Benchista
Which Tyler
Reged: 11/08/2000
Posts: 42220
Loc: Everywhere and nowhere, baby
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As promised... although I may come back to it to revisit it later.
The Pentax 67 is often described as a "35mm SLR on steroids", but such a description really doesn't prepare you for the sheer physical presence of the camera. It's huge, and very heavy - much more so than the Pentacon 6 and clones that is often compared to it.
Furthermore, the mirror slap of this beastie is legendary. The basic design dates back many, many years, and the original 6x7 had no mirror lock-up. This was built in to a later model (known by most as the 6x7 MU) and the 67 and 67 II. Although the shape of the camera makes you feel that it's designed for handheld photography, the sheer size and weight of the thing, exacerbated by the mirror slap, makes it more difficult than you might expect. Consequently, there is a wooden handgrip available that bolts on to the front of the camera and allows you to hold it with your left hand, whilst operating the camera with your right. It actually works rather well. At slower speeds (than 1/250!), it makes sense to use the mirror lock-up when handholding, which rather restricts use. However, stick the camera on a monopod and it suddenly becomes very usable indeed.
The metering prism works very well, and the viewfinder image is large (nay, massive!) and clear. It's a very smooth camera in use, and feels like a well-designed bit of kit. A peculiarity is that the shutter can't be cocked without a film in place, but this can be bypassed with a special key supplied with the camera. Lenses are available from a very wide time period in a variety of focal lengths - I've got 55, 105 and 200mm lenses and a 2x convertor. The approximate equivalent focal lengths on a 35mm system are half the actuals, so that equates to a 28mm, 50mm and 100mm. All these lenses are of decent quality and relatively compact - some of the super-teles are absolutely immense. The other thing is that prices remain pretty low for both cameras and the more common lenses, so it's a fairly economical way into the 6x7 format. And that's what the camera is all about - those huge, high-quality trannies, compared to 35mm, in a system that just about can be used handheld.
A couple of other points - mine came in a Pentax aluminium case that I could use as a garden shed - it's cavernous.
Finally, even more than a 35mm SLR, it actually looks like a massively upscaled Auto 110 - and the comparison with that is even more ridiculous.
Nice camera, nice results, but boy, is it HEAVY!
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Nick
www.nbrphoto.com
Light and Shade II - the new blog
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zx9
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 22/06/2007
Posts: 1867
Loc: London
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Quote:
Finally, even more than a 35mm SLR, it actually looks like a massively upscaled Auto 110 - and the comparison with that is even more ridiculous.
 Thinking about it you are right.
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Regards,
ZX9 (Keith Hudson)
My Flickr
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TimF
Taking it strictly
Reged: 30/07/2001
Posts: 18951
Loc: Herts/Beds border
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I've long hankered after the 67, the handling always went down well, and you've given the inspiration to do something about it at last.
So, with luck ffordes will soon provide a kit of 67 II/AE Prism with 55mm, 105mm and 165mm (a stop faster than the 200mm, and I liked the AoV when I played with one in Jacobs a few years back). Cheers!
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Tim BSRIPN
If I had all the money I've spent on drink, I'd spend it on drink
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Zou
Carpal \'Tunnel
Reged: 05/02/2007
Posts: 3038
Loc: Edinburgh
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Quote:
A peculiarity is that the shutter can't be cocked without a film in place
A long time ago I was looking at one on display and clicked the shutter. I was unaware of this peculiarity at the time, and thought I'd broken it. Cue panic and a quick exit.. 
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Zou's Flickr Page
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Benchista
Which Tyler
Reged: 11/08/2000
Posts: 42220
Loc: Everywhere and nowhere, baby
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Ah, the 67 II. Yes, a very nice camera, although much more modern than the 67, which remains pretty much unchanged from the original 6x7. Much more electronic, but even more capable. I've thought about getting one with that excellent AE prism, but can't really justify it given all my other cameras. Enjoy it!
That 165 is a very nice lens - I nearly went that way, but got a great deal on the 200. If I buy another lens, the 75mm is the current favourite - I borrowed one some time back, and got on with it rather nicely.
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Nick
www.nbrphoto.com
Light and Shade II - the new blog
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FujiSigmaNolta
I can pan!
Reged: 21/06/2005
Posts: 2029
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Sounds like the kind of camera I like: presents a challenge but you can get excellent results out of it. As you know that was my initial choice before I got the Kiev 6C.
What sort of prices could I expect for lets say a 6x7 MU with a standard lens? I seem to come across more the 6x7 and 67 than others. Cheers,
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Regards,
Luis
My Flickr mess
There are no duff cameras only duff photographers
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