rg7

I just bought a used Kowa Super 66 (6x6 120 film camera) with a finder/exposure meter. I have not run a test roll of film yet but hope to do so soon. Any tips & tricks from Ugly Hedgehog Super 66 users?

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

I used to use a Kowa for weddings, but the mirror slap was so loud many folks blinked in my images. When I switched to a Hasselblad it solved that problem.
IMHO, the Kowa takes a very sharp image.
PS. If you do not have a prism top, you will have to get used to the reversed image when you move the camera from right to left or left to right.

rg7

Thanks, I have the 45 degree prism finder with the built in exposure meter so the reverse image should not be a problem. I’ll check out the mirror slap.

AndyT Loc: Hampstead, New Hampshire

Wow billnikon, if the sound from a Hassleblad was much quieter, I can only imagine how loud the Kowa must've been. In the film days I used a blad, Mamiya C-330 TLR and a Bronica SQ-A. The Mamiyas were near silent with their leaf shutters but I wouldn't even use the Hassleblad in the church or I'd get the ol' stink eye from the priest.

Bloke Loc: Waynesboro, Pennsylvania

I used one of these for a couple of years when I was in the military. I never had a prism finder, though, just looked down from above. Got some great results with that camera. Given most of my use was on parade grounds and tank parks, the noise was never a factor.

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

All of those had leaf shutters.
The Mamiya was near silent mostly because it was a twin-lens reflex so it didn’t have any mirror slap.
My first medium format camera! (If you don’t count the Kodak Brownie)
I later had a few RB 67’s.
Never heard a Kowa fire, so I’m not sure which was louder, but the RB mirror was larger.

rg7

I have to admit that the mirror slap on the Kowa Super 66 is the loudest shutter action I have ever heard and will not be a camera for wildlife photography.

Pablo8 Loc: Nottingham UK.

Probably akin to the Bronica S2A clunk!!!

Alafoto Loc: Montgomery, AL

Have used both. Still have a couple of S2a's and assorted lenses, etc. The Bronicas are MUCH louder, I think because of the convoluted way the mirror moves from the light path upon shutter release. I very much liked the Kowas except for the cumbersome film magazines. The Kowa lenses I had provided superb images.

abc1234 Loc: Elk Grove Village, Illinois

The Mamiya also had a full range of lenses from 55 to 250, if I remember correctly. I had every other focal length. Aside from the heft of the body and the lenses, I traveled with an awful lot of weight. The 80 mm lens could focus down to 8 inches. The camera came with a very wide range of accessories and I had a lot of them. Sharpness? Great.

Jim Plogger Loc: East Tennessee

I had one of these back in the 70's. Great camera and lens but it was loud. Wish I had kept it.

DHooch

I photographed many weddings with my Kowa Super 66. It was loud, but took great photos. I had the prism and extra backs. One warning, you can get the mechanism between the camera and backs out of synch, which can make the camera inoperable. I did that, once, during a wedding and had to use my backup camera. This is different from old Blads, which had to match cocked or unlocked status between the camera and backs. I wish I still had my Kowa.

jwjensen356

" I wouldn't even use the Hassleblad in the church or I'd get the ol' stink eye from the priest."

That happened at a church wedding I attended in 2003. The photog's Hasselblad was clicking away and the priest stopped the service and told the photographer to leave the church. Which he did and his photos were only of the exterior scenes. I was in the groom's party toward the front of the church and well off to the side. It turned out that I saved the day. I had brought my Olympus C2100 which had a very long lens and which enabled me to zoom in on the three participants at the altar. Great pictures!

Almostageezer Loc: USA

Enjoy your new Super 66!

Beenthere

I still have an original Kowa Six (nick named "the Poor Man's Hasselblad"). I purchased it back in the 60s, and later some extra lenses. Some of the best photos I ever took was with that camera. I've kept it, all these years, in a Haliburton style aluminum case and still use it from time to time. It's in mint shape with 3 lenses, 45 degree viewer, pistol grip, some filters and my old Weston Ranger 9 light meter. I showed it to a photojournalist guy, I recently met, and he was amazed at the condition it was in.., it looked new. For some reason, of all the film cams I've owned, I can't seem to part with the Kowa. I'm not sure, but I may be a borderline "hoarder"? I have dumped other things, over the years, but I have a special love (obsession) for older gear (audio & photo) that is still working, and my Kowa 6 falls into that category.

The Kowa cams can take great photos in the right hands, but there have been some mechanical issues, I have yet to experience, over the years. I hope you have some fun with yours as the lenses are very good. The noise spoken of in this blog comes from the massive mirror in this medium format cam. The shutter is a leaf shutter, in the lens, like the Hasselblad, which makes some noise too. I suggest not using it for weddings or other social events where noise may be objectionable. Funny, the click of shutters was no problem, in the past, but we've become spoiled, these days, due to cell cams and quiet modes in digital cams.