Pentax 6x7 price

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alexandru_voicu

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My fellows of the craft,

A friend of mine, who in the past was very generous to me, is selling his Pentax 6x7 (MLU version) together with three lenses (55/4, 90/2.8 and 165/2.8). The body and lenses are in good condition - especially the glass, which appears to be close to pristine. He asks for 1500 euro for the entire kit. Given that this would be my first MF camera (at least my first serious MF camera), I am asking you for your advice. Does this seem a fair price, keeping in mind that I am not looking for the "best possible deal" (again, my friend was very generous to me in the past and I don't want to negotiate with him for a petty discount)? Any suggestions/comments would be very helpful.

Alex
 
Just saw a perfectly usable Pentax 6x7 MLU body sell for $250. But that was lower than average - seems like P67 prices are going up lately.

Those lenses are not the really desirable ones for the system (75mm f/2.8, 105mm f/2.4, etc.). If the 55mm f/4 is the version 3, it is the "best" of the wide angles though, and an excellent performer. Used to be, you could get that lens for about $250, and the other two for maybe $100-$150 a piece. Not sure what the current market is, but probably a bit higher.

Overall I think the kit is way overpriced, by like 30-50% depending on condition, exact models (older or newer), etc. If it was a Pentax 67ii camera then it would be closer to average.

The Pentax 6x7 market seems to go up and down regularly. Back when I first bought one, I made a stellar kit with like 7 lenses for under $1000. Then a few years later I sold it all and tripled my money. A couple years after that I missed it so I bought it all back for peanuts. We seem to be in a stronger market right now and prices are up. Just not that far up.
 
checking sold items on the auction site:

$1100 pentax 67 w/ttl finder in "almost unused" condition, $60 shipping
$370 55mm in "top mint" condition, $30 shipping
$490 90mm in "top mint" condition, $30 shipping
$390 165mm in "top mint" condition, including shipping
$2470

vs. 1500 EURO ($1745 USD) for your friend's kit. i'd say it's a reasonable price depending on condition.
 
Thank you, Corran, and thank you, aizan, for sharing your thoughts. It seems that prices of the Pentax 6x7 are all over the place. Of course, before posting here, I did check ebay to get an idea. And, true enough, I was left under the impression that I could get some of the items cheaper. But - and this is a big but - most auctions are from outside EU, which means that I should pay import taxes, which are not low. So, even if I can get a similar kit at a lower price, the final price can be higher.

As for the lenses, I'm no expert regarding their version. They seem, however, to be the later versions (they are marked as SMC, if this is a clue). And, indeed, the 55/4 is absolutely stunning.
 
I’d say you should be paying closer to 1000 Euros.

They may not be the most sought after, but those three are my favourite lenses for the P67. The 105mm is great, but the 90mm is smaller, lighter and focusses closer. It’s a much more versatile lens in my opinion. It’s usually a lot cheaper and doesn’t suffer from the terrible yellowing glass that early 105mm lenses often have. The half stop makes virtually no difference in practice.

The 165mm is an absolutely beautiful portrait lens. It has ten aperture blades which makes for lovely bokeh, if that’s your thing. If you think the 105mm looks good, you should see the 165!

Definitely worth buying if you can get the price down a little. It’s a fantastic system which consistently produces superb negatives for me.
 
FujiLove said:
I’d say you should be paying closer to 1000 Euros.

They may not be the most sought after, but those three are my favourite lenses for the P67. The 105mm is great, but the 90mm is smaller, lighter and focusses closer. It’s a much more versatile lens in my opinion. It’s usually a lot cheaper and doesn’t suffer from the terrible yellowing glass that early 105mm lenses often have. The half stop makes virtually no difference in practice.

The 165mm is an absolutely beautiful portrait lens. It has ten aperture blades which makes for lovely bokeh, if that’s your thing. If you think the 105mm looks good, you should see the 165!

Definitely worth buying if you can get the price down a little. It’s a fantastic system which consistently produces superb negatives for me.
Click to expand...

Many thanks for your insights. Yes, that is also my feeling, that the price is rather on the high side. Unfortunately, I'm a terrible negotiator - and furthermore, I owe him. In fact, I did try to negotiate and he told me he would rather not part with the camera. I believe the camera hasn't seen excessive use, so the wear should be minimal. But it would definitely need a CLA, given that in the last decade or so has seen no use. Furthermore, the mirror and everything else are a little dirty.

I already shot four rolls with the camera and I'm in love with the negatives. I haven't use the 165/2.8 yet, only the 55/4 and the 90/2.8 and I'm impressed. Now I can barely look at my 35mm negatives. They look so... unappealing.
 
I loved my Pentax 6x7.
Non-MLU early version, the 135mm Macro, 75mm and 2x Extender.
The results astounding as the noise of shutter release.
Actually quieter than Mamiya RB67 !
The weight killed it for me..
I (who hardly sells old gear) traded it in a flash when my Dad brought it to me..
I bought a new Leica M6TTL.
It's sharp, the 165mm an interesting lens, the the rectangular format nice.
The size and weight, well look at a Rolleiflex. Twin lens...
Price is high of 6x7.
 
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I’ve always thought that the issue of weight with the Pentax 67 is overstated. Yes, it’s a heavy camera. All pro SLRs are. What annoys me is that nobody seems to complain about the weight of Hasselblad V series gear in the same way they do about the 67. But if you put a kit together consisting of a body (plus back for the Hasselblad), prism, standard, wide and portrait lenses, both systems are very close to the same weight. There’s probably less than 300g between them, and you can easily make up for that by choosing a different bag or tripod.

Also look at how much a Nikon D3 weighs with three prime lenses. Again, very close to the Pentax with similar lenses.

If you’re serious about your film photography, want the best lenses available, and need a rugged dependable SLR, then the P67 is the best option by far (and I’m a Hasselblad owner and love it!)
 
FujiLove said:
I’ve always thought that the issue of weight with the Pentax 67 is overstated. Yes, it’s a heavy camera. All pro SLRs are. What annoys me is that nobody seems to complain about the weight of Hasselblad V series gear in the same way they do about the 67. But if you put a kit together consisting of a body (plus back for the Hasselblad), prism, standard, wide and portrait lenses, both systems are very close to the same weight. There’s probably less than 300g between them, and you can easily make up for that by choosing a different bag or tripod.

Also look at how much a Nikon D3 weighs with three prime lenses. Again, very close to the Pentax with similar lenses.

If you’re serious about your film photography, want the best lenses available, and need a rugged dependable SLR, then the P67 is the best option by far (and I’m a Hasselblad owner and love it!)
Click to expand...

True. I really like the P67 and I don't mind the weight (I mean I do, but it's not the end of the world). My only issue is the price. All in all, I just want to make sure that I don't pay way too much for it (or way above the "market price"). May I ask your opinion on this matter? Thanks.
 
alexandru_voicu said:
...As for the lenses, I'm no expert regarding their version. They seem, however, to be the later versions (they are marked as SMC, if this is a clue). And, indeed, the 55/4 is absolutely stunning.
Click to expand...
The oldest of the 6x7 lenses will be named "SMC Takumar", while newer ones say "SMC Pentax". There were three different 55mm lenses.
The first is a Takumar named lens, quite large with an f/3.5 max aperture. IIRC the filter thread size is 100mm, while the later two versions use 77mm filters.
Second one is the 1979 version of the SMCP 6x7 55mm F4 lens replacing the earlier f/3.5 version, only 2/3 the weight and improved optically.
Third is the 1986 version of the SMCP 67 55mm F4 8-element lens replacing the earlier 9 element version after only 7 years, 110g heavier, with a 1° wider view and improved optically. This lens has the identification lettering around the front beveled surface of the focusing ring, while the 2nd version's ID lettering is around the front element inside the filter ring. Also note the naming change from "6x7" to "67", as the camera bodies got the same change for a few years before the "67II".
I have liked the big Pentax so much I bought a second 6x7, this one made just before the name change to "67", while the first was a mid-70's vintage non-MLU. Then in a burst of enthusiasm I bought two Pentax 67II bodies. I still have all four, and accumulated almost all the available lenses along the way...
 
The prices on these have been going up. Make sure the camera is for you before investing that sort of money though. It's a very heavy and large camera w/ a loud shutter. A real bear to carry around all day. Myself, I would opt for a TLR because they're so much smaller and quieter, but if you need interchangeable lenses, a Mamiya 6 is a good camera too. Or a Hasselblad.
 
Doug said:
The oldest of the 6x7 lenses will be named "SMC Takumar", while newer ones say "SMC Pentax". There were three different 55mm lenses.
The first is a Takumar named lens, quite large with an f/3.5 max aperture. IIRC the filter thread size is 100mm, while the later two versions use 77mm filters.
Second one is the 1979 version of the SMCP 6x7 55mm F4 lens replacing the earlier f/3.5 version, only 2/3 the weight and improved optically.
Third is the 1986 version of the SMCP 67 55mm F4 8-element lens replacing the earlier 9 element version after only 7 years, 110g heavier, with a 1° wider view and improved optically. This lens has the identification lettering around the front beveled surface of the focusing ring, while the 2nd version's ID lettering is around the front element inside the filter ring. Also note the naming change from "6x7" to "67", as the camera bodies got the same change for a few years before the "67II".
I have liked the big Pentax so much I bought a second 6x7, this one made just before the name change to "67", while the first was a mid-70's vintage non-MLU. Then in a burst of enthusiasm I bought two Pentax 67II bodies. I still have all four, and accumulated almost all the available lenses along the way...
Click to expand...

Thank you, Doug, for your detailed description. The three lenses are marked "SMC Pentax-6x7" and they all look from the same generation - and have rubberized focus rings, if that helps. The 55/4 I have in my hands looks like the 9 element version, as it weighs 618 grams. The body is a Pentax 6x7 MLU.
 
Steve M. said:
The prices on these have been going up. Make sure the camera is for you before investing that sort of money though. It's a very heavy and large camera w/ a loud shutter. A real bear to carry around all day. Myself, I would opt for a TLR because they're so much smaller and quieter, but if you need interchangeable lenses, a Mamiya 6 is a good camera too. Or a Hasselblad.
Click to expand...

Thank you, Steve. I bear in mind all that, that is why I'm so hesitant to buy the kit.
 
FujiLove said:
I’ve always thought that the issue of weight with the Pentax 67 is overstated. Yes, it’s a heavy camera.

Also look at how much a Nikon D3 weighs with three prime lenses. Again, very close to the Pentax with similar lenses.

If you’re serious about your film photography, want the best lenses available, and need a rugged dependable SLR, then the P67 is the best option by far (and I’m a Hasselblad owner and love it!)
Click to expand...

So very true!
That's why I don't carry or use such cameras.
I have stayed with Film boxes that weigh less..
I do NOT carry extra lenses, filters,motor drives, etc.
I am a photographer, NOT a porter.
 
Personally, I'm in the boat of getting a P67 myself. This will be my 2nd foray into the Pentax 6x7 territory, I miss the first one. I've done the pricing/availability research myself and here's what I found.

1. Body. 6x7 vs 67 is a huge price difference. You can easily get a pretty good condition 6x7 MLU from Japan for around $400, so you should be able to pay less in EUR. Once you go step up to 67, be ready to shell out twice that. This is all readily available, no wait for bargain to come up.

2. Lenses you mentioned aren't that expensive not being a cult piece, say like 105mm or 75mm 2.8 is. A decent 55 is around 200 or so, 90s are cheap too. Yes, the newer smc will be more, but is that worth it to you?

At the end of the day, it is what you're willing to pay for what is available. Do you really need all those 3 lenses? It's not a huge deal what you've been offered, but it's a decent kit.
What I learned from my last time of going with P67, be ready to buy different kits to make your perfect one, and sell off unneeded pieces. It's very rare you'll find a kit in exactly the way you want.
On the upside, the prices are going up, so resale value is good.
 
alexandru_voicu said:
My fellows of the craft,

A friend of mine, who in the past was very generous to me, is selling his Pentax 6x7 (MLU version) together with three lenses (55/4, 90/2.8 and 165/2.8). The body and lenses are in good condition - especially the glass, which appears to be close to pristine. He asks for 1500 euro for the entire kit. Given that this would be my first MF camera (at least my first serious MF camera), I am asking you for your advice. Does this seem a fair price, keeping in mind that I am not looking for the "best possible deal" (again, my friend was very generous to me in the past and I don't want to negotiate with him for a petty discount)? Any suggestions/comments would be very helpful.

Alex
Click to expand...

Hi Alex,
the Pentax 67 is an excellent camera, if......
- you like the 6x7 format (which is not for everyone)
- if you don't have problems with the size and weight of this camera
- if you don't need changeable film backs.
My suggestion is:
Ask your friend if you can try the camera (e.g. when he is at your side) and maybe expose 1-2 rolls with it. So that you can see if this format and camera can work for you and fits your shooting style.
If it does, go for it. The price for the kit looks reasonable (especially as the prices for P67 are significantly increasing; you will probably pay more in 1-2 years for it).

Cheers, Jan
 
HHPhoto said:
Hi Alex,
the Pentax 67 is an excellent camera, if......
- you like the 6x7 format (which is not for everyone)
- if you don't have problems with the size and weight of this camera
- if you don't need changeable film backs.
My suggestion is:
Ask your friend if you can try the camera (e.g. when he is at your side) and maybe expose 1-2 rolls with it. So that you can see if this format and camera can work for you and fits your shooting style.
If it does, go for it. The price for the kit looks reasonable (especially as the prices for P67 are significantly increasing; you will probably pay more in 1-2 years for it).

Cheers, Jan
Click to expand...

These are all good points...but...

The Pentax 67 doesn't actually shoot 6x7. It shoots 4x5, i.e. the images are 1:1.25 ratio (69mm x 55mm). Same as 4x5 and 8x10 large format cameras. And everyone loves that format, right?!...or at least, I've never heard anybody complaining it doesn't fit their style.

And when you get in the darkroom, or print to standard paper on your inkjet, you'll be glad you shot 4x5.

😉
 
Scapevision said:
Personally, I'm in the boat of getting a P67 myself. This will be my 2nd foray into the Pentax 6x7 territory, I miss the first one.
Click to expand...

It's my 3rd foray...I was dumb enough to sell the first despite the results...and didn't learn my lesson and sold the second!

:bang: :bang: :bang:
 
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