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Anybody knows Kowa?
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PostPosted: Fri Apr 12, 2019 3:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I used to have a Kowa 6. The lenses were excellent. The set was HEAVY though.


PostPosted: Sun Jun 14, 2020 2:49 pm    Post subject: Re: Anybody knows Kowa? Reply with quote
The lenses are very hot now, since a lot of companies are doing cine mood with the R (35 ff ) and 66 ( 6x6 medium ) versions.
The cinema versions ( kowa cine prominars s35 and kowa 2x s35 ) are legendary and expensive.
Medium format kowas are more controled lenses, while the s35 are flairy and beatifull as well.


PostPosted: Sun Jun 14, 2020 3:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I used to have a Kowa Six when I was a student. The quality of the glass was (very) good actually. That was my impression at least. But the system is insanely heavy so a pain to carry around.

My favourite medium format camera was the Mamiya TLR like the c330. Because of the small interchangeable lenses, it was a fairly practical camera to carry around. The lenses were very good as well.


PostPosted: Sun Jun 14, 2020 9:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
The 50/1,9 Lena of Kowa 35 mm cam is the same than 50/1,9 miranda with the aperture ring near the front of the lens?


PostPosted: Sat Nov 25, 2023 2:02 am    Post subject: Re: Anybody knows Kowa? Reply with quote
macawcine wrote:
The lenses are very hot now


Obviously ... can anyone explain this madness? I got mine a few years ago from a local thrift shop for CHF 5.-- ...



I'm sure no one will ever spend that much for such a lens. How come such listings ?!? Seems to be a reputed seller ...

S


PostPosted: Sat Nov 25, 2023 4:56 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
It was also discussed recently in this thread:

http://forum.mflenses.com/more-vintage-stuff-getting-even-more-expensive-t83939,start,25.html

Some Kowa lenses do seem to be selling for weirdly high prices.


PostPosted: Sat Nov 25, 2023 5:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Alun Thomas wrote:
It was also discussed recently in this thread:

http://forum.mflenses.com/more-vintage-stuff-getting-even-more-expensive-t83939,start,25.html

Some Kowa lenses do seem to be selling for weirdly high prices.


They are rehoused for Cine use. Nice warm flare.
I salvaged the fixed SLR lens of the Kowa E to use it on an A7RII.
https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/65615923
Unlike the later Kowa H and later models the Kowa E has the aperture mechanism in the lens itself. I like the lens construction and ergonomics.
The flare:
https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/4676911


PostPosted: Sun Nov 26, 2023 12:07 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
My only experience is with a cheap projector lens project:

http://forum.mflenses.com/kowa-prominar-5-inch-f2-on-a7rii-t82150,highlight,%2Bkowa.html

Seeing those prices I might pay SKGrimes to rebarrel with an aperture! Of course that is asking not "sold" price. I've seen far more insane "asking" prices than that!


PostPosted: Sun Nov 26, 2023 12:11 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
How about 77,000 USD for a Canon 24mm 1.4 SSC aspherical?


https://www.ebay.com/itm/325870722009


PostPosted: Sun Nov 26, 2023 2:12 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
jamaeolus wrote:
How about 77,000 USD for a Canon 24mm 1.4 SSC aspherical?


https://www.ebay.com/itm/325870722009

Who care if we won't buy it? Wink


PostPosted: Mon Nov 27, 2023 12:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
papasito wrote:
The 50/1,9 Lena of Kowa 35 mm cam is the same than 50/1,9 miranda with the aperture ring near the front of the lens?


Certainly (but not 100% sure) because most of Miranda lenses from period 1960/1970 were kowa made
The quality of those lenses were on par (+-) with the main competitors of the same period (nikon, canon..)


PostPosted: Mon Nov 27, 2023 6:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
papasito wrote:
The 50/1,9 Lena of Kowa 35 mm cam is the same than 50/1,9 miranda with the aperture ring near the front of the lens?






The rear element of the Soligor Miranda and Kowa SER lenses are a different size, suggesting they are different computations. The leaf shutter cameras had a limitation on how big the rear elements could be which became a restriction for optical designers, especially for the longer focal lengths. The Kowa SER 50/1.8 lens is the fastest lens used on a leaf shutter SLR, although Aires managed to fit an interchangeable F/1.5 lens to their leaf shutter rangefinder, and Kowa an interchangeable F/1.4 lens to a rangefinder camera. Yashica also fitted an F/1.4 non-interchangeable lens to a rangefinder camera, and Mamiya a non-interchangeable F/1.5 lens.

For those interested in decently priced Kowa made lenses, the Soligor Miranda lenses with 'No.K' serial prefix (not to be confused with K.No (Kyoei)) are all fairly good quality. They range from a 28mm to 135mm that I know of, with good build quality and decent optics for the time.
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