Pentax 67 Gas!

[dourbalistar]

Pentax 6x7, S-M-C Takumar 6x7 55m f/3.5, Kodak 400TX, developed in LegacyPro L110 at 1:31 for 6 minutes.


2018.05.30 Roll #159-02301-Pano-positive.jpg by dourbalistar, on Flickr

 

[Abbazz]

Thanks for the detailed info, Abbazz! Seems I have the older CdS prism.

You're welcome!

Anyone have any tips for remembering to turn the meter off? I've forgotten a few times, only to discover a dead battery later. :bang:

I thought the CdS prism was supposed to switch off automatically after about 30 seconds.

Cheers!

Abbazz

 

[FujiLove]

I'm a bit puzzled about the metered prism info. I always thought the original version with 'Asahi Pentax' on the front was sold with the Pentax 6x7, and the newer version labelled 'Pentax' was changed when the Pentax 67 launched. Is that wrong? Were Pentax 6x7s also sold with the 'Pentax' style TTL prism finders?

The prism on my Pentax 67 (1989 onwards) is the later 'Pentax' type but has the old style switch with both on and off settings (pre 1982).


Edit: okay, just checked my 67, and the information above is definitely not right!...
My TTL prism looks like this:

Pentax label
On/Off switch
Needle is down when off


I can only conclude that it's one of the ultra-rare collectible versions, and worth a fortune...if anyone wants to make me an offer ;-)

 

[BLKRCAT]

...
My TTL prism looks like this:

Pentax label
On/Off switch
Needle is down when off


I can only conclude that it's one of the ultra-rare collectible versions, and worth a fortune...if anyone wants to make me an offer ;-)

You've just described my Prism. I don't think they are "ultra-rare". I've seen them not as common as old logo but not, "I've only seen one ever or never seen in person" rare.

 

[FujiLove]

You've just described my Prism. I don't think they are "ultra-rare". I've seen them not as common as old logo but not, "I've only seen one ever or never seen in person" rare.

So the question is, did the 6x7 sell with the ‘Pentax’ prism, or is the date of the change of metering cell/switch being 1982 incorrect?

 

[BLKRCAT]

FYI I have a 67 not 6x7. I believe that the prism is of the time period of the body ie: it doesn't look like it's been pieced together over time. I bought them together from ebay Japan.

 

[FujiLove]

FYI I have a 67 not 6x7. I believe that the prism is of the time period of the body ie: it doesn't look like it's been pieced together over time. I bought them together from ebay Japan.

Yes, same here. They came as a package and appear to be ‘made for each other’, as it were.

 

[Abbazz]

I'm a bit puzzled about the metered prism info. I always thought the original version with 'Asahi Pentax' on the front was sold with the Pentax 6x7, and the newer version labelled 'Pentax' was changed when the Pentax 67 launched. Is that wrong? Were Pentax 6x7s also sold with the 'Pentax' style TTL prism finders?

The prism on my Pentax 67 (1989 onwards) is the later 'Pentax' type but has the old style switch with both on and off settings (pre 1982).


Edit: okay, just checked my 67, and the information above is definitely not right!...
My TTL prism looks like this:

Pentax label
On/Off switch
Needle is down when off

I can only conclude that it's one of the ultra-rare collectible versions, and worth a fortune...if anyone wants to make me an offer ;-)

Sorry for the confusion in my first post but I got the models wrong. Both models described in the post (the one with CdS photoresistor -let's call it "Model I"- and the one with the GaAsP photodiode -let's call it "Model II") are labelled "Asahi Pentax" and have the "Asahi Optical Co." logo on the prism. They were both sold with the original Pentax 6x7.

Here's a picture of the Model I (cover of the user Manual):

And here's a picture of the Model II:

As far as I know, this Model II prism was released in 1981 or 1982 (without Pentax ever acknowledging the release of a new version), which is after the release of the Pentax 6x7 MLU in 1979. The later TTL prism labelled "Pentax" that you have (which of course has also a GaAsp photodiode and the improved circuit board) was released in 1989, together with the Pentax 67.

Cheers!

Abbazz

 

[Moto-Uno]

^ Neither picture is viewable 🙁 Peter
ps: now they're both visible , ain't technology great ?

 

[dourbalistar]

You're welcome!

I thought the CdS prism was supposed to switch off automatically after about 30 seconds.

Cheers!
Abbazz

Hm, I checked a manual online, and it does note:
The meter will remain on for approx. 25 seconds. To save battery consumption, the meter may be turned off by sliding the switch to OFF immediately after you have made your reading.

That said, I have definitely (accidentally) left the meter on overnight, and found the battery to be dead in the morning - needle doesn't move, and battery check light doesn't illuminate. 😕 For what it's worth, I have the original 6x7 non-mirror lock-up version, with presumably a period-matched TTL prism.

 

[Abbazz]

Hm, I checked a manual online, and it does note:
The meter will remain on for approx. 25 seconds. To save battery consumption, the meter may be turned off by sliding the switch to OFF immediately after you have made your reading.

That said, I have definitely (accidentally) left the meter on overnight, and found the battery to be dead in the morning - needle doesn't move, and battery check light doesn't illuminate. 😕 For what it's worth, I have the original 6x7 non-mirror lock-up version, with presumably a period-matched TTL prism.

Yes, it seems I mixed up the pictures of both models. The Model II appears to be the one with the switch labeled "ON / OFF," while the Model I has only "ON."

When you switch on the Model I, the lever stays on the "ON" position indefinitely and draws current from the battery until you switch it back to "OFF".

With the Model II, you just flick the lever to switch the meter on and it goes back to its neutral position by itself. The meter stays on for 25-30 seconds and then the meter switches off automatically. When the meter is on, you can force it off by flicking the lever to the "OFF" position.

So I think you have the Model I. And there is no easy way to insert a delay in the electric circuit of the meter in order for it to switch off automatically. The manual you have is for the Model II (like the one on M. Butkus site).

Cheers!

Abbazz

 

[FujiLove]

Sorry for the confusion in my first post but I got the models wrong. Both models described in the post (the one with CdS photoresistor -let's call it "Model I"- and the one with the GaAsP photodiode -let's call it "Model II") are labelled "Asahi Pentax" and have the "Asahi Optical Co." logo on the prism. They were both sold with the original Pentax 6x7.

Thanks for confirming! 🙂

 

[dourbalistar]

American LaFrance, 900 Series.

Pentax 6x7, S-M-C Takumar 6x7 90mm f/2.8 LS, Ultrafine Xtreme 400, developed in LegacyPro L110 at 1:31 for 5.5 minutes.


2018.09.01 Roll #178-02813-Pano-positive.jpg by dourbalistar, on Flickr

 

[charjohncarter]

Nice one, I wish I got out more with my 6x7. Hand held??

 

[dourbalistar]

Nice one, I wish I got out more with my 6x7. Hand held??

Thanks, I was really surprised to come upon such a unique fire truck. Almost all of my 6x7 photos have been hand held. Lately, I've had more shots with motion blur, since I'm often pushing my luck on the edge of hand-holdable shutter speeds of 1/30 or 1/60.

 

[dourbalistar]

Pentax 6x7, S-M-C Takumar 6x7 90mm f/2.8 LS, Ultrafine Xtreme 400, developed in LegacyPro L110 at 1:31 for 5.5 minutes.


2018.09.01 Roll #178-02825-Pano-positive.jpg by dourbalistar, on Flickr

 

[charjohncarter]

My kids would never stand still for me. Cute kids for sure.

 

[PRJ]

I had a 67 MLU for a few years. They are nice cameras, and you can't argue with the image quality. I ended up selling it though because they have a kind of design flaw that makes them inconvenient to shoot with a telephoto lens for exposures that are "normal". I don't remember anymore what the range was, but with a 200 on it, the shutter speed had to be either really fast, or really slow otherwise the camera shake from the shutter/mirror bouncing around would yield images that weren't sharp. It was a nuisance if you used a telephoto, and it didn't matter how big and heavy the tripod was. Unfortunate.

Still, the camera was excellent. The 45mm lens I had was just amazing, and the 105 deserves it reputation. I just couldn't get over that problem with the telephotos....

 

[dourbalistar]

My kids would never stand still for me. Cute kids for sure.

Thanks, John. To get them to stand still and cooperate, I have to do a fair amount of pleading, and maybe a little bit of bribery. 😀

I had a 67 MLU for a few years. They are nice cameras, and you can't argue with the image quality. I ended up selling it though because they have a kind of design flaw that makes them inconvenient to shoot with a telephoto lens for exposures that are "normal". I don't remember anymore what the range was, but with a 200 on it, the shutter speed had to be either really fast, or really slow otherwise the camera shake from the shutter/mirror bouncing around would yield images that weren't sharp. It was a nuisance if you used a telephoto, and it didn't matter how big and heavy the tripod was. Unfortunate.

Still, the camera was excellent. The 45mm lens I had was just amazing, and the 105 deserves it reputation. I just couldn't get over that problem with the telephotos....

Yeah, I've been struggling a bit lately getting sharp photos without (hand-held) camera shake. The resolution and image quality is outstanding, but it cuts both ways. When you nail it, it's captivating, but when you just miss, it's agonizing. I think with 35mm, you can get away with a bit more camera shake because there's less resolution.

 

[leicapixie]

I never suffered with "camera shake"!
Handheld or tripod, i made great sharp images..
A lot of detailed close-up work, HOT flood light and ***, why no smaller than f32!
My tripod originally for 4x5, with a "large supporting plate" no ball head..

I sold my 6x7 no MLU, because of bulk, weight and 6x7..
I kept my Rollei Automat..rarely used.