le vrai rdu
Well-known
I tried the 67 ii wich I liked, but it wasn't mine so I couldn't enjoy it really (I always fear to break a stuff I can't afford) and, as I prefer more classical cameras, the 6x7 will be the perfect pentax MF 😀
Pentax 67 Gas!
- Thread starter Keith
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Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
I'd be interested to try the earlier camera but think I made the correct choice for me with the 67ii.
I don't like carrying round a meter for some reason and find in camera metering with the option of AE much more agreeable ... consequently my OM-2 gets preference over my OM-1, my Ikon over my M2 and so on!
And I like the built in grip of the ii ... it handles a lot like my D700 ... discounting the weight! 😛
ruby.monkey
Veteran
I bought a cheap 6x7 body to try out. It's good, but you wouldn't necessarily want to hold it one-handed - there's precious little to hang on to other than a strap lug. It's a 9-shooter thanks to a worn frame-counting mechanism but a fine camera other than that, and will certainly keep me happy until I can spare the shekels for a 67ii.
Still feels like a girlie-man's camera compared to my RZ. 😉
Keith, I hear you and empathize... There’s just something about the P67 that has engendered fondness for it. I’ve had my first one for a long time, and it took forum-generated GAS to get me to buy into the system more and more! I like the P67II best for the improved ergonomics, better damped mirror, and AE.
By contrast I’ve never warmed to the Fuji GW670III, and while the Pentax 645NII is fine, there’s just not the fondness I’ve developed for the P6x7/67II
Expect you will get some interesting shots in that dry farm valley...
@le vrai rdu, be careful your right forefinger does not accidentally press the right-side prism release button on the 6x7 when you operate the shutter release lock! I think your lens plan sounds good. The 55 is excellent, the 90 is smaller than the 105 and focuses closer (0.65m vs. 1.0m), and the 135 won’t need a lens hood as the front element is well recessed behind the filter ring. It focuses to 0.75m, which I think gets you about half life-size. You’ll need extension rings to get closer.
le vrai rdu
Well-known
I thing I will make a right hand grip (my father as a wood workshop :d) and the 6x7 will come with a metered prism 😀 but I have to admit AE can be very useful 😀
le vrai rdu
Well-known
a friend had some extension rings, it was crazy the size of those 😀
I wonder if bellows wouldn't be more interesting 😀 but time will tell me if I need such accesories
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kuzano
Veteran
The bronica RF645 should more than fund a P67 system
The bronica RF645 should more than fund a P67 system
Although there are various models of the Pentax, they made and sold a ton of them. Not so with the Bronica RF645.... very few in the market, and lots of demand for those available.
You should easily be able to raise the money for the Pentax67, metered prism and a couple of lenses. Good luck.
Now I say this with the full knowledge that my own personal interest is in function, while some people want function with pristine cosmetics. For most Pentax 67's the camera's were working tools and will have signs of use. It would be hard for me to think that robust usage would damage the function of that camera.
However, for pristine cosmetics, expect to pay more...
You knew that... right?
The bronica RF645 should more than fund a P67 system
Although there are various models of the Pentax, they made and sold a ton of them. Not so with the Bronica RF645.... very few in the market, and lots of demand for those available.
You should easily be able to raise the money for the Pentax67, metered prism and a couple of lenses. Good luck.
Now I say this with the full knowledge that my own personal interest is in function, while some people want function with pristine cosmetics. For most Pentax 67's the camera's were working tools and will have signs of use. It would be hard for me to think that robust usage would damage the function of that camera.
However, for pristine cosmetics, expect to pay more...
You knew that... right?
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
Well history reads that I bought a Pentax 67ii with a couple of lenses and kept the Bronica so it's all good as they say!
I agree with you that the Bronica is worth more than the 67 generally but the 67ii is a slightly different kettle of fish. I saw one with a few lenses go for over a grand and a half on Oz eBay not long before Barnwulf offered me his.
As an exercise I priced up what I subsequently bought at it's original value when new in Oz dollars back in early 2000 ... it came to over seven grand!
MF has never been so cheap and the quality of what you can get for peanuts is next to nothing!
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True, the P6x7 was introduced in 1969, slowly evolved into the P67 twenty years later, and the P67II came out in 1998. Not so many 67II as the common prior models, still probably more of them than 645RF. I think the Bronica came along about year 2000, as I bought mine new in 2003 and they were already into rebates to sell remaining stock after a short production span. The longer lenses are particularly scarce. Some later P67 series lenses had only brief production too I believe.
retro
Well-known
I have a P67 with 55,75,90 & 105 lenses plus metered finder.
I love it. The 90 is especially good for hand-holding as it is
relatively small and lightweight but the others can be hand-held
too. I don't find the wooden grip to be of any help in hand
holding but it makes a nice handle for carrying. I would like to
upgrade to a P67II body for the interchangeable screens as
the regular P67 screen has no split-image RF which I would
prefer.
I love it. The 90 is especially good for hand-holding as it is
relatively small and lightweight but the others can be hand-held
too. I don't find the wooden grip to be of any help in hand
holding but it makes a nice handle for carrying. I would like to
upgrade to a P67II body for the interchangeable screens as
the regular P67 screen has no split-image RF which I would
prefer.
Bob, you might find a replacement split-image screen for your P67... try Pentax's repair service, KEH, and B&H (for instance, for a Beattie Intenscreen). Pentax has offered four screens (in addition to the stock screen) for the 6x7, shown in the manual p.36: Split Image, Matte with Central Spot, Grid with Microprism, and Grid with Matte Spot. I had that last mentioned one installed in my older 6x7 by Pentax in Colorado. And put a Beattie with grid and horiz. split image in the other one later by a tech in Seattle. But, while interchangeable, this does take a technician's tools and abilities.
Note that the P67II screens will not fit the 6x7 or 67, and vice-versa!
Note that the P67II screens will not fit the 6x7 or 67, and vice-versa!
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retro
Well-known
The Pentax grid screen w/matte center was $19, but the labor for that is not known as the Pentax shops repaired the film transport at the same time (early non-MLU 6x7). But this was April 1983...
For the late-model 6x7, the Beattie Intenscreen was $124 from B&H Photo, and installation labor at CameraTechs in Seattle was $79, since part of this was making sure focus was still correct and that the TTL meter still read correctly (it did). That was in 2003.
For the P67II, in Dec 2006 I happened to catch the rare Pentax BJ-61 grid-with-center-split-image at KEH for $59. Looks similar to the Beattie, and this item is user installed.
For the other P67II, in Sept 2007 I found a Pentax BG-60 grid screen (w/matte center) on eBay for $41.20 shipped, and again is user-installable.
If you haven't noticed, I like grid screens. 🙂
I just thought to check KEH for Pentax screens, ya never know... 🙂 And as a prism accessory I see they offer a TTL prism ring for $133!!! Wow.
So another note: If you have the TTL prism for 6x7 and 67 (won't fit a 67II), it should come with a black plastic ring that fits over the body shutter speed dial and eases changing shutter speeds with the prism in place. This thing is easily lost, and I'll guess they have become hard to find... $133 is a lot to pay for a possibly $1 part!
Be careful not to lose that shutter dial ring!
So another note: If you have the TTL prism for 6x7 and 67 (won't fit a 67II), it should come with a black plastic ring that fits over the body shutter speed dial and eases changing shutter speeds with the prism in place. This thing is easily lost, and I'll guess they have become hard to find... $133 is a lot to pay for a possibly $1 part!
Be careful not to lose that shutter dial ring!
le vrai rdu
Well-known
better to know somebody with a metal lathe 😀
venchka
Veteran
A friend in Texas just bought a non-MLU (don't get one) body for $100. I found a 55mm lens (last version-Like New) for him at KEH for $300. I am soooooooooo envious of that lens. I have the 45mm lens-STUNNING!-and would like to get a 55mm if I can find another like the one Bryan got. Maybe I can sell one of my 90mm Leitz lenses.
I use the MLU hand held with the 45mm lens. It works fine. LOVE LOVE LOVE the 45mm lens.
I use the MLU hand held with the 45mm lens. It works fine. LOVE LOVE LOVE the 45mm lens.
Sounds like you got a fine deal on that lens, Wayne. And I hope your friend gets fond of that old 6x7!
You use the MLU hand-held? I've never done that... must be tricky! 🙂 In fact I had my non-MLU 6x7 for 27 years before getting the MLU version, so I was not accustomed to using that feature.
From introduction in 1969 through the "Pentax 67" name change in 1989 to the 1998 replacement by the P67II, there were continuous minor improvements in the design and manufacture - the 1976 MLU is just one obvious example - So the later a particular body was made, the more refined the construction. And there were options... My late 6x7 is one of the last to carry that designation, and it has an optional factory installed multiple-exposure switch.
You use the MLU hand-held? I've never done that... must be tricky! 🙂 In fact I had my non-MLU 6x7 for 27 years before getting the MLU version, so I was not accustomed to using that feature.
From introduction in 1969 through the "Pentax 67" name change in 1989 to the 1998 replacement by the P67II, there were continuous minor improvements in the design and manufacture - the 1976 MLU is just one obvious example - So the later a particular body was made, the more refined the construction. And there were options... My late 6x7 is one of the last to carry that designation, and it has an optional factory installed multiple-exposure switch.
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
That multiple exposure function is a godsend and will get plenty of use with me! 😀
Mirror lock up should be standard on all SLRs IMO ... It's quite simple on the 67ii to operate as it's very close to the shutter release. I find I can compose and focus then trigger the mirror lock up and retain a reasonably accurate memory of framing before I trigger the shutter. It's a lot to do but the sequence is not uncomfortable!
The Pentax feels like it really kicks in the hand but I noticed sitting the camera on a smooth slippery surface and triggering the shutter with the timer doesn't give a huge reaction ... the camera barely moves!
About 5 years ago I saw a short video by William Robb, a photographer in Regina Sask. Canada, in which he placed a coin balanced on edge atop the focusing screen of a P67 mounted on sturdy tripod. Triggering the camera at the slower shutter speeds widely agreed to give the worst shake, the coin did not fall over. The URL to the video is no longer valid, unfortunately. But it seems the amount of vibration is largely exaggerated.
In a follow-up on his review of the (at the time) new Pentax 645NII, Luminous Landscape's Michael Reichmann tested its new MLU feature by shooting his usual long-range city buildings with and without the mirror locked up... on tripod, to assess the advantage provided by MLU... Result: No advantage at all!
Of course the P67 is a different animal, with a much larger mirror and shutter, and both contribute to the shake. But the literature claims the 67II has improved mirror damping, so there may be minimal benefit to using the MLU feature. That could be an interesting test... 🙂
In a follow-up on his review of the (at the time) new Pentax 645NII, Luminous Landscape's Michael Reichmann tested its new MLU feature by shooting his usual long-range city buildings with and without the mirror locked up... on tripod, to assess the advantage provided by MLU... Result: No advantage at all!
Of course the P67 is a different animal, with a much larger mirror and shutter, and both contribute to the shake. But the literature claims the 67II has improved mirror damping, so there may be minimal benefit to using the MLU feature. That could be an interesting test... 🙂
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
The mirror lockup function on my D700 is really clever IMO ... when the camera is set in MLU mode with the dial on the left of the camera, the first press of the button flips the mirror up and the second press fires the shutter and drops the mirror back down.
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