Anyone else does KOWA SIX?

[Krosya]

While its rather less common camera system, I find Kowa Six to be a very capable image maker. It can give Blads a run for the money IMO. Anyway, If you use one - post some pics here!

here are a couple of mine:

1.Snow Mushrooms:

2. Abstract :

 

[hans voralberg]

I always wanted one but can never find one lol, been looking for nearly a year.

 

[Krosya]

They do come up on ebay fairly regularly. Condition could be a gamble, but you can still find good ones. --->

 

[Pickett Wilson]

I had a Kowa Super 66 back in the late 70's, early 80's. Outstanding images. Not as robust as a Hasselblad, but the glass was pretty good.

 

[Schlapp]

 

[leica M2 fan]

Kowa 6 MM

Kowa 6 MM

I got a Kowa 6MM in the 70's if I remember correctly. I used it for a while for portraits and really liked it, but it became a chore to transport it around and I put it away. I have the 80, 150 and 55 lenses for it. The 55 I got like 10 years ago and it is very beat up but still a good performer. The 80 and 150 are like brand new, I think I used the 150 once! I probably have put no more than 10 rolls in its lifetime. I exercise it every month and everything functions just like new. It is in pristine condition and is really beautiful. I should take it our for a spin again. 🙂

 

[dazedgonebye]

Frankly, I've been tempted by Kowas just because they're so dang beautiful!

 

[colyn]

A fine camera but heavy to carry for long..

 

[Krosya]

Hope to see some more of Kowa/Six photos here!

 

[Ezzie]

Hopefully I´ll be contributing some sooner or later. That´s if my rather poor attempt at fixing the perished light seals on my Super 66 holds out until I can find a better solution.

 

[bagdadchild]

Lovely photos Krosya

 

[kuzano]

Kowa lenses are highly regarded

Kowa lenses are highly regarded

I had a Kowa SIX that I bought when I visited Columbus Camera Group in the late 80's. While I lived in Cincinnati, I bought my first three MF cameras (Zeiss Icoflex TLR, Kowa SIX and Bronica S2a) and my first LF camera from CCG. Shopping there was a real trip. Picture this big old church, with all the rooms including the chapel full of long rows of 8 foot tables and boxes of photography equipment on and under the tables. Pull out boxes and rummage... very little organization.

My Kowa SIX was a beauty, but what I remember the most was the images it produced. Uncredible!!!! Loved that camera, but it was a bit heftier than the Bronica, which I shot more often.

I don't know if I can turn up images from that time, but the Kowa started me on the hunt for more Kowa glass and a Super 66 for the interchangeable film backs.

Fond memories.

 

[Krosya]

I hear ya - Kowas are addicting - in part because it is hard to find some lenses and accessories for them. I know I'm always happy to find a new Kowa item. I really like this system, but just dont use it enough. I think I should spend more time with my Kowa:

and few pics:

 

[Krosya]

 

[Ezzie]

My very first Kowa image. the motif wasn't my first and foremost concern, rather testing out the camera and lens. Lo and behold. It worked:

 

[David Murphy]

A lot of them need servicing these days, but if recently CLA'd they are pretty nice cameras - not as compact as a Hasselblad, but certainly less expensive. One problem is that the wide angle lenses are a little hard to find and fairly expensive. Of course the Zeiss Hasselblad wides are not exactly cheap either - just easier to find!

 

[Ezzie]

Posted a few images from the first roll through the camera here: Your SLR images

Even with decaying light seals its light tight, which might indicate it is well designed. The lens stops down, even if it does not automatically return to full open, needs some encouragement. The mirror dampening also needs replacing, but I think I´m up to the task. No complaints really. A nice camera, heavy but not too heavy (I´m used to the D2x which is not that much lighter).

 

[Krosya]

Images are looking good! Hope you will have good luck servicing your kowa - they are well worth the effort! I hope that you (and other Kowa Six users) will post thier images here - these cameras are rare and lesser known than most other MF SLRs, but I still hope to see/hear from other users of Kowa Six series.

 

[Ezzie]

The 85mm gave in to ancient grease. So did a replacement. On one both shutter and aperture blades were gummed up, on the other the shutter only. Both sent to Ross for a CLA. A 150mm is on its way to me soon I hope. I feel the urge to exercise the camera a bit. Its addictive.

 

[bwcolor]

Kowa Super 66 was my second medium format camera. I really loved that camera and thought the lenses to be rather good. I believe that Kowa still makes optical equipment, but perhaps not cameras. I have a Kowa biomicroscope.