Pentax 6x7 CLA/Overhaul Recommendations

[NortheastPhotographic]

Hi folks,
I just acquired a Pentax 6x7 and I am smitten. I would like to give it a good overhaul or CLA to get it back to as close to 'new' performance as I can. I shoot engagement photos with it, or plan to, and I'd also like to use it to shoot some Velvia this fall. My test roll looks pretty good, but some frames were inconsistently spaced. No overlaps though.

Do you have any specific recommendations for this service? I know Leica and Rollei have their 'people'. Just curious is Pentax might? I got a quote from Nippon Photo Clinic for $260.00 not including parts if needed.

Thanks for your help!

 

[Chrismat]

Eric Hendrickson for all things Pentax:http://www.pentaxs.com. He's a retired Pentax tech in Tennessee, he's the one to go to. I bought my Pentax 6X7 in 1982, and it's still going strong.

Chris

 

[Chrismat]

I have had a lot of Pentax cameras cla'd by Eric and I can say he is one of the best camera techs I've ever dealt with. Great work and at a fair price.

 

[NortheastPhotographic]

Eric Hendrickson for all things Pentax:http://www.pentaxs.com. He's a retired Pentax tech in Tennessee, he's the one to go to. I bought my Pentax 6X7 in 1982, and it's still going strong.

Chris

Thank you so much for recommendation. I sent him an email requesting a quote.

 

[NortheastPhotographic]

His website says "I will repair it as if it were my own."

I hope that does not translate into swapping out good parts of your camera for his (or other owner's) camera. Just saying.

Why would a repair tech put himself out of business by screwing over all his clients? *eyeroll* Maybe it's time you make yourself a tin-foil hat?

 

[Poisson Du Jour]

The only option available for repairs / overhauls of the 6x7 and later 67 bodies is cannibalised parts from other bodies, which does not necessarily provide an effective guarantee of long-term reliability. If the camera is in fact the 1960s-era 6x7, it will likely show advanced wear of the shutter, winding mechanism (inconsistent frame spacing is one symptom of this; normal frame spacing does vary, but it is in the vicinity of a mm or two), solenoid and shutter speed timing, addition to likely fraility of the meter coupling chain (this was given more strength in the later 1990s 67 bodies). And what else?? I generally recommend that photographers not buy the old 6x7 bodies because of reliability issues. For those that do, it is "buyer beware". But there is no harm in latching onto one for curiosity value. Anything more serious in terms of use requires careful thought.

What you have to remember is that a complete disassembly and clean up/calibration can potentially cost more than the net worth of the camera. The question is, "is it worth it?" for maybe just a few years of service? You have to be absolutely sure of reliability if you are using it professionally and results matter. That means bypassing the rudimentary TTL meter in favour of e.g. a spot meter, especially with Velvia as the 67 meter has a 5 stop range (2.5 up and down) and over- and under-exposure is very easy, with no precise indication of just how much is too much until you have seen the results on the lightbox!

 

[Dan Daniel]

Hendrickson is the guy to contact. He's not perfect- I've had problems with a couple of cameras he's worked on (and no problems on three cameras he worked on). He stood behind his work and made it good; mistakes can happen to the best, it's how they handle them that is the real test in my opinion.

(By the way, I am an unlucky outlier with Eric; his work is solid and his reputation is deserved. A little interview:
http://www.pentaxforums.com/article...tions-eric-hendrickson-interview.html?src=all)

I don't know about Poisson Du Jour's point. Eric took over Pentax's repair operation when Pentax stopped, and this included parts. But the 6x7 parts might be long gone. This is the future of pretty well all film cameras from here forward. PDJ's points about reliability and accuracy are important for anyone doing one-time events, etc.

(Nice to see APUG cleaning things up and keeping comments to facts and informed opinions, not innuendos and slurs.)

 

[NortheastPhotographic]

The only option available for repairs / overhauls of the 6x7 and later 67 bodies is cannibalised parts from other bodies, which does not necessarily provide an effective guarantee of long-term reliability. If the camera is in fact the 1960s-era 6x7, it will likely show advanced wear of the shutter, winding mechanism (inconsistent frame spacing is one symptom of this; normal frame spacing does vary, but it is in the vicinity of a mm or two), solenoid and shutter speed timing, addition to likely fraility of the meter coupling chain (this was given more strength in the later 1990s 67 bodies). And what else?? I generally recommend that photographers not buy the old 6x7 bodies because of reliability issues. For those that do, it is "buyer beware". But there is no harm in latching onto one for curiosity value. Anything more serious in terms of use requires careful thought.

What you have to remember is that a complete disassembly and clean up/calibration can potentially cost more than the net worth of the camera. The question is, "is it worth it?" for maybe just a few years of service? You have to be absolutely sure of reliability if you are using it professionally and results matter. That means bypassing the rudimentary TTL meter in favour of e.g. a spot meter, especially with Velvia as the 67 meter has a 5 stop range (2.5 up and down) and over- and under-exposure is very easy, with no precise indication of just how much is too much until you have seen the results on the lightbox!

I paid $475 for the kit with the 105 and the 150. I would have prefered to have a newer model but I'd consider the 67s also in need of CLA, and the 67IIs have spiked in price. If it costs a few hundred to get the 6x7 in a workable state for the next few years I'm ok with that. It's mostly a clean body so someone took decent care of it. I got the kit I wanted too, which is the non-metered prism. I'll bring this into pro use but these days pro use means that it will come with me to the occasional engagement shoot and see 5-10 rolls of Portra 400.

 

[derelict]

Thank you so much for recommendation. I sent him an email requesting a quote.

Just send it to him. I just got my MX back from him. It is basically brand new. I have never had a camera so clean and functional.

 

[studiocarter]

Eric +1

 

[destroya]

I heard great things about him, but alas he told me he will not service a 67II. any ideas for a place to get a CLA on one?

 

[NortheastPhotographic]

Update: Eric received my camera on Monday, had it diagnosed on Tuesday, and will be shipping it back today (I paid a rush fee). He needed to replace the old rubber roller that controls spacing. However, he said that now my camera will work great! It was a little more than I wanted to spend, due to the roller replacement, but I am happy that I'll have a camera that will probably last another decade or more.

My yellowed Takumar 105/2.4 has been under a Ikea LED lamp for a couple days now and I'm happy to say it's really clearing up nicely!

 

[Dan Daniel]

For the 67II, I was just talking with Vincent at LeZot's Camera Repair in Williston, Vermont. He works on them.

www.lezot.com
802-662-4932