This directory contains the documentation I received with my Kiev 3A in August 2022. It's in Russian, and I have not yet been able to come up with a
suitable translation.
The documentation includes:
The “passport” for the camera, including a brief description and serial numbers:
The sales receipt, dated 4 March 1958, for 2,224 Soviet Rubles:
Sold by Zentralniy Univermag, Petrovka 2 in Moscow phone number K 5-35-20 on 2
March 1958. Now doesn't that bring things closer? And both here and on the “passport” are
the serial numbers both of the camera and the lens:
On 25 November 2024 I received my third Ukrainian camera: a Kiev 80, apparently better
known as Салют C (Salyut S),
serial number 7803327, with a Vega 12B 90 mm f/2.8 lens, serial number 781113 and two backs,
serial numbers 7800670 and 7811378. The first two digits of the serial numbers show that
the components were made in 1978. In contrast to all the other cameras I have so far, this
camera uses 120 film (6×6 cm)
and resembles a Hasselblad 1000F. I paid $180.50 for it.
This camera has a reputation: almost impossible to use, both from a reliability and
usability point of view. This
video and its sequel were interesting. He had even more difficulties than I did, and
mine was sold as “for parts or not working”, possibly a term that could have applied to
brand new cameras. In fact, the only issue I have is that the automatic diaphragm on the
lens doesn't work.
