Kowa 6 | First Touch & Thoughts
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 24 ส.ค. 2024
- #kowa6 #mediumformatphotography #shootfilm
Kowa 6 | First Touch + Thoughts
In this video I take you guys on a behind the scenes portrait shoot with the Kowa 6, a medium format camera. The Kowa 6 was rolled out as an alternative to the Hasselblad 500c camera system at a discounted price. I decided to find out what the Kowa 6 had to offer on this first shoot.
Model: Kareem
IG: @callme_mrbrown
Camera Used:
Kowa 6
Film Used:
Lomography 800
BTS camera:
GoPro Hero 9
Video sponsored by Walter's Camera Repair.
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www.talyaadams.com
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Website: www.talyaadams.com
About this channel:
Here on my channel I explore 35mm film photography, street photography, portrait photography, cheap photography, bts photography, black and white photography, cheap dslr cameras, color negative film photography, medium format photography, medium format cameras, 120mm film photography, and photography improvement, much more.
I'm also team Olympus Om-1 and Om-4 at the moment. However, I still use and explore other cameras. Street photography cameras are my jam, but medium format cameras like the Pentax 67 are quickly climbing the scale.
I hope you'll join me on my photo journey 'Subscribe' to my channel.
Hi Tanya, I’m an amateur in my 8th decade on the planet, but have owned a Kowa/Six since the 60s, and still have it expertly preserved all these years. It’s my favorite vintage camera and did some of my best images using it. I’m so glad that it’s finally getting the recognition it deserves. Happy shooting Talya, I enjoy your videos…
"Know your pocket"... pure gold truth.
Great Great video.!!1 I have had 2 of these for 8 years now....but they sat for 6 years after moving from LA to Houston. Did some shooting recently...great results in BW, great sharpness....BUT - both bodies jammed after the 12th frame. (released after opening the back and closing immediately - no loss of frames!!!!- but a pain nonetheless, right?) Just got one body back today from the ONLY guy in Houston who knows these camera, Riley Ansa!!!!!...so going out to see how the film transport works!!! I went to a group photo shoot downtown last weekend....this camera is a "magnet" to talk with other photogs!!! Film is great, but this camera is also great. My second body is now in for a full CLA service. I have many 35mm Nikon film cameras, but I LOVE shooting with this model!!!!! Thanks for this video....I am glad to see others embrace this camera!!!!!!
This camera is definitely a magnet for attention. The jamming issue aside, it's a pleasure to shoot and I'm glad to hear you're getting the full experience. Happy shooting, and hopefully you'll get a lot more rolls through them in the near future. ✌️
I have two Kowa Six's. Both were jammed. On the left side (opposite if the crank) they have a lot of old light baffling material that disintegrates and gets gummed up in the gears. I would definitely have it serviced! Other then that, they are great. Enjoy!
I so loved the "People wanna pick ya up!" That engagement is so important for many cameras. I admire the knack you have for exposing for the shadow and throwing the background out in that bright, swirly haze. Very beautiful.
Thanks so much. Glad you enjoyed the video.
Great video. Hey Kareem.
Thanks!
I just wanted to say that I really really appreciated your video a) because I'm looking at getting a Kowa 66 for myself, b) because it was more interesting and engaging than most gear/camera review videos that I've come across, and c) you manage to address a lot of the things I care about in a camera like weight and common issues. So... thanks for such good reviews!
I have the Super Sixty Six & the SIX. Love them.
great video, awesome photos!
Thanks so much for watching!
No matter what camera you're holding, you can make it sing! Love these!! 💗
Thanks so much as always!
I actually love the pictures
Thank you!
I had 6 Kowa bodies and all the lenses including to big wide angle 20mm equivalent.
I think the problem I had with them was I could never get a tack sharp negative and i think mirror slap was the problem at the slower speeds. I sold all of them, my Grandads rolliflex my Dad's Leica and got a Mamiya 6 x 7 w/ a 24mm lens, no mirror. that was eventually stolen and I find myself now w/ a high end 24mp Canon and a 16-35 canon variable. I can get good output with this camera with a whole lot less hassle than the old .film ones, even though I've had a series of 7 darkrooms all my adult life, I am now 77 and enjoy the simplicity of the Canon as don't have to make a living with it. The output production process to large scale is much easier, quicker and cheaper.
nice review
Great work. Especially the last shot! Sometimes a little leak adds to the shot. Kowa’s are great. They still make lenses today, mainly for TV and spotting. I read somewhere they made lenses for Leica way back when. Have yet to find another article to back that up. Either way they make great lenses. That advance you speak of is better used with the dial rather than the armature. Something about that armature messes with the gears inside. Gentle is better when turning the dial. Also, kowas have a handle attachment that frees up one hand so you can use the other to hold a reflector to bounce some light on your subject when they’re back lit. Great job. Film ain’t easy. Takes brains to make it work right. Thank you.
Glad you liked the video. Thanks for that info about the Kowa glass for Leica. I’ll keep an eye out too and do a little research.
Thank you for sharing this experience!! There’s not much Kowa Six content out there and really helped me make a decision. While I wait for a Hassy, this looks like a great alternative!
Glad it was helpful! The Kowa 6 is definitely a wonderful camera and the price is right to get into a 6x6 medium format camera for less money than the Hasselblad.
Good video thank you for posting! I entertained the kowa 6 years and years ago (like 15-20yrs) as a possible alternative to the Hassy system. I researched and read quite a bit about this camera and its really good quality glass. However the jam issues and other possible problems swayed me away from it. I eventually ended up getting a Mamiya C3 TLR as my first MF film camera. I have a Hassy system now, but do not regret my original decision. I'll punt on the headaches the mad Kowa could bring.
You definitely made the right decision if heartache isn't your favorite form of entertainment. Thanks for watching!
I bought a Kowa Super 66 as my first medium format camera. It was the third and final model that had an interchangeable back while retaining the same basic shape of a chunky TLR. It is definitely loud. But fun to shoot.
Just found your channel and I'm enjoying it.
Great! Glad you found my channel in this big YT pond. 😊
Thanks for making this excellent video. There is not much out there about the Kowa6. I’m looking forward to your comparison video with the Hassie.
For sure. I felt the same way when I was looking into the Kowa 6. Happy to
provide some insights.
Talya, have you tried the Rolleiflex SL66? Based on the History and a gentleman's agreement between the manufacturers they were direct competitors...but they held off on manufacturing the SL66. great story and camera.
I have not tried the SL66 yet. But now I’m curious, so thanks!
After buying a Kowa, my Hassys have been sitting in a closet for ten years.
Nice shots, and nice to see more Kowa 6 content. I've repaired and sold several of them in the past 2 years. They are a joy to use when they work properly, but they can be problematic if they've sat unused for a long time.
Definitely found this out the hard way. But the Kowa 6 does make an impression.
@@TalyaAdams Agreed! I own both a Hasselblad 500c and a 500cm, and the viewfinder screen on the Kowa 6 is IMHO nicer to use and very bright. Sorry about yours jamming! Usually when they jam or lock up, there's no unjamming them without taking them apart, so I'm glad you could keep using it for this and the new video I just watched!
I really enjoyed this! Just picked one of these up off of marketplace with the 85mm f2.8 lens. The build quality also surprised me a little bit. It's quite good. I'm still working through my first roll and did have one instance where I couldn't get the shutter to fire. Other than that though it seems like a fun camera so far and I can't wait to see how it turns out.
Great to hear! Yeah, this camera is a lot of fun to shoot. Congrats on your purchase and I hope you make some wonderful photos with it!
@@TalyaAdams Thanks! I'll probably make a video on it soon. Have a good day!
Girl you are funny af nice photos to❤
Love your content. Brava!
Thank you!
I've shot a Kowa 6. Man is that shutter loud. But a very capable and affordable alternative to a Hasselblad. At my level, I can't really tell the difference in image quality. The biggest minus is that you can't swap film backs.
True. I was surprised how cheap this system was when I looked into it. I'll check back at the end of the year to see how inflation has treated it. Best!
See Ross Yerkes in Highland Park (Los Angeles) and he can fix your Kowa or sell you one of his! you don't have to hold onto a lens to get sharp images (20x 20") The 85 gets very sharp images with amazing background blur that puts all digital cameras to shame. You jam the camera, it is because you don't mount the lens correctly. Have ross show you.
Very 😊
Operator error... lol
Nah, bro. That was the camera.
lol