Anyone still using Kowa Six?

thuggins · Feb 20, 2020

I just got a Six with the standard lens and sent both off to Ross for a full refurb. The work is a bit more dear than I had anticipated; he charges the same for the lens work as for the body, doubling the cost of the CLA. But it should last my lifetime and significant portion of some else's. After researching the various options for 6x6 SLR's it seems that they all have their quirks and issues. I went with the Kowa specifically for longevity. The leaf shutter should outlive any focal plane shutter. I just hope the mirror is quieter after Ross does his magic. It must be 10x louder than the thwap of the KW Pilots and could potentially stampede a herd of cattle.

I do have my heart set on a Pentax 645n at some point, but the square and half frame formats compliment, rather than replace, each other.

Paul Howell · Feb 20, 2020

I need to send my Super 66 along with a couple of lens off for CLA, on my list, to do.

btaylor · Feb 20, 2020

I sold my 40mm a few years ago on eBay, I think I got $600 for it. I think I used it one time, I’m not really a “wide” guy I have found. Much preferred using the 55mm.

moto-uno · Feb 20, 2020

^^ Please get an estimate before , it's not just 1 or 2 hundred dollars ! I won't try to understate the work involved .
And if they're working , just exercise them with use . Peter
^I too enjoy the 55 lens , but do have certain lust for the 40 mm .

moto-uno · Feb 20, 2020

I missed the remark by "" Witold" , the single most crippling problem with any of the Six ,or Super 66 bodies is
the single tooth used in the cranking mechanism , this tooth not only drives the film advance , cocks the lens shutter
but also winds the significant spring used to assist in the shutter opening . I'm not sure if this is a clear enough
description , but suffice to say , it's quite the load for that tooth . But if wound on without using the cranking lever , they
can last quite some time ( I've three now in good working condition ). Peter

moto-uno · Feb 20, 2020

moto-uno · Feb 20, 2020

^ An example taken with my Kowa Six and 85mm lens on Provia 100 F . Not really that hard to lug around either . Peter

thuggins · Feb 21, 2020

moto-uno said:
^^ Please get an estimate before , it's not just 1 or 2 hundred dollars ! I won't try to understate the work involved .

The CLA on the body from Ross is $140, which is pretty typical for a CLA from any repairer on any camera. But the lens CLA was also $140, for a total of $280. I do feel $140 for the lens is a bit (actually, more than a bit) high. I've had shutters CLA'd for $50 from a top level repairman. There is probably more involved with the whole lens assembly, but something in the range of $100 seems more reasonable.

But I won't quibble as long as it is all working like new.

btaylor · Feb 21, 2020

Leaf shutter CLA’s generally run $100 to $120 these days, and Ross has to disassemble and service the lens too. What is reasonable for technician’s time? Certainly a minimum of $75/hr.

moto-uno · Feb 21, 2020

Having had 4 different Kowa lens apart in the last 1/2 year for cleaning and shutter leaf replacement , I'm now kinda familiar
with them , and if Ross is doing it for that price , believe me that's a pretty good deal Peter

David Brown · Feb 21, 2020

Witold said:
That was a nice kit, sounds like you are having second thoughts now about letting it go...

Hardly. I sold the Kowas 12 or 13 years ago when I bought an RB67. No regrets.

BobD · Feb 21, 2020

I just looked at Kowa's web site. They still make camera lenses. I didn't know that. They even have a picture of a Kowa Six in their lens advert.

I knew they still made binocs and scopes that are highly prized by birders.

btaylor · Feb 22, 2020

They also made cinema lenses. A set of 3 anamorphics from the seventies will run you about $50k these days.

Paul Howell · Feb 22, 2020

At one time they made medical equipment but seem to focus on industrial, cinema, CCTV, and according to their LA web site 3/4 format lens although these might be the same lens as their cinema lens.

macfred · Feb 22, 2020

btaylor said:
They also made cinema lenses. A set of 3 anamorphics from the seventies will run you about $50k these days.

Here's a nice 8 lenses Kowa Cine Prominar kit ... https://www.ebay.com/itm/KOWA-CINE-PROMINAR-8-LENS-SET-/183828745832

BobD · Feb 22, 2020

I always liked their Komaflex-S camera. A neat little 127 SLR. I've owned a couple of them but, sadly, sold them when 127 film got scarce.

thuggins · Mar 4, 2020

The Six is back from Ross, along with some fascinating insights into his sociopolitical philosophies.

It looks almost like new, but the mirror is still loud. It's notably louder than the Pilot 6's. Also, I read somewhere to not leave the shutter cocked, something about potentially jamming? It was on the internet. It must be true!

moto-uno · Mar 4, 2020

^ Looks lovely , but the lever to lock the lens retaining ring is facing back in your picture and is not in the normal locked position ( pushed forward ).
It pushes a small pin into a groove in the locking ring and prevents the chance of it loosening and having the lens drop off !
As for loud , it's quieter than my Bronica Etrs(i)'s and similar to my Pentacon Six TL's , it's not a Mamiya 7 , but mine are barely noticeable . Peter

Jeremy Mudd · Mar 5, 2020

I actually just picked up a very nice Kowa Six from Japan. Looks like it was never used, even has the case and the strap.

I own a Hasselbad 500C and also a Bronica S2A, but something about the Kowa Six realy endears it to me. I had looked at one in a local shop recently and it was the first time I had seen and held one in person. I really like the short form factor (front to back) and how bright the viewfinder is. The example I looked at in the shop was really beat-up looking so I decided to look for a cleaner example.

Interestingly enough, the one I received from Japan looked mint but when firing it the mirror would be slow to flip up or wouldn't at all unless I turned the camera upside down. I cracked it open and cleaned the mirror pivot points and added a touch of lube to them, then put it back together and now it works perfectly. Looking forward to shooting my first rolls with it this weekend.

Jeremy

thuggins · Mar 5, 2020

moto-uno said:
^ Looks lovely , but the lever to lock the lens retaining ring is facing back in your picture and is not in the normal locked position ( pushed forward ).

I had just removed and replaced the lens to check everything out. The lever is apparently not spring loaded and needs to be pushed forward. Thanks for noticing that.

The VF is very bright. I had long been put off by waist level finders, but the combination of the f2.8 lens and condenser makes all the difference. The Komaflex is the same way, and that is what led me to the Six.

campy51 · Mar 5, 2020

I have have been on a medium format buying spree over the last couple of years and the Kowa Six is one of them. I tend to use my more expensive ones because I need to justify them.

moto-uno · Mar 5, 2020

Well the Kowa Six models deserve to be used , they really are easy enough to take almost anywhere . Peter

thuggins · Mar 11, 2020

I took the newly refurbished Kowa to the park and think I have a new favorite. This wasn't entirely surprising as I really love the Komaflex. But given the wide assortment of folders, telescopers and TLRs at my disposal, I didn't imagine how endearing this monstrously huge camera would be.

The big bright viewing screen is one reason. It's not up there with the Brilliant, but it beats out any of my TLR's with ground glass, including the ones with condenser lenses. I think the "thwump" and the non-return mirror are a major part of it. One of the main reasons I shoot transparencies is because you just get one chance to get it right. Once the shutter clicks, every decision, every observation, every setting is locked in. You either got it or you didn't. The "thwump" and the blanked out viewfinder reinforce that like nothing else.

Jeremy Mudd · Mar 13, 2020

So I took my newly repaired Kowa Six out to shoot on Saturday of last weekend and it was a joy to shoot with - however when I developed the roll there was an obvious light leak. Based on its appearance it was either from the top seal at the hinge location for the back, or the bottom seal near the lock mechanism for the back, or maybe even the seal on the mirror flap. Shame on me for not considering that seals should have been replaced as well.

A quick search showed that no one has a seal kit readily available for these anymore, so I ended up cutting up a spare seal kit I have for an RB67 and replaced all of the seals. I plan to go back out with it this weekend to shoot another roll so fingers crossed that all is well.

Lesson learned – when I talk to others about RB67 ProS’s I always tell them they should count on replacing the seals before they shoot with them. But for some reason I didn’t head my own advice when it came to the Kowa.

thuggins · Mar 13, 2020

Jeremy Mudd said:
A quick search showed that no one has a seal kit readily available for these anymore, so I ended up cutting up a spare seal kit I have for an RB67 and replaced all of the seals. I plan to go back out with it this weekend to shoot another roll so fingers crossed that all is well.

Lesson learned – when I talk to others about RB67 ProS’s I always tell them they should count on replacing the seals before they shoot with them. But for some reason I didn’t head my own advice when it came to the Kowa.

Ross Yerkes emphasized that as part of the CLA, so apparently the seals do deteriorate. He uses black yarn as a replacement. This is a time tested solution.

Anyone still using Kowa Six?

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