Arax 645
A Ukrainian-modified medium format workhorse that reshaped Soviet-era engineering into something more reliable—and customizable down to the leatherette.
Overview
Anyone who has held a Kiev 60 knows the rattle, like something inside is one drop from coming apart. That is why the Arax 645 exists. It isn't a clean-sheet design. It's a Pentacon Six-based camera, originally rooted in the Kiev 60 platform, reworked by a Ukrainian company that decided to do the quality control the factory never did. Starting around 2002, Arax in Kiev began offering upgraded versions of these medium format SLRs. They targeted photographers who wanted the rugged 6x6 potential of the Pentacon system but couldn't trust the inconsistent output from the Arsenal factory. The Arax 645 is one of those reworks. It doesn't pretend to be fancy. It aims to be functional, consistent, and personalized.
This isn't a repainted Kiev. Arax didn't slap on a new label and mark up the price. They modified the film advance mechanism, adjusted the film counter, and reshaped the film gate and pressure plate to support a 6x4.5 cm format - 16 vertical frames per roll of 120 film. That means more shots per roll without giving up too much negative area. The viewfinder mask was also modified to match the new aspect ratio, so composition isn't a guess. If you wanted to reduce vibration during long exposures, Arax offered an optional mirror pre-release, which is Mirror Lock Up (MLU). On a camera lineage not exactly known for refinement, that was a thoughtful addition.
Specifications
| Manufacturer | Arax (a company in Kiev) |
| Product type | modified version of the Kiev 60 medium format SLR camera |
| Film format | 16 vertical frames with a nominal format of 4.5 × 6 cm |
| Format | 6x4.5 cm |
| Modifications from base camera | The spacing mechanism and the film counter have been changed |
Key Features
Rooted in the Pentacon Six, Refined by Necessity
The Arax 645 traces back to the Pentacon Six system, an East German design that lived a long, complicated life through Soviet rebranding as the Kiev 60. That lineage gives it a modular body with a rotating back and a huge range of compatible lenses. It also inherits Arsenal's infamous quality control, or lack of it. Arax didn't just resell these cameras. They rebuilt them. The changes went beyond the film gate: they reengineered the spacing mechanism and film advance to reliably produce 6x4.5 frames. That's a significant mechanical overhaul, especially given the crude tooling still in use at the time. It's not digital precision, but two Kiev 60s off the same line could behave like different cameras, and this was aimed at that problem.
Customization Where You Least Expect It
One personal touch on the Arax 645 is the choice of covering. Arax would supply the camera with leatherette in a range of colors, or even other textiles and textures. Most medium format SLRs of the time came in one shade of black, if you were lucky, so ordering a deep red or tan body was a small luxury.
Mirror Lock-Up: A Quiet Upgrade
Vibration was always a concern with these big, clunky SLRs. The mirror slap on a Kiev 60 could blur a long exposure even on a tripod. Arax addressed this with an optional mirror pre-release, essentially Mirror Lock Up (MLU). Engage it, and the mirror flips up first. Press the shutter again, and the exposure begins. It's a simple two-step, and it makes a real difference for sharpness.
Historical Context
Arax stepped into a vacuum. The Arsenal factory in Ukraine, which produced the Kiev 60, had the machinery and the design but, according to Arax, showed little interest in quality control. That left photographers with expensive, temperamental cameras that might not advance film correctly or seal properly. Around 2002, Arax began selling upgraded and modified versions of these Kiev-based SLRs. The Arax 645 was one result: a Pentacon Six-derived camera modified in Ukraine to deliver a consistent 6x4.5 format with improved reliability. They didn't invent the platform, but they made it usable for film shooters who didn't want to spend half their time repairing gear.
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