ARSENAL factory is History -- Kiev is dead, long live Kievs

Kino · Nov 9, 2009

This sucks...

********

Kiev, Ukraine [Russian KOI-8R is below]

Dear friends and kievaholiks.

It is pity to inform that after 245 year the ARSENAL factory (Zavod
ARSENAL in Russian) is lost. After many judicial proceedings now we
have the Special Construction Department (SKTB in Russian) instead of
ARSENAL factory. The factory management, including the director of
factory, are totally changed. The workers are discharges, all
manufacturing is stopped, the factory storehouse is empty.

The good news is that we have bought the medium format cameras and
parts for several years of works and we'll keep our business running
at least 4-5 years more. So, you'll have ability to buy ARAX cameras
as usually with our one year worldwide warranty. In any case, you
will never be left alone with a problem from your ARAX cameras many
many many years.

Sincerely
Gevorg Vartanyan,
http://araxfoto.com/

----------------------------------------------------------------------
[Russian KOI-8]

Дорогие друзья и киеваголики.

Очень жаль информировать, что после 245 лет существования, завод
Арсенал окончательно закрылся и канул в историю. После многочисленных
судебных процессов, вместо "Государственного Предприятия Завод
Арсенал" появилась новая структура "СКТБ" (Специальное
Кострукторско-Техническое Бюро), руководство завода упразднено,
рабочие места кардинально сокращены, цеха закрыты, оборудование
распродается, производство остановлено, склады опустошены.

Хорошая новость заключается в том, что мы выкупили камеры среднего
формата, запчасти к ним и обеспечены материалом как минимум еще на 4-5
лет работы. Поэтому, Вы как и прежде будете иметь возможность
приобрести камеры АРАКС с включенной годичной полной гарантией. В
любом случае, Вы никогда не останетесь наедине с техническими
проблемами еще много много много лет.

С уважением,
Геворг Вартанян
http://araxfoto.com/

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Erik Petersson · Nov 9, 2009

Ochen, ochen zhal esli pravda. Ja smotrel na web-saite Arsenala, no nichevo ne videl.

Really sorry to hear this. I had a look at the Arsenal web-sait, but I did not see anything. Still, sorry to hear this.

Jeff Kubach · Nov 9, 2009

I'm also sorry to hear this. Them changes!

Jeff

shutterspeed1000 · Nov 9, 2009

This is really sad news. I really liked my Kiev 88 am still sorry I sold it.

mark · Nov 9, 2009

Need to tip a glass of vodka to the quality control department. Lord knows they drank enough while checking cameras

Anscojohn · Nov 9, 2009

shutterspeed1000 said:
This is really sad news. I really liked my Kiev 88 am still sorry I sold it.

*******
I guess that means my Kiev 88 and lenses and backs and finders are now collector's items.

Mike1234 · Nov 9, 2009

Yes, and I guess the two Arsat 30mm fisheyes I have are worth a gazillion dollars now. One BN/sealed and the other LN.

mikebarger · Nov 9, 2009

Let's see a camera that had to be re-manufactured before you had a chance of getting a good one.

Yup, it'll be missed.

Mike

Kino · Nov 9, 2009

Yeah, we know how important labels are to some insecure people, but some people are happy with less than perfect...

shutterspeed1000 · Nov 9, 2009

I really liked mine and honestly never had any issues with it. It was a great way to get into a medium format slr without a large price tag. Things are different now so I guess I would not buy another since cameras like a Pentax 645 and M1000s are such great deals now. When I had the Kiev they were all out of my price range.

Q.G. · Nov 10, 2009

Kino said:
Yeah, we know how important labels are to some insecure people, but some people are happy with less than perfect...

The cameras Kiev produced were very insecure, indeed...
Which had a knock-on effect, of course, making people using them - though happy they may be with that - also insecure: will it work... will it not? When will it grind to a halt? Should i have bought a rebuild one?
That sort of stuff.

nsouto · Nov 10, 2009

FWIW, my Arax-60 gets more use than most of the other MF cameras, RB67 included. Yes, it needs a regular CLA. So what?

The Flekie 50 and Sonnar 180 I use it with are by far the best MF lenses I got in those ranges. Only the 127K/L is better. So much so that I got an adapter to use them with a 645-TL, where they also excel.

Long live Gevorg's Arax gear, for as long as he can find a niche.

mikebarger · Nov 10, 2009

Kino,

My choice at the time was Kowa 6 over the Kiev, hardly big name brand. The Kowa 40mm is one of the best lens I've ever used. I really would have liked to try the 19mm MF lens for the 6/66 series.

I didn't realize the Flekie or Sonnar 180 were made by Kiev.

Mike

Joe Grodis · Nov 10, 2009

I've always wanted one of those ARAX cameras for a long time. Not as an everyday user but just to add to the collection. But, with a $500 price tag, 5 weeks shipping, and known quality issues the Mamiya 645 pro was by far a better choice.If FEDKA had them for, say, $250 I'd buy one then.
AT any rate I hate to see any film camera brand disappear (Bronica broke my heart). Like Bronica, I'm sure Kiev's will be around for many year to come spare parts be willing.

Q.G. · Nov 10, 2009

If you want one for a collection, find the original Salyut.
Those reworked thingies, i.e. 'unoriginals', are not collectible.

benjiboy · Nov 11, 2009

mark said:
Need to tip a glass of vodka to the quality control department. Lord knows they drank enough while checking cameras

LOL, that's very funny Mark, thanks for brightening my morning.

Pumal · Nov 11, 2009

I had a Kiev 6X6 once. I might have been lucky because I never had a problem with her or the lenses. Sorry to hear the bad News.

PHOTOTONE · Nov 11, 2009

mikebarger said:
Kino,

I didn't realize the Flekie or Sonnar 180 were made by Kiev.

Mike

Their not, but they fit the Kiev cameras with the Pentacon mount.

Ektagraphic · Nov 11, 2009

I wanted to pick up a brand new Kiev....I have never owned a "new" camera that has always been mine and never anyone else's camera......

nsouto · Nov 12, 2009

PHOTOTONE said:
Their not, but they fit the Kiev cameras with the Pentacon mount.

Yup. I got the Arax so I could use it with those two. Little did I know then adapters would let me use the 645! And 35mm gear as well: the Sonnar 180 works particularly sweet mounted on bellows for "at distance" close-up imagery!

Still: with the Arax I got full 6X6 square format.
And that was an eye opener: had never used the format before, only 6X7.

chriscrawfordphoto · Nov 20, 2009

Kino said:
Yeah, we know how important labels are to some insecure people, but some people are happy with less than perfect...

Its not about labels or snobbery. I'm a professional, my equipment needs to 'just work' every single day, no exceptions. My ability to feed myself and my son depends on that. Soviet cameras are not reliable, sorry, they just aren't. Its too bad too, because many of the Russian lenses were excellent. I have a Jupiter-8 lens (50mm f2) in Leica screw mount that I use on my Leica M4 with an adapter and it is SHARP. I did have to have it rebuilt after buying it in new condition...it backfocused severely. Once I had it re-shimmed to proper focus, it has been an awesome lens.

For medium format, my first was a Mamiya 645 Super, bought new when I was a senior in high school. Much more costly than an ARAX but it has served me faithfully without a single problem, ever, for 15 yrs. I have made many times its purchase price from the sale of my fine art prints from negs that were produced in that camera. Considering that used Mamiyas are DIRT CHEAP now, I just don't see the point of buying something that is not 100% perfectly reliable.

mikebarger · Nov 20, 2009

Chris

Off topic, but you have a nice website.

Mike

chriscrawfordphoto · Nov 20, 2009

mikebarger said:
Chris

Off topic, but you have a nice website.

Mike

Thanks Mike

Bosaiya · Nov 20, 2009

I'm doing my first trial-by-fire with a Kiev 60 today. My fingers are crossed!

Kino · Nov 20, 2009

chriscrawfordphoto said:
Its not about labels or snobbery. I'm a professional, my equipment needs to 'just work' every single day, no exceptions. My ability to feed myself and my son depends on that. Soviet cameras are not reliable, sorry, they just aren't. Its too bad too, because many of the Russian lenses were excellent. I have a Jupiter-8 lens (50mm f2) in Leica screw mount that I use on my Leica M4 with an adapter and it is SHARP. I did have to have it rebuilt after buying it in new condition...it backfocused severely. Once I had it re-shimmed to proper focus, it has been an awesome lens.

For medium format, my first was a Mamiya 645 Super, bought new when I was a senior in high school. Much more costly than an ARAX but it has served me faithfully without a single problem, ever, for 15 yrs. I have made many times its purchase price from the sale of my fine art prints from negs that were produced in that camera. Considering that used Mamiyas are DIRT CHEAP now, I just don't see the point of buying something that is not 100% perfectly reliable.

Not everyone places professional demands on equipment.

Like I said, some people just can't respect a moment without putting something down...

Would a moderator please close this tread?

thanks

ARSENAL factory is History -- Kiev is dead, long live Kievs

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