Plaubel Makina 67 extreme cold

documentklep · Jan 22, 2022

Hello everyone,

I'm looking for a medium format camera that can handle extreme cold.
My pentax 67 has stopped working in the past (often) due to a cold soak, unsurprisingly with all the metal.

Someone here who has experience shooting in extreme cold temperatures (-20°celsius or -4°Fahrenheit and colder) with a Plaubel Makina 67?

Or could you recommend another 6x7 medium format camera that don't fail in these kind of temperatures?

I read that online that the Mamiya rz67 and rb67 handle the cold extremely bad since these camera's were made for studio work especially.
I was thinking that the Mamiya 7 could be fitting but it is outside my budget.

Thanks in advance for any response!

Alex Varas · Jan 22, 2022

Well... they key for extreme cold is having the camera correctly serviced with special helicoid grease for focusing in low temperatures and in another parts that might get stuck due extreme cold (rangefinder pivoting mirror).
Before investing in a Makina 67 I would go for a Rapid Omega 100 with the 90mm lens, have it serviced and enjoy winding

Pieter12 · Jan 22, 2022

It's a big chunk of metal, might not be comfortable in the cold. I would wonder how well the focusing mechanism might work in extreme cold. The manual just states, "Protect the camera against high temperature, moisture, dust and salt. Treat it with special care in tropical or damp climates."

documentklep · Jan 22, 2022

Pieter12 said:
It's a big chunk of metal, might not be comfortable in the cold. I would wonder how well the focusing mechanism might work in extreme cold. The manual just states, "Protect the camera against high temperature, moisture, dust and salt. Treat it with special care in tropical or damp climates."

I haven't experienced any troubles with the focusing mechanism while shooting in the cold, all pictures came out really sharp. Just the mirror that got stuck because of the cold (no warm battery that could get the camera working once it's cold soaked).

documentklep · Jan 22, 2022

alexvaras said:
Well... they key for extreme cold is having the camera correctly serviced with special helicoid grease for focusing in low temperatures and in another parts that might get stuck due extreme cold (rangefinder pivoting mirror).
Before investing in a Makina 67 I would go for a Rapid Omega 100 with the 90mm lens, have it serviced and enjoy winding

Thanks a lot for your suggestion. I just looked into the Omega 100 with the 90mm lens. The price is very interesting compared with that of a Plaubel Makina or Mamiya 7. Do you know if the quality of the images (sharpness etc.) is comparable with the latter? And would you recommend Rapid Omega 200 as well? Thanks in advance!

Lachlan Young · Jan 22, 2022

documentklep said:
My pentax 67 has stopped working in the past (often) due to a cold soak, unsurprisingly with all the metal.

Pentax made a remote battery cord that lets you keep the battery inside your jacket.

warden · Jan 22, 2022

documentklep said:
Hello everyone,

I'm looking for a medium format camera that can handle extreme cold.
My pentax 67 has stopped working in the past (often) due to a cold soak, unsurprisingly with all the metal.

Someone here who has experience shooting in extreme cold temperatures (-20°celsius or -4°Fahrenheit and colder) with a Plaubel Makina 67?

Or could you recommend another 6x7 medium format camera that don't fail in these kind of temperatures?

I read that online that the Mamiya rz67 and rb67 handle the cold extremely bad since these camera's were made for studio work especially.
I was thinking that the Mamiya 7 could be fitting but it is outside my budget.

Thanks in advance for any response!

I'd be tempted to give your current camera a cold weather tuneup before looking elsewhere. The Pentax is a far more flexible camera than the Makina anyway. I use a Makina in the winter, but it doesn't get that cold here very often.

documentklep · Jan 22, 2022

Lachlan Young said:
Pentax made a remote battery cord that lets you keep the battery inside your jacket.

Yes, this could be something I would consider to buy. Only disadvantage is that you can't put the camera on a tripod with the cord (I think).
And I wonder, if the camera is cold soaked, whether the remote battery makes a difference and protects the camera from failing to work.

documentklep · Jan 22, 2022

warden said:
I'd be tempted to give your current camera a cold weather tuneup before looking elsewhere. The Pentax is a far more flexible camera than the Makina anyway. I use a Makina in the winter, but it doesn't get that cold here very often.

Thanks for the reply. What do you mean by flexible? That you can change lenses as opposed to the fixed lens of the Makina?

warden · Jan 22, 2022

documentklep said:
Thanks for the reply. What do you mean by flexible? That you can change lenses as opposed to the fixed lens of the Makina?

Yes. Aside from a larger grip I can't think of any accessories for Makinas, for that matter. The Pentax is a true system camera. But if you know you want one of the two lenses that Makinas come with they're fine cameras, and the lenses are as good as any.

documentklep · Jan 22, 2022

warden said:
Yes. Aside from a larger grip I can't think of any accessories for Makinas, for that matter. The Pentax is a true system camera. But if you know you want one of the two lenses that Makinas come with they're fine cameras, and the lenses are as good as any.

Thanks for clearing that up!

I should have mentioned this in my initial post but I still aim to use my Pentax 67 in the extreme cold. I just want to have a second camera with me that can handle the cold for when the Pentax67 doesn't.
So other suggestions to make the Pentax more winter proof are highly welcome! Right now I'm thinking about the remote battery cord and I was also thinking about buying a "jacket" for the camera but I have no idea if these even works.

Dennis-B · Jan 22, 2022

documentklep said:
Thanks a lot for your suggestion. I just looked into the Omega 100 with the 90mm lens. The price is very interesting compared with that of a Plaubel Makina or Mamiya 7. Do you know if the quality of the images (sharpness etc.) is comparable with the latter? And would you recommend Rapid Omega 200 as well? Thanks in advance!

I own a Koni Omega 100, along with the 90, 58, and 180 lenses. The images are very sharp, and the camera itself handles nicely. The weak point of the entire camera is the ratcheted film advance. They are a bit on the fragile side, and you're liable to find one that's been a bit abused. That stated, I found a good one, and I serviced the film advance, cleaning and relubricating it. I don't do what photogs used to do, by holding the advance knob and jerking it out and in. You can also consider the 200. It uses interchangeable backs, the 100 has a fixed back using the inserts

You could also look into a Mamiya Universal Press. It has the same lens versatility, and can be had for just a bit more. The film backs go from 6x6, up to 6x9. I own one with the 90 and a 250mm lens, and a couple of film backs, and it works fine. The Universal is completely manual, so you have to develop your own rhythm for film advance, shutter cocking, focus, etc. It's very easy to miss a shot, but the results are usually well worth the effort.

In the 60's and into the 70's, the Mamiyas and Konis were the go-to cameras for wedding photographers

warden · Jan 22, 2022

documentklep said:
Thanks for clearing that up!

I should have mentioned this in my initial post but I still aim to use my Pentax 67 in the extreme cold. I just want to have a second camera with me that can handle the cold for when the Pentax67 doesn't.
So other suggestions to make the Pentax more winter proof are highly welcome! Right now I'm thinking about the remote battery cord and I was also thinking about buying a "jacket" for the camera but I have no idea if these even works.

Have you thought about getting a spare Pentax 67? You could keep Pentax #2 somewhat warmer somehow, while using Pentax #1 until it temporarily gives up, and then switch. Just thinking out loud.

Lachlan Young · Jan 22, 2022

documentklep said:
Yes, this could be something I would consider to buy. Only disadvantage is that you can't put the camera on a tripod with the cord (I think).
And I wonder, if the camera is cold soaked, whether the remote battery makes a difference and protects the camera from failing to work.

If the battery kit is complete, it comes with a tripod adapter component - and remember that if it's purely an electrical charge issue, as opposed to lubricants becoming thickened by cold, keeping the battery warm is all that's needed. In other words, try the cheapest solution for the camera you have (and in this case, the one the manufacturer came up with to solve this problem), before spending a lot of money on cameras that are not necessarily going to handle extreme cold any better.

Pieter12 · Jan 22, 2022

documentklep said:
I haven't experienced any troubles with the focusing mechanism while shooting in the cold, all pictures came out really sharp. Just the mirror that got stuck because of the cold (no warm battery that could get the camera working once it's cold soaked).

No mirror in the Plaubel Making 67. Also, the batteries just run the meter, so that is not a problem is you have a hand-held meter you can keep in your pocket.

warden · Jan 22, 2022

Lachlan Young said:
If the battery kit is complete, it comes with a tripod adapter component - and remember that if it's purely an electrical charge issue, as opposed to lubricants becoming thickened by cold, keeping the battery warm is all that's needed. In other words, try the cheapest solution for the camera you have (and in this case, the one the manufacturer came up with to solve this problem), before spending a lot of money on cameras that are not necessarily going to handle extreme cold any better.

+1

Alex Varas · Jan 23, 2022

Lachlan Young said:
If the battery kit is complete, it comes with a tripod adapter component - and remember that if it's purely an electrical charge issue, as opposed to lubricants becoming thickened by cold, keeping the battery warm is all that's needed. In other words, try the cheapest solution for the camera you have (and in this case, the one the manufacturer came up with to solve this problem), before spending a lot of money on cameras that are not necessarily going to handle extreme cold any better.

I would try this first before going to another camera, excellent suggestion.

documentklep · Jan 23, 2022

Thank you so much for all the kind suggestions and the thinking along!

It has been of a great help. I will purchase a battery kit with the tripod adapter. Great suggestion as it could probably solve the issue, be much more convenient than carrying around a second heavy camera in my bag and 20 times cheaper than purchasing the Makina.

In one month and a half I'll be using it in the very high north, for anyone interested in the matter I will report how it went.

AgX · Jan 23, 2022

documentklep said:
So other suggestions to make the Pentax more winter proof are highly welcome! Right now I'm thinking about the remote battery cord and I was also thinking about buying a "jacket" for the camera but I have no idea if these even works.

What would be the use of an isolating cover? Sooner or later the camera will end at ambient temperature.

As already indicated, if a camera fails for mechanical reason, adapt the lubrication to low temperatures; if it fails due to electrical dfficulties, keep the battery warm at your body or change its electrochemical system.

xya · Jan 23, 2022

documentklep said:
I should have mentioned this in my initial post but I still aim to use my Pentax 67 in the extreme cold. I just want to have a second camera with me that can handle the cold for when the Pentax67 doesn't.
So other suggestions to make the Pentax more winter proof are highly welcome! Right now I'm thinking about the remote battery cord and I was also thinking about buying a "jacket" for the camera but I have no idea if these even works.

If it's just a second camera is case of, why not keep it simple? Get a good, serviced 6x6 folder and crop pictures in case that you need the 6x7 aspect/ratio. Folders are small and easy to keep warm inside your jacket. No electronics, reliable machanics. A little choice https://www.120folder.com/

warden · Jan 23, 2022

documentklep said:
In one month and a half I'll be using it in the very high north, for anyone interested in the matter I will report how it went.

Please do!

mug · Jan 23, 2022

Need 120 film format?
Otherwise give a Nikonos (iii) a try. These are built like a tank, there is no problem if you drop the camera in the snow.
Easy test, put the camera in the freezer at -20 ºC and see if the working is still great.

documentklep · Jan 23, 2022

mug said:
Need 120 film format?
Otherwise give a Nikonos (iii) a try. These are built like a tank, there is no problem if you drop the camera in the snow.
Easy test, put the camera in the freezer at -20 ºC and see if the working is still great.

These sound great but I do prefer 120 film format indeed, for the quality and for printing in bigger format.

Pieter12 · Jan 23, 2022

The Rollei 6000 series cameras let you use a remote battery holder that you can keep warm in your pocket. Might be hard to find one (the accessory). I don't know how the rest of the camera performs in extreme cold temperatures, but they did think of the battery so the camera and lens should function well in those conditions.

MattKing · Jan 23, 2022

I don't know if you have ever read Harley Mowat's "Never Cry Wolf", but he used a Kodak Medalist for all his arctic and sub-arctic photography for that. My Dad met him a few times because the Kodak Canada lab where Dad worked had a camera repair department with a Medalist (and Retina) specialist, who happily re-winterized Farley Mowat's Medalist every year.

Plaubel Makina 67 extreme cold

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