Handheld Pentax 67 +/- Handle

[Pete B]

Do those who handhold the Pentax 67 prefer with or without the handle?
Pete

 

[aizan]

i don't use one since my longest lens is 200mm (the newer version is really light!), but i'd want one if i used a 300mm.

 

[Chris Bail]

I handheld without a handle. Right hand in the camera body, finger on shutter. Left hand focusing and supporting under the lens. Both elbows tucked in tight for stability. It was really quite easy to hand hold at slow shutter speeds, as the weight of the camera was such that, for me at least, it helped keep motion blur down.

 

[taemo]

i don't have the handle and honestly i don't see the need for it unless you're planning on using a flash.
by holding the base of the camera with the left hand, i can stabilize it better

 

[littleearth]

I use it to carry the camera on location ! I don't like straps !

I don't see any other advantage ! It's also a good conversation starter ! It grabs a lot of attention ! It's classy and girls seem to like it ! 😛

 

[Doug]

Hi Pete-- The times I tried a Pentax left-side grip/handle I didn't like it; could well be a matter of liking it after some usage though. Without it, the 6x7 handles pretty much like a grown-up 35 SLR, and I like that. 😀

But even on the "little" cameras I like right-side grips, so when I found a guy selling his hand-made custom right-side 6x7 grips on eBay I got one, and then later got another for the other body. That was 10 years ago. Name of Ino Yoon, in Fresh Meadows, New York. His grip attaches to the two right-side strap lugs, has a bubble level embedded in the top, and results in a feel quite like the 67II.

 

[venchka]

I handheld without a handle. Right hand in the camera body, finger on shutter. Left hand focusing and supporting under the lens. Both elbows tucked in tight for stability. It was really quite easy to hand hold at slow shutter speeds, as the weight of the camera was such that, for me at least, it helped keep motion blur down.

Perfect tutorial. Never had the handle.
However, the handle does provide a shoe mount for a flash.

Wayne

 

[Pablito]

I bought the handle originally but returned it because it made holding the camera very awkward. Without the handle, you can hold the camera just like a regular slr with you left hand cradling the lens from underneath.

 

[tsiklonaut]

I bought the handle originally but returned it because it made holding the camera very awkward. Without the handle, you can hold the camera just like a regular slr with you left hand cradling the lens from underneath.

I've been put off the Pentax grip by its price but never though it could make things worse. Good recommendation on holding the bare stadard body - this is how I used mine most of the time as well, albeit I tended to support it from just before the lens not to touch the focus or aperture ring while I mess around with it on re-framing.

Yep, I've got the same one (probably from the same guy in eBay as well) and really helps to use the 67. Among the best mods you can do to 67 or 6x7 IMHO. The newer 67ii has this r/h grippy feature already "integrated" into body design. 67 with r/h grip mode is more solid feel to it though.

 

[Frontman]

The handle is generally used for carrying, not shooting, kind of like the handles on assaultt rifles, or so I was told by a Pentax technician here in Japan. It seems few pros like to use a neck strap with these beasts,

 

[Vincent.G]

Do those who handhold the Pentax 67 prefer with or without the handle?
Pete

I shoot a 67II with 105 f2.4 lens and I have not tried the handle before. I think the handle is useless. In my opinion, the original strap with the original strap lugs are more useful in carrying the camera around.

 

[JChrome]

Without the handle. I've had the handle before and just found it added unnecessary bulk and was awkward.

My brother (who has larger hands than I) used to use the handle with the quick focus throw (a device that attached to the focus barrel on the 105 and would help focus). He really liked it and could even grip the wooden handle and focus at the same time.

I think less weight is better than more, so I've opted for no handle and a waist level viewfinder (the prisms are really heavy).