Pentax 67 kit worth?

[John Galt]

Thank everyone for the great responses. I have decided to pass on the 67 Kit when the seller decided to sell the 90-180mm zoom separately. The kit is listed at $900 on the Vermont Craigslist. Seller told me I could have it for $800 . . . You could probably get it cheaper. Link to listing https://nh.craigslist.org/pho/d/pentax-67-outfit-virtually/6579941515.html

The light seals for the prism mount are getting sticky with age also.

• Late model Pentax 67 body with Pentaprism finder and TTL Pentaprism finder
• Wooden hand grip
• OEM body cap
• 90mm f2.8mm with caps, Pentax lens hood and Pentax hard case
  
• 135mm f4 Macro (newer model) with caps,Pentax lens hood and Pentax soft case
• 55mm f3.5 with both caps and Pentax bayonet skylight filter
  
• Pentax 2X Tele Converter with both caps
  
• Set of Pentax Extension tubes

 

[Poisson Du Jour]

The kit is listed at $900 on the Vermont Craigslist. Seller told me I could have it for $800 . . . You could probably get it cheaper.

Oh realIy??
I don't follow your logic there.
A very good, well looked after Pentax 67 with just one lens e.g. 105/2.4 is commonly sold for around $600 to $800, a bit more if the camera is fitted with a wooden grip, filter(s) are supplied and/or OEM hoods. And you are expecting to get a similar kit to what you have passed up — P67 body, TTL prism and 3 lenses etc., for below $800??

Having said that, the seller's description is a bit akimbo. The prism shown fitted is the older and less reliable Asahi Pentax 6x7 metered prism. These early prism frequently show up with derangement of the reading and/or sluggishness. The rudimentary electronics are responsible for this, and some enterprising individuals have torn the prism apart to address the issue, but it is cheaper to simply buy the more recent and reliable Pentax 67 prism.

 

[John Galt]

Oh realIy??
I don't follow your logic there.

The prism shown fitted is the older and less reliable Asahi Pentax 6x7 metered prism. These early prism frequently show up with derangement of the reading and/or sluggishness. The rudimentary electronics are responsible for this, and some enterprising individuals have torn the prism apart to address the issue, but it is cheaper to simply buy the more recent and reliable Pentax 67 prism.

Thanks for pointing that out regarding the TTL prism Gary. Part of the reason I decided to pass was that I know very little about the Pentax 67 system and have never handled one. When I decided to get back into analog photography after I retired I went with the Hasselblad V system (two bodies, 3 magazines, three lenses, plus accessories), which I did have some limited experience with. I also prefer 100% manual cameras with no electronics. I enjoy the Zen of determining exposure with a handheld Gossen meter then setting the camera up . . . it slows me down, I like that . . . .

I am attracted to the 6x7 rectangular format because when I was a young man I did A LOT of aviation and auto racing action photography with my Pentax Spotmatic. I have found that composing the square Hasselblad format a challenging transition. So, rather than purchasing a whole new system for the rectangular format I purchased a Hasselblad A16 film magazine from a member here. Rectangular 6x4.5 format . . . $100 . . . no brainer.

 

[Poisson Du Jour]

I enjoy the Zen of determining exposure with a handheld Gossen meter then setting the camera up . . . it slows me down, I like that . . . .

All good!
I very rarely (if at all, in actual practice) use the TTL meter for exposures — in more recent, awkward times it is used with the chimney finder. All of my metering is and has been done for years with a Sekonic L758D multispot -- this is much more useful in challenging lighting situations [using slide film] than the rudimentary TTL meter (though it must be said it is a capable meter)! And indeed you are correct the process of separate metering, being clinical and analytical, slows down the process to one that actually makes sense! A camera making all exposure decisions for me really rankles... Besides which, ye olde P67 meter only "counts" down to 1 second, when the majority of my exposures are anything from 10 to 1 minute or more!

The Pentax 6x7 & 67 does have idiosyncracies, a couple of which can lead to disaster with people unfamiliar with the consequences (meter coupling chain, particularly, something this camera shares with the Olympus OM4 cameras).

Everybody has their favourite(s), of course.
I tossed out the Hasselblad 503Cxi; I just did not agree with the boxy design in my hands, but especially the antiquated 80mm lens compared to more recent developments in the SMC Pentax 67 line up. There were also questions that the camera may not have been as well looked after by the previous owner as was assumed. The PME prism only worked intermittently which was a major annoyance.