Kowa H Reflex

[Stephen]

A camera coming from Ebay today, a Kowa H 35mm reflex, the first Japanese SLR with Auto iris, Auto return mirror, and auto exposure. Very unusual design, with a leaf shutter behind the lens, so the Kowa has a complex light blocking mirror and film shield whilst each shot is taken and the shutter re-cocked.
Exceedingly distinct sound from the very complex mechanism. They were well made though, and the lens were very sound. As it was not interchangeable the lens took Tele and Wide angle add on lenses.
It has a bottom wind on like the compact Kowa's prior to the period, 1963.
Hopefully all right at £2.80......



Stephen.

[John Farrell]

I once tried to get a Topcon Wink Mirror E going. If it was lubricated enough to work the shutter and mirror return mechanism, lube leaked onto the diaphragm. Clean it all out, and it was too dry to work the shutter.
I had three of the things - and although they looked identical, parts weren't interchangeable. Horrible cameras.

[Stephen]

Most camera repairmen will not touch the Topcon Wink, or later Topcon Uni with leaf shutters or the Kowa, just too complex, but the Kowa is the more reliable design. I sold quite a few and they all worked, so this one at the price must be worth the risk!
Over complex designs even failed with Zeiss, who persisted a long time with leaf shutters.

One of the most complex is the Focaflex, leaf shutter, interchangeable lenses, and a direct view reflex with the ground glass target in the base of the camera, working by reflection of the image from partial silvered mirrors, along with complex traps to close the film, viewer and eyepiece. Amazingly, the French got it all to work!

Kowa were expert optical engineers, the designer and owner had long experience with military equipment, but also had strange ideas on viewfinders and shutters when left to their own devices.

Stephen.

[Stephen]

There's also the pair of lenses, front element converters, Tele and Wide, coming from Ebay as well, another seller, for £2, so it will be a complete outfit.

Stephen.

[Stephen]

It seems the importer to the UK for the Kowa Reflex series of cameras was Mr Stanley Kahms, who founded and owned the Dixons Chain of photographic stores. They were advertised on low price, and cost less than the Topcon, and about the same as the Mamiya Leaf shutter reflex cameras, imported by Rank Photographic GB division.
Spares and service being a bit short with Kowa could be down to Dixons, who had a generally poor reputation for backup, the business model being to sell as cheap as possible and get the quick turnover.
Stephen.

[Stephen]

The Kowa H reflex has arrived, in really very good condition, the shutter, aperture and the Auto exposure system works fine, the film speeds alter, it winds on and cocks the Seikosha shutter, from the strange left handed bottom wind lever, and it is quite quiet....

But the focusing collar does not focus the lens, a screw has come loose, or a pin inside the ring has snapped, and entails removing the front elements, not easy on the Kowa, as the shutter assembly has to be removed as well, as a unit.

From the state of the lens, totally clean and scratch free etc., it will be worth it to repair, and it was very, very cheap! Nice bright viewfinder, with a split screen and ground glass, a very clear view indeed.

I may look out for another cheapy parts or repair Kowa reflex and cannibalise it for spares etc. It would allow training on how to strip and repair the complex leaf shutter mechanism.

Stephen.

[Stephen]

The lens issue with focusing is proving difficult to solve, even after releasing the shutter assembly there are no visible screws to release to get the focusing helical. It may be the only way is to get a second Kowa to experiment on. The shutter works well, all speeds are correct and flash sync works, as well as bulb.

One worry is traces of glue around the front where it joins the filter thread, it may indicate early attempts to service it, and instead of screwing the front in tight, it has been additionally glued to secure it. It may be the only way is to drill two holes in the front rim, and use a pin wrench to attempt to un-screw the front, and of course I am unsure if that will be the proper way to open the helical up to reattach the focus collar.

At least no money was wasted on the camera, at £2.80 it could do duty as a paper weight, but much nicer working!

Stephen.