Kowa SW

Jbennett68 · 2025-08-09T15:51:53-0400

I’ve wanted one of these for a while. Finally found a working example that was affordable and not described as junk. It arrived today and looked better than expected. Shutter works and seems fairly accurate. Viewfinder isn’t horrible but could use cleaning. I’d like to have it cla’d if I can find anyone to work on it.

Paul Howell · 2025-08-09T16:06:40-0400

SW uses a standard Seiko SLV leaf shutter, not too exotic no rangefinder, must be someone who will work on it.

Jbennett68 · 2025-08-09T16:13:16-0400

I think it’s cleaning the Kepler viewfinder that people won’t wanna mess with.

Paul Howell · 2025-08-09T19:29:52-0400

What makes the Kepler Viewfinder difficult to clean?

Jbennett68 · 2025-08-09T19:39:41-0400

Just a lot of parts and multiple lenses combined with the fact it’s unlikely the service person has ever seen the camera in person. I’m just going off of the fact I had 8 or 9 repair places turn down doing on a CLA on my Tenax II last year before I found someone willing. I’m anticipating a repeat of that.

Jbennett68 · 2025-08-09T20:27:43-0400

Paul Howell said:
What makes the Kepler Viewfinder difficult to clean?

Jbennett68 said:
I think it’s cleaning the Kepler viewfinder that people won’t wanna mess with.

Fima Binder to the rescue again. That’s who did my Tenax II. Shipping it to him Monday.

Paul Howell · 2025-08-09T21:52:59-0400

Now that you have a SW, you need the Kowa Ulta Wide, I think it is a 19mm fixed lens, but an SLR with internal meter. Very expensive.

Jbennett68 · 2025-08-09T22:03:15-0400

Paul Howell said:
Now that you have a SW, you need the Kowa Ulta Wide, I think it is a 19mm fixed lens, but an SLR with internal meter. Very expensive.

I just looked them up. Inexpensive.

Jbennett68 · 2025-08-09T22:13:18-0400

This is a diagram of the viewfinder.

Paul Howell · 2025-08-09T22:26:28-0400

Boy that is complex, Don't think I have ever seen such a complex viewfinder for a direct view.

Kowa SW

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