From Kiev to Dubai, from Kiev 60 to ARAX (4/20/2003) //forums.delphiforums.com/kievreport/messages?msg=5200.24 Dear Colleges, From the last year I am regular but rather passive member of our forum. There are many things I have learnt from you. Yesterday I received my ARAX SE MLU from Geovorg. I hope that this short (?) review will be my more active involvement into our community. 1. Background -------------------- I am NOT a Pro, photography is for me only the way of building "family history" for the next generations and way to relase work stress. For the first purpose I am using whole range of Canon analog and digital bodies and lenses, for the second purpose - manual MF Until now I have never used Kiev88 type cameras. I have 2 Kiev 60, 1 Kiev 6c & 1 Pentacon Six. Most of them are second hand purchased in Poland. Some of them are working better, some give me more hard time. I really falled in love with MF after purchasing Accte Matte D from dr. Bujak (that was like with the old Soviet joke - how to double value of your Lada (Russian car) - fill tank with the petrol - so, how I doubled value of my second hand Kiev 60 - by purchasing Accte Mate D) - but it was definitely worth. I was always temped to try Kiev 88 family but: I was satisfy from Kiev's 60 and was afraid about Kiev 88 reliability. Until members of Kiev Forum started discussing about new "kid on the block" - ARAX. 2. ARAX ------------ I have checked its website and was quite impressed. We exchanged couple of mails and phones with Gevorg and I have decided to take a risk - I have ordered ARAX MLU SE - the same skin like on the website plus couple of accessories (like back caps for my lenses and additional film back) I was very pleased with Geovorg's attitude, no problem with getting answers or last minutes changes. Thanks to Adam advise I decided to go with NT (I was temped to go with OT). 3. DELIVERY ------------------- 9 days after money reached Geovorg account my ARAX was sent. It was ready 2 days earlier but I got message from Geovorg "I postpone shipment of your camera - I was not satisfied with spacing on one back - need to adjust" - bravo! Shipment to Dubai took 4 days (with EMS) and 2 days ago I have got it. I have got as well small extra bonus from Geovorg - it was indeed very nice to find it (high emotional value) 4. FIRST IMPRESSION ---------------------------- Camera is BEAUTIFUL. Keeping it in hand is just a PLEASURE. I started testing it, according to your advices, starting from body only, adding backs and lenses. First impression is very positive. Everything works smoothly. I was able to put in, fire and TAKE OUT each of my lens (30, 50, 80, 180, 300). Lightmeter was properly setup (but I still plane rather to use my seperate Polaris 5). I have ordered 3 films back and got with them 3 films with proper spacing. I loaded each back with Velvia and went to hunt. 5. RESULTS ----------------- Fantastic. Each tested (30-500) speed works properly, spacing is regular, no banding (my nightmare on Kiev 60) at any speed. 6. FOCUS SCREEN ------------------------ Focusing screen on ARAX is really not bad. Definitely I can work on it. (Un)fortunatelly I am spoiled by Accte Mate D. I HAD TO change it. According to Adam's advice I have decided to try to swapped it from my Kiev 60. Problem is that in 60 you do not have metal frame - I had received my Actte Mate from Adam already cut to fit my Kiev 60. Fortunatelly couple of good souls (thanks to all of you) from this forum shared their experience about changing the focusing screen on 88. That was a chance that I will be able to swap them. I opened metal frame from ARAX and swapt Accte Mate from Kiev 60 with original ARAX one. The same thikness, no need (in my case) to adjust focusing. Works perfectly. Unfortunatelly lightmeter went off - has to be adjusted. Here I faced with the issue. I can not synchronise SPOT with normal mettering. Probably it is due to the "nature" of the the finder. In original ARAX screen has quite bright center, but SPOT part is already dark. With Accte Matte whole screen is bright, so SPOT probably expect to measure light from darker part of screen and shows difference of 2. But it is not a big issue. I am still using manual Polaris and I have to just remember about difference between SPOT and normal mode. 7. KIEV 60 vs KIEV 88 - IS IT WORTH TO MOVE? ------------------------------------------------------------------- First impresion of "non pro" person moving from Kiev60 to 88 (nothing to do with ARAX - just general): 1. Kiev60 is definitly more user friendly. You can change shutter speed whenever you want without worring about destroying whole mechanism. Kiev 60 is simpler - less places where somewhere can go wrong. 2. I prefer focusing tools on Kiev 60. In 88 I just can not see whole screen "at once". But maybe I have to get used to this? 3. I do not like to keep shutter winded for long time. In Kiev 60 after advancing film you have to shoot and use film. In Kiev88 you can just disable back and fire without utilising frame. 4. Kiev88 has definitly more "cool" and "profesional" look and feeling. Specially SE edition. If only I would be younger I would definitly use it for..... hm... making better impression.... you know.... 5. Changing the backs - great functionality - I can have Velvia for landscapes and Provia for portraits (with Kiev 60 I used to carry second body to this purpose) Is it worth to move? I do not know. I like my new machine very much but more from emotional than practical point of view. I could still do almost the same with Kiev 60 (exept of multiexposure in NT and exchanging the backs). 8. ARAX - IS IT WORTH? ---------------------------------- Definitly YES. Very professional service, great product - great value for the money. 9. ANY RECOMENDATION FOR ARAX? ------------------------------------------------------ Keeping in mind how glad and satisfy I am with Gevorg service I would like to add couple of suggestion which maybe are worth to be taken into consideration (feedback is champion's breakfast) - strip holder - it would be nice to have "normal" holder for the strip - documentation - attached documentation is rather basic. OK, it is fine, you have English version of the manual plus couple of printouts from Kievoholics sites (does & don'ts etc). I understand that printing of the new manual with colour pictures could be quite expensive but why not to add CD with on-line manual. Maybe couple of good souls will agree to utilise their website to be attached? - on the website I would add pictures of SE version for EVERY skin sample - they will look differently on the camera and just as the sample - with SE version add engraved on the body "specially manufactured for Irek Zyzanski"..... OK, just joking.... 10. FINAL WORLD --------------------------- I am very glad and satisfy with product and service I have received from Geovorg. I know I will come back to him for next purchases. Last 2 points: - to all of you - thanks for everything I have learnt from you & sorry for so long post - to Gevorg - bolshoye spasiba. I hope we will not spoil you with our comments and you will keep the same level of your service. Best regards Irek Zyzanski