Lowered Expectations
I love shooting my Hasselblad cameras.
I currently own 3 versions - a 500c, a 500cm, and a 501c. Usually the 500cm is my camera of choice, and I’ve made many images with it over the years. The experience of using it is a complete joy for me - the sounds it makes, the interchangeable backs, the ground glass, waist level viewfinder - all of it. The only thing that I long for sometimes is a super wide lens for it. Unfortunately to get as wide as I’d like to get, I’d have to buy another Hasselblad - the 500SWC. Unfortunately, most of these are going for USD $3000 or more.
The Zodiac 30mm f/3.5. Look at the size of that thing. It’s like Sputnik.
A few months ago I was watching Ari Jaaski on Youtube, and he was discussing his 30mm Zodiac lens that he got with a Kiev 88. I thought this was maybe an interesting way to get a super wide lens in a 6x6 format. I’ve had some experience with a Kiev 88 in the past, as it was one of my first medium format cameras before I got into the Hasselblad system that eventually replaced it in my rotation. Well, that and the Kiev broke after a few months of use and I eventually sold it for parts for about what I had paid for it originally.
I found a Zodiak 30mm lens on eBay for a really cheap price, so I pulled the trigger and bought it. Since a lens is no good without a camera to put it on, I searched and found an “Excellent” condition Kiev 88 on eBay from a US seller and bought it. Unfortunately when the Kiev 88 arrived it was anything but excellent. The shutter curtain was frozen, and only one of the 4 backs actually worked correctly. So the only usable parts from that purchase were the 1 back and the 80mm Arsat lens (pronounced “arse-hat”). I managed to get most of my money back from the seller, and then bought another Kiev 88 from Ukraine. Given the state of the world right now, this may be one of the last purchases from Ukraine for me for a while.
When the second Kiev 88 arrived, it was in good shape and worked correctly. The back was good as well. So I tore the body down, replaced the foam under the viewfinder, and lubed the moving pieces. I also cleaned it up and re-glued some of the dodgy leatherette that was coming off. I then took the two backs apart, and rebuilt the seals on them. Replacing the seals on the backs is almost exactly like replacing Hasselblad seals. The dead Kiev 88 body I received earlier had a split-screen focus glass, and the working one did not, so I pulled that out and swapped it.
All fixed up and ready to go!
So at this point the next thing to do was to see if it produced images on film without any issues, so I loaded up a roll of HP5+ film and went out for a quick hour at lunch one day while working. I didn’t bring the huge 30mm lens with me and opted to bring the standard 80mm lens instead. The following weekend I developed the roll and SURPRISE - the images turned out well! Here are a few from the roll. Click on the first image to view them larger.
So how was it shooting the Kiev after shooting Hasselbads for so long? It’s somehow wildly different, yet familiar all at the same time. The “thwak” of the Hasselblad when firing it is certainly more pleasing than the “thump-wirr” of the Kiev. The Kiev viewfinder with the split-screen is surprisingly good, and feels like the Hasselblad in that regard. The Arsat 80mm lens requires you to hit the DOF preview lever to stop it down, so you basically focus at f/2.8, then stop down, then take the image. Problem there is that when you stop down the screen gets darker, so stopping down to f/16 for example, is really dark. So don’t move the camera after you’ve composed the shot, or better yet, use a tripod. This isn’t an issue with the Hasselbad. But I am happy to say that the 30mm lens doesn’t work that way, and the camera stops it down on its own when firing the shutter.
The Kiev also feels a lot heavier than the Hasselblad, but that’s probably because it doesn’t have any exotic light materials in it and is basically made from gun steel - all Kiev 88’s were made in the Arsenal Factory, which also makes weapons and guns.
None of what I’ve said about the Kiev means that its “bad” - it just is what it is. I didn’t buy it thinking it was going to really compare to the Hasselblad. To me they are completely different cameras, although boy do they look similar. I shot some images of the Kiev next to my 500cm just for fun. Click on the first image to view them larger.
They look like two brothers from another mother, don’t they? You can certainly see why some people call the Kiev the “Hasselbladski”. It certainly bears a striking resemblance, even if its not made to the same quality, fit, and finish. It is way cheaper though. I have less than $500 in the my Kiev kit, which consists of the body, 2 backs, WLF, the Arsat 80mm lens, and the Zodiac 30mm lens.
The next step is to get out there and shoot with the 30mm lens. I plan on getting out this weekend before the last of the snow melts, and will have the Kiev kit in my bag.
Note that I am not exaggerating when I state that the 30mm lens is BIG and HEAVY. Take a look at it on the Kiev. It’s almost comical.
So stay tuned for more results and thoughts as I use the Kiev. It should be a lot of fun, as long as I keep my expectations realistic. :)
As always, thanks for reading!
Jeremy
Below are some more images of the Kiev.
