Metered Prism for Kowa Six

[Krosya]

I know, there are not that many Kowa Six users, yet for those few that do use and like this system, finding some accessories such as Metered prism is a challenge. Here is what one of those looks like:

http://i647.photobucket.com/albums/uu192/krosya/Camera%20Repair/kowasixd2.jpg

Even if you find one, they are often expensive and/or not working, not very accurate, etc.
Mine was Ok for a while, but recently meter just became too unreliable.
After looking through some leftover parts I have saved up, I came up with a Russian Metered prism for a Kiev 88 I used to have.I used it with Kiev, later with Hasselblad with great resullts. Since I dont use those systems anymore, I wondered if there is a way to adopt it to my KowaSix. Unfortunately this prism doesnt just fit Kowa, like it does Hasselblad.
Since the original Kowa Metered Finder became rather useless, I used it for parts to adopt it to the Russian Prism. After some drilling, filing etc, I fitted a bottom plate from Kowa Finder to the Russian Prizm.:

http://i647.photobucket.com/albums/uu192/krosya/Camera%20Repair/Kowa6prizmmod1.jpg

And now it works pretty well and gives me a nice image with a pretty good and accurate spot meter on KowaSix:

http://i647.photobucket.com/albums/uu192/krosya/Camera%20Repair/Kowa6Prizmmod2.jpg

Hope this will help someone too.

[Brian Sweeney]

Thankyou for posting!

Very cool adapting a Meter for a Russian camera to the Kowa.

[rcbooth]

I have a Super 66 with metered prism. Ross Yerkes is a source for competent Kowa work - if you're willing to overlook his political/religious sentiments. He restored my meter's functionality.

RCB

[dazedgonebye]

Safe to say that finder never sat on a better camera.

Great job.

[newspaperguy]

Beautiful job.

Had a 66 and loved it.

Really under appreciated cameras.

.

[David Murphy]

I own a Kowa Six. Overall I'm no big fan of on-camera meters, but I'll have to try this since it's so kool and creative!

[KoNickon]

I really like the Kowas; I have one of each of the three bodies. The TLR-like shape of the bodies is very comfortable for me. Unfortunately the eyelevel (90 degree) prism on my Six is somehow stuck on the body; the release button isn't working. So I've got a roll of 220 sitting in the camera with no way to get it out! Probably need to send it to Ross Yerkes. Any advice would be welcome.

By the way, I must respond to that comment that the Kiev meter finder never sat on a better camera -- I have a Kiev 88CM and it's really quite good, though heavy. Underrated cameras, and the lenses are excellent -- Soviet as well as the Zeiss Pentacons.

[Krosya]

Safe to say that finder never sat on a better camera.

Great job.

Thanks,
I did use this meter on a Kiev 88 and a Hasselblad 500C/M before, but I think it looks the coolest on Kowa (plus I dont have those other cameras anymore, so Kowa is the only option for it now in my case).

[phh]

Is it possible to mount the Kiev prism on Kowa SIX without using the base of the Kowa prism? Maybe a spacer or something like that?

[Livesteamer]

It looks like something a home shop machinist could do without much trouble. Also, check with your local technical school. They might do it for you as a shop project for students.

Good Luck. Joe