Front View of Arax 60 TTL Camera
Photo courtesy of Mike Matthews - Thanks!
Arax 60 TTL Special Edition SLR Camera
reviewed by Mike Matthews
Related Links:
Kiev 60 SLR
Kiev 88 SLR
Kiev Lenses
Salyut SLR Camera
I have used a Pentacon 6 camera for several years now and it has proved to be a very versatile tool.
In addition to the basic camera I have added a plain pentaprism, extension tubes, 50mm Flektogon lens,
180mm Sonnar and a 30mm Arsat lens. All have given excellent service and the quality of photographs
has been excellent. However the camera body is now getting old and even good second hand ones seem to
be very expensive. A second hand body would also probably be of the same vintage as my body so the
gains would be marginal. Researching the availability of new cameras with the Pentacon 6 mount led
me to the Arax website (Arax.foto.com).
Origins Revealed - Pentacon 6 and Arax 60 TTL
Photos courtesy of Mike Matthews - Thanks!
Arax rebuilds and up grades Kiev 60 and Kiev 88 cameras. Several years ago I used an early model Kiev 88
that had its problems but the lenses were excellent, so I was aware of some of the difficulties of owning
a Kiev camera. I joined the Kievaholics camera group, as I already had some Russian equipment, and tried
to find out as much as possible about current Kiev cameras. The help from members was very useful and
there are some very good tips on the web pages of this group. In general the advice appeared to suggest
that the Kiev 60 variants were the more reliable camera if you did not want the interchangeable backs of
the Kiev 88. A Kiev 60 variant would also give me the option of using a similar camera alongside my older
Pentacon 6. After much thought and deliberation I decided to purchase a Arax 60 TTL to take 120 film and
give me 12 exposures per roll. For a small additional sum I decided to upgrade the normal finish to a
special edition model with a red chamois finish. I contacted Arax and was informed of the time it would
take to build the camera and the cost. Shipment was arranged and I awaited delivery.
The camera arrived about 3 weeks later in a sturdy box, well padded and packed. Inside the outer box was
an Arax camera bag with the camera and accessories inside. Buying the camera as I did gave the option of
a full refund and a 1 year warranty.
On first examination the camera appears to be well built, very well finished and the red leather looks great.
Internally everything appears as it should, well finished and painted black. The mirror box is flocked to stop
any internal light reflections. A dry run through of the shutter speeds showed that all was working as it
should.
Great Horesley Mill
Photo courtesy of Mike Matthews - Thanks!
The basic Arax camera body is a like a more angular and slightly larger Pentacon 6, as the pictures show. It
appears to be a few millimetres higher and deeper than the old Pentacon 6. The Arax 60 comes with a black body,
the only chrome being the two spool locking levers in the base of the camera. The camera name plate is etched
in white. The film wind on lever on the top right has dial for setting film speeds but is not linked to the
meter. The frame counter is in a small window in front of the lever wind. On the left of the top plate is a
large dial for setting film speeds which range from 4 seconds to 1000th of a second plus B. The camera is fully
manual and now batteries are need for the basic body.
Front View of Arax 60 TTL Camera
Photo courtesy of Mike Matthews - Thanks!
The basic camera body can be fitted with a waist level viewfinder that has a flip up magnifying lens to aid
focussing (see photo below). Using the waist level finder also results in a much lighter and smaller camera body. The pentaprism
sits centrally on the top plate with a round rubber eyepiece for the viewfinder. A clear view of the focussing
screen is given and there are fine lines on the screen to help with framing. On the very top is a large dial
that operates the exposure meter. To use the meter you need to set the maximum aperture of the lens in use and
the ASA film speed. Once these are set the meter is ready for use. In use you look through the viewfinder at the
same time as pressing a tiny button on the front right side of the pentaprism. This activates the meter. A red
LED light comes on in the viewfinder. Depending on which LED has lit up you very slowly turn the large dial on
the top until both LED's light up or are just on the verge of blinking. At this stage you can take a reading from
the meter and transfer the information to the camera shutter speeds or lens aperture. I have been using 200 ASA
black & white film in the camera and so far the results have been very good.
Waist Level Finder View of Arax 60 TTL Camera
Photo courtesy of Mike Matthews - Thanks!
Film is loaded in the camera by first pressing and pushing a small button set in the camera base. This opens
the camera back. Two chrome spool holders are pulled down from the base of the camera. This allows you to insert
film into the left hand side of the body. Keeping finger pressure on the paper backing of the film in the spool
holder the leader is stretched across the back into the right hand spool. Once the paper backing is secure the
film is inched on until the start line meets up with the red mark in the camera back. The camera back is closed
and the film careful wound on 4 exposures. You are now ready to take the first real exposure. Using the lever
wind is a little strange as it operates on an off-set cam. It is advisable to use the lever wind with care and
not let it fly back once the film has been wound on.
Another Front View of Arax 60 TTL Camera
Photo courtesy of Mike Matthews - Thanks!
A very useful addition to this Arax camera is a small lever below the angled shutter release. This small lever
allows you to raise the mirror before exposure and helps cut down possible vibrations when using extension tubes
or long lenses. When I ordered the camera I also purchased the wide camera strap for carrying the camera and the
small flash bracket that screws onto the front left side of the camera. I use this for holding a small bubble
level when using wide angle lenses.
Brill Windmill
Photo courtesy of Mike Matthews - Thanks!
The standard lens is an 80mm Arax with a stop down lever on the underside. There is a filter thread on the front
to take 62mm filters. A U/V and light yellow filter come with the camera. I have also used Cokin P filter
successfully with this camera. The camera is very easy to use provided you carefully work to a set plan and use
it slowly. My method is to focus and frame the picture. Then I meter the scene, transferring the information to
the camera controls. I then frame the picture once more, check focus and take the picture. I then carefully wind
the film ready for the next shot. Up to the present time the black and white film I have used in the camera has
been well exposed, sharp in detail with no frame spacing problems.
The only slightly disappointing item in the camera kit is the new Arax styled bag. This soft bag is well made
but is just too small for the camera with an attached lens. The bag will only hold the camera with the standard
lens detached. The bag needs to be much bigger for the Arax 60, though it would be ideal for the Kiev 88 shaped
cameras.
Longdon upon Tern Aqueduct
Photo courtesy of Mike Matthews - Thanks!
In my opinion the Arax 60 special edition camera, for its price, is a well made camera with a good basic
specification. There are a wide range of lenses and accessories available both new and second hand. With
careful use the camera and lenses should allow me to enjoy medium format photography. There has to be an
element of risk in purchasing the camera from the Ukraine, but Arax have given guarantees and the internet
research highlighted good customer relationships which I can vouch for in my contact with the company. I am
happy with my purchase and it serves the purpose for which I bought it. The camera has not been bought as a
professional tool; it has been bought to extend the use of my present system and will be used with care. I have
even bought a large soft chamois leather to wrap the camera body up in inside my camera bag. Arax give you many
options when purchasing a camera and you can have various special editions built to your requirements. If you
need further information check out the Arax web page.
Mike Matthews
Email: mmatt@tinyworld.co.uk
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