HELP! My P67 has jammed!

Hi All. This morning's sparkling coat of ice on every twig and pebble demanded to be photographed, and I obligingly got the Pentax 67 ready to shoot. The film loaded as usual; I set up the shot, locked up the mirror and pressed the shutter release........nothing. On further examination I noticed that the shutter release lock was set, so I unlocked it, pressed the release, and again nothing except the shutter button didn't actually depress at all; it stayed rigidly in the up position. So I took the camera in the darkroom and removed the film...the take-up spool wouldn't budge, but since the film had only advanced to the first frame, I was able to get it out. Nothing I did prompted the shutter to fire. I removed the lens and noticed that the mirror was only half way up...not good! So.....any suggestions for a home remedy? I'm sure I can take it to someone to repair, but I thought I'd ask here first in case it's a totally obvious little adjustment of the frabbis or wingbat. Thanks in advance for your help.


(BTW, wielding a 20 ounce hammer and getting into a medieval state of mind is NOT an option. No.....I can not afford a Hasselblad! )

You of course made sure a fresh battery was in it, yes? If not that's step 1.

The mirror stops half way up when the battery goes dead, iirc.

John, Mount Vernon, Virginia USA

Captain Bedworthy said:

You of course made sure a fresh battery was in it, yes? If not that's step 1.

Click to expand...

I did not! Good idea! I'll check it right now. Thanks!

Try depressing the little button under the shutter. You will need a pin or pencil. Very small on the front, right underneath the shutter. Shoudl do the trick. I think.....

Well....good news and bad. The problem was caused by not a dead battery, but no battery at all...I had forgotten that I took it out since I was using my 6x6 and 4x5 and didn't want a mess in the battery holder while not using the camera. So, I inserted a brand new one....and.....and.....zippo, nada.

I could not find anything under the shutter release button except the little piece that the cable release end engages. I pushed it, but still no result. Other than that, I'm at a loss for another little button somewhere in front of the shutter release.

So ....thanks for your assistance thus far (I do feel like a dolt about the battery...duh!). I'm eying the hammer....but only askance....:rolleyes:

Come on it's a Pentax- I doubt a hammer would do anything to it ...

eskyone said:

Try depressing the little button under the shutter. You will need a pin or pencil. Very small on the front, right underneath the shutter. Shoudl do the trick. I think.....

Click to expand...

This is about an inch or so below the shutter release button, on the front of the camera in the "leather" grip area.

resummerfield said:

This is about an inch or so below the shutter release button, on the front of the camera in the "leather" grip area.

Click to expand...

BINGO!! Thank you so much for further clarifying the site of this little black button. The shutter fired....the house rattled....small animals were afraid...but the flippin thing works again. (the hammer is back in the garage...for now..hehehe)

Good news John. So that was that loud clack I just hear off in the distance?!

gene

papagene said:

Good news John. So that was that loud clack I just hear off in the distance?!

gene

Click to expand...

*******
I always called my Penny 6x7 my Blonde Spy Camera.

John, Mount Vernon, Virginia USA