First Pentax 67ii Arrives

[Model71]

Hello. I purchased a 67ii from eBay; it arrives tomorrow. I am curious to ask if there are particular function checks for the 67ii I should confirm. Are there common gremlins, mechanical issues, to look out for?

Kind regards,
~ Jeff

 

[halfaman]

Pentax 67II is very electronically controlled, so normally it either works or doesn´t. There is no middle term. Do a test roll, develop and check as soon as possible.

 

[abruzzi]

It uses a focal plane shutter, so the first thing I'd test is so-called "shutter capping." When you shoot your first test roll, make sure you test it at the highest shutter speed (1/1000) and make sure the full width of the frame is exposed (basically the leading shutter runs slower than the trailing shutter and it closes the gap before it gets to the end of the frame.) The 67II also has a lot more electronics than the 67 or 6x7, so I'd make sure they all work.

 

[destroya]

make sure the metered prism is giving proper readouts. change the metering pattern on the prism and make sure there are no readings that go from 1/125 to 1/2000 to 1 second when you change the pattern. if you have a handheld meter, it wouldn't hurt to compare readings with it and then camera

these cameras use a lot of magnets to function. So check the mirror up and makes sure it holds and closes as it should. also, test a few blanks shots with speeds slower then the sync speed, so 1/8th a second and slower. i had issues with this and had to have the camera repaired recently to allow slow shutter speeds.

john

 

[Taylor K Nankervis]

If there is no evidence or proven history of an overhaul for this camera, the first thing to do would be to check exposures, using slide film. This narrow latitude of slide film will highlight obvious exposure errors even of simple, uncomplicated scenes very readily, making it much harder for the camera's electronics to proverbially sweep niggles under the carpet.

Shutter capping can be a problem (often as a result of the camera sitting idle for months, if not years), but it is not as prevalent as with the earlier rudimentary Pentax 6x7 / 67 cameras. Shutter speeds are best tested electronically (by a test facility), not "by sound". Many things can be wrong, so a very thorough look-over, in and out is definitely required, and have your Plan B for returning the camera to the seller if things do not shape up.

 

[ChuckP]

I always do a quick focus check on a new to me camera. Tape a yard stick on the wall and photograph it at an angle focusing at 18 with the lens wide open. Check to see if the negatives are focused at the same point.

 

[Model71]

I sent the tested film off to the lab two weeks ago and requested small scans of the test roll... lab issued me a return tracking number without fulfilling the scans. Ugh; the point of them doing the scans was to save turnaround time - for the sake of possibly returning the camera. Sigh. Now I have to chase down a refund for work purchased and not performed.

 

[mshchem]

If there is no evidence or proven history of an overhaul for this camera, the first thing to do would be to check exposures, using slide film. This narrow latitude of slide film will highlight obvious exposure errors even of simple, uncomplicated scenes very readily, making it much harder for the camera's electronics to proverbially sweep niggles under the carpet.

Shutter capping can be a problem (often as a result of the camera sitting idle for months, if not years), but it is not as prevalent as with the earlier rudimentary Pentax 6x7 / 67 cameras. Shutter speeds are best tested electronically (by a test facility), not "by sound". Many things can be wrong, so a very thorough look-over, in and out is definitely required, and have your Plan B for returning the camera to the seller if things do not shape up.

Good idea to check camera with a couple rolls of Ektachrome.

 

[Model71]

Good idea to check camera with a couple rolls of Ektachrome.

Check; picked up a few rolls of Ektachrome

 

[Model71]

Here is the

I sent the tested film off to the lab two weeks ago and requested small scans of the test roll... lab issued me a return tracking number without fulfilling the scans. Ugh; the point of them doing the scans was to save turnaround time - for the sake of possibly returning the camera. Sigh. Now I have to chase down a refund for work purchased and not performed.

They took a while to send me a link to the scans; oddly, they provided a coupon for 10% off my next film processing order. Anyway, here are the test images https://www.neuffer.photos/testing-pentax67ii

I tried to create an album on this website, but it was confusing that I couldn't control the album, much less upload no more than 5 photos per day.

 

[Taylor K Nankervis]

There is a huge amount of contrast in those pics, shooting in strong sunlight and shade. Not surprising there is some underexposure, but all things considered, the camera has done it's best with the balance. The amount of latitude in B&W film means it is not possible to accurately assess exposure based on exposure values alone. The steps need to be tighter, hence using slide film and incremental changes. Not just matrix metering, but CWA and partial.

No quibbles with the 45mm f4; it is one of the best lenses in the SMC-Pentax 67 line-up. Also has a gelatin filter clasp at the rear element if you're so inclined to try out colour correction filters.

Try an exposure run in diffuse light with Ektachrome 100, rating it at 100, EI64, EI125 and EI160.
These slight variations will be evident upon close inspection on a lightbox.

 

[Eff64]

Dynamic range of test scene beyond capture without exposure and development adjustments. Just looking at your images, I would say +2 exp, -2 dev to try to compress that range a bit. Beyond that, I think the meter did a great job, and the camera settings seem to be accurate. Enjoy!