I’ve always been curious about medium format cameras, especially so for Hasselblad. With the price of film cameras tumbling down, expensive Hasselblads can be bought at a fraction of their original prices. Nonetheless, it still remain as an expensive camera.
Kiev 88, on the other hand is a much cheaper alternative. Hailed as the Haassellblad-ski, Kiev 88 looks very similar to a Hasselblad. The history of the 2 brands goes back to the post-WWII period where a lot of the German optics, technologies & technicians were transferred to the former USSR. These half-brothers even share some of the modules such as the film cartridge & prism finders. Built in Kiev Arsenal Factory in Kiev City, Ukraine, the Kiev 88 is surprisingly still in production.
I was fortunate to have borrowed a copy of the 1985 version from my friend Patrick and brought it for a shoot at The Southern Ridges. I was really impressed by the camera and thought i should share a bit with those who are as clueless as I was.
Where to get it
A new copy of the Kiev 88 can be bought through Kiev USA or Kiev Cameras at around USD $475 depending on the versions and modifications made. The kit usually includes the following:
- Kiev 88 camera body
- 1 or 2 120 (6X6) film cartridges
- MC Arsat 80mm f2.8 lens
- Waist level finder
- Spot TTL prism
Of course, the package may include other small things such as lens, body cap & camera strap.
Locally in Singapore, all you could get are pre-owned units. They are mostly the older versions, not the new versions that comes with the TTL prism. My friend Patrick has put up one unit (1985 version) for sale.
The Lure
Price!! For less than USD $500, you get the Hasselblad’s half brother, a fast f2.8 lens and a medium format camera that is built like a tank. with modified lens mount, you can fit Carl Zeiss lenses on a Kiev 88 a definite plus for those who believe that lens is more important in image quality and camera is just as good as a black box.
The Catch(es)
Kiev 88, like many Russian cameras, has quite a few problems.
First, the weight. The whole standard kit of body, film cartridge and lens weighs a whopping 2.2kg!! Yeah, TWO POINT TWO kilograms! Put it around the neck and you will feel the weight. So this is definitely not a camera that you want to put it in your bag and carry it everywhere you go. But if you are those who likes bulky & sturdy camera, this is a plus for you.
Then comes the issue of the film advance knob. The Kiev 88 has an unforgiving film advance knob. You have to first advance the film, then change the shutter speed. Do it the wrong order and you will be sure to experience a total meltdown of the film advance mechanism. The cost of that? USD $100 plus shipping as Patrick found out when his friend unknowingly did just that. The Kiev 88’s mechanism is so complicated that even the famous Camera technician, Mr. Tay (here in Singapore) would steer clear of it. The only solution is to send it back to it’s Arsenal Plant.
While the above 2 issues are widely blogged by kiev fans. The shutter button is an issue that’s less glaring and more personal. It takes way too much strength for me to push down the shutter button. I have to press so hard that my framing went off quite a bit.
Last and most important, Kiev 88 is famous for having inaccurate shutter speed and total internal reflection. It’s best that you get a copy that is checked for consistent shutter speed or send it for a thorough check after purchasing a pre-owned copy.
Built & Handling
Kiev 88 is like a tank. It’s solid and robust and capable a taking a few strikes. With a weight reducing strap, it was not so hard for me to carry it for more than 3hours. But this is not the camera that i will carry on a long expedition for sure.
The handling is cumbersome. After each exposure, the mirror flips up, allowing light to enter the camera body. If your Kiev 88 has a cloth curtain, then the focused light beam will burn a hole on the shutter, exposing the film in the film cartridge compartment.
The film advance knob takes a great deal of strength to turn also. Every time I turn it, I will be fearing if one spring will just jump out or the know gets reaped off.
Conclusion
The Kiev 88 is an affordable medium format camera that offers great value for money and image quality. It’s a good beginner’s MF camera but i foresee that one will grow out of its system give some of the inherent design flaws.
Sample Images
The images are taken with Lucky SHD ISO 100 and Fuji RVP ISO 100
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