Kowa Six - awesome camera.... but I broke it! 

Oh jeez, that really does sound like a bad day! Yeah I thought it's a really nice camera, nice feel to it, nice results. Just need to clean out the shutter mechanism and I think it will be a good workhorse.

Yes, he’s been around for ages. I remember seeing his ads in the old Shutterbug magazines of the late 80s. But he was probably working on these much earlier than that.

I'll look him up, thank you. Slightly nervous of sending cameras abroad for repairs, how do you get around the customs declarations? It would a pain to have to pay import tax in each direction, on top of the repair bill. I guess I'll look up Ross and see if he knows how to get around that.

@@the120ist I don't know if he'd agree to fix it, but you have a great repairsman working in the UK. Look up PPP Cameras and shoot him a message, hopefully he'll be able to help! Otherwise, if you'd be confortable shipping it to Spain there's also someone who's worked on Kowa cameras before and does so somewhat regularly, search for Alex Varas Cameras. I bought a Kowa Super 66 from someone in Italy earlier this year but it wasn't working properly. The Super 66 was the final version of the camera with interchangable backs and the issue with the one I had was that the body wasn't coupling to the back and thus the film wouldn't advance at all. I only found out about Alex Varas after I returned it to the seller which was a shame because had I known about him earlier I would have had him service it and kept it. The Kowas are stylish and feel amazing in the hand and have Mr. Varas service it would have been amazing since I'm portuguese and live right next to him! I hope I've been able to help. Cheers!

On a final note I'd advise against advacing the film with the crank lever and just use the knob instead. Kowas are known for their lower than average gearing quality and the gears then to chew quite easily. Be gentle with them, refrain from just going to town on the advance. The lenses are outstanding and with due care they are great working cameras. Cheers again!

@@the120ist Not sure about the import duties - hadn’t considered that. If you have a shutter/winder jam with the camera, then it might require a Kowa specialist. But if the issue is just a lens shutter, I’d look locally. Any camera repair shop that’s been in business a few decades would probably be familiar with it.

I did start to mention it in the video, but I cut it out for time in the end, but the wind-on does have that S2A-like stiffening towards the end of the wind, as the mirror resets, which feels like you're going to break it before it clicks into place. Do they all feel like that on the wind? Or is mine heading for trouble there as well do you think? Apologies for getting your channel name wrong on the first pass, I was rushing things a bit, trying to get this uploaded before I went away for the weekend!

Mine does have a slight stiffening and a very sharp “click” at the end of the wind. So I hope that’s normal (or else we’re both looking at trouble) but it’s had that for as long as I can recall. If you decide to hold on to it for a bit, and if you get a chance, I think you’d really enjoy the 150 3.5 for portraits. There are two versions (and this goes for the 55mm as well). The older version -which I have - has a huge front element. A second version was eventually produced with the same filter size as the 85. I don’t know if one is better than the other, but I do know I really enjoy my older version. And no worries about the channel name. Like I said, I really appreciate the mention!

Glad I read these comments. I got one recently and mine does the same. Almost feels like I’m going to break it while cocking the shutter. The camera was sitting for years so assuming the lens is gummed up like you said and is making the cocking of the lens shutter harder than it needs to be. It would be nice to hear from someone who got theirs recently CLA’d to see how it’s supposed to wind? Lastly, and this is my main issue currently…I’m getting out of focus images out of these I’m shooting handheld but the shots I took were at wide open f2.8 and 1/60 etc. and it’s hit or miss some shots are sharp and some not. Could this be an issue with the leaf shutter? Many thanks.

@@psychosaif I had my 85 CLA’d recently and it fixed my shutter issue. If the shutter is “sticky” it won’t close properly, so you’ll be getting very overexposed images. By “out of focus” do you mean camera shake? Or really soft images? I’d say 1/60 hand-held is questionable on this camera. I have, however, successfully nailed shots at 1/125.

@@vintagecameradigest just very very blurry…. Dont think it’s camera shake because I’m holding as steady as possible and subject is steady as well. can I send you some sample images? Would be very helpful to get your thoughts. Also the ones that in focus are underwhelming not what I would expect from a medium format camera. Btw I have seen your videos on kowa a few times both the Chattanooga one and the fall colors one. Excellent videos :)

Thank you! Yeah I really like this one, great camera and produces some beautiful images. Plus it has that S2A feel about it, fully mechanical, kinda chunky and heavy. You would like it!

They're nice cameras aren't they? No issues with yours? No shutter problems??

@@the120ist Nothing yet. Been working without any problems.

Thank you! This Kowa Six has been absolutely fine since that day, but hasn't been out in the cold again. So I'm pretty sure that it's just old lube that's clogging it up. I have a cupboard full of solvents, including lighter fluid, for exactly these jobs. Just need to find a few clear hours to get it done now!

@ianwilkinson. Assuming you take the lens apart down to the shutter mechanism and use light fluid on the shutter? Do you lube it afterwords? If so what kind? Thanks.

@@psychosaif In this particular case the leaf shutter was accessible from inside the camera, from one side at least, so with a small artists paint brush and cotton earbuds I got to work very very gently with lighter fluid until there was sign of movement, then alternated firing and cleaning the leaf shutter until it was completely free and working as it should. I am no expert to say the least, you just learn as you go along based on other peoples experiences or commonsense. And no, lubricating is never done, it is old grease, oil and accumulated muck that is causing the shutter problem in the first place. Cheers.

It's nice isn't it? Not quite the same clatter of the S2A, but definitely satisfying. Better than a TLR or rangefinder, where you're just getting the leaf shutter ping!

Is that right? I should be thankful then that mine is rolling through fine... for now! At least I can fairly easily identify the problem with the shutter, and it's not too difficult to fix. Here's hoping I don't hit the winding problems!

Perhaps Nick is camera shy 🙂

I'm so scared right now. But I think it's because it's Halloween. I'll try to lose the British nervousness in my voice!!!