Back to the Future: Kiev 6C Questions

[rbelyell]

since i picked up the sony rx1 several weeks ago ive felt pretty comfortable with my digital equipment. my only possible potential GAS is the nikon df, but my personal choice is that my talent does not merit spending more than about $1500 on any single piece of equipment, so thats out for awhile at least.

ive lately thought id like to shoot some more film, maybe bring along my trusty xpan for panos when im shooting my epl5/90 for street and some other film cam for portraits alongside my rx1. for better or worse i started by wanting medium format, because ive a lot of 120 sitting in my fridge and because i love 6x6 for portraits. i was thinking about the mamiya 6, but then i thought back to one of my favorite portrait lenses ever, the zeiss biometar 120/2.8. i used it many years ago both with a long gone P6 and a long gone 5d. ive missed it since i sold it and never found a portrait lens that i thought rendered better.

so,long story short, i got an amazing deal on one, and on a Kiev 6c to shoot it with, both on their way to me now. i remember having to study up on idiosyncracies associated with the old P6, so i am wondering if theres anything i need to know about loading, winding, shooting the Kiev 6c? i cant find an english version of the manual on line--do i need one? anyone have one?

thanks in advance to the MF guys for their help!
tony

 

[ottluuk]

Always wind on in a single, continuous stroke, not in small increments and don't move the wind lever after winding on. Otherwise your frame spacing goes out the window.

Be careful with the aperture control pin on the lenses. It's quite easy to break the inner linkage in some of the P6 lenses if you happen to bump it into something or push it the wrong way. Don't ask me how I know 🙁

Other than that, the camera is quite self-explanatory. The Zodiak fisheye is really fun, pick it up if you happen to see one.

 

[KoNickon]

Frame spacing may be a problem, regardless of your winding technique. You may need to open up the camera to fix this; here is some very helpful information: http://www.kievaholic.com/kiev60kalibration.html

Are you getting it with a metered finder? Don't count on it being accurate, or being able to be adjusted properly. The above link discusses meter calibration also.

I agree with Ott about the 30mm fisheye (Arsat is the other name I see it sold under). An amazing lens, and a great deal. The other FSU lenses are pretty impressive too, and of course the CZJ lenses are self-recommending.

 

[rbelyell]

thank you ott and konikon, much appreciated and will do!

i did not get the metered prism, as i did not want the extra weight and found the one i had years ago on the P6 to be less than worthless. i have no problem 'self-metering', and really only intend to use it in light i can meter 'sunny 16'.

 

[littleearth]

I like the Kiev 6C and Pentacon Six ! But my favourite lens is the Sonnar, I'm not a big fan of the Biometar !
Just load the film tight and go easy on the advance lever !
I think the Pentax 67 is a better deal these days ! You can find them really cheap and the glass is outstanding !

 

[Nokton48]

I've had one. Covered it with B&W Cobra skin from Cameraleather.
What a true thing of beauty it was 😱 😱 😱
Left-handed shutter release. Nothing specific unless you have issues with it.
Some think the 6c's had better quality control than the Kiev 60's.

www.pentaconsix.com has lots of good info regarding Kievs
There is a Kiev forum at http://www.delphiforums.com/index.ptt?query=kiev if you have issues

 

[rbelyell]

I like the Kiev 6C and Pentacon Six ! But my favourite lens is the Sonnar, I'm not a big fan of the Biometar !
Just load the film tight and go easy on the advance lever !
I think the Pentax 67 is a better deal these days ! You can find them really cheap and the glass is outstanding !

thank you. im not a big 6x7 guy, prefering either 6x6 for portraits and 6x9 for landscapes. i did manage camera and lens for under $200 total, which i think is pretty cheap.

 

[rbelyell]

thanks nokton, ive bookmarked those sites.

 

[Nokton48]

Oh, Also, the 6C will take 24 exposures on 220 film, if you have any left. The Kiev 60 takes only 120 film.