So who is using Pentax 67

I've had a couple of P67's for some years now and have accumulated a 55, 75, 105, 135, 165(2.8) and a 200. I had a 45 but never was thrilled with the results. I've also had multiples of some of the above mentioned and I could see a slight difference in them and kept the sharpest examples. I bought the 45 new from Rbt White a couple of years ago but everything else was used....maybe I just got a klinker with the 45? I had a 90LS that I peddled. It wasn't sharp at all. I haven't heard that from others so I may have had a bad one, I suppose.

I recently added a Pentax 645 after swapping things with a fellow APUG'er for my folding Fuji. I'm just getting accustomed to it and have added an adapter to use the 67 optics that I have. It's very bright for focusing and viewing compared to the 67 with a prism. I'm very happy with it and it makes a great stable-mate to the 67.

It seem like there are some sample variations regarding the lenses ?
Is this a big issue with the 67 lenses ?
Cheers Søren

I use the P67 system for a small part of my photography. My 55mm f4.0 (new) is incredibly sharp. I can tell no difference with test charts from F4 to F22. I've only seen this uniform performance once before, with a 35mm Zeiss lens on Contax G. I picked off 156 lp/mm @ F8 with the 55mm on gigabit film. That is pretty much the defraction limit.

My 105 is a dog. Ok until I get to F11 and then it just falls apart (fuzzy 8x10 prints)

The 200mm is a great lens, but no match for the 55mm!

My most used camera is hasselblad. Small and relatively light for air and bus travel over seas.

My newest love is 4x5 Toyo. Got it after returning from John Sexton's advanced printing workshop November 2004. John's work just blew me away!

hello

I have a question for people who have a grip for pentax 67
Can someone give me the dimensions of this bracket?
I gave the link with the indications

http://a.imageshack.us/img704/2350/temp01o.jpg

I agree there is some sharpness problems with the 6x7 lenses -- I bought a 6x7 MU NEW in 1972, with 105mm,75mm shift and 200mm f4 and the 105mm is really soft at wider apertures, and the 200mm not so good either -- I used the 75mm shift for lots of Architecture work until the company giving out the work went Broke ( as usual -- nothing lasts for long in Pro Photography!) I HAVE had several cases of unsharpness with probable mirror slap, even when on a Manfrotto metal tripod, even when using 'Mirro Up' -- I did the Brentwood Town Christmas lights one year on transparency film and couild see the double imaging under a x6 magnifier.

I use the P67II, and have 55mm, 75mm, 105mm, 135mm macro and 300mm lenses. All of these are the most recent versions of the SMC lenses. The P67II is my main landscape camera system and I've found it to be great, I wouldn't change it for anything. (I also use a Fuji GA645zi and Fotoman 617 pano for certain situations).

The 55 and 75 are top-notch very sharp lenses, the 105 is good enough (I never use it beyond f11) and the 135 is great when used as a macro. The 300 is very sharp provided it is mounted on a quality ballhead and used at f11 max.

I also use a tripod, cable release and mirror lock for every shot with every lens.

Cheers,
Gavin

pentaxpete said:

I agree there is some sharpness problems with the 6x7 lenses -- I bought a 6x7 MU NEW in 1972, with 105mm,75mm shift and 200mm f4 and the 105mm is really soft at wider apertures, and the 200mm not so good either -- I used the 75mm shift for lots of Architecture work until the company giving out the work went Broke ( as usual -- nothing lasts for long in Pro Photography!) I HAVE had several cases of unsharpness with probable mirror slap, even when on a Manfrotto metal tripod, even when using 'Mirro Up' -- I did the Brentwood Town Christmas lights one year on transparency film and couild see the double imaging under a x6 magnifier.

Click to expand...

Just which version of the 200mm are you using?

I like the 105 for portraits

I am new to Pentax 67II but I just love it all - with 55mm, 105mm and 200mm. I use the latest lenses so can't talk to older lenses.

Chris

Chris

It's an old thread but why not ...

I use a P67II with 4/45mm, 2.8/75mm AL, 2.8/90mm, 2.8/165mm, 4.0/300mm ED lenses. The camera produces very sharp pictures with all of these lenses when placed on a sturdy tripod and used with MLU. I don't use a cable release. Like Gavin, I use the system for landscape photography and also would not change it for anything.

Gavin, are you from Coigach? I visited the region around Ullapool a couple of years ago. What a phantastic place for a landscape photographer.

Joachim

Joachim_I said:

It's an old thread but why not ...

I use a P67II with 4/45mm, 2.8/75mm AL, 2.8/90mm, 2.8/165mm, 4.0/300mm ED lenses. The camera produces very sharp pictures with all of these lenses when placed on a sturdy tripod and used with MLU. I don't use a cable release. Like Gavin, I use the system for landscape photography and also would not change it for anything.

Gavin, are you from Coigach? I visited the region around Ullapool a couple of years ago. What a phantastic place for a landscape photographer.

Joachim

Click to expand...

Not from Coigach, but it's my favourite place in the world. Amazing landscape photography too. From November onwards I'll be living in Inverness-shire, and this area will be an hour from home

Cheers,
Gavin

pentaxpete said:

I agree there is some sharpness problems with the 6x7 lenses -- I bought a 6x7 MU NEW in 1972, with 105mm,75mm shift and 200mm f4 and the 105mm is really soft at wider apertures, and the 200mm not so good either -- I used the 75mm shift for lots of Architecture work until the company giving out the work went Broke ( as usual -- nothing lasts for long in Pro Photography!) I HAVE had several cases of unsharpness with probable mirror slap, even when on a Manfrotto metal tripod, even when using 'Mirro Up' -- I did the Brentwood Town Christmas lights one year on transparency film and couild see the double imaging under a x6 magnifier.

Click to expand...

For info, here's a comparison of the different versions of the P67 lenses.

Dead Link Removed

Cheers,
Gavin

I have worked with 6x7's since the mid 70's. To this date I have 35, 45, 75, 105, 135, 165 ls and 200mm The only sub-par lens is probably the fish-eye which is kind of a non issue. I must agree with the findings quoted early on Antique Cameras regarding all these lenses and their performances. That said I have only 2 outstanding lenses (75mm and 200mm) However I find my results extremely satisfying with the 45, 105 and 165mm. The macro 135 works as advertised in an excellent macro mode when stopped to f 16-22. Mirror slap definitely more myth than truth specially if you hand hold @ 125/sec and up. I also work with Hasselblad and Bronica GS 1 so I feel I can have an educated opinion. Pentax has a special place in my heart.

I've had the 6x7 for several months now, it doesn't have mirror lock-up, but I am quite pleased with the hand held quality of the images. I have the 105 and 55 f3.5 lenses.
The only negative that I can say at this time is that the viewfinder is not very bright so in lower light scenes it can be a little difficult to focus accurately. All in all, I am very happy with the quality of the system, camera and lenses.

coigach said:

Not from Coigach, but it's my favourite place in the world. Amazing landscape photography too. From November onwards I'll be living in Inverness-shire, and this area will be an hour from home

Click to expand...

I envy you! Good luck with your moving.

The Pentax system is excellent and medium format prices are a steal right now.

I have a Pentax 67 MLU and a Pentax 67II with lenses of 45, 75, 90, 135, 165LS, 165. I have used the older model 300 also. No complaints from me. I rarely handhold it. If using a tripod I always use MLU. Otherwise I use a Feisol carbon fiber monopod which works great. When walking you can hoist the camera over your shoulder so it is not bouncing around your neck like a bowling ball. When standing still, the camera is weightless on the monopod. The monopod itself weighs ~1 pound I think. I guess I do have a complaint - film loading. I don't use the camera often as I prefer large format work. But when I do use it I always fumble with film loading, sometimes looking the expert and other times struggling.

Of my lenses, the favorites are 45 and 135. The 45 is quite wide and allows for candid "people pictures" in tight quarters by prefocusing and tripping the shutter with a cable release. The 135 is very sharp and a very useful focal length for me. I have the older model of that lens and like it so much I had to buy the new model too but have not had a chance to test it.

Soeren said:

So I got this old Pentax 6X7 with a 75mm f/4,5.
I kind of like the focallenght And the performance is just great though I'd like a f/2.8. Now should that be a 75mm or a 90mm. I am in the market for a 45mm f/4.0 soon and the last addition will be either a 135mm or a 165mm. What are you guys using and what are your thoughts ?

Click to expand...

I can't speak for several of the lenses you are considering, but the 55 and 165/2.8 I had were absolutely superb. The 165 also doubled quite nicely as a macro lens with extension tubes, and it had very pleasing bokeh.

I also had a 400 Super Takumar. Optically it was not on par with the other two lenses, but with careful technique, it produced some very nice slides.