Hasselbladski

[LeoniD]

the world moved on and soviet stayed with the old lubricants

Exactly, yes.

I assume that was pre war?

Yes, but they should be working again now.

where they still doing CLA on them before that?

In one of Arsenal's buildings. This factory is like a city in a city. Several buildings were stolen, but the majority still belongs to the factory and is used. They even restored (polishing+re-coating) a frontal lens for my Arsat H on the same equipment it once was manufactured and made an entirely new lens for my friend's nikkor
I didn't contact them now tho, Arsenal's production areas may have been used to accommodate the production lines from damaged factories, and camera repairing is very far from critical needs rn

 

[xya]

Another name would be "Russelblad". We all know that it's either "former Russian" or "Ukrainian" to be correct, but these cameras are still called Russian.

BTW: I had one years ago and it worked fine for years . It is known that quality control wasn't at its best, but in general, the cameras are robust and reliable. Bad maintenance and operating errors are often the cause of failure.

I recently bought another one and this is working fine as well, see https://www.oddcameras.com/kiev_88.htm

 

[flavio81]

Can't say anything about that, because I never used any western materials, but soviet lubricants were really bad. ОКБ-122-7 that was used since 80s in cameras had great properties on paper, but in reality it was much more viscous than it should (higher load on parts). Stability of this lubricant is "acceptable", which, when translated from communist to English, means "we made a pile of garbage, but we also can create GOSTs, so we'll just slap the lowest acceptable numbers into the new GOST and call it a day". As the result, after 20 years (or rather 10, this lubricant has 10 years warranty) it turns into chewing gum that slowly breaks the camera

The germans also invented such a substance, it's called "agfa green grease" or "bayer green grease"

 

[flavio81]

In one of Arsenal's buildings. This factory is like a city in a city. Several buildings were stolen, but the majority still belongs to the factory and is used. They even restored (polishing+re-coating) a frontal lens for my Arsat H on the same equipment it once was manufactured and made an entirely new lens for my friend's nikkor
I didn't contact them now tho, Arsenal's production areas may have been used to accommodate the production lines from damaged factories, and camera repairing is very far from critical needs rn

Well, that's deluxe camera service, really!

 

[LeoniD]

"former Russian"

Former soviet-yes, but I've never heard the phrase you mention. "Russelblad" is a new one too, so may I suggest a name?
Hasselblyat seems to fit really well, because
1)Ay blyat, I dropped it on my leg, now the legs broken!
2)Oh blyat, the photos look amazing!
3)"blyat" is present in both Russian and Ukrainian, as well as some other slavic languages
4)Ah blyat, I broke it!

 

[LeoniD]

Well, that's deluxe camera service, really!

Take that, Leica!
Seriously tho, I couldn't be happier with the quality of their service, they even somehow managed to perfectly match the type of glass and shape/curvature of the lens on that nikkor

 

[flavio81]

Take that, Leica!
Seriously tho, I couldn't be happier with the quality of their service, they even somehow managed to perfectly match the type of glass and shape/curvature of the lens on that nikkor

Leonid, back on topic: I have seen many interesting stuff (cameras) being sold from Kyiv for years on eBay. I wonder, now, with the current situtaion (ukraine under attack), what are the chances for these items to be shipped reliably to the american continent? Are DHL or FedEx offices operating fine on the capital?

 

[LeoniD]

Well, there's a possibility that your camera will be pulverized by a missile that wery well might be older than the camera in question. But don't worry, that possibly is really low, since those missiles land in random fields much more often than on targets
Ukrposhta and Nova Poshta are working reliably, but prices are higher now because of fuel cost and due to impossibility of direct flights from Kyiv. Other than the prices and extended delivery time, it's pretty much normal

 

[flavio81]

Well, there's a possibility that your camera will be pulverized by a missile that wery well might be older than the camera in question. But don't worry, that possibly is really low, since those missiles land in random fields much more often than on targets
Ukrposhta and Nova Poshta are working reliably, but prices are higher now because of fuel cost and due to impossibility of direct flights from Kyiv. Other than the prices and extended delivery time, it's pretty much normal

LOL

But how about DHL, FedEx? Are their offices still operating in Kyiv?

With postal mail, I read that what they do is that they transport the courier to Poland and then Polish post transports by air to the rest of the world, is that right?

 

[Sirius Glass]

Well, there's a possibility that your camera will be pulverized by a missile that wery well might be older than the camera in question. But don't worry, that possibly is really low, since those missiles land in random fields much more often than on targets
Ukrposhta and Nova Poshta are working reliably, but prices are higher now because of fuel cost and due to impossibility of direct flights from Kyiv. Other than the prices and extended delivery time, it's prettty much normal

Yet my purchases still arrive from Ukraine although transit is taking a little longer.

 

[AgX]

In one of Arsenal's buildings. This factory is like a city in a city. Several buildings were stolen, but the majority still belongs to the factory and is used.

A iconic building of them has been demolished last year.

 

[LeoniD]

A iconic building of them has been demolished last year.

WDYM? All buildings of tsar era are standing

LOL

But how about DHL, FedEx? Are their offices still operating in Kyiv?

According to Google, they don't work.

With postal mail, I read that what they do is that they transport the courier to Poland and then Polish post transports by air to the rest of the world, is that right?

Yes, that's right

 

[AgX]

WDYM? All buildings of tsar era are standing

Not the Tsar area... A concrete building can be iconic too...

But I mixed up the concrete building I got in mind with another one being actually demolished, shown in an erroneous press report.

 

[LeoniD]

Not the Tsar area... A concrete building can be iconic too...

But I mixed up the concrete building I got in mind with another one being actually demolished, shown in an erroneous press report.

Oh, you mean the one with concrete grate-like facade? Yeah, journalists love to put it in the articles, but it is still a part of Arsenal

 

[henryvk]

LOL

But how about DHL, FedEx? Are their offices still operating in Kyiv?

With postal mail, I read that what they do is that they transport the courier to Poland and then Polish post transports by air to the rest of the world, is that right?

I have a camera coming from Kiev right now. Afaik Ukrposhta turn the package over to DHL once it arrives in Germany. The place I bought it from offers FedEx and Ukrposhta economy. I chose the latter.

This is the parcel tracking record:

Spoiler: Click here to see record

Zielort - Zeit synchronisieren: 2022-05-20 09:47:21 (GMT+02:00)
2022-04-30 16:32
Ukraine, The shipment will be transported to the destination country/destination area and, from there, handed over to the delivery organization.

2022-04-30 15:06
Ukraine, The shipment has cleared customs in the country of origin.

2022-04-30 10:48
Ukraine, The shipment has been declared for export customs clearance.

2022-04-30 09:26
Ukraine, The shipment has arrived at the export parcel center

2022-04-27 14:44
Ukraine, The shipment has arrived at the parcel center of origin
Herkunft - Zeit synchronisieren: 2022-05-19 09:32:30 (GMT+02:00)
2022-05-18 15:59
GERMANY, Located at customs

2022-05-18 15:59
GERMANY, Arrival at inward office of exchange

2022-05-17 19:21
GERMANY, Accepted by destination post for processing

2022-05-13 10:51
UKRAINE, The container with your postal item has been handed over to the vehicle travelling to the destination country

2022-04-30 16:32
UKRAINE, KYIV MMPO, The postal item has been processed at the office of exchange and handed over for further transportation to the destination country

2022-04-30 15:06
UKRAINE, KYIV MMPO, Released from customs for further delivery

2022-04-30 10:48
UKRAINE, KYIV MMPO, Item presented to customs

2022-04-30 09:26
UKRAINE, KYIV MMPO, Arrival at outward office of exchange

2022-04-29 16:35
UKRAINE, DOPP KYIV, Income

If this information is accurate, the parcel simply sat for two weeks presumably at the Kiev airport or a local parcel center, before being shipped. Who knows why, maybe simple backlog, maybe due to the invasion, probably both.

 

[flavio81]

If this information is accurate, the parcel simply sat for two weeks presumably at the Kiev airport or a local parcel center, before being shipped. Who knows why, maybe simple backlog, maybe due to the invasion, probably both.

Thanks for this info!!

 

[flavio81]

Just FYI

I ordered some things from Ukraine from the postal service and they arrived just fine. Around 20 calendar days if i recall correctly.