Film cameras
Kowa SE User manual
User manual for Kowa SE. 28 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 SE
- Document type
- User manual
- Language
- English
- Pages
- 28
- File size
- 3.9 MB
- Category
- Film cameras
- Document date
- Not specified in catalog
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Page 5 · Read text
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NAMESOF PARTS
@ Fitmwind lever @ film rewind cronk
@ Bock cover lock
@ Strutter button
& releose hole
@ Strop ring
@ Film counrer
Light intoke window
of coupled exPosure meter
@ Svnchro ter rnrnol @ fOwn 50 mm |ll.9 lens
Lens: KOWA 50mm f/1.9 (filter diomeier 49mm), fully outomotic dio-
phrogm, minimumstop f/16. Conversion lenses ovoiloble-telephoto
lens 88 mm tl4, wide-ongle lens 37 nn Il4.
Shutter: Seikosho SLV, I to l/500 sec plus B, with self-timer, M ond
X flosh synchro terminols.
Exposure Meler: Built-in CdS exposure meter, fully coupled, wifh neeCle
in finder, zero-method type, film sensitivity scole ASA l0-800.
Meter ronge LV 3 to l7 with ASA 100 fllm.
Viewfinder: Pentoprism lype, eye-level, single-lens reflex viewfinder,
with plono-convex ond fresnel lens.
4View original page 5Page 6 · Read text
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@ F ocusingdevice
@ Aperture/ASA sPeed ring
Shutler speed r ing
ASA scole window
Accessor y shoe m ounling hol e
@ u-x-v swilch tever
@ ASA chonge lever
@tr ipoa m ounting hole
@ Cose for M er cur Y Bofter Y
@ Rewind switch button
Focusing: Helicol forword ond bockword mo\ement, minimumclose-up
distonce 70 cm, split-imoge,with ground gloss.
Film Advonce, Rewind: Film odvonce by lever oction, I B0o stroke,
lever provided with trigger, self-cocking for preventing double
exposure,film rewound by pressingR button once ond turning cronk.
Dimensions: 140 x 92 x 83 mm.
Weight: 870 groms.
Other Feotures: Quick-return mirror, self-resettingfilm counter, occes-
sory shoe mounting hole, vorious occessories.View original page 6Page 7 · Read text
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HOW TO USE THE KOWA.SE
L o o d F i l m i n C o m e r o 2 set Shutterspeed Exposure is Automoticolly 3 Dete rm ined
Set Comerc to ASA Filrn Speed. E s t i m o t e w h o t s h u t t e r s p e e d i s Troin exposure meter light intoke
Moke sure thot fllm is looded most suitcble for your subiect, window occurotely of your sub-
properly ond precisely. Set ASA set shutter to desired shutter iect. Look into viewfinder ond turn Aperture Ring so thot Ex-
Speed Lever to film speed, this s p e e d . ( 3 e e p o g e s 1 2 , I 3 ) posure Meter Needle is brought
couples Exposure Meter to sensi- in line with Correct Exposure
I n d e x M o r k . E x p o s u r e i s o u t o -tivity speed of film used in
moticolly set when Needle is
c o m e r o . ( S e e p o g e s 8 , 9 ) oligned with Index Mork. (See . | 0 , 1 1 ) p o g e sView original page 7Page 8 · Read text
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F o c u s i n g Automotic Op"rofion Let's Toke Pictures4 5
You will sure to like the KOWA-SE
os you use it to toke pictures
ond to treosure with pleosurethe
pictures ond fun-in-photogrophy
you will hove with it. The opero-
tion of the KOWA-SE is fully
described by component in the
succeedingpoges. Let the comero
to ke co re of whot is not octuolly
exploined in this booklet.
Turn Lens Borrel Helicoid ond Foregoing steps ore oll thot is
f o c u s l e n s w h i l e l o o k i n g o t y o u r necessory f or toking pictures.
subiect through Viewfinder. For After these steps ore token, de-
f o c u s i n g y, o u c o n o l i g n s p r i t - i m o g e press Shutter for photogrophing
in center of Viewfinder or bring your subiect ond then odvonce
into cleor focus blurred imoge f i l m o n e f r o m e . M o k e s u r e t h o t
oround edges. (See poge 14) film is wound properly ofter eoch
frome is exposed, so thot you
ore reody for ony possible shut-
ter chonce.View original page 8Page 9 · Read text
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FILM LOADING
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I open Bock Cover 2 Lood Film 3 Checkins Film Looding
Pull Metol Lock ond Bock Cover Pull Film Rewind Shoft Knob so Insert fllm leoder tip into groove
will outomoticolly open. Speciol thot there is room enough for of Toke-up Spindle ond turn
core must be exercised so thot loodlng fllm cossette into looding Spindle until both sprockets en-
comero does not occidentollyslip chomber. Pull fllm leoder out of goge perforotions on both sides
out of the honds. cossette. of fl lm strip.
8View original page 9Page 10 · Read text
www.orphancameras.com :F Use 35 mm roll film supplied in cossette reody for looding into
c o m e r o .
:F Ascertoin thot exposed fi lm in comero is completely wound, be-
fore you open Bock Cover for {llm replocing.
t< Avoid, if possible,chonging film in brood doylight. A comporotively
dim ploce is preferroble for chonging film.
, Close Bock Cover ond 2 " I ' ' A p p e o r s i n F i l m
4 Tishten Film 5 Advonce Film Two Fromes O Counter Window
Press Bock Cover ond it will Advonce fllm two fromes through When Bock Cover is closed, .. S ''
outomoticolly lock into position. leoder section ond bring fi rst oppeors in Film Counter Window.
Slowly turn Film Rewind Cronk f rome of fl lm into position behind When fllm is subsequently od-
olong orrow mork to tighten film lens. To moke sure film is looded vonced two fromes, " I rt outo-
slockened in cossette. properly, check to see if Toke-up moticolly oppeors in Film Counter
Spindle Knob revolves when film Window, showing completion of
is odvonced. fl lm looding process.
IView original page 10Page 11 · Read text
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SETTINGEXPOSURE
ln outomotic setting of the exposure, the exposure
meter must be f ully coupled to the fllm speed,shutter
speed ond lens operture. The KOWA-SE outomoti-
colly determines exposure with its high-performonce
CdS exposure meter coupled to fllm speed, shutter
speed ond lens operture. lts CdS meter is coupled .|00
to the wide ronge of LV 3 to l7 with ASA fllm.
I . Set ASA Film Speed
Pull ASA Speed Chonge Button on Lens Borrel ond
turn ASA Speed Ring so thot desired fllm speed
oppeors in ASA window. Releose ASA Speed
Chonge Button. lt clicks bock into position.
2. Set Shutter Speed
Turn Shutter Speed Ring ond set it ot speed best
suited for your subiect. (See poges 12, l3)
Notes:
t< lf desired ASA speed reoding does not oppeor in ASA speed window, turn Shutter Speed Ring.
* Exposure lvteter Needle will not center if your shutter speed is too slow or fost. Chonge
shutter speed.
* You con set lens operture first ond then set comero to correct exposure by chonging shutter speed.
{< Green mork oppeors on left side of Viewfinder to indicote film is completely wound or thot CdS
M e t e r i s o p e r o t i n g .
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3 . B r i n g E x p o s u r e M e t e r ' N e e d l e i n t o L i n e
w i t h I n d e x M o r k V i s i b l e i n V i e w f i n d e r
Troin Exposure Meter Light fntoke Window
o c c u r o t e l y o f y o u r s u b i e c t , T u r n A p e r t u r e
R i n g w h i l e l o o k i n g o t E x p o s u r eM e r e r N e e d l e
in Viewflnder. Correct exposure is set when
N e e d l e i s o l i g n e d w i t h l n d e x M o r k . L e n so p e r -
t u r e c o l i b r o t i o n o f t i m e o f c o r r e c t e x p o s u r e
o p p e o r s o n A p e r t u r e R i n g .
Me rc u ry Bottery fo r
CdS Meter
Mercury bottery for CdS
Meter is in lower section
o f c o m e r o . N o r m o l b o t -
tery life is more thon
two yeors. Meter is
designed so thot bottery
current flows on ly when
fiim is odvonced for
longer bottery life.
1 1View original page 12Page 13 · Read text
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SETTINGSHUTTERSPEEDFOR
ASA IOO FILM
A#M
Br3 ffiffi
ffi4
Sincethe KOWA-SEhos o .fully-coupledCdS exposuremeter,the lensoperturecon be set first, ond
fhe correct exposure.thendeterminedby chongingthe shutter speed. it is odvisoble,however,to
set the shutter speed first.
Note, When ASA 50 film is used, select shutter speed one click slower thon ASA l0O film shown
in obove toble, ond one click foster for ASA 200 film.
12View original page 13Page 14 · Read text
www.orphancameras.com C h o n g e s i n S h u t t e r S p e e d s P r o d u c e Superb Moving Eftects I t i s t o b e n o t e d , h o w e v e r , t h o t o n l y t h e p r o p e r c o m b i n o t i o n o f s h u t t e r s p e e d o n d l e n s o p e r t u r e c o n l e o d t o c o r r e c t e x p o s u r e . l f y o u t o k e p i c t u r e h o n d - h e l d , t h e s h u t t e r s p e e d s h o u l d b e o t l e s s t h o n 1 / 1 5 s e c o n d . A p e r t u r e A f f e c t s D e p t h o f F i e l d D e p t h - o f - f i e l d c o l i b r o t i o n s o r e g i v e n o n D e p t h - o f - F o c u sR i n g o t b o s e o f L e n s B o r r e l . ( S e e p o g e s 2 6 , 2 7 )View original page 14
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FOCUSING
I
I
ln toking pictures with the single-lens-reflexthe KOWA-SE, imoge is focused by turning the lens borrel
helicoid ond looking in the focusing screen. For more precise ond eosier focusing, o split-imoge is
provided in the center of the {ocusing screen. The lens is focused occurotely when the two holves
of the split-imoge ore oligned. A ground gloss oround the split-imoge mokes focusing eosier.
The viewfinder olso hos o fresnel lens for qll corners brightness ond o concove-convex lens for
greoter overoll brightness.
14View original page 15Page 16 · Read text
www.orphancameras.com SELF-TIMER A Self-timeris built into the KOWA-SE's Seikosho SLV Shutter ond is opercted by the SynchroChonge Lever. The Self-Timerbegins to move when the Lever is set to " V " ond the Shutter Button is de- pressed. lt hos o deloyed-oction shutter releose iir" of obout eight seconds. When the self-timer iS not in use or when the comero is not used for flosh photogrophy, Lever must be set of " X "'View original page 16
Page 17 · Read text
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F]LM REWIND
Check completion of film exposure
ogoinst Film Counter. 2 DupressRewind Switch Button.
After o roll of film hos been completely exposed ond con no longer- be odvonced, you must of
course rewind the roll before replocing it wiih o fresh lood of film.
L Film hos been completely exposed.
2. Depress Film Rewind Button on bottom cover of comero body. Film is reody for rewinding.
(Sprocket is olso outomoticolly reset for film odvonce when you'begin to wind fresh film).
1 6View original page 17Page 20 · Read text
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Subiect ot Window Sky ond Londscope Strong Controst
Photogrcrphicolly,o subiect ot o Londscope rother thon sky is lf there is excessively strong
w i n d o w i s i n t h e s o m e l i g h t i n g whot you wont to photogroPh. controst between bright ond
condition os o subiect lighted Do not point exposure meter dork oreos of the subiect, it is
f rom behind. In ony event, the stroight ot o bright sky but impossible to produce both oc'
light reflected from the subiect troin the intoke window o little c u r o t e l y i n p i c t u r e s . l t i s o d -
i s t h e c r i t e r i o n f o r d e t e r m i n g downword. lf you notice thot visoble to forget obout either
exposure. Move intoke window strong roys of light ore reflected o f t w o t o n e s i n m e o s u r i n gl i g h t .
clcse to the subiect io meosure into the intoke window, shield
t h e l i g h t . the light off by hond.
1 9View original page 20Page 21 · Read text
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FOR TELEPHOTO WIDE-ANGtE
AND WIDE-ANGLEPICTURES
Y o u c o n t o k e w i d e - o n g l e o r t e l e p h o t o p i c t u r e
by mounting the proper conversion lens over
the toking lens. The lens con be focused ond
t h e t o k i n g o n g l e o d i u s t e dw h i l e l o o k i n g t h r o u g h
the viewfinder. This is o distinctive feoture
of the KOWA-SE.
KOWA-SE Conversion Lenses
C o n p o u n d A n g l e A p e r t u r e F o c oI
L e n g t h o f V i e w
4-g roup
6 - e l e m e n l
W i d e - 2 - g r o u p
A n g l e 4 - e l e m e n t
20View original page 21Page 24 · Read text
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FLASHPHOTOGRAPHY
*c Exposure ond Synchronizotion
Determinotion of correct exposure for flosh
photogrophy is exploined in instructionbooklets
for flosh bulbs ond electronic flosh. Exposure
foctor con be colculoted by equotion:
* High-speed Synchronizotion
M S y n c h r o X S y n c h r o
Flosh must be fully synchronizedwith the move- S y n c h r o
ment of the shutter ot high speed. The KOWA-
SE'sSeikoshoSLV Shutter hos M ond X synchro- C l o s s
n i z o t i o n . T h e M f e r m i n o l i s f o r C l o s s M b u l b s
ond X for electronic flosh.
C o u p l e d t o F u l l y c o u p l e d C l o s s M 1 / 3 0 s e c o r t o o l l s p e e d s slower speeds
Guide Number - Aperture for Correct ExPosure
F l o s h D i s t o n c e E l e c t r o ni c F u l l y c o u p l e d Not coupled F l o s h t o o l l s p e e d s
Guide Number - Distonce for Correc t Exposure
Desired ApertureView original page 24Page 26 · Read text
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Detochoble Accessory Shoe
The Detochoble Accessory Shoe is set into
position on top of the Film Rewind Cronk by
tightening the side screw. lt is used for synchro
flosh gun. (Viewfindereyepiece olso hos groove
f or viewflnder occessory).
Lens Hoods
The Lens Hood is used to prevent roys of light
from outside the picture oreo from folling on
the toking lens ond weokening the controst
in the negotive. lt is indispensoble for toking
pictures of the seoside, mountoins or under
ortificiol light.
Filters ond Close-up Lenses
A wide voriety of integroted filters ore ovoiloble
os occessoriesf or the KOWA-SE-fllters to toke
out ultro-violet roys, controst filters, comPen-
sotion ond color temperoture chonge fi lters f or
color photogrophy.View original page 26From the M. Butkus archive. Original publisher and archive notices are retained.
Check the model and edition against your equipment.
PDF verified 2026-10-10.