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2025-06-11

Kiev-6S: Budget medium format film camera

When I decided to start shooting film again, I planned to use both 135 (35mm) and 120 (~6cm) format films. So I bought a development tank that supports both formats.

Of course, shooting with 135-format film is easier. There are many cameras available for it. However, I recently acquired the Carl Zeiss Jena Biometar MC 80/2.8 lens and wanted to test it with 120 film.

Consequently, I bought a Kiev-6S (Киев-6C/Kyiv-6S) film camera manufactured in 1983. It is a budget medium format (6x6) SLR with a Pentacon Six (P6) mount, which is called the Bayonet-B (Байонет-Б/Mount-B) in this case.




Compared to the Pentax Super A, the Kiev-6S is bulky, large, and heavy.

The camera came with a complete factory kit, including two viewfinders and a Vega-12B 90/2.8 lens. The 6x6 frame size is 56x56 mm, so the diagonal is approximately 79 mm. A 90/2.8 lens for 6x6 is equivalent to a 49/1.5 lens for FF.

I use the Kiev-6S with the waist-level viewfinder and the Carl Zeiss Jena Biometar MC 80/2.8 lens.




The camera is in good condition and has seen little use. I shot one roll of film, and the images turned out well, with consistent interframe spacing (important for Kiev-6S/60 models). The main problem is achieving accurate focus. It is harder than I expected.

One notable feature of the Kiev-6S is its shutter release button, which is designed for left-handed use. I have no problems with it.

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