Kiev 60 cameras and the war in Ukraine

alanrockwood · Mar 16, 2022

I just had the thought... I wonder how the war in Ukraine is going to affect the market for Kiev 60 cameras.

I realize that the market for cameras from Ukraine should be the least of anyone's worries compared to everything else going on in Ukraine right now, but still, the war can't be good for suppliers of Kiev camera. Possibly the supply will dry up altogether, and who knows what will happen to the people involved with marketing Kiev cameras.

yeolde · Mar 16, 2022

This war cut the western countries from Russia - another great source of Soviet cameras. Without Russia and Ukraine you can rely on East europe.

macfred · Mar 16, 2022

ARAX in Kiev which has made upgrades on all types of Kiev medium format cameras, lenses and accessories (produced in ARSENAL factory which is located in Kiev) is currently in a bad situation.
From their Facebook:

No actual news from the ARSENAL factory in Kiev but I guess it is somewhat the same there.
Edit: See posting #4

yeolde · Mar 16, 2022

Arsenal factory in Kiev is dead long (~10yrs) ago - it is no war ruined Arsenal, but obsolescence and corruption
Read this story thru the translator https://www.epravda.com.ua/rus/publications/2020/08/26/664370/

Arax was a manufacture with former workers who rely on some well stored spare parts from the dying factory
Actually they are a good guys keeping the film alive. It's a pity that they suffer with this war
Donate them folks, it is hard and expensive to keep the workshop with the equipment from demolition and looting in besieged city!

Marcelo Paniagua · Mar 16, 2022

I believe there are other countries that may source Kiev 6s/60, like Moldava,Poland and probably Rumania. Got a Kiev 88 and a Kiev 6c on the way from Moldava.

I guess offer will be reduced because, IMHO, most of the Kiev's cameras are on Ukraine (at leat most of mine have come from there) and I guess many of them would be destroyed on the war.

Sirius Glass · Mar 16, 2022

A few days ago I ordered a Soviet 85mm viewfinder from the Ukraine and it is on the way. The seller is in central Ukraine and has not been bombarded yet.

macfred · Mar 16, 2022

yeolde said:
Arsenal factory in Kiev is dead long (~10yrs) ago - it is no war ruined Arsenal, but obsolescence and corruption
Read this story thru the translator https://www.epravda.com.ua/rus/publications/2020/08/26/664370/
...!

Thank you for clarification on this.

Marcelo Paniagua · Mar 16, 2022

yeolde said:
Arsenal factory in Kiev is dead long (~10yrs) ago - it is no war ruined Arsenal, but obsolescence and corruption
Read this story thru the translator https://www.epravda.com.ua/rus/publications/2020/08/26/664370/

Arax was a manufacture with former workers who rely on some well stored spare parts from the dying factory
Actually they are a good guys keeping the film alive. It's a pity that they suffer with this war
Donate them folks, it is hard and expensive to keep the workshop with the equipment from demolition and looting in besieged city!

Quite an interesting article yeolde. Thanks

ProfessorC1983 · Mar 16, 2022

It feels ghoulish to point out that I'm currently selling my Arax 60 in the classifieds, but (Moderator's politics EDIT}

Thoughts and prayers (and a modest donation) go out to Gevorg who has always been wonderful to deal with and makes a world-class camera.

Tel · Mar 16, 2022

ProfessorC1983 said:
It feels ghoulish to point out that I'm currently selling my Arax 60 in the classifieds, {Politics edited by Moderator}

Thoughts and prayers (and a modest donation) go out to Gevorg who has always been wonderful to deal with and makes a world-class camera.

+1. Years ago, I sent him a Lomo anamorphic zoom lens for re-coating and he did it perfectly and CLA'd the mechanics too. A real class act.

SomewhereLost · Mar 23, 2022

Marcelo Paniagua said:
I believe there are other countries that may source Kiev 6s/60, like Moldava,Poland and probably Rumania. Got a Kiev 88 and a Kiev 6c on the way from Moldava.

Any idea where to find those places online? I was on a hunt for a few weeks and outside of Ebay I had no real luck and I searched high and low. All the US suppliers are either dead or gone, and the one or two Russian based sites I found never responded to emails.

Marcelo Paniagua · Mar 23, 2022

SomewhereLost said:
Any idea where to find those places online? I was on a hunt for a few weeks and outside of Ebay I had no real luck and I searched high and low. All the US suppliers are either dead or gone, and the one or two Russian based sites I found never responded to emails.

Bought mine on TirasPhoto

www_tirasphoto_com on eBay

He is on Moldava.

Marcelo

SomewhereLost · Mar 23, 2022

Marcelo Paniagua said:
Bought mine on TirasPhoto

www_tirasphoto_com on eBay

He is on Moldava.

Marcelo

It's still just eBay though. I was hoping there was maybe something like a Russian version of KEH I had never heard of.

Marcelo Paniagua · Mar 24, 2022

I get it. I suppose they are but unfortunatly most of them may be blocked. Most parcels companies stopped delivered to/from Russia.

BMbikerider · Mar 24, 2022

I don't know if it will help but there is a camera shop in Delft, which is in the Netherlands who sell almost exclusively film cameras 35mm/med format/large format with contacts in Poland and they regularly get Russian cameras for sale, There website is Classic cameras and vintage lenses - Fotohandel Delfshaven / MK Optics I have not used them but my son who lives in The Hague which is nearby, has visited them and their showroom is an Aladdin's cave.

Their website is mostly in English with a few spelling mistakes. All their prices are in Euros, which when converted into English pounds show the prices to be a little cheaper.

The web address looks unusual but I have tested the link and it works. They also have a link where you can get weekly updates with their latest stock free of charge

ericB&W · Apr 1, 2022

I've bought last week a second Kiev 60 on Ebay here in Italy,with exposimetric prism, waist lever finder, 80 mm a 2 macro tubes ,
all in good state, i made a roll and the camera works perfect .
I have another one black with mirror lock up that i bought from Russia years ago .
I got this second one as think that prices will go up , all cameras from russia will be more difficult to find and the ones sold here in Europe
will certainly go higher .

Sirius Glass · Apr 1, 2022

Sirius Glass said:
A few days ago I ordered a Soviet 85mm viewfinder from the Ukraine and it is on the way. The seller is in central Ukraine and has not been bombarded yet.

It showed up yesterday in perfect condition, but it will not stop telling all the other equipment about it journey.

Paul Howell · Apr 1, 2022

I bought a Kiev 60s from a dealer in Kiev, mostly as a way to get some money to someone I've bought from in the past. Although Ebay reports it has shipped I think that's an auto reply, don't think I will ever see it.

SomewhereLost · Apr 4, 2022

Paul Howell said:
I bought a Kiev 60s from a dealer in Kiev, mostly as a way to get some money to someone I've bought from in the past. Although Ebay reports it has shipped I think that's an auto reply, don't think I will ever see it.

I bought a Lubitel 166 and Kiev 60, about a week before everything went nuts over there. Both shipped out during turmoil occuring. Both have arrived. Have hope friend. I read somewhere that screwing with the mail over there is something people just don't do.

Marcelo Paniagua · Apr 4, 2022

Just got two Kievs from Moldava, a Kiev 88 and a Kiev6s. Both where given a CLA. Both feel pretty smooth when loading. Kiev 88 loading feels particularly smooth, although the reskin wasn't the best job I've seen. The guy from Moldava really delivered, although communication wasn't the best.

K

jtk · Apr 4, 2022

SomewhereLost said:
I bought a Lubitel 166 and Kiev 60, about a week before everything went nuts over there. Both shipped out during turmoil occuring. Both have arrived. Have hope friend. I read somewhere that screwing with the mail over there is something people just don't do.

fwiw I've learned that personal mail is blocked in Russia. {MODERATOR's EDIT)

macfred · Apr 4, 2022

Good news ...

Alex Varas · Apr 6, 2022

SomewhereLost said:
I bought a Lubitel 166 and Kiev 60, about a week before everything went nuts over there. Both shipped out during turmoil occuring. Both have arrived. Have hope friend. I read somewhere that screwing with the mail over there is something people just don't do.

This last sentence seems to be true, I just ordered a Superb from Russia and it seems they will continue using the train route to Poland and then by air, just like last two years before due pandemia with non open countries by plain.

Kiev 60 cameras and the war in Ukraine

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency