Anybody knows something about this Kiev?

[lubitel]

Saw this at the bay. Does anybody know if its still usable? I mean can I get film for it or do I have cut it myself ? looks like a niffty camera. The guy says its called vega, but its probably vera or something meaningful in russian. thanks

[Brian Sweeney]

It looks like a copy of the Minolta-16.

http://members.fortunecity.com/minivanman/min16.html

You can use standard 16mm movie film, cut it down for size. The cassette's are reloadable, figure $10 each on Ebay. I sold off a couple of my spares. I SUSPECT that the Russian camera uses the same cassettes. You can also get the original Minolta-16 on EBay, probably about the same cost.

[Jocko]

I think it's a Kiev-Vega A, a copy of the Minolta 16 made from 1960-62 at the Vega factory, a branch of the Arsenal works. Early models take Minolta cassettes, but apparently the later versions do not. You can read all about it here -
http://www.rus-camera.com/camera.php?page=kiev&camera=kievvega
and here-
http://subclub.org/shop/kiev.htm