How Loud is the Kowa Super 66?

James Bleifus · Sep 30, 2019

I have a Bronicasaurus S2A that I love, but it’s so loud, and the mirror slap is so violent, that I don’t shoot with it. Instead I use my Mamiya C220. I’d love to have an SLR that I take out from time to time. I’ve been eyeing the Kowa Super 66 for a long time now. Does anyone know how loud the mirror slap is?

Cheers, James

btaylor · Sep 30, 2019

I had both the Kowa Six and the Super 66. My recollection was that the mirror noise was moderate, average for a MF slr. No one ever made a comment about it when I was doing portraits. The handling of the Six was superb, smaller, lighter and better balanced than the 66. I know this is heresy, but I liked using it more than my Hasselblad. Excellent glass. The anatomical side grip is a must. If you don’t need the interchangeable backs of the 66 I think you’ll be very happy with the Six.

James Bleifus · Sep 30, 2019

Thanks for sharing! I’ve been looking at the Six but I’ve read reports that the advance mechanism isn’t as robust as the 66, and that it doesn’t have mirror lockup.

Maybe I’ll look for a 6MM instead of the Super 66 for the mirror lockup and more comfortable ergonomics.

Cheers, James

moto-uno · Sep 30, 2019

Had an S2 and loved the pics , but wow what a noise . Have a number of Kowa's , definitely quieter than the Bronica . I'm not so sure the
Super 66 advance mechanism is really superior to the earlier Six . Both advances in my 2 Super 66's needed repair ( no easy task ) , where
as my much older Six has worked just fine . As has been said many times , refrain from frame advancing using the extended crank and force nothing
if it binds . Somewhere ( if you want ) I have pictures of the advance mechanism . I like the exchangeable backs on the Super 66 , but they too
have quite the counting and advancing mechanism . Do not try to remove lenses or backs without the camera being cocked . The 6MM are
rather more scarce and pricey . My rant , and yes I love 'em ! Peter

Sirius Glass · Sep 30, 2019

What is wrong with a loud TH-WACK!!

Paul Howell · Sep 30, 2019

I have a standard and super, used a few others, in the day Rented Hasseblads when a client required Hasseblads. Kowas are about average. If you really want quite, then the TLR you have or a rangefinder like a Mamyia or Konica are really quite, the Konica does make more noise the the film is advanced due to the ratchet advance.

James Bleifus · Sep 30, 2019

Peter, thanks for sharing your experiences. I guess the only thing that would hold me back from the Six is the lack of mirror lock-up.

Cheers, James

James Bleifus · Sep 30, 2019

Paul, thanks. My Mamiya is certainly quiet, and I’m looking to the Kowa for an occasional change of pace. The Konica is definitely out because of its ratchet advance. The Mamiya rangefinders are interesting but pretty darn big. I may just choose another TLR.

Cheers, James

thornhill · Sep 30, 2019

James, the 66 doesn't have a true lock-up, either; only the 6MM has one. However, all the Kowa MF's have mirror pre-fire on the self timer, if you could work with that,

Derek

James Bleifus · Oct 1, 2019

Derek, thanks! I didn’t realize that I could prefire the mirror with the Six. That resolves my challenge.
Cheers, James

Paul Howell · Oct 1, 2019

Other option is a Mamiya or Pentax 645, mirrors are not as large as a 6X6 so are little more on the quite side. Mamiya produced a large number of accessories, later models with top shutter of 1/1000th. It is not very often that I print square so my Kowa is in practice a 645.

James Bleifus · Oct 2, 2019

Thanks, Paul!

RalphLambrecht · Oct 2, 2019

James Bleifus said:
Paul, thanks. My Mamiya is certainly quiet, and I’m looking to the Kowa for an occasional change of pace. The Konica is definitely out because of its ratchet advance. The Mamiya rangefinders are interesting but pretty darn big. I may just choose another TLR.

Cheers, James

my Mamiya 6 is super quiet and has excellent glass; it's not too big or too heavy either. I use it for travel and keep the Hasselblad in the studio.

James Bleifus · Oct 2, 2019

Thanks Ralph. Frankly, on another thread you’ve talked me out of getting an additional camera. I’ve run across your comments in several threads where you talk of how switching cameras can interrupt a Photographer’s style and keep them from developing a cohesive vision (please forgive me for my terrible synopsis).

I’m interpreting your comments in two different ways. The first is that different cameras lead us to make different pictures, as I mentioned above. The second, which you also may have been hinting at, is that the energy spent researching and buying cameras diverts creative energy from going out and making photographs.

My C220 is looking damn good.

Perhaps the cure for GAS is photography.

Cheers, James

guangong · Oct 2, 2019

As I recall, Back in the days when Kowas were sold new, along with Hasselblads and Bronicas, they were not highly regarded for reliability. I would stick with my Bronica. As suggested by others, if you want quiet, either a TLR or a RF MF camera.

outwest · Oct 4, 2019

I've had a 6, a 6MM, and still have a Super 66. While I love the Super 66, the 6MM was a very nice camera. I also have a Hassie and Rolleiflexes but enjoy using the KOWA.

moto-uno · Oct 4, 2019

moto-uno · Oct 4, 2019

^ Even their oldest silver 150 mm lens does okay with Portra 160 . Don't let common sense get in the way of GAS . Peter

thornhill · Oct 4, 2019

Just out of curiosity I put a 6MM and a Super 66 together and fired them both in standard mode. The 6MM
was noticeably quieter.

Derek

Paul Howell · Oct 4, 2019

After reading this I did the same experiment with my standard 66 and Super 66, I think the standard is quieter as well.

jtk · Oct 4, 2019

35mm.

Kyle M. · Oct 4, 2019

I'm personally a big fan of the Bronica SQ-A, it has both single and multiple frame mirror lock up and it's not as loud as some MF SLR's. I've previously owned Mamiya RB's/RZ's, 645's, a Bronica S2, Hasselblad 500C, and Kowa 6 and if memory serves correct the SQ-A is on the quieter side.

thornhill · Oct 5, 2019

I guess it would make sense that a Super 66 is louder than a 6. There's more going on what with the usual light shield movement in the body, as well as the automatic dark slide moving in the 66's magazine.
That's one thing about Kowas that often goes unmentioned. No dark slide that needs to be pulled or inserted, whether changing lenses or when swapping magazines.

Paul Howell · Oct 5, 2019

That's one thing about Kowas that often goes unmentioned. No dark slide that needs to be pulled or inserted, whether changing lenses or when swapping magazines.

Good point.

How Loud is the Kowa Super 66?

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