Getting used to the Pentax 67, so far so good with one small confession

pixelrandy · Mar 10, 2014

So far so good transitioning to the 67 from my Mamiya ProTL 645. The ProTL was FOOL-proof, assuming so wedding photographers in a rush wouldn't do something that would cost them a roll.

I've put five rolls through the 'new' 67 in just over two weeks. Film loading is no problem, while unloading is a bit more unnerving. Just a few tense moments trying to get the film out in the car.

I did lose the first frame on a roll yesterday. I had just pulled the body/lens from my pack and as I was mounting it to the tripod head my finger hit the MLU button by mistake. I thought that the "emergency release button" might drop the mirror, but pushing it in didn't do squat. I had to push the shutter release. Oh well. The ProTL has a manual switch for up/down. Am I missing something, or are you committed to fire at that point?

Other than that, I think I had one of the best days shooting yesterday. My wife and I made our way down the Mendocino and Sonoma County coastline yesterday. A bit of misty rain, deep colors, great atmosphere. Can't wait to see the results.

Anyone else care to confess about a dumb mistake they made over the weekend?

Chrismat · Mar 10, 2014

Yesterday I loaded a bulk roll of Rollei Retro 80s the wrong way in the loader, but I managed to correct it by taking it out in my darkroom (bathroom) and re-loading it. Got a little nervous, though.

I hope you like your Pentax 6X7. It was my first medium format camera, and it's my favorite.

pixelrandy · Mar 10, 2014

Good save!

Mustafa Umut Sarac · Mar 10, 2014

I think Pentax daylight performance is better than Mamiya but Mamiya beats Pentax at the dark , indoor. If you will shoot wedding , Pentax would render light and skin tones wonderfully. Pentax have strange colors at the indoor , I could not warm it. But this is what I saw at gallery , I am an old Kiev 88 user.

Poisson Du Jour · Mar 10, 2014

I'm not troubled by idiosyncracies of the Pentax 67, apart from the MLU being an annoyance, it is also an invaluable feature for tripod-based photography with any lens greater than 75mm. But there's more. The other potential problem is the TTL meter housing can become unsuspectingly dislodged if the locating pin is not seated in the shutter speed dial on the body; effectively, one of the two latches may not be engaged. Should the camera be tilted on its side there is a risk of the TTL meter coming away from the camera — C*R*A*S*H*!!. This happened to me a few weeks ago but, noticing a lack of response from the meter, an inspection revealed the prism was about to dislodge and immediately remedied this. Replacing the foam seal on the base of the TTL meter prism also results in initial bulk which requires the prism be pressed very firmly to positively seat it. After a few weeks this bulk will disappear and the prism will seat easily, but still with the normal amount of positive force followed by the click lock.

Film loading and unloading is a bit of a fine art process; I too admit to a few chills removing the roll, especially if I'm standing in a river or the sea!

The MLU button ideally should be taped over when the camera is in the bag, and the tape left in place until immediately before shooting. Not hard to observe discipline with a new camera and the 67 is one of the best with the beautiful 6x7 format.

polyglot · Mar 10, 2014

Does it have a multi-exposure option? That's what I do when I accidentally bump the shutter/mirror release on my RZ - stick the lens cap on, fire the shutter, put it in M mode then take the shot I wanted.

Poisson Du Jour · Mar 11, 2014

polyglot said:
Does it have a multi-exposure option? That's what I do when I accidentally bump the shutter/mirror release on my RZ - stick the lens cap on, fire the shutter, put it in M mode then take the shot I wanted.

Good suggestion and it does work (I have the factory-fitted MEX, but a great many cameras do not). But prevention is better than cure...

pentaxpete · Mar 11, 2014

Earlier 6x7 's did NOT have a double-exposure lever but the Mk II DOES and I have used it .

Thomas Bertilsson · Mar 11, 2014

Glad you're getting to know the Pentax well enough for reliable results.

I never make mistakes... The other day I was in the darkroom and poured the fixer back in the wrong bottle and managed to ruin a 5 year old replenished batch of print developer. Luckily I have what's left in the tray to season freshly mixed developer with, but if you can avoid doing that you won't have to smell the ammonia smell that results from it. Hot tip of the day.

pixelrandy · Mar 11, 2014

Poisson Du Jour said:
I'm not troubled by idiosyncracies of the Pentax 67, apart from the MLU being an annoyance, it is also an invaluable feature for tripod-based photography with any lens greater than 75mm. But there's more. The other potential problem is the TTL meter housing can become unsuspectingly dislodged if the locating pin is not seated in the shutter speed dial on the body; effectively, one of the two latches may not be engaged. Should the camera be tilted on its side there is a risk of the TTL meter coming away from the camera C*R*A*S*H*!!. This happened to me a few weeks ago but, noticing a lack of response from the meter, an inspection revealed the prism was about to dislodge and immediately remedied this. Replacing the foam seal on the base of the TTL meter prism also results in initial bulk which requires the prism be pressed very firmly to positively seat it. After a few weeks this bulk will disappear and the prism will seat easily, but still with the normal amount of positive force followed by the click lock.

Film loading and unloading is a bit of a fine art process; I too admit to a few chills removing the roll, especially if I'm standing in a river or the sea!

The MLU button ideally should be taped over when the camera is in the bag, and the tape left in place until immediately before shooting. Not hard to observe discipline with a new camera and the 67 is one of the best with the beautiful 6x7 format.

There's always that transitional phase one goes through when learning a new instrument. My fingers are still learning the landscape. Should be a no-brainer as I get more seat time with the 67.

I used MLU on all but three shots on three rolls. Quite nice that there's no force needed to engage it.

My bag doesn't come close to contacting the switch (hmmm, or does it?). I'd better look. Thanks for the tips!

pixelrandy · Mar 11, 2014

I have the straight 67, without a multiple exposure option. Ooohhhh well.

jwatts · Mar 11, 2014

I think that MLU switch my biggest annoyance with this camera. It is so easy to trip it.

Poisson Du Jour · Mar 11, 2014

My 67 ('Pentaximus'!) is packed away in the bag at the moment and that MLU is taped; I carry four spare batteries — a lesson learned from landing in paradise (big smile) with a dead 67 (big tantrum...). The lens and body are cradled tightly by dividers/pads — one of the major risks of both tripping the MLU and releasing the TTL prism from the body! So everything is thoroughly checked on docking to the tripod. Photographers could no doubt give chapter and verse of the irritations peculiar to the 67; another of mine is the atrociously tiny and difficult cover release — impossible to use with gloves on and I've broken a finger nail or two wrangling it!

Re multi-exposure: Pentax offered a retrofitting service of the multi-exposure facility on all 6x7 and 67 bodies not so fitted with it (the winding mechanism did not change through time); it was a return to factory and send back job costing around $220. It is believed that a large number of 67 bodies were released around 1989-1991 optioned with the multi-exposure facility; this was probably around the last batch of cameras before production wound down.

Getting used to the Pentax 67, so far so good with one small confession

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