Kiev88 to Pentacon Six adapter or replace lens?

[Yobo57]

Hello I was wondering if anyone has any experience with the Kiev to P6 adapters from arax or eBay. I’ve heard some people complain they don’t work properly. Am I better off getting an adapter or selling my 30mm lens and buying one in the right mount?

 

[itsdoable]

I have one, can't remember if it was from Arax or someone else. It works fine with most lenses. The compatibility issues were with the lens, not the adapter, the auto aperture pin sometimes have different travel, and some lenses did not open fully when mounted. I just shimmed the pins in those cases. I used it primarily with a Mir69.

 

[Kino]

I agree with itsdoable above; depends on the lens. If you plan on only using it on that particular lens, it's probably a reasonable solution and you can leave it on the lens. Unfortunately, there are not many real alternative adapters (that I know of) due to the very slim difference in back focus.

I have a set of Kiev 88 bodies, one with Pentacon and one with a Kiev 88 mount. All of my lenses but one 80mm are in Kiev 88 twist mount. I purchased the adapter in hopes of freely interchanging them between camera bodies.

The 30mm Arsatz lens I have is in the Kiev 88 twist mount and do use the adapter; It works fine for casual use. However, I have found it can be dicey when using longer telephoto lenses and the aperture indexing is sometimes questionable from lens to lens.

In experimenting, I have decided to NOT use this lens adapter on any other lens than the 30mm on the Pentacon mount just for this reason. I simply do not trust that it will index all lenses properly. This basically limits the Pentacon mount 88 body to an 80mm and 30mm lens choice.

If you rely on working quick and will use it on a regular basis, buying the "real" lens mount might be a better (but potentially more expensive) route to take.

It all depends on your priorities as a user.

Oh and BTW, if you don't know it, be sure to always have the clear filter (or one of the filters) on the rear element with the 30mm or you cannot get true infinity focus.

 

[loccdor]

It's probably similar to the teleconverter, in that some of them have longer pins than others (and so do the lenses you attach to it). I had to return the first P6 teleconverter I bought because I needed one with a slightly longer pin. The second one works well.

 

[xya]

It's possible to mount the original Kiev 88 screw mount lenses into the P6 mount with the help of an adapter. It's not possible the other way, there is no possibility to mount P6 lenses into the Kiev 88 screw mount.

There is little room to get the adaper into the Pentacon mount, so it has to be pretty precise. Hartblei still makes them. I have one, it worked with most of the lenses, but no way to mount a 45mm or a 30mm fisheye. Mine broke when I tried to mount the 45mm.

 

[OAPOli]

I have the Hartblei adapter and it works well. The only issue is that it is slightly too short, meaning infinity is reached a little bit before the mark on the scale. But VF and film focus are correct.

 

[reddesert]

I have been curious about these adapters but have not used one. I have a few lenses in each of Kiev-88 screw and Kiev-60/P6 bayonet mounts, and a Kiev-6C body (well, and a Pentacon Six but not fully functional). Arax sells the K88-P6 adapter, and also says that one should install their updated breechlock ring for the Kiev-60 with the adapter - I don't have that which is one reason I haven't tried an adapter yet. Any opinions fromusers of the adapter or the Arax breech ring would be welcome.

You definitely need a rear filter to use the Arsat 30mm fisheye. The filter has a female thread and is recessed so there is not a trivial substitute. I have one filter, and a slightly kooky idea for improvising a replacement: attach a 39-37mm step up ring to the rear of the lens, and a 37mm filter. I think this would work optically (might have to glue the step-up ring on), but I'm not 100% sure it would clear the reflex mirror.

 

[Kino]

I have been curious about these adapters but have not used one. I have a few lenses in each of Kiev-88 screw and Kiev-60/P6 bayonet mounts, and a Kiev-6C body (well, and a Pentacon Six but not fully functional). Arax sells the K88-P6 adapter, and also says that one should install their updated breechlock ring for the Kiev-60 with the adapter - I don't have that which is one reason I haven't tried an adapter yet. Any opinions fromusers of the adapter or the Arax breech ring would be welcome.

You definitely need a rear filter to use the Arsat 30mm fisheye. The filter has a female thread and is recessed so there is not a trivial substitute. I have one filter, and a slightly kooky idea for improvising a replacement: attach a 39-37mm step up ring to the rear of the lens, and a 37mm filter. I think this would work optically (might have to glue the step-up ring on), but I'm not 100% sure it would clear the reflex mirror.

You can use the adapter on a Kiev 60 without the new breech lock ring, BUT it is not as secure as replacing it with an improved version. The new ring seems to be slightly less thick on the mating surface and will turn the full distance to lock the lens on the body. The old ring only partially turns on the mount, potentially allowing the lens to fall off if accidentally brushed ; at least that is my experience.

My 30mm Arsat only came with the 3 colored filters and no clear filter, so I use the very light blue filter as the default. No amount of searching on my part has come up with a replacement clear filter; Replacements are rare indeed!

 

[Yobo57]

You can use the adapter on a Kiev 60 without the new breech lock ring, BUT it is not as secure as replacing it with an improved version. The new ring seems to be slightly less thick on the mating surface and will turn the full distance to lock the lens on the body. The old ring only partially turns on the mount, potentially allowing the lens to fall off if accidentally brushed ; at least that is my experience.

My 30mm Arsat only came with the 3 colored filters and no clear filter, so I use the very light blue filter as the default. No amount of searching on my part has come up with a replacement clear filter; Replacements are rare indeed!

It should be possible to unmount the coloured glass from one of the filters and replace it with a clear filter or any other desired unmouted filter. Just a matter of finding glass cut to the right size.
I believe there’s a Chinese supplier, Tangsinuo, that sells various size and thickness filters with or without mountings.

 

[Kino]

It should be possible to unmount the coloured glass from one of the filters and replace it with a clear filter or any other desired unmouted filter. Just a matter of finding glass cut to the right size.
I believe there’s a Chinese supplier, Tangsinuo, that sells various size and thickness filters with or without mountings.

That is good information; thanks!