Submitting to GAS (and not the biological kind)

[dreamingartemis]

I already have a Fujifilm Gf670 (I used to have GF670w but sold it when it sat unused in the drybox with only the occasional shooting just to check it is working) and use it for my photographic outing. Loving it!

Recently while visiting EvilBay, I spotted a Pentax 67ii body only for a reasonable price. I have very little info about how do they even work, but the price range was well within my comfort zone so decided to get it. If it's good, I'll keep it for a while else I might just quickly sell it off.

Now i am asking all those who have owned this camera on what are things I should check once I get this camera in. I could just google the info, but realized no doubt there are many owners in this forum who can easily speak from experience on what gotchas' I need to be aware of when I first get it in case I need to return it.

Seller was a reputable one based on it's rating (like that has always been a good indicator....). Photos looked good based on my own technical experience - it didn't looked like a German Shepard had used it as a chew toy. But still I know there is something - what should I check first?

 

[cooltouch]

I wish I could give you some advice, but I own a 67 -- the middle version of the three main versions of this Brobdingnagian camera. My 67 has been problem free, but I bought it only about a year and a half ago (from KEH) and it has been rather lightly used since then, but everything works as it should.

So, my recommendations is that you visit the Pentax Forums and post your questions in the Medium Format area:

http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/48-pentax-medium-format/

The Forums also have a Pentax 67 social group, a separate area set up specifically for the big SLR. This might be the better choice. You can find it here:

http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/groups/137-heavy-pentax-6x7-format-users/

Good luck!

 

[paul ron]

of course you know where to get the manual for it?

http://www.butkus.org/chinon/pentax/pentax_6x7_ii/pentax_6x7_ii.htm


enjoy

 

[dreamingartemis]

Hi all,

Thank you very much for the info. I'll report back here once it arrives and hopefully I don't get burned by another bum deal.

 

[ChuckP]

You could check to make sure the focus alignment is all good. One way is to tape a yardstick to the wall and photograph it at an angle focusing at the mid point. The negatives should be sharpest at the point you focus on.

Check the meter readings against a known meter(or two) you trust. The normal making sure all the controls, like MLU, work OK. Check film spacing on a test roll.

Figure out how you will carry all the lenses you will eventually buy.

 

[cooltouch]

Figure out how you will carry all the lenses you will eventually buy.

A good point. I have bought only three for mine so far -- a 135mm macro (for some reason that fails me now), a 45mm, and a 200mm, plus a gray teleconverter. I have a large bag which just barely holds this "small" outfit. I would llke to add a 90mm or 105mm and a 300mm to the outfit, which will outstrip this large bag's capabilities if I want to carry everything.

Incidentally, I bought the latest versions of the 45mm and 200mm and they are surprisingly light, but very sharp and contrasty. The 135mm macro I bought is an earlier model with the metal focusing collar. I haven't used it much, but it appears to be a good performer as well.

 

[studiocarter]

I had to buy a new bag just to carry the 500mm f5.6 while on the camera. So that GAS provided yet more fodder for another video about my 6x7 things. My web link links to YouTube.com/studiocarter1

 

[dreamingartemis]

Thank you again for the information. I am leaning more to the 165mm lens

 

[dreamingartemis]

Okay as I promised I finally got the Pentax 67ii 2 weeks ago and have been trying it out.

I borrowed a lens from a friend of mine who has the pentax 6x7 MLU version. With his 80mm f/2.8 I put it through it's paces. Even before loading a roll of film, I already encountered a problem - the ISO film speed lever doesn't work. Pressing on the ISO speed button causes the ISO word to blink on the LCD screen, but fiddling with the ISO lever to adjust the value (stucked at 400) does nothing at all.

All is not lost, because it so happens I prefer to shoot at ISO 400. But still the ebay listing mentioned everything was working. A short email later and I either send it back to the US or I bring it to the nearest repair guy to fix it and they instead will reimburse me for the repair cost. Long story short, I'm having it sent to Pentax in Japan to be fixed and I'll go over there in November to pick it up, thus avoiding the Malaysian custom fingers from taxing me again for a 2nd time (They already taxed me 10% the first time).

Anyway, aside from the issue the camera is in good working order. Metering is accurate (tested with spot meter) and film loading and shutters fires nicely as verified after running a roll through it.

Now my personal opinion, this thing is DANG LOUD AND HEAVY! It cannot be used for street shooting, I'm not strong enough. I'll leave that to my GF670. It is more suited for studio shooting but I think it's annoying there is no flash amount and requires the weird wooden grip for it. Still at least I can attach a flash command via the PC sync port (haven't tried it out yet).

Overall, good for my purpose of studio shooting. Now onward for a good lens!