The Kiev 88 camera looks very professional and is bound to get a few nice compliments when in a crowd due to its unusual features. It does have its share of shortcomings but then again some new and fine features have been added to the previous model. The Kiev 88 camera is a higher version of the previous Kiev model which is the Kiev 60.
The camera is sometimes compared to the famous German camera Hasselblad. To the original Hasselblad design, Kiev added the self timer mechanism which made it a success. The original camera was called the “Salyut”. The self timer mechanism was abandoned later on and the camera went into mass production from 1957. The Salyut evolved into the Salyut C after the addition of a new mechanism, the automatic aperture system.
This model later on evolved into the famous Kiev 88 camera model. Then came the “hot shoe” for electronic flashes. After the addition of this new mechanism, it became the Kiev 88 camera. This camera was sometimes exported to the Western countries as the Zenith 80.
The Kiev 88 used a similar lens mount as the Hasselblad. These lens mounts were screw type. Rumors are there that the two lens mounts were even compatible. The Kiev 88 viewfinders were compatible with the Hasselblad 1600F and 1000F cameras and even the next generation V-system models. After making the lens mounts were made compatible with Pentacon six mount lenses they were exported to the United States.
