A Lucky Shot with a Kiev 60 – One Shot Story

By Andrea Monti

24 March, 2026

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One Shot Story

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Ferrania Film Ferrania P30
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The story behind this photo is, actually, the story of the others that I failed to take on this roll of Ferrania P30 film.

Having remembered that I had a number of mid-format rolls, I decided to spend a few times with my Soviet-era Kiev 60. My sample was, as many of this model, affected by issues with the film loading mechanism, which caused the single shots not being properly spaced. I fixed the camera by making a small hole in the back, which allowed me to see when the frame number was in the right position. In order to do this, it was necessary to cock the lever a few times before making the final pull.

That, at least, was the theory because in practice guessing the right way to perform this action proved to be quite difficult. Indeed, before I had a properly aligned film I wasted two rolls, and the featured photo is the only one I was able to get.

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About The Author

By Andrea Monti
My name is Andrea Monti. I’m an Italian free-lance journalist, photographer and – in my spare time – an hi-tech lawyer. The works I am more proud of are covering live jazz, pop and rock concerts for an Italian online music magazine and Opera and prose for a 200 years-old theatre. I also do sport photography mainly in athletics and fighting disciplines. You may find out more about me on https://andrea.monti.photography
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Comments

Martin on A Lucky Shot with a Kiev 60 – One Shot Story

Comment posted: 24/03/2026

It's worth a spoiled roll or two. Thanks for sharing, I have to dig out my Kiev 60 (or 6C) the one with the left hander release ;-)
Thanks for sharing, Andrea!
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Andrea Monti replied:

Comment posted: 24/03/2026

:)

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Jeffery Luhn on A Lucky Shot with a Kiev 60 – One Shot Story

Comment posted: 24/03/2026

Andrea,
Ah, the Kiev 60. "A part of the Soviet plan for world domination by distributing faulty machinery." A quote from an article I wrote for Popular Photography magazine in the early 1980s. I got a load of feedback on that statement, and about 30% of it was negative. I wonder what people will say now.
The thing about Soviet era cameras, and I own several, is that they attempt to copy classics but make weird changes like left handed this and that. There is some tank-like charm to the Kiev. It's a noble challenge to shoot with one. Bravo, Andrea!!
Jeffery
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Andrea Monti replied:

Comment posted: 24/03/2026

Jeffery, The very moment I took the Kiev out of the shelf I knew I was going to regret it. There was to be a reason why it stayed there, untouched, for years, and all of a sudden I remembered it...

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Jeffery Luhn replied:

Comment posted: 24/03/2026

"The very moment I took the Kiev out of the shelf I knew I was going to regret it." That made me laugh out loud!! Very funny! I've had mixed results with Soviet era cameras. The Zorki 35mm and the Kiev medium format cameras had film transport problems. The Moskva folding 120 camera is actually quite good and very sharp! Mine is from 1957. The lens is a Tessar design and the shutter works well. It's a copy of the Zeiss Ikonta, and very close to the same sharpness. I have a FED 3 35mm that is quite good, but not nearly as sharp as the Leica it copies. I got both of these from Ukrainian eBay sellers at very reasonable prices.

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Gary Smith on A Lucky Shot with a Kiev 60 – One Shot Story

Comment posted: 25/03/2026

Was the lens the Arsenal Volna-3 MC (ВОЛНА), 80mm f/2.8? Were there other lenses that fit the mount (Pentacon Six)?
Most of your one shot appears soft - except for the book lying flat in the lower right of the image. Does your example have a prism finder or waist-level finder?
Thanks for your post!
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Andrea Monti replied:

Comment posted: 25/03/2026

Gary, Yes, the lens is the Volna the finder a prism. I don't have much experience with mid-format lenses, so it's hard for me to control the depth of field. Actually, when I took this photo, I wasn't trying to focus perfectly. I was just trying to set the correct film numbering.

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Russell John Rosener replied:

Comment posted: 25/03/2026

Even though 80mm Volna is a "normal" focal length for medium format, there is considerably less depth of field than a 50mm lens on 35mm format. Pretty much any Pentacon 6 lens will fit the Kiev 60 as they share the same breech lock lens mount. There is a whole slew of gorgeous Zeiss Jena lenses made for it. Look up examples from the Zeiss "Olympic" 180mm Sonnar made for the camera. It is magical if you can hold it steady!

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Gary Smith replied:

Comment posted: 25/03/2026

Thanks Andrea! The few medium format film cameras that I have are equipped with fixed lenses with the exception of the Mamiya (for which I have the 80/2.8). The Rollei 3.5B that I just got has a 75/3.5 Tessar. I found that focusing the Rollei was easier for me than focusing the Mamiya.

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Russell John Rosener on A Lucky Shot with a Kiev 60 – One Shot Story

Comment posted: 25/03/2026

Ahh yes, the heart breaking and film wasting Kiev 6/60. Had one for a few years. The Arsenal lenses made in Ukraine are actually superb. The 30mm Zodiak fisheye and the 80mm Volna you have here in particular. I think you nailed the focus well. The Volna has that beautiful sharp focus drop off. That makes it a lovely lens for portraits and unconventional still life.
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