Pentax 67II

Review Date
February 22, 2007

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
1.00 of 5, 2 votes

Reviewed by
Chris Willson , Professional

Price Paid
$2000.00 at Yodobashi Camera, Ja

Photography Experience
11-20 years , Other

Summary
Provides the benefits of using medium format film in a package that is tough and portable enough to be taken anywhere.
I have travelled all over Japan with the Pentax 67II system. Its produced thousands of great images, and unlike many other medium format systems I don't feel restricted in my choice of lenses. I use the fisheye through to the fantastic 400mm to get images I would be unable to get with other systems. Check out www.travel67.com to see some of the images I have taken with the 67II system.

Strengths
Image size
Selection of lenses available
Ability to use 67 lenses on the 645 system and 35mm pentax cameras.
Solid body

Weaknesses
No digital back but you will be able to use lenses with 645 digital
Slow flash sync speed f you need it.
Heavy if you are used to carrying 35mm systems

Customer Service
After dropping the camera onto tarmac from 6 feet up (a stomach churning moment) Pentax Tokyo were able to fix the camera and more importantly lend me a replacement 67II body while the repairs took place. As I was in the middle of a 1 month trip this was fantastic.

Review Date
September 11, 2003

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
3.40 of 5, 5 votes

Reviewed by
James Costine , Professional , from United Kingdom

Price Paid
$500.00 at abbey photographics

Photography Experience
21+ years , Outdoor

Summary
They don't come any better than this

Strengths
solid reliable to the end will still be going when your in your box!

Weaknesses
It dosen't have any. but the 800super t/pohto should come with it's own 4x4, but boy what a lens,keep em coming Pentax

Similar Products Used
Mamiya RB6x7 pro s but very difficult to handle in the field without tripod.

Customer Service
Never needed them !

Review Date
February 11, 2003

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5, 2 votes

Reviewed by
Romeo Bry , Expert , from Kingston

Price Paid
$2000.00 at David Chang, HK

Photography Experience
11-20 years , People

Summary
Fantastic piece of equipement.
I travelled all over China, HK, Singapore, Tibet. Climbed at 15000 ft and went thought extreme humid climat: this camera NEVER showed a sign sign of weakness.
I was able to capture incredible portraits and landsacpe. Combined with a Gizo 1320 you get the best mix.

Strengths
- AE very accurate
- very resistant
- easy to operate
- easy to load
- ergonomic: good to use for portrait no tripod
- great lense quality at competitive price

Weaknesses
- Should have a clip to mount a buble lever (panoramic). Wood handle too heavy for long excusrsion.

Similar Products Used
- F100
- Minolta 800SI
- Xpan Hasselblad

Customer Service
NA

Review Date
October 12, 2002

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1 votes

Reviewed by
ericvaughan , Intermediate , from Springfield, OR

Price Paid
$1499.00 at Adorama

Photography Experience
2-5 years , Outdoor

Summary
This is one awesome camera. Especially if you like outdoor photography, this is the camera to get. Is has all the features anyone will need in a camera for landscapes, nature, etc. Metering is extremly accurate, camera functions are nicely laid out. I really love the simplicity of how this camera works making it easy to use. I hear a few people complain about the weight of the camera, but compare this to other 6x7 cameras and it is actually on the light side. I also hear complaints about the ease of film loading and true you don't just drop the film in and pull the leader like a 35mm, but it is not difficult to load the film at all. That is way overstated and should not be a factor at all when considering this camera. Build quality it excellent and quality of the lens is excellent also. Just using it the first time I noticed what a difference when you focus the lens and how silky smooth it is complared to 35mm lens, even my expensive ones. It operates like a fine piece of equipment in all ways. Once you see those big beautiful chromes on your light table, you won't want to ever shoot 35mm again. I could go on and on about this camera but if you like to make beautiful prints from your pictures and see tack sharp prints up to 16x20 and larger, then GET one of these. Only downside at all about this camera is that you really need a good quality tripod like a series 3 from Gitzo to utilize it's full potenial. Especially if you get a couple of the longer lens.

Strengths
Quality,ease of use, metering accuracy, price, handeling, features, just about everything on this camera.

Weaknesses
About only thing is maybe the fact that you really need a nice stable tripod but otherwise no weadknesses at all that I can find.

Customer Service
Were very great and helpful anytime I called with questions.

Review Date
September 4, 2002

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Reviewed by
Troy Moore , Professional , from Chattanooga

Price Paid
$1800.00 at KEH (body), Adorama

Photography Experience
11-20 years , Outdoor

Summary
Nicely made camera. Feels good in my hands. I like the new grip and rubberized body. The quality is outstanding. I do like the more accurate frame advance and one extra exposure is nice on the 220 film. Matrix meter is superb. Plenty of advanced features for the professional nature photographer. I have an extensive system consisting of two 67 bodies, one 67II body, 45, 55-100 zoom, 90-180 zoom, 135 macro, 165 LS, 300, ext. tubes and filters. While this set-up was expensive, it was half as much as comparable systems. All are well made and solid.

Strengths
Very sharp, relatively inexpensive lenses. Mirror lock-up invaluable. Solid feel.

Weaknesses
Heavy, bug that's the price you pay for medium format. I had several custom functions programmed into my camera, viewfinder display of the aperture (instead of the frame number) being one of them. It's not totally accurate. It may read f5.6 in the viewfinder, but the actual aperture may vary by 1/3 to 1/2 stop. You still have to take your eye away from the viewfinder to confirm aperture when it's critical, which is a bit irritating because I got that custom function for just that reason. The Pentax technician I talked to said that was due to the electronics trying to determine something from a mechanical mechanism. With all the electronics this camera/prism has in it, I would have liked to see a more accurate f-stop indicator in the viewfinder.

Similar Products Used
Nikon F5
Nikon FM-2
Pentax 67

Customer Service
Turn-around time for my custom functions was good (about 21 days from receiving my camera). Very courteous technicians and reps.