Film cameras
Kowa 66 User manual
User manual for Kowa 66. 40 pages in English. Read the original PDF, download or print a copy without registration.
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Document details
- Brand
- Kowa
- Model / document
- Kowa 66
- Document type
- User manual
- Language
- English
- Pages
- 40
- File size
- 8.2 MB
- Category
- Film cameras
- Document date
- Not specified in catalog
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Page 2 · Read text
Welcome to the exciting and rewarding world of
Kowa/SIX 2-Il4- square single- lens reflex photo-
graphy.
Although you are probably anxious to start shoot-
ing with your new Kowa/SIX, w€ suggest that you
take the time to carefully study this instruction manu-
al. As you go through the pages, try to understand-
not just memorize - the operations of the camera. In
this way, will quickly realize the full potential /ou
of this superb instrument and its accompanying lens
and accessory system. If you have any questions, your
Kowa dealer will be glad to answer them.View original page 2Page 7 · Read text
Xlf it hoppens, when storting film odvonce, thot the leoder-poper of film winds
crookedly on the spool, it con be corrected by wetting the bolls of the thumb
ond stroightening it.
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4. Advonce the film to the "stort" 5. Closea the comero bock 6. Advonce the film to the first
morkings Close the comero bock ond turn the comero bock lock- a'trome
Inserl the lilm leoder tip into the slit in the toke up spool. ing knob in the direction o{ the C unlil il comes lo o Advonce the {ilm until the number "l oooeors in lhe
Slowiy odvonce rhe lilm, moking cerloin thbt toke-up_ rs slop. At the some time, press in.on the comero bcck. frome counter window (obout six full turns) The
smooth, tout, ond stroight. Continue to odvonce the lilip Che.ck to be cerloin lhol ii is properly locked. outomotic mechonism wi ll stop the film froif, I
until the slorl morkings on the {ilm (usuolly oryows) line obvoncing further when you reoch the Iirst {rome.
up with the index points (red dots) on lhe comero s lilm The shutter is now wound ond you moy toke your
gurdes X lf you do nol plon to shoot immediotely, it is odvisoble to lock lhe shutter-releose but- picture.
ton occording to the directions on Poge 12. This will prevent you from wosting o
frome due to occidentol exoosure.View original page 7Page 10 · Read text
OPERATING THE KOWA/SIX
l. Open the finder hood 2. Set the shutter speed 3. Set the operture
Pull the knobs on the side of the front cover upword Align lhe des,red shuller speed with lhe index mork. The Turn the operlure seleclion ring uniil the desired F
ond the hood {lips open To c lose the hood scole is of even intervols ond provided with o ,s irned.up wilh the index mork.Clrck stops ore provided
depress the froni cover os you keep the hinge on clickstop {or eoch selling. Shulter speed moy be set be or lull ond holi F stops
either side of the hood lightly pusheci in. iore or ofter the lllm is odvonced. selected in {ine focusing, encircled For push the button the Note: Do not set on intermediote (be- TheF sloplenswhenwill lheoulomolicollyshutler rs releosed.stop-down io the the illustrotion the orrow, ond in the direcfion of
viewing mogn if ier will f lip up To c lose the viewing tween click-stops) shulter speed. An
mognifier, push it in word until it is locked into its intermediote selting moy not be
pos ilion . occurote, ond ihere is the oddition-
ol possibility of comero domoge.
t0View original page 10Page 11 · Read text
)Xlt is odvisoble to use smoll opertures in infro-red photogrophy. In mosi
circumstonces, the odded depth-of -f ield will compensote f or possible
focusing error. Depth-of-field increoses os the lens is stopped down
(operture selection ring moved to higher numbered F/stops).
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4. Focusing 5. Focusing for infro-red photo- 6. Depth of Field. Scole
Turn the locusing ring uniil the imoge on lhe viewing grophy As this is o single-lens ref lex comero, the ronge of
scre€n oppeors shorp. With oll viewing screens lunless It is olwoys necessory to compensote for the diilerent shorp focus moy be oscertointed on the viewing
inslructions lor o speci{ic screen slote otherwise). crilicol wovelength sensilivily o{ in{ro-red fllm. To do this. Iocus screen wiih the help of the depth-of-f ield preview
focusing should be done with the center spot. os usuol. Then move the distonce indicotion which hos lever. For on opproximote check, use the depthrcf
For less criticol {ocusing. the distonce moy be estimoled oligned with the index mork to the red line on the depth' {ield scole on the lens borrel The picture shows
ond set on lhe distonce scole. To meosure lilm to sub- of -{ield scole (os shown in the obovepicture).Generolly, depth-of {ield ot F116,3 meters(lOfeet 2 inch)
iect distonce (opplicoble is some close-up opplicotions) on R2 or O2 lilter is used for inlro-red work.
meosure lrom the Q mork on lhe comero. This mork in-
dicotes the {ilm plone. tlView original page 11Page 12 · Read text
XAs the depth-of-field preview lever serves
only to oscertoin the stopping effects the
diophrogr,n reverts to the fully open stote
the instont the lever is releosed.
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7. Depth-of-field previewing 8. Time exposure (T) 9. Shutter-releose button lock
Beirq fully outomotic diophrogm, the diophrogm ior o time exposure o{ wholever durotion you wish, o- To lock the shuller-releose bullon. lurn lhe shutter-reteose
is usuolly fully open ond therefore the stoppirvg lign the T on the shulter speed selection ring wilh the lock ring. oligning the red dol on the ring with the red
effects, ot toking operture the depth-of-field or index mork. When the shulter-releose bulton is pressed, dot on the comero. To unlock the shutter. olign lhe green
blur of imoge, connot be seen. the shulter will remoin open until you turn the shuller dot on the shutler-releose lock ring with the red dot on
"I " posilion. the comero. lf the depth-of -f ield preview lever is pul led down speed ring lo the
fully, the effect of diophrogm con be oscerioined The shutter will then close-down. X lt is odvisoble to lock lhe shutter-releose button
on the viewino screen. whenever lhe comero is looded with film ond not
being used.View original page 12Page 14 · Read text
INTERCHANGING LENSES
To remove o lens ....... To mount o lens '.'......
l. Wind the f ilm odvonce 2. Remove the lens L Wind the film odvonce
When you wind the {ilm odvonce, you move the mirror Push the lens locking lever ond turn the lens locking Be certoin thot the {ilm odvonce is {ully wound ond lhott ond lighl bol{le inlo lhe viewing posilion ond oulomolic' collor counler clockwise (with lhe comero locing you) the index mork on the lens locking collor is in o verlicol
F olly disengoge the lens laking collor so{ety. This solety unlil lhe index mork comes lo o stop in o verticol po, oosrlron.
lystem prevents removol o{ the lens with the mirror ond sitlon. Pull the lens stroight oul ol the comero.
iighr boJ{le in lhe up posilion. thereby eliminoling the
chonce oi.uining o lrome.
t4View original page 14Page 15 · Read text
X The lens locking lever will outornticolly move to
its locked position when you turn the lens locking
collor. Do not block the oclion of the lens locking
lever.
I
2. Be sure the lens is opened 3. Align the lens ond locking collor 4. Tighten the locking collor {: ock ng When lhe shltter blodes ore open ond the lwo pins ore index morks Wrln tl-e e. seoted .r 'ts mo-- lurn '.e le"s
oligned with the red dots os shown obove, lhe lens con With the index mork on lhe lens borrel oligned with the color in o clockwrse position (with lhe comero {ocinO,}
be mounted. To bring the pins in line with the red dots. index mork on the laking collor. slip the lens completely you) untl it slops. (obout 30') ; u 1
lurn the pins os indicoted by the orrow until lhey clicl into the comero. Since the shutter hos o reody been wound you ore now
inlo ploce. Be corelul not to louch the smoll pin on lhe bock of the reody 10 shool- Be sure to uniock belore ieleos ng
X L€nses connof be mounted or dismounted wilhout lens. l{ you do. the shutter blodes will close ond the lens 're,hr"er butto"
properly following oll described steps. will not mount. lf this hoppens. rolign the pins wilh the
red dots on lhe ror o{ the lens borrel.
t5View original page 15Page 16 · Read text
INTERCHANGING VIEWFINDERS, VIEWING SCREENS
Interchonging Viewfinders
All viewfinders ond viewing screens for your
Kowo,rSlX olloch ond deioch in .seconds. To
remove o viewiinder, press the button indicoted
in the right picture, then slide the viewfinder oul
toword the front of the comero.
To oitoch o viewlinder, iust slide it into the groove
ond il wr ll be outomoiicol ly locked
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Interchonging Viewing Screens
To remove o viewing screen, firsi remove the view-
f inder ( see obc,',,e ) . Then, with fhe comero rn
on over turned position, press the interchongeoble
finder hood releose button ond the viewing screen
will drop out.
It is odvisoble io let it drop inio your cupped hond
or onio o soft cloth to prevent scrotching or morring
of the surfoce.
To insert o viewing screen, hold the comero in cn
upright position. Bring the dot on lhe viewing screen
in line with the doi on ihe comero. Then, wh ile
depressing the finder hood releose bu11on, drop
ihe viewing screen lnto position.
r6View original page 16Page 17 · Read text
Attoching ond Detoching Neck
Strops
Front ond reor strop studs ore provided on your
Kowo /SlX. To ottoch o strop, ploce the eve of the
strop iip over lhe stud ond pu ll the strop. To re-
move the strop, press the spring plole on the strop
tip, push it forword ond pull the strop out.
Interchonging of Mognifiers
Mognifiers con be interchonged for eyesighi corre-
ction. The mognifier moy be detoched by turning
onticlockwise until the dots ore oligned. Conversely,
it moy be ploced in position by oligning the dots ond
turning clockwise uniil it stops. Mognifiers for inter-
chonge ore ovoiloble in seven types of 4,-3, l,
A,+1,+2, f 3 diopters
l7View original page 17Page 18 · Read text
Before the shutter-releose
SHUTTER the shuttebuttonondis dioph.ogmpressed'.....o,p opel:
the mi ro ond I'ght bo{Ile o'e i'v.ewMECHANISM
OPERATION ing posilion.
When you press the shutter-
releose button on your Kowo
/SlX, o complex series of When the shutter-releose
evenis occur with incredible button is pressed'.....
precision. The mirror ond the shutter cioses: the diophrogm be
light-boff le swing out of the gins lo close down: the mirror ond
lighl-bof{le begin ro swing up. light poth while the dio-
phrogm closes to the F/stop
you selected. The leof shutter
lhen exposes the film ot the
speed you chose. All of this
hoppens in on instont, ond Then ......
with virtuolly no vibrotion ot with the diophrogm closed down to
'the moment of f ilm exoosure. thp <plectorl F stnn n"r'l 'he ni"o'
ond lighr bo{{le in rhe up position. rhe
shulter exposes the {ilm.
r8View original page 18Page 28 · Read text
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TAKING ANGLE,
PERSPECTIVE,AND
DEPTHOF FIELD
A comporison of picture toking ongles d
the interchongeoble lenses ore illustrot-
ed here for study.
The shorter the focol distonce is,the more
the perspective is emphosized,thelonger
the focol distonce becomes, the less
opporent perspective becomes, ond the
foreground ond bockground become
closer.
The depth-of-field is studied on the view
screen with the help of the depth-of-field
lever, theoreticolly speoking.
ol The lorger the lens opening used, lhe
smoller the depth: Cohversely,the smol-
ler lhe lens opening used, the greoter
the depih-of-field
bl The depth-of-fieldis shollow in front of
the point of focus ond is deep in the
bock
cl Depth-of-field olso increoses os the
distoncefrom the comero to the subiect
rncreoses
dl The shorter ihe focol lengfh of the
lens, the greoter lhe depth, conversely,
the longer the focol lenglh, the smoller
the depth-of-field.View original page 28Page 30 · Read text
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VIEWFINDERS
I Mognifying Hood
Proofed ogoinst extronous light Cleor rmoge moy
be observed in bright outdoors Eosy focusing Field-
of -view rotio 90o,rt lmoge mognificotron 0 BX Eyesight
c o r r e c t r o n r o n g e - 4 - + 3 D
2 SportsFinder
Thrs is on open-{rome {lip-up type iinder lt incorporotes
three iromes {or the toking ongles o{ the l50mm tele-
phoio 85mm stondord ond 55mm wide-ongle Kowo
lenses
3 Eye-levelPrismFinder,
horizontolviewing
T h i s i s o n e y e - l e v e l v i e w f i n d e r c o m p o s e d o f r w o
p r r s m s W i t h o m o g n i f i c o t i c o t i oonf 0 7 x , i t p r o v i d e s o
br ight, er ect, unrever sed imoge
a Eye-levelPrismFinder,
45" viewing
Especiolly use{ul {or low-ongle viewing, rhis view{inder
provides on erecf unreversed irnoge with o mogni{ico-
lion o{ 0 8X Tlre lield-o{-view rotio is 90%.
It is of versotile use for eye-level photogrophing
30View original page 30Page 31 · Read text
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EXPOSUREFINDER MODELII
r Specificotions
Type: woist level viewfinder ircorporoting the
through-the-lensexposure meter for Kowo/SlX
Finderr Mognificotion rotio, lX (ot infinity)with
85mm stondord lens
Finderviewfield,90oh of film operture
Visibility, -2 diopters
Exposure Meter
Through-the-lens exposure meter with integ-
roted meter reoding system using the zero
method for centering the meter needle to the
index
Full operture meosurement(Stopdown meosure-
ment is olso possible)
The Kowo/SlX exposure finder combines the occurocy of through-the-lens Metering ronge (ot ASA .|00), EV 2-17
exposure control with the convenience of woist-level viewing with 8 5mm s tondord lens
Four CdS cells ore diogonolly orronged in the housing oround the Film speed ronge,ASA l0-3,200
eyepiece ond ore designed to reod the overoge light intensity of Power source:1 mercury bottery (t gV)
the opposing focusing screen surfoce. Others' bottery checker, power supply switch
So o suitoble overoge volue of light meosurement con be obtoined ond bottom cover
through the integroted meosurement of the spots (fo divided Dimensions: 72mmX 92mm X 86mm
meosuremnt).This is designed for full-operture meosurement in generol Weight' 200g
purpose, but stop down meosurement is olso ovoiloble in
ciol purpose, e.g. in microphotogrophy.
This unit con be used with oll KOWA lenses for Kowo/SlX.
:lcDetoiled instructions ore found in lhe "Exposure Finder Insrruction'.'
3 lView original page 31Page 32 · Read text
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INTERCHANGEABLE
VIEWSCREEN
Stondord All-purpose Viewing
Screen(Ploinmotte)
Supplied with your Kowo/SlX, the motte fresnel
viewing screen hos o l0mm fine-ground plote
focusing spol in the center.
Split-imoge
This is o f resnel motte viewing screen with
split-imoge of inclinotion l0' ot 3 mm / center
f ocusing s pot.
Checker-boordlines
This {resnel motte viewing screen hos engroved
verticol ond horizontol reference lines ot intervols of
llmm ond o lOmmC f ine f ocusing spot in the center.
Checker-boordlines with Split-
imoge
This is o mixed type viewing screen composed of the
"split-imoge" ond "checher-boord lines" combined.
32View original page 32Page 34 · Read text
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MICROSCOPEADAPTER
You con toke shorp photomicrogrophs with
the help of Kowo/SlX Microscope Adoprer
MC-r.
The extremely cleor view-finder of Kowo/
SIX focilitotes focusing ond odjustment of the
light source, which used to creote problems
in photomicrogrophy. You simply reploce the
lens unit of your comero with MC-I, fix the
comero body on the copy stond ond ottoch
MC-l to the eye-piece of your microscope.
Use of the Exposure Finder, on occessory,
will greotly focilitote the precise determinotion
of correct exposure.
:r Detoiled instructions ore found the
"Microscope Adopter Instruction'l
34View original page 34Page 37 · Read text
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H o n d G ri p F r e e A n g l e H o n d G r i p Tripod H eod
l d e o l f o r e x i r o s t e o d i n e s s i n h o n d - h e l d s h o o t i n g , T h i s i s o n e w h o n d g r i p w i t h o t u r n i n g i o i n t w h i c h T h e T r i p o d H e o d g i v e s y o u o d d e d c o m e r o s i o b i l i t y
t h e S p o r t s G r i p o t t o c h e s t o t h e o c c e s s o r y s h o e o n f o c i l i t o t e s p i c t u r e t o k i n g i n l o w o r h i g h o n g l e W i t h I t o t t o c h e s t o t h e b o s e o f t h e c o m e r o o n d t h e c o m -
t h e c o m e r o l t h o s i t s o w n o c c e s s o r y s h o e , o c o b t e o t t o c h e d L - b r o c k e t , t h i s h o n d g r i p i s u s e d o l s o f o r b i n e d c o m e r o / I r i p o d H e o d i s t h e n o t t o c h e d t o o
r e l e o s e w h i c h o t t o c h e s t o t h e s h u t t e r r e l e o s e b u f t o n other corneros tripod With the Tripod Heod, you con chonge f ilm
o n t h e c o m e r o , o n d o s h u t t e r r e l e o s e b u t t o n w i t h o with the comero still mou nted on the triood
loc k
37View original page 37Page 38 · Read text
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KOWA/SIXSYSTEM
KOWA/SIX, block model is olso ovoiloble VIEWING SCREENS
Comereo body only, Ploin Motie
Body Cop(Lens mount cop) Split-imoge
TMERCHANGEABLELENsEs 
From the M. Butkus archive. Original publisher and archive notices are retained.
Check the model and edition against your equipment.
PDF verified 2026-10-10.