[Konvas] Kiev 60 and unbelievable!

[Speedbirdmgh at aol.com]

Just got back my films from the lab and am in shock!
 
They are truly stunning.  Fuji 100 ASA colour reversal.
 
The Kiev delivers great pictures which I thought was not possible  
considering the feedback from various medium format forums on the web stating  that the 
camera was crap!
 
I got 14 pictures out of a 12 roll although the first and last pictures had  
pins stuck through them so that they cannot be scanned. The last photo  
overlapped the one before by 1/2 inch so I don't know what caused that?
 
I chose subjects which had much detail in them and long shadows and  
complicated light tones after all I was just testing the camera. The lens  performed 
really well except that the iris ring was a shade too loose and  started to 
wander when I focused so you had to double check every time (I put an  elastic 
band around it). Half way through, I put on a UV filter which was a  Russian one 
but I forgot to adjust by 1/4 stop so some images were just a shade  darker 
than they should be but most people would'nt know it. The light meter in  the 
prism failed completely and was way out and had to use a hand held one. I  put 
new batteries in, 3x 1.55 volt instead of the Russian type 4.5 volt which I  
think has more m/amps in it. So you cannot trust the built in light meter. Also 
 the metal lanyard tags kept coming undone and so I was using two neck  
straps as one tag came undone and I nearly lost the camera off a pier!. The  camera 
is much lighter to use without the prism and as the light meter does'nt  work 
anyway then it does'nt matter. But the lens delivered bright crisp images  
with plenty of contrast and focusing was a dream. The camera was difficult to  
hold for too long and with "sweaty" hands it was a matter of time before it  
would hit the concrete so once focused, press that button before it slipped  out 
of your hands. Overall performance was 10 out 10 except the shutter speed  
control knob which was very "woolly" and unprecise.
 
The lab asked me what lens I was using on my Hassleblad, I just said, 80mm.  
I did'nt have the nerve to say that I was using a Kiev 60, I am not a snob but 
I  just could'nt get the words out. Most people that go to this lab are using 
the  latest Hassies and Mamiya's at 33MP.  They have just blown up  images of 
Mr Obama for distribution for his UK visit.
 
Now testing my other camera Mamiya C330.TLF  BTW you can strip  this camera 
down in two minutes. Beautiful Seiko shutter.  Also have bought  two Zorki's 
getting ready for testing.
 
Thinking of buying a Hasselblad XPAN best of both worlds but still  expensive.
 
Rita  (now need a massage after this lot)
 
 
 
 
 
 
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://konvas.org/pipermail/cinema_konvas.org/attachments/20090402/916d43fa/attachment.html>