Pentax 67 Grip

[Pieter12]

Well, GAS got the better of me and now I am the proud owner of a pristine 67. The mirror recoil is less than I expected, but the physical form takes a little getting used to. Especially the left hand grip. I’m used to cradling my other MF cameras, this feels awkward. It must add to stability, almost every 6x7 and 67 seems to be equipped with a left hand grip sticking out from the camera. Kind of odd focusing and then moving the left hand to the big ol’ grip. Am I missing something here? We’ll see how this monster works hand-held at 1/60.

 

[Neil Grant]

yes, i find the grip helps with stability. The camera pitches forward when the shutter is triggered. When i'm using the Pentax 6x7 with the grip i hold it like an aerial camera - ie both hands on the body and not on the lens. Grip with left hand and focus with your right. Then transfer to holding the body around the take-up spool area, finger on shutter release, just before you take the photograph. I think that works better than cushioning the lens underneath with the right hand.

 

[skylight1b]

I have the left hand grip, but I find myself mostly using it to carry the camera or to hold up the extra weight when I have it around my neck. My left hand naturally wants to cradle the underside of the camera and lens while shooting. I find holding the camera up by the grip while taking a photo is a little hard on the wrist making it actually less stable for me, but I'm sure it works for others.

 

[abruzzi]

I never saw the point in the grip, so I never bothered to buy a grip for mine. I hold and shoot it like a 35mm SLR.

 

[MFstooges]

Have you seen its quick focus grip yet? I swear it could be illegal if it's in brass colour.

Oh and I never use the body grip too

 

[itsdoable]

The Left Hand Grip works well with the Quick Focus Ring in a Studio or out door photo shoot where you have a fixed range of distances from your subject (environmental portraits, groups, etc...). You get a good comfortable balanced grip, and easy touch up of focus.

Other than that, it's a convenient way to carry your camera sans strap...

 

[OAPOli]

The left-hand grip is a bit bulky so I don't use it often. I can recommend the 3D-printed RH grip (https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1583871).

 

[blee1996]

I'm with several people here that I don't see the point of left grip, and never use it. I also second @OAPOli suggestion to get one of those 3D printed right hand grip. With the right grip to hold the camera and trigger shutter, while my left hand focus the lens and cradle bottom of camera, I can get very ergonomic and stable operations even with such a heavy camera/lens combo.

 

[Arthurwg]

I bought a left-hand grip for my RB67. It works well, but now the camera really is too heavy to hand hold.

 

[Alan9940]

Back when I had a Pentax 67, I liked the grip for carrying the camera. But, later on I got one of those after-market right hand grips and never used the left grip, again. Several years ago, I sold the 67 and bought a 67II and I've never felt the need to use the grip on this model.

 

[abruzzi]

Back when I had a Pentax 67, I liked the grip for carrying the camera. But, later on I got one of those after-market right hand grips and never used the left grip, again. Several years ago, I sold the 67 and bought a 67II and I've never felt the need to use the grip on this model.

There was a person in Thailand that was making right-hand grips out of nice wood like teak or walnut (IIRC). They are nice, but it makes it hard for me to reach the shutter, since the grip doesn't relocate it. I leave the grip on for now, but I'm not convinced that it improves handling.

 

[Alan9940]

There was a person in Thailand that was making right-hand grips out of nice wood like teak or walnut (IIRC). They are nice, but it makes it hard for me to reach the shutter, since the grip doesn't relocate it. I leave the grip on for now, but I'm not convinced that it improves handling.

I never had any problem reaching the shutter button, but the right-hand grip I had wasn't really deep enough to make it really comfortable and secure in use. I used it, anyway, as it provided the hold on the camera that I prefer. Personally, I like the grip on the 67II much more.

 

[craigclu]

See if you can locate something like this right hand grip. To me, all the controls fall into the correct position and orientation. This one also has a bubble level on its top...

 

[MFstooges]

Back when I had a Pentax 67, I liked the grip for carrying the camera. But, later on I got one of those after-market right hand grips and never used the left grip, again. Several years ago, I sold the 67 and bought a 67II and I've never felt the need to use the grip on this model.

Ah I see, so they're different. I don't remember that although I had the older model for a short time.

 

[Pieter12]

I'm taking my chance with this one from a craftsman in Poland. The finger ridges are deeper and the left grip seems more contoured. Plus, I like the Zebrawood.

 

[OAPOli]

The thing I don't like about the RH grips is that they delete the strap lug. So I made a custom one. My latest version has a M3 thread on the side (for a cable release) to actuate the mirror reset button, which allows for "B" exposures without batteries.

Custom right hand grip for the Pentax 67 by Olivier, on Flickr

 

[DREW WILEY]

I never used a grip at all until fairly recently, after I acquired an expensive bulky 300 EDIF lens, and wanted an especially secure hold onto the camera while mounting it on the tripod. Mine is the standard factory grip.

For handheld shooting, anything 1/60th or faster will beat the mirror slap itself. Otherwise, use the mirror-lockup feature plus a tripod.
Sometimes the extra mass of a wooden grip itself will help dampen the effect of the slap. I never could get good handheld P67 results except at speeds of 1/250th or above, combined with lenses of 105mm or shorter. Even resting the camera on a jacket atop a fence post or car roof can significantly improve the odds, especially with telephoto lenses.

 

[Ben Hutcherson]

I find mine(version labeled "67", but not the 67II) to be most comfortable holding it like an overgrown 35mm SLR with my left hand under the mirror box/lens(depending on just what lens exactly I'm using). I've gotten sharp hand-held results down to 1/60 with the 105mm f/2.4. although admittedly I've not used my lenses longer than that beyond some basic testing(I primarily only use the 105mm and the 55mm).

Mine came with the left grip, and I tried it several time but never could warm to it and sold it after seeing what they were bringing on Ebay.

I keep saying I might try a right hand grip one of these days, but really I've never felt held back by not having any sort of grip.

I'll add too that I primarily use the metered prism, which yes does add weight and bulk, but also means that I'm using my face/body for support just as I would a 35mm camera. Honestly it's less big/heavy than something like me Nikon D5 with a 70-200 f/2.8, a combo that I don't think twice about hand holding and that I'd venture to guess is handheld as often as it's used supported.

 

[DREW WILEY]

The P67 was a wonderful handheld aerial camera; but the nature of that kind of work allows fast shutter speeds at relatively wide apertures like the 105 provides. It was Shirakawa's famous aerial shots of the Himalayas which inspired me to buy a P67 in the first place. I never used it that way, although my brother had a pilots license and liked to borrow my Pentax. But he had his own even more deluxe system - a handheld 4x5 Technika mated to a Kenro gyro, suitable for even bouncy helicopter shots.

 

[Taylor Nankervis]

Nup. Dissenting voice.

The two Pentax 67 cameras I have are free of such fashionable encumbrances as grips: they add weight, bulk and awkwardness, despite what new owners think otherwise that they provide comfort and stability. Both my cameras are tripod-lovers, which might explain the razor-sharp end-product — nothing is ever hand-held or swinging in the breeze to look cool.

@[B]OAPOli[/B] #16
That flimsy quick release buckle is a no-no for the weight of the 67. The material's inherent weakness is the thing rope; it can and does break, sometimes without warning at hitherto unremarkable points of attachment, such as through the hole evident in the picture.

 

[Pieter12]

Nup. Dissenting voice.

The two Pentax 67 cameras I have are free of such fashionable encumbrances as grips: they add weight, bulk and awkwardness, despite what new owners think otherwise that they provide comfort and stability. Both my cameras are tripod-lovers, which might explain the razor-sharp end-product — nothing is ever hand-held or swinging in the breeze to look cool.

@[B]OAPOli[/B] #16
That flimsy quick release buckle is a no-no for the weight of the 67. The material's inherent weakness is the thing rope; it can and does break, sometimes without warning at hitherto unremarkable points of attachment, such as through the hole evident in the picture.

I agree the best place for the 67 is a tripod. But, Pentax did design and furnish those wooden grips, I don't think they would be totally useless. If anything else, since the camera seems like too much to be on a strap around your neck, shoulder or cross-body, the grip makes it easier to lift from a case and carry it around a bit.

 

[Taylor Nankervis]

I agree the best place for the 67 is a tripod. But, Pentax did design and furnish those wooden grips, I don't think they would be totally useless. If anything else, since the camera seems like too much to be on a strap around your neck, shoulder or cross-body, the grip makes it easier to lift from a case and carry it around a bit.

Grips have become fashionable today. They are available in 3D printed designs, custom wood-turned, unusual shapes to fit unusual hands...the options are endless.
The grips were designed for active studio shoots where tripods were not involved due to the need to rapidly move around and change positions — something tripods are not renowned for (though I can move three legs just as niftily as I can move my own...). There are many examples on the interwebby of studio professionals wielding the 67 interchanged with a second body, both fitted with grips; the grips assist hauling-to-hand between photographer and assistant (who unloads, then loads another roll, cocking the camera ready for handover).