Pentax 67

Review Date
November 14, 2006

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
1.00 of 5, 1 votes

Reviewed by
Ben COnover , Intermediate

Price Paid
$200.00 at filmlives

Photography Experience
2-5 years , Outdoor

Summary
The Pentax 6x7 medium format slr is a compromise. It is big, heavy, and very very very basic. No lightmeter, max shutter speed of 1000th sec, basic water seals, partly plastic housing but mostly metal, etc.

The normal unmetered prism is very dim unless in good light, the eye relief is poorer than most cheapo slr's, the screen is very hard to focus. The pop up magnifier is useful but nowehere near as good as others, it's quite a flimsy little bit of kit.

The shutter and Mirror sound like BANG! but if you don't care then it's fine.
The Shutter bounce will blu images shot at slow shutter speeds with long lenses on a weak tripod.

You need a tripod to use this camera.

The lenses are fantastic, very well made, heavy, and worth every penny.

Strengths
Great, fast, sharp, well made lenses, cheap system to get into.

Weaknesses
Crap prism finder shows onlt 95% of image, and the metered one shows only 90% Crap!

Very basic camera functions, sufficent but not exactly up to date with year 2006!

Similar Products Used
Bronica etrs 645
Rolleicord 5
Mamiya 6 folder
Fuji g690bl
Fuji gw690II
Linhof Technika 70

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Review Date
December 29, 2005

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1 votes

Reviewed by
Braxus , Intermediate

Price Paid
$0.00

Photography Experience
11-20 years , Outdoor

Summary
I bought my 6x7 Asahi model used in 2003. I have rented this camera quite a few times before that. I have also used the smaller twin K1000 camera. This camera is a great deal these days used. Prices online can be low for this camera, making it worth while. The image quality off of these still beats digital in some areas. This camera is basic to use and its light meter accurate. Its a very heavy camera. Its built like a brick and I've heard of stories of these being dropped from planes 1000 feet up into fields and still surviving. This is probably the cheapest way to get into medium format. I've also used the P 645.

Strengths
Low price
Excellent build quality
Good image quality

Weaknesses
Heavy on trips
Needs good tripod

Similar Products Used
Pentax 645

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Review Date
June 11, 2004

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
4.75 of 5, 4 votes

Reviewed by
Christiano , Professional

Price Paid
$1000.00 at in a photoshop in cp

Photography Experience
11-20 years , People

Summary
This is a true classic of a formidable camera! Right now i believe its getting a true renaissance and the prices are climbing up,in these digital times,i meet and see many young photographers who dont give a F..about Extremely expensive Digital cameras and instead enjoy to use this P67 jewel and even get money for it!? why? go see for urself... the prints are still used by many magazines world wide and the format 6x7 is a graphicprinters dream,so this camera still rules in the times of digital dictatorship!or should we say economical dictator ship?
Buy it :try it.U and your clients will be more than happy!..USE film!
BUT BUT... remember to buy a very rugged (heavy)Tripod and head(i use Bogen 3038 and 3047/3038 head and balls)otherwise the prints get blurred!

Strengths
All

Weaknesses
None..okay IF any weakness i would say it should be the 1/30 sec of SLOW flash Synch

Similar Products Used
Mamiya

Customer Service
Its so strong and sturdy-so why?

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Review Date
June 10, 2004

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
4.00 of 5, 1 votes

Reviewed by
ernst , Expert

Price Paid
$0.00

Photography Experience
21+ years , Other

Summary
I have two 67 bodies, both equipted with the TTL prism. Add a lens and it is heavy. Add the wood grip and it becomes hand holdable in daylight with ISO 100. I'm talking lenses up to 200mm. Landscapes are fantastic or course. What is overlooked by most is the macro capabilities of this camera. I use my 67s consistently for nature work; macro. Remember the TTL reads through the lens and automatically compensates for light loss and extension! The bodies are solid, rugged and reliable. Nothing fancy, no gimicks. Add a Beattie screen with a split image for more accurate focusing. The Pentax screen is less accurate due to less light.

Strengths
A tank. Yeah way past its prime; don't bet the farm. My 67s shoot and shoot without complaint and deliver beautifully exposed chromes with the TTL prisms. If the lighting is difficult or I want to get creative; out comes the Sekonic for incident or spot readings. Macro in 6 x7 on Velvia 50; awesome.

Weaknesses
Haven't found any. Big,heavy, NOT weaknesses.

Similar Products Used
Mamiya 645; Mamiya M7II (rangefinder) Rollei TLRs (love 'em). For macro Canon EOS; all three of their macro lenses on 1N RS, RT, 3 and Elan. I'm not comparing image size, just equipment.

Customer Service
Fast, low cost and very responsive. For changing out Pentax to Beattie screen or just complete tune-up.

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Review Date
October 29, 2003

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 2 votes

Reviewed by
Simon Leung , Intermediate

Price Paid
$1898.00 at Kerrisdale Cameras i

Photography Experience
21+ years , Fine Art

Summary
I have been waiting 16 + years for my first Pentax 67 camera.
The reason as to why I waited so long, was because of the fact,
that this camera is hard to come by in the used market.

I have compared to other manufacturers of Medium Format cameras
in the market, but none of them were as reasonably priced as the
Pentax.

Strengths
1) Attractive price
2) New lenses can fit older bodies or vice versa.
3) Straight forward design
4) 55.5 X 70.5 cm negative
5) The camera doesn't have "Zeiss" written on it.
6) Pentax Canada still has parts for first generation 67 with
mirror lock-up.
7) The electro-mirror lock up feature can be converted to
mechanical mirror lock up, in order to save batteries.

Weaknesses
1)Slow flash syn.@ 1/30th of a sec.
2)Not as "compact" as a Hasselblad.
3)Pentax Canada, no longer repairs 67's
without mirror lock up.

Similar Products Used
Hasselblad 501 CM
Fuji GX-680
Bronica GS-1
Mamiya 7 Rangefinder
Mamiya RB and RZ 67 Pro SD
RolleiFlex 2.8 GX (Helmut Newton Ed.)
Plaubel
Linhof 4X5 Technik Kardan

Customer Service
Excellent

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