARAX remanufactured and Kiev brand cameras and I think they are fine, but not as robust as German, Sweedish and Japanese brands. But if you got the bucks, sure go for it, lots of great lens choices, and they are inexpensive.

 

[DBP]

Gevorg did a beautiful job on the 88CM I bought from him. But by that point I had a Kiev 60 and a set of lenses and was upgrading the body. I got into the Kiev 60 back when buying a set of medium format lenses in any other mount was several mortgage payments. If I were in the same position today as when I bought the Kiev 60 I would look at used Mamiyas, Pentaxes and Bronicas first, I suspect. Unless I really wanted the 30mm fisheye....

 

[Lruw]

The 30mm lens is so great. It is the best $100 I ever spent.

 

[Q.G.]

I'd say the 30 mm lens is fun. And a good buy.
But definitely not great.

 

[ldh]

With Mamiya and Bronica bodies going for under $100 why bother with ARAX? Maybe if you're in Europe they maybe a deal but surely not in the USA. Reliability is VERY VERY important to me! Why buy ARAX when it's common knowledge it WILL give you problems much more often than a Bronica or Mamiya?
-------
Joe I'm not sure who you are addressing with your response but I agree to a point with your position re price/reliability service etc...The Arax probably wouldnt be my first choice either if I was in the position of the OP...And the Bronica - S is a great camera. That being said any used piece of kit can fail and probably will. I had 2 Hasseys 500CMs that were constantly in for repairs until I finally got rid of them and switched over to Mamiya for my professional kit. In my case the Arax60 was bought for a very specific purpose...to use with my holga lenses...I bought a few CZJ and Russian lenses and came to really appreciate the East European glass and bought a bunch more all with very distinctive characteristics. Most of my personal work is shot with the Arax/Holga, a Linhof III 4x5 (converted for pinhole) and previously a Hasselblad 500C with a pinole bodycap...However I wouldnt hesitate to bring the Arax and a selection of lenses to a commissioned shoot and put a dozen or so rolls through it, even with those 25 people standing around stuffing their faces with catered food and texting on their i-phones. As far as the Arax product is concerned, I have met Gevorg and toured his facility and I like his work ethic and business philosophy...I have high praise for what he is offering and I think his products are a viable option for affordable medium format film systems. Admittedly I have a love for all things offbeat and in particular Eastern European...perhaps why I have lived in Prague and Berlin for 17 years. Personally Im not one to throw fits over anything, especially equipment...I leave the fits for makeup, hair and stylists...theyre much better at pulling it off. Ive always tried to use the right tool for the job, have backups, keep equipment serviced and if something f***ks up well thats life. I dont think anybody is really suggesting using an Arax as principal camera system for Hi-end professional work...and Im pretty sure that reliability is important to everybody. Clearly I wouldn't pack up the Arax and set of lenses in Peli-cases (as my sole piece of kit) and do a fashion shoot in Iceland with 25 people standing around...thinking WTF. That being said many Eastern European photographers (and not that long ago) could have never afforded a new or even used Bronica,Mamiya,Hassey, etc. Just a body (new) of any of these manufacturers would have cost more than they would make in a year...and they could never afford the lenses to go with it...

 

[P C Headland]

With Mamiya and Bronica bodies going for under $100 why bother with ARAX? Maybe if you're in Europe they maybe a deal but surely not in the USA. Reliability is VERY VERY important to me! Why buy ARAX when it's common knowledge it WILL give you problems much more often than a Bronica or Mamiya? ....

Because at the price, with the Arax, you are effectively getting a fully refurbished and adjusted camera with a guarantee. With the Mamiya or Bronica at that price, they are quite likely going to be in need of a CLA. Plus a 30mm fisheye is likely to cost rather more ...

I've not seen too many people complain that their Arax (particularly the 60 series) is unreliable - older Kiev bodies certainly. Even with the Kiev 60s it is usually only film transport that needs adjusting.

As with any gear, some people have good experiences, some not. Get what suits your circumstances best.

 

[Joe Grodis]

I'm not an ARAX hater or anything like that and I have been looking at getting one for my collection for the last 2 years. The problem here in the USA is that there isn't a USA source to purchase or even get one repaired. I checked out a few at the ARAX web site and the colored leatherette one are rather attractive. Unfortunately, with a $550+ price tag, shipping taking weeks, and unconventional payment methods I'll just have to pass on ARAX. Paying for a CLA on a Bronica or Mamiya is a small price to pay considering the service life of 20 years and more. Funny thing... my Bronica-S, at a whopping 48 years old still works like a champ.
Anyways... if I do run across an ARAX here in the USA for $300ish I'll most likely pick it up.

 

[ricksplace]

The Pentacon Six cameras got a poor reputation as a result of the first model, the Praktisix. Talk to a few people who actually use the Pentacon six tl model, and see what they have to say. I have two of them and they have never given me a lick of trouble in the twenty years I have had them. And you just can't beat the prices on those Zeiss lenses. You also can't beat the image quailty of the Zeiss lenses.

 

[david_mizen]

ive dealt with arax a fair bit over the last 6 or so years never a problem (other ones ive caused my self) my experience with lenses for this system leads me to say the zeis lens are better i like the arsat 30mm and 40mm but the 40 has issues with the way it renders the out of focus elements (bokeh?) which i dont like and i am about to send to gervog to see what he can do with it also i have 150mm that wont reach infinity focus (or even close) so thats going for a remedy as well the lens came from fleabay not arax. i have 3 bodies a K6c and 2 modified k88s. I have found the 6c to be reliable (but dont take pictures in strong sun light with the sun in the frame (it burns holes in the shutter) . I bought the k88's as scrap on flea bay for 10 $ each torn shutters jammed etc sent them to gervog who rebuilt them (with metal shutters so no more burning holes in them) and never looked back

 

[PeterAM]

See this post re Arsenal: (there was a url link here which no longer exists)

 

[nsouto]

Got an Arax-60 with mlu, mostly as an excuse to try out Flekies, Sonnars and Telemegors. With the intention of eventually using them with my 6X4.5 and 35mm gear via adaptors.
It introduced me to the square format and I loved it, so it gets used more and more!
Yes, it needs CLA regularly: it's a purely mechanical camera. So what?

 

[Joe Grodis]

I see a trend here... Why is it that people from the USA are not that fond of ARAX but those not from the USA love ARAX? Are ARAX cameras much cheaper outside of the USA? Or, are used Mamiya's & Bronica's very expensive or rare outside of the USA?