Standard filmbacks 6x6 and 6x4.5 cm for Kiev cameras - Instructions for use
It's the original version of the Kiev Arsenal instructions for Kiev 88 filmbacks, written by the Kiev Arsenal and published here without changes.
General Notes
Since efforts are continually made to improve the reliability and performance of the product, minor changes may be introduced without special notice.
The Kiev 88 is a medium-size reflex camera with an all-metal curtain shutter and interchangeable magazines of sizes 6x6 or 6x4.5 cm.
The camera is designed for use of a 61.5-mm wide imperforated roll-film (type 120).
The shutter cocking mechanism is interlocked with the film transport mechanism, thus preventing double film exposure.
The interchangeable magazines offer the opportunity for quick change in the process of photographing from a black-and-white to a color film or to a more or less sensitive film. The magazine may be removed from the camera irrespective of the number of the pictures taken. Each magazine is provided with an automatic picture counter and a film speed setting scale of the loaded film.
Preparing the Camera for Loading
Take the camera out of the case.
Insert shutter 29 as far as it will go.
Having displaced button 30 in direction of the arrow and having turned magazine 24 as shown in the Figure, remove the magazine from the camera.
The magazine lock will open only with the shutter pushed home.
Magazine Loading
CAUTION: When loading the magazine with a film take care that the number on the paper label of the transport mechanism complies with the number on the label glued on the magazine body.
The magazine can be loaded with the film in daylight (preferably in a shade).
Remove shutter 29 from the magazine, lift handle 28, turn it fully counter-clockwise and withdraw transport mechanism 33.
Tear off the paper label from the leader end.
Shift plate 35 through 90 deg., place the spool with the film into the seat and reset the plate to the initial position. In this case the protruding centre of plate 35 should enter the spool hole.
Turn handle 28 fully clockwise, shift plate 37 through 90 deg. and insert the take-up spool into the seat. Reset plate 37 to the initial position so that its driver would enter the spool end face slit.
Pass the film leader on the guide roller, thread it under pressure plate 36, pass it on the second guide roller, fit the leader end in the take-up spool and wind the leader by rotating the take-up spool. In so doing, see to it that the leader would be wound without skewing or crumpling of its edges.
Turn handle 28 counter-clockwise. In this case pressure plate 36 will press the leader to the table. When the magazine is properly loaded, the film leader dark side should face the lens. Lift one of halves of knob 25 by turning through 90 deg. and set figure "1" in picture counter window 27 by rotating the knob in the direction reverse to the arrow.
Insert transport mechanism 33 into the magazine housing as far as it will go, slightly turning knob 25 in the direction of the arrow. Reset knob 25 to the initial position.
Turn handle 28 fully clockwise and after making sure that the lock has fixed the transport mechanism, reset the handle to the initial position. Insert shutter 29 home.
Preparing the Magazine for Shooting
Open window 38.
Lift knob 25 and rotate it in the direction of the arrow until the figure "1" appears in window 38, which corresponds, to the first picture in the film.
Set the loaded film sensitivity value on film speed setting scale 32. For this purpose turn the disk with the scale until the sensitivity value coincides with the index.
CAUTION: When loading a magazine with a film make sure that figure "1" is set in windows 27 and 38. If you fail to meet the requirements, the shots will go superimposed in shooting.
Preparing the Camera for Shooting
Cock the shutter by turning knob 12 fully in the direction of the arrow available on its body. Fit loaded magazine 24 on the camera catches and, turning the magazine in the direction of the arrow, attach it to the camera until the lock has operated.
CAUTION: Install the newly loaded magazine on the camera only with the camera shutter cocked and magazine shutter 29 pushed home.
When installing the magazine with a partially exposed film, see to it that the color of signals in windows 26 and 39 should be similar, otherwise a double exposure or a picture omission may occur. The state of film and camera shutter is determined depending on the color of signals in these windows (ref. to the Table).
| Signals color | Window 26 (on the film magazine) | Window 39 (on the camera body) |
| White | The current frame is not exposed | The shutter is cocked |
| Red | The current frame is exposed | The shutter is released |
Shooting
The process of photographing consists of the following jobs:
- shutter cocking and film transporting;
- exposure setting;
- diaphragm setting;
- viewing;
- focusing;
- shutter releasing.
Cock the shutter and transport the film by turning knob 12 fully. At the beginning of cocking the shutter a slight increase of the force applied to the knob is possible.
When the shutter is being cocked:
- the film is automatically rewound;
- the next picture number is set in window 27;
- the white signals are set in windows 26 and 39;
- the mirror is lowered to the operating position;
- the lens diaphragm aperture is fully opened.
Set the exposure time only when the shutter is cocked by knob 12. Pull the knob in the direction of the arrow and turn it in any direction until the exposure time value on scale 14 coincides with index 11 arranged on the camera housing. Lower the knob in this position so that it would be fixed.
Set the lens diaphragm by turning the ring with scale 6 until the chosen diaphragm aperture value coincides with index 5. The scale is fixed on all marked divisions of diaphragm apertures.
Open finder hood 10 for viewing by shifting button 19 in the direction of the arrow. With the repeated shifting of the button the viewfinder magnifying lens is set to the operating position.
Focus the camera with the aid of the ground-glass surface with a microraster and a rangefinder wedge or with the aid of the distance scale by turning ring 2 with the scale. The focusing is to be carried out only with the shutter cocked when the mirror is in the working position and the diaphragm is fully opened.
The depth of field is determined with the aid of the distance scale by means of additional scale 4.
The depth of field can be visually checked by the image of the object components on the ground-glass surface in the field of view of the viewfinder after pressing on lever 9 fully downward. In this case the lens is stopped down to the earlier pre-set value. When released, the lever automatically returns to the initial position and the diaphragm is fully opened.
The framing and focusing over, remove magazine shutter 29 and release the camera shutter by pressing smoothly on release button 17 as far as it will go.
When the camera shutter is being released:
- the mirror automatically swings to the upper position;
- the diaphragm aperture closes to the pre-set value;
- the film is exposed;
- the red signals are set in windows 26 and 39.
At the exposure times over 1/30 s it is recommended to carry out the photographing from a tripod. With the use of exposure times from 1/8 to 1/2 s the release button is to be released after the complete operation of the shutter. Tripod sockets 23 in the camera are provided with thread 3/8" (or with 1/4" - optional).
The camera shutter can be released with the aid of a straight thread, which is screwed into the threaded hole of release button 17.
The shooting over, fold the finder hood. For this purpose press the viewfinder magnifying lens to cap 40 until it is fixed, fold the side walls, then the rear wall and, while holding the rear wall, close cap 40 until it is fixed by a lock.
Unloading the Camera
The shooting can last until figure "12" appears in the picture counter window, indicating that the film has been fully used. After this fully insert magazine shutter 29 and remove the magazine from the camera. Lift knob 25 and rotate it in the direction of the arrow until the film has been rewound on the take-up spool. The rewinding should be carried out smoothly, without seizure. Otherwise it is essential to stop the rewinding, extract the transport mechanism as it is indicated below and eliminate the cause of the film seizure. Check that the film rewinding is over by looking into window 38. Lift and turn handle 29 fully clockwise.
Remove transport mechanism 33 from the magazine. Turn plate 37, remove the spool with exposed film and glue the leader with a paper label.
Reset the spool into the seat and return plate 37 to the initial position, Install the transport mechanism into the magazine and close the magazine lock.
