MF on a ~$500 budget?

[AndreasHagen507]

Hi,

I don’t agree with your assessment. After having some bad luck with some of my old cameras I decided to get into a newer one and I bought a CLA’d from Hartblei with a bright screen.

It doesn’t have issues with frame spacing

The lens mount could be more solid though but I’m able to use all my CZJ lenses

 

There's no doubt in my mind. I used a Pentacon 6 for several years, while I got through 2 Kiev60s within as many weeks and then sent the 2nd one back for a full refund.

 

During those 2 weeks I discovered the following designed-in faults:

No frame spacing mechanism whatsoever - it relies entirely on fixed rotations of the take up spool and has no chance of evenly spacing frames;

No mirror brake - the mirror bounces back down during the exposure, leaking light from the viewfinder into the dark-chamber;

The lens bayonet is as rough as old boots - my Zeiss Jena P6 lenses wouldn't fit the Kievs;

The camera back feels less robust than a tin-can and easily flexes when open;

Both (brand new) samples had intermittent flash firing issues.

 

So, would I recommend a Kiev60 to my worst enemy... you bet. To anyone else - don't touch one with a barge pole!