dropped my pentax 6x7 -> some issues now

game · Mar 9, 2006

Hi there,
I was shooting one day last week, and while having my pentax 6x7 on a tripod, the wind blew it down, and my camera fall down on the [concrete] ground.......

After that i wanted to make a photo, but instead of that the shutter seemed to be stuck. It, just stayed fixed like a very long exposure.

I had no clue what the problem could be. And felt really misserable about it.
Then I started to think logically, and with a dummy film, and much experimenting I came to the conclusion that the problem was located in the body. To be precise: the shutter speed dial!

that dial read 1/1000, 1/500 etc. and normally it clicks in place on a value... that click disapeared through the fall! Therefor it is now possible for the dial to sit in between two values, and when that happens the shutter stayes open.

Right now, I can use the camera, but I have to look very precise at the arrow on the body that points at the selected exposure time, because when the dial is not set at the precise time, it is inbetween two times and the shutter stayes open. All in all, I found out how to make it workable, but off course this way of working is really annoying!

I hope to fix this problem, let a dealer do it is no option, since I don't have any cash. and a reapair will be about the same price as a new body.

So does anyone here has an insight in how to repair this 'defect'??
Anything would be helpfull.

thanks a lot! Sam

Robert Hall · Mar 9, 2006

send an email to the folks in Colorado. That is where I got my pentaxs serviced. Give them a copy of your post here and ask them for suggestions and if you could buy parts. It might not be too horrible.

Best of luck, and sorry for your misshap. (I loved my pentax 67)

game · Mar 9, 2006

who are the folks in colorado?

thankssam

Bill Hahn · Mar 9, 2006

Not exactly related - but even with the camera in perfect working order it is possible to get confused - while shooting on a very sunny day with 400 ISO film, I turned the shutter speed dial past the fastest shutter speed (while staring at the needle in the viewfinder of course). Hit the release, and the camera locked up (shutter wide open).

You know, I assumed it was due to battery failure, and actually bought and inserted two sets of batteries before I noticed the shutter speed dial past the last legit speed.

bobfowler · Mar 9, 2006

The fact that the wind was able to blow over your 6X7 tells me your tripod was woefully inadequate for the task at hand. I'd suggest spending some time shopping for a new one while your camera is being repaired.

kswatapug · Mar 10, 2006

The folks in Colorado would be Pentax USA.

PH 303-799-8000 or toll free from inside US at 800-877-0155.
url: http://www.pentaximaging.com/customer_care/contact_customer_service

The fellow who used to be in charge of repairs was Richard Eliott. Not sure if he's still there. FWIW, there doesn't seem to be an inexpensive repair to the 67 when the top has to be taken off to fix it.

Hope you can get if fixed.

sajianphotos · Mar 10, 2006

Really sorry about the problem. You probably already have found a repair manual...they're easy to find. Here's just one site. After haveing gone through a bunch of cameras myself (even fixing some of them) make sure you have a manual before you turn a screw (if you do it yourself).
Good luck.

nick mulder · Mar 10, 2006

yep! go for gold on trying to fix it yourself - if you are careful not to force things (like reverse threads) - and keep careful records of what came from where (tape screws to the parts they came from) - a digital camera can come in handy also (or some crayons, charcoal etc... for the luddites) to make records...

If anything, you often just save the eventual repair person from pulling it apart in the beginning - at the other end of the spectrum you may fix it and learn a great deal about your camera

drink whiskey, smoke cigarillos and have vintage office products around for atmosphere

game · Mar 10, 2006

thanks every one...!

the suggestion about buying another tripod while letting it repair is HUGELY in controversion with me mentioning there is no money in my pocket....
I have a fine tripod manfrotto. I might need a heavier oneday, but this is a 180 dollar thing.

The repair manual I had not found yet and it seems super halpfull to me. I will read it carefully! and see if there is a possibillaty fixing things myself.

I searched somemore, and indeed it seems to be a issue that comes around every ones in a while. The dissapaering of the 'click' in the shuuter speed dial...

Allthough there is no money in my pocket, what would you guys consider a good heavy tripod? One that is also suitable for dealing with both a pentax 6x7 and a sinar monorail for example?

The tripood I have now is a manfrotto (or bogen as you call it) 55.

Well thanks so far, I'll keep the thread up to date of something happens, and in the mean while, I like to hear of someone can say a few words about the tripod..

Best regards Sam

Soeren · Mar 10, 2006

Are you telling us that your Pentax 67 was blown over while atached to a Mannfrotto 055 ??? Where you out in a storm ? How did that happen ?
I have a mannfrotto 055 with the 141 threeway head and I doupt that it will blow over in anything less than a storm. Take the center collumn an cut it so you have some cm's where you can drill a hole for snaphook. Hang your backback (or whatever you've got) so it rest's on the ground preventing it from swinging or make a loop you put your foot in pressing the pod down. Or peg the thing fimly to the ground
Are you sure you did'nt set it up in an unstable position ? come on, its ok you can tell us, we wont bully you..........much
Cheers Søren

Inayat Noor · Mar 10, 2006

Pentax Repair

While in Florida years ago I backed into my Pentax while it was on a tripod. The film advance jammed up. I sent it to Eric Henderson, Pentaxrepairs@aol.com, and he did an excellent job repairing it. Over the years I always send him my Pentax when something needs fixing. I couldn't say enough of how reliable, affordable and thorough he is. I sent my Pentax to Colorado once and along with repairing the specific issue they also require a very expensive CLA.

game · Mar 10, 2006

Soeren said:
Are you telling us that your Pentax 67 was blown over while atached to a Mannfrotto 055 ??? Where you out in a storm ? How did that happen ?
I have a mannfrotto 055 with the 141 threeway head and I doupt that it will blow over in anything less than a storm. Take the center collumn an cut it so you have some cm's where you can drill a hole for snaphook. Hang your backback (or whatever you've got) so it rest's on the ground preventing it from swinging or make a loop you put your foot in pressing the pod down. Or peg the thing fimly to the ground
Are you sure you did'nt set it up in an unstable position ? come on, its ok you can tell us, we wont bully you..........much
Cheers Søren

I believe I set it up good. It was raining actually, and it was not a storm, but a really hard wind. I had a garbage bag put over the 67 the protect it from rain... Maybe that functioned as a sail.... I dontknow

Sam....

game · Mar 10, 2006

Inayat Noor said:
While in Florida years ago I backed into my Pentax while it was on a tripod. The film advance jammed up. I sent it to Eric Henderson, Pentaxrepairs@aol.com, and he did an excellent job repairing it. Over the years I always send him my Pentax when something needs fixing. I couldn't say enough of how reliable, affordable and thorough he is. I sent my Pentax to Colorado once and along with repairing the specific issue they also require a very expensive CLA.

I wil remember that adress, but I don't think I can even afford to sent it to the states, let alone, repair it...

Sam.

THAT service repair manual though, is that available for download somewhere? Free is best, but even a pay download would do.... Buying it on ebay, or in an american store costs to much time...

Best regards Sam

sajianphotos · Mar 10, 2006

I did a pretty thorough search, as I'm sure you did, and found some free downloadable instruction books but no free or downloadable repair manuals.
Dead Link Removed is the place I have downloaded my repair manuals but I don't see a Pentax 67. It may be worthwhile to email them and see if they would know. They've always been really good with me.
Best of luck.

dropped my pentax 6x7 -> some issues now

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