Need advice on Pentax 6X7.

[John Wiegerink]

That's an excellent point. The problem is that people say "I use the 67 handheld and never need a tripod!". But put a 8x to 10x loupè over the neg/transparency and you can see exactly the same blur effect you would get with any camera that moves ever so very slightly on pressing the shutter — remembering always that the 67 has a quite large (albeit well-dampened) mirror and shutter. Handheld is fine if you are never going to get A0-sized prints done. It doesn't have to be used with a tripod (especially street), but the very, very best results (e.g. landscape) will be obtained by taking care of the enormous threat of vibration-induced blur. A semi-permanently docked camera on a tripod is far, far less of a burden to live with than a beautiful shot ruined by vibration blur.

Amen!

 

[Poisson Du Jour]

Yes I have GAS often, but it's not that bad right now. Trying to keep costs down lol. At least I was able to pay for most of the 6x7 stuff with the sale of 2 lenses. I got as much stuff as I could in bargain condition from KEH. The body, prism, and 135 macro are bargain. But they only had the 165 LS in excellent. And bargain will probably be better because I won't be afraid to use the gear-it's already been scratched and well used I just spent about 500usd sending my chrome F2AS to Sover Wong in the UK for a complete overhaul. And sorta afraid to use it 'cause it looks so good Someone mentioned getting a manual. I downloaded one from the Buktus site, but I think it's the non MLU version. Does anyone know where I can download a manual? That will get me by until I can find a "real" one. I like having the paper manual because I can take it with me on location. Can't do that with a download.

By the way, if I like the 6x7, I have big plans for it-75 shift, 105 2.4, 55 wide angle, 2X TC, camera bag that fits it properly....Was going to sell another lens to get a used 85 1.8D for my Nikons. But 35mm stuff may be put on hold.

I have two excellent reproduction of the Pentax 67 manual here on PC in .pdf format, parts 1 and 2, the Pentax 6x7/67 Engineering and Repair Manual; also instructions for the 165mm LS lens -- all, it seems from the Butkus site, but at least one of the manuals came from elsewhere; can't recall where or when.

eBay has a 67 manual up for grabs at the moment: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Pentax-C...252?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27d222cb9c

 

[Alan Gales]

Does a Pentax 67 need a tripod? Depends on what you want...

I made some great shots without a tripod, but when I examined them with a loupe I was extremely disappointed. I now use a tripod. All the time.

Another advantage of using a tripod is that it slows you down. When it slows you down you spend more time on the shot. When you spend more time on the shot you get a better image.

 

[John Wiegerink]

Repair manual

I have two excellent reproduction of the Pentax 67 manual here on PC in .pdf format, parts 1 and 2, the Pentax 6x7/67 Engineering and Repair Manual; also instructions for the 165mm LS lens -- all, it seems from the Butkus site, but at least one of the manuals came from elsewhere; can't recall where or when.

eBay has a 67 manual up for grabs at the moment: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Pentax-C...252?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27d222cb9c

Is the repair manual one of those copies from eBay? If so, is it any good? I wouldn't mind having one just in case.

 

[John Wiegerink]

Another advantage of using a tripod is that it slows you down. When it slows you down you spend more time on the shot. When you spend more time on the shot you get a better image.

And when you get a better image everybody is happy! It's hard to force yourself to slow down, but it certainly does help to have something to make you. I'm not a fast thinker anymore, so slowing down for me is even more important.

 

[Poisson Du Jour]

Is the repair manual one of those copies from eBay? If so, is it any good? I wouldn't mind having one just in case.

You don't need FleaBay when you've got me, LOL!
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B-Eu...it?hl=en&pli=1...142 pages of the goings-on inside the 6x7 / 67...

..."Let me see...where is the wind-on gate transverse stop-pawl"...?

 

[Alan Gales]

And when you get a better image everybody is happy! It's hard to force yourself to slow down, but it certainly does help to have something to make you. I'm not a fast thinker anymore, so slowing down for me is even more important.

Buy an 8x10 camera, John. It will force you to slow down!

 

[John Wiegerink]

Buy an 8x10 camera, John. It will force you to slow down!

Well, I have one and by the time I load up with all I need it's slows me down so much I can't even make it out of the house. I have three boxes of 8x10 film in the freezer and they might be there for a long time. My 4x5 Busch Pressman "D" is about as big as I go now. Truth is I am more than happy with what I get from my Rollei/Hasselblad/Pentax medium format gear and they actually slow me down just enough. If I were younger and had more spending change for film I'd use the 8x10 more. JohnW

 

[John Wiegerink]

You don't need FleaBay when you've got me, LOL!
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B-Eu...it?hl=en&pli=1...142 pages of the goings-on inside the 6x7 / 67...

..."Let me see...where is the wind-on gate transverse stop-pawl"...?

View attachment 72256

Thanks a bundle! I now have it on file.

 

[Alan Gales]

Well, I have one and by the time I load up with all I need it's slows me down so much I can't even make it out of the house. I have three boxes of 8x10 film in the freezer and they might be there for a long time. My 4x5 Busch Pressman "D" is about as big as I go now. Truth is I am more than happy with what I get from my Rollei/Hasselblad/Pentax medium format gear and they actually slow me down just enough. If I were younger and had more spending change for film I'd use the 8x10 more. JohnW

I know what you're talking about, John. I'm only 51 but I have had a back fusion so it really slows me down. I own an 8x10 Wehman, 4x5 Sinar P, Tachihara, and Crown Graphic, a Hasselblad 500 CM, 35mm Stereo Realist and Nikon D300. I know (my wife keeps telling me) I have too much stuff. :confused: I'm trying to decide what to keep and what to sell. I'm definitely keeping the 8x10 because it's my favorite.

A very good friend of mine once said that if you shoot too many cameras you really never get completely comfortable with any of them. I think he had a good point.

 

[John Wiegerink]

I know what you're talking about, John. I'm only 51 but I have had a back fusion so it really slows me down. I own an 8x10 Wehman, 4x5 Sinar P, Tachihara, and Crown Graphic, a Hasselblad 500 CM, 35mm Stereo Realist and Nikon D300. I know (my wife keeps telling me) I have too much stuff. :confused: I'm trying to decide what to keep and what to sell. I'm definitely keeping the 8x10 because it's my favorite.

A very good friend of mine once said that if you shoot too many cameras you really never get completely comfortable with any of them. I think he had a good point.

Your friend is 100% right and I'm starting to follow his advice. Back when I was "wheeling & dealing" I would pick a camera that I might want to keep and stay with it for a set one month. By that time I knew whether I wanted to keep it or not. Trouble was I ending up keeping many more cameras than I could use. I still have many of those cameras and I got out of the camera show dealing more than 20 years ago. I'm headed toward 64yrs old and it's time to thin to only what I know I'm going to use. Well, maybe I can sneak one or two cameras in that have a bit of a sentimental value. Also, I'm finding out that at my age if I don't use something everyday I forget how to use the damn thing. Worse yet, I can't use it everyday 'cause I forget where I put it and it takes me three to four days to find it! I just went through that with my shade for the Hasselblad SWC and it near drove me nutts. JohnW

 

[Poisson Du Jour]

Your friend is 100% right and I'm starting to follow his advice. Back when I was "wheeling & dealing" I would pick a camera that I might want to keep and stay with it for a set one month. By that time I knew whether I wanted to keep it or not. Trouble was I ending up keeping many more cameras than I could use. I still have many of those cameras and I got out of the camera show dealing more than 20 years ago. I'm headed toward 64yrs old and it's time to thin to only what I know I'm going to use. Well, maybe I can sneak one or two cameras in that have a bit of a sentimental value. Also, I'm finding out that at my age if I don't use something everyday I forget how to use the damn thing. Worse yet, I can't use it everyday 'cause I forget where I put it and it takes me three to four days to find it! I just went through that with my shade for the Hasselblad SWC and it near drove me nutts. JohnW

^^ LOL!
Use a camera every day. And carry one of them with you every day. Always carry a camera.

 

[tnabbott]

Regarding lenses, I would suggest trying the 100 mm Macro too. Be sure it includes the life-size magnification element that comes with these when new. This is my most used lens on my 67II.

 

[f/16]

Regarding lenses, I would suggest trying the 100 mm Macro too. Be sure it includes the life-size magnification element that comes with these when new. This is my most used lens on my 67II.

KEH has several of the 100 macros with life size element. But the cost of that lens is also life size