Kiev-90 unicorn spotted!

[LeoniD]

This is amazing info!! Thanks!!!

And it confirms my instinct, that the Kiev-4 rangefinders were the most reliable cameras to come from the CCCP/USSR.

Perhaps not the most, Kiev-10, 15, 17 and 20 were never tested after all, and Kiev-19 were pre-production models that were later improved

What I didn't expect, was the Kiev-88/Salyut cameras having such good reliablity numbers!

That's Arsenal for ya Imagine what they could do without bureaucracy
Once I had opportunity to take a look at a Kiev 6c that was used on Odesa film studio almost every day since 1974 until ~2006, at least 6 rolls a day, sometimes more than 10. The pressure plate looked as you imagine, like it was polished with a very fine sandpaper for 30+ years, top cover near the cocking lever was "polished" to brass, the silvery coating, whatever it is, was just rubbed off by finger over time. It's owner said that despite 3 CLAs it just refused to keep consistent frame spacing due to wear, but otherwise still worked just fine.

 

[flavio81]

Perhaps not the most, Kiev-10, 15, 17 and 20 were never tested after all, and Kiev-19 were pre-production models that were later improved


That's Arsenal for ya Imagine what they could do without bureaucracy
Once I had opportunity to take a look at a Kiev 6c that was used on Odesa film studio almost every day since 1974 until ~2006, at least 6 rolls a day, sometimes more than 10. The pressure plate looked as you imagine, like it was polished with a very fine sandpaper for 30+ years, top cover near the cocking lever was "polished" to brass, the silvery coating, whatever it is, was just rubbed off by finger over time. It's owner said that despite 3 CLAs it just refused to keep consistent frame spacing due to wear, but otherwise still worked just fine.

Kiev-15 is one of the cameras I want to own. At the very least, because of the fan shutter. And I suspect the lenses are better built than the same lenses on M42 mount.

 

[AgX]

Concerning the longevity of soviet SLR's one should not overlook that cameras from other countries had their issues too.

In a west-german test in the 70's by an independent institute a west-german, a east-german and japanese model scored badly at the longevity test. (The test did not unclude a soviet model.)

The worst was the brand-new designed west-german model where both samples totally broke...

 

[M-88]

Kiev-15 is one of the cameras I want to own. At the very least, because of the fan shutter. And I suspect the lenses are better built than the same lenses on M42 mount.

I used to own (still own, but it's dead now) Kiev 15 and I must say build quality of the lens is the same as KMZ-made M42. Better than BeLomo made lenses, but BeLomo was generally poor in many aspects. As for the camera, unnecessarily complicated shutter was its undoing.

 

[flavio81]

The worst was the brand-new designed west-german model were both samples totally broke...

Let me guess... It must have been a Rollei SL35E or SL35ME.

 

[AgX]

No, it was the first and only SLR by King Regula. A, by number, major manufacturer, though unknown at Apug.

 

[flavio81]

No, it was the first and only SLR by King Regula. A, by number, major manufacturer, though unknown at Apug.

I don't think King cameras are too obscure, really.

But i didn't know they attempted a SLR. Can't find pictures on the web...

 

[4season]

No, it was the first and only SLR by King Regula. A, by number, major manufacturer, though unknown at Apug.

Parts of Haking's Halina Paulette look so similar to a King Regula, that I wonder if Haking bought German tooling.

 

[AgX]

No, as said it was a SLR. King wanted to take a bit off from the japanese manufacturers, when the other west-german manufacturer already had given up such, by designing a true west-german camera competitive to the japanese prices.

 

[flavio81]

The worst was the brand-new designed west-german model were both samples totally broke...

"King for a day"