All mechanical replacement for Pentax 6x7

A good repair or a "new" Pentax 67II would be the best choice if you already have Pentax 67 lenses - I like my 67II very much but use it not too often because of the weight.

My mechanical 6x7 alternative is a Plaubel Makina 67 (and W67) but to be honest I usually prefer a Fuji GF670 with electronic shutter (it's quite new and it can be used for 6x6 and 6x7).
 
Creagerj said:
A couple of years ago I picked up a Pentax 6x7. It's been a great camera until today. For some reason the mirror keeps locking up every time I advance the shutter. I've tried the reset button and changing the battery. It seems like this camera just has a fickle design. I'm planning to get it repaired (if it can be) and then I'm going to get rid of it and the lenses I have for it. This issue really spoiled it for me.

I feel like buying older cameras with electronic shutters just isn't a great idea in the long run. I'd like to get a replacement medium format SLR that is all mechanical. Any recommendations?
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I've owned my Pentax for close to 10 years now. It developed the fault you have several years ago. It happens because the magnet that holds the mirror up fails. It's a simple electrical failure that any competent repair person can fix. That's the only failure mine has had in 10 years. Its in NO WAY a fickle camera and is rock solid. I have taken mine around the globe and was planning to take on another long trip last year (but ofc covid happened). Get it fixed. If you call the Pentax fickle then stay very far away from the plaubel!

Also the Pentax 67II is fully electronic. It's very reliable but if it fails it's much more difficult to repair vs the 6x7 models. That plus the extremely high prices of the 67II these days make it more of a risk. All of these cameras are used so all of them will need repair at some point.
 
I put in my votes for the Fuji rangefinders. I have the GW and the GSW versions - the problem is, they are too heavy for me to carry both. I have to make a choice at the start of the day which camera to use that day.
 
stompyq said:
I've owned my Pentax for close to 10 years now. It developed the fault you have several years ago. It happens because the magnet that holds the mirror up fails. It's a simple electrical failure that any competent repair person can fix. That's the only failure mine has had in 10 years. Its in NO WAY a fickle camera and is rock solid. I have taken mine around the globe and was planning to take on another long trip last year (but ofc covid happened). Get it fixed. If you call the Pentax fickle then stay very far away from the plaubel!................
All of these cameras are used so all of them will need repair at some point.
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Stomp, I think you hit the nail on the head about all of them needing service sometime. I don't think the P67 suffers from fickle design. Re: the Plaubel, I've had several and love them & never had any issues at all. Sure people bend the struts by failing to focus them to infinity. I'm sure I'm lucky that the meters have worked, but it wouldn't really matter to me. It seems we run the gamut here on RFF from people who'll take anything apart to see if they can figure it out on their own, to those who complain about a mechanical device breaking down.....even though they've never had it serviced despite its 30+ yrs of age. Who's driving around in a 30 year old car on original tires, with original oil and air filters? Mechanical cameras are pretty robust tools.
 
Moto-Uno said:
^ You wouldn't want to see the autos I've driven around :) :) ! Peter
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Been there Peter, In grad school I drove a $500 International Harvester pickup but had a new black paint M4 ($725) w a 35mm Summicron. :cool:
 
That electro magnet repair is really simple, there is a good DIY online and I fixed it in 1.5 hrs including new leatherette all around. And I’m no technical wizzkid.
 
My Pentax 6x7 failed me a couple of times. Both electrical issues. I've since been shooting with a Mamiya RB67 and I'm a happy camper.
 
I had a Pentacon Six for a while that I really enjoyed. At first it was a total nightmare, but after a CLA and some trial and error with winding the film on it was every bit as reliable as my Nikon F2. (well, close enough!)

It's not a camera you can just pick up from a random eBay seller, insert a roll of film and expect zero issues and I think that's where the bad reputation comes from.
 
I agree with the comment that there are no super-reliable mechanical medium format SLRs, like the Nikon F2. They all have their faults. The RB67 Pro SD is probably what you should go with. However, the Pentax 6x7 is quite rugged and reliable long-term, despite the dependance on a battery. These cameras are getting very old, and they'll all need service. A classic Rolleiflex TLR or Hasselblad are reliable and serviceable, but 6x6 of course.

I have a Makina 670 (not a SLR). I would not call it reliable, though being mechanical it should be easier to repair. I think the Fuji GW series is generally more reliable and simpler, if you're okay with a fixed-lens rangefinder.

The Mamiya 7, Pentax 67II, and Mamiya RZ67 are all relatively reliable for electronic cameras. One of the biggest problems with many medium format cameras seems to be the winding mechanism - on a RB or RZ, you can just replace the back. Mamiya 7, Bronica RF645, and Makina 67 series are all noted for developing winding issues over time.

If you're willing to consider other, weirder rangefinder options: Mamiya Press series, Koni-Omega Rapid series, Marshal Press, Horseman VH-R, Linhof Technika 670 or Press, etc. were professional cameras. Some have been used to death already, and others are in good shape. They are mostly simple and easy to work on, with no electronics. Personally I would avoid Pentacon Six or other East German/Soviet cameras.
 
I sat on this one a while but decided to bite the bullet and repair my 6x7 MLU. It's costly (more than I originally paid for the camera) but there's no way I'm getting another recently serviced version for less than the price of service, and the cost of repair still much less than most other MF SLRs. Looking forward to getting it back and using it with my 45mm.
 
Creagerj, I think you made a wise choice. Despite my advocacy of all-mechanical cameras here on RFF, I seem to have undergone a change of heart, with the recent purchase of a Minolta CLE and a Pentax 645. I would still advocate for mechanical cameras whenever possible, but there are features available through electronics that aren't possible otherwise. I'll purchase an electronic camera if it will give me those features, with the resigned awareness that it could become a brick tomorrow. As film shooters, we need to be adaptable and accepting of our marginal status, which means making do with the ever-shrinking supply of what's available. Or making pinhole cameras out of an oatmeal box, if we've got the itch for something new. No batteries needed!
 
Sounds like you made a good choice in going for the repair. Before scrolling down far enough to see that's what you've decided, I *was* going to suggest maybe a 6x7 rangefinder--*not* the Mamiya 7, as it *is* probably way overpriced, although it is certainly a good camera.

I've been looking with interest at something like a Fujica GM670. It's got the big neg, mechanical operation, relatively compact size for 6x7, and interchangeable lenses. And it looks like you can find a body and at least one lens in decent shape for a good bit under $2K.

It is limited a bit by the not-terribly-close-focus drawback of rangefinders in general, and there aren't a huge lot of lenses available for it, although the ones that are seem to be pretty solid performers.

But good luck with your repair, hope they sort it out for you!
 
Joe, my Pentax 6x7 has been back for a while and is working great. Like you I didn't pay much for mine (less than $300) so the slightly more than $300 for the CLA seemed fine to me. I just plan on paying for CLAs on a camera I like and not worry about it.
 
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