introduction | 30 | 303 | 30m | John Player Special | Speccam Detective Camera | Vega a | Vega b | Vega 2 a | Vega 2 b 

The Kiev Vega was released in 1960. It is a clone of the popular Minolta 16 and has a 23mm f3.5 lens. The aperture wheel is marked f3.5 4, 5.6, 8 and 11. Whereas the Minolta has shutter speeds of 1/25th, 1/50th and 1/200th the Vega is marked 1/30, 1/60 and 1/200. Instead of the plain finish of the Minolta the Vega models have a bright finish with contoured lines and a pebble dash effect. Parts are interchangeable as are the filters and cassettes. The Minolta flash adapter and tripod attachment also fits.

Some Vega 1 cassettes also have a clip on the take up spool so that  the film does not have to be taped. These also fit the Minolta 16 cameras and are ideal for home loading.

At least one source claims the Vega 1 A has a 25mm lens. No 00006 is identical to the 02690, shown here with 141352, which have a 23mm lens and documents dated 1960. The noticeable distinction between the early Vega 1 and the later ones is in the pattern on the shell.  The Vega 1 A, like 02690 and 141352 have three increasingly longer lines over a dot type pattern. The later ones, like 79829 and 107163 have two sets of close parallel lines with Bera across the top. there appears to be an over lapping of numbers. However 02690 and 141352 have a smooth film chamber door and a swirling circles pattern on the exposed part of the bottom when open. The Vega 1 B has rows of dots on the film chamber door and the swirling pattern is of over lapping quarters. The finish on the Vega 1A is brighter, more polished than on the 1B