Help! Camera shop in KIEV!

[monkeypainter]

Hi there!

Later this month I'll be a few days in Kiev, Ukraine for work...

¿Can you help my find a good and reliable camera shop in Kiev that sell older FSU rangefinders (Fed's, Kiev's, etc) , lenses and all this stuff?

Thanx!!!!!

 

[rbiemer]

I can't help with this but you might email Gevorg Vartanyan--He owns ARAX Photo(ARAX upgrades Kiev 60 and 88 cameras) in Kiev and has been very helpful.
http://www.araxphoto.com/
Rob

 

[newspaperguy]

You could also contact K, Oleg (Oleg) [Edit] photocameras@mail.ru Khalyavin, Oleg ok@capital.mari-el.ru

 

[feenej]

I just looked thru the Kiev yellow pages online. I could not find a camera shop. There are photo studios, and photo advertising places etc.

 

[manfromh]

The old FSU camera are sold in markets most likely. So check out those. And maybe antique stores.
I doubt any real camera store would bother stocking up on FSU cameras.

 

[monkeypainter]

Yep!

I'm right now in kiev and I found a store that sells used stuff in quite good shape.

Thanx for your answers... know I'm the happy owner of a FED3... just bought some film... I almost don't remember how the film thing works!

 

[RFOBD]

What kind of price did you get on it? And did it come with a lens?

 

[monkeypainter]

I paid 400 grivnas, I think it's like 53 EUROS.

It's in good condition very clean, mechanics work very good, the shutter curtain like new. The rangefinder is clear.

But it has a some vertical misalignment. I don't know how expensive it will be to fix it, or maybe I can try to do it myself at home.

They gave me an industar 50mm 2.8 for free, damaged on the rim. But it seems to work fine...

If I have spare time maybe I should go back and buy some more (GAS attack). they have a very pretty FED1, MIR, Leningrad... They also have used leicas... but at leica price. It's a very reputable shop here in kiev.

 

[varjag]

monkeypainter, if you going to buy FSU gear there again, don't go to that store, you overpaid. They could at least have decency to give you a lens in good condition.

Remember it's Kiev, the going price for common gear (and FED-3 is very common) there is 2-3 times less than what you see on eBay. If you have a native friend there, check photo section in local classifieds.

 

[monkeypainter]

Oooops, sh*@#t! :bang:

Well, I've seen some FSU cameras on street markets and antique (rather junk) shops and I didn't even ask the price, 'cause they were extremely dirty and partly rusty.

The one I bought is at least mechanically excelent and clean. Maybe I could find it much cheaper, but I'm here on bussiness and don't have much spare time. Anyway I checked fedka.com and fed-3's are around 100$.

Anyway, thanks for your help. I've I find more time for FSU shopping, I'll bargain harder!

 

[Joao]

Hi
While you're there, why not try the Arsenal factory ? They have (at least they had it) a place to sell cameras - my Kiev35A was bought directly from them, and they have repaired my Kiev 10 Abtomat (SLR) for an incredible low price...
Wish you good purchases
Joao

 

[monkeypainter]

What or where is this arsenal factory?

 

[Joao]

Hello
The factory is here
http://www.zavodarsenal.kiev.ua/index.phtml?lan=e&id=_1_1
There is the address in the photo, I believe it is easy to reach. Going there with a russian or ukrainian speaker will make things much easier.
They have mostly SLRs now, if I understood correctly - but you can have a very cheap Kiev35A , and if it is your lucky day, you will have bought a great small camera. Try it with batteries and a film roll, if necessary they will change it for a new one rather than repair it. They also do repairs in older cameras, but that will take some time. I'm looking forward to read about your experience
Best regards
Joao

 

[wolves3012]

I paid 400 grivnas, I think it's like 53 EUROS.

It's in good condition very clean, mechanics work very good, the shutter curtain like new. The rangefinder is clear.

But it has a some vertical misalignment. I don't know how expensive it will be to fix it, or maybe I can try to do it myself at home.

They gave me an industar 50mm 2.8 for free, damaged on the rim. But it seems to work fine...

If I have spare time maybe I should go back and buy some more (GAS attack). they have a very pretty FED1, MIR, Leningrad... They also have used leicas... but at leica price. It's a very reputable shop here in kiev.

The RF is easily corrected on a FED 3 - remove the RF bezel and rotate the prism until the vertical is correct. That'll throw the horizontal off, however, so be prepared to alter that too!

53 Euros is expensive for a FED 3, even the 3a model. I picked up my 3b for £15, including the standard lens and a Jupiter 11 (135mm). Works perfectly. The 3a fetches a bit more but not a lot, maybe £30 max with lens.