My salyut C is going to arax for repairs and CLA, and I will ask Arax to a) repair the shutter (slow speed erratic) b) flock the interior c) change the mattglass... and probably to adapt a new tripod base so that the slow speed are protected... also have a new black leather covering for the whole kit (saliyut, wlf, 2 matching backs... all with same number 7403260) BUT should I change for cloth shutter ?
Besides I want to buy an new improved Kiev88 with MLU and cloth shutter and so on... with a P6 mount to use my sonnar 180/2,8 and other but also my other kiev lenses with an adapter... The questions are : 1/ do the old kiev lenses with autodiaf... keep that features with the adapter ? 2/ Twist lock or Breech lock P6 mount ? what is the most useful and usable 3/ Hartblei or Arax... which is best finished ? since they are in the same price bracket...
Lot of questions... but I know you are wise... or you may seem so...
I have a Salyut C that I had converted to Pentacon six lens mount and rebuilt by Arax. I cannot say too much good about the quality. I chose the twist lock and like it better than my Pentacons and Kiev 6, 6s,and 60. Every lens that I have works flawlessly(and I have almost every Soviet and Zeiss lens), the auto lenses all work both Soviet and German. Personally I did not get mirror lock and do not miss it. I find that a good tripod is much more reliable in suppressing shake, I have a heavy wooden German one. I also had the backs rebuilt and they work flawlessly.
As an engineer I would recommend against changing the metal curtains to cloth. It was designed to have metal curtains and I would be concerned that the cloth curtains would introduce problems down the road.
I cannot talk to the quality of Hartblei because I have never seen on of their conversions but I would not hesitate to recommend Arax and go to them to have another done.
your wisdom meets my early thoughts... so I think I'll go for a new arax with p6 twist, cloth shutter and MLU... and ask to upgrade the salyiut within reason (no new mount, no cloth shutter...)
I need your advices and wisdom (kiev88)
Posted - Dec 31 2008 : 07:05:39 AM
