Pentax 67

The Pentax 6×7, and later the Pentax 67, are streamlined SLR medium format camera systems consisting of the camera body, an interchangeable prism viewfinder and one or more lenses. A standard Pentax 6×7 outfit typically includes a non-metered pentaprism and a Super Takumar 105mm f/2.4 lens. A wide range of fixed focal length and zoom lenses, along with TTL-metered and other finders, were available as additional accessories. It is sometimes referred to as the P67 in online discussions and forums.

The Pentax 6×7 series of cameras consists of the following models:

• Pentax 6×7, introduced in 1969
• Pentax 6×7 (MU), 1976 improved model with Mirror-Lock-Up
• Pentax 67, introduced in 1989
• Pentax 67 II, introduced in 1998

Pentax 6×7

The Pentax 6×7 is a Japanese medium format SLR roll film camera launched by Asahi Pentax in 1969. It produces 6×7 images on 120 or 220 roll film, selected by a small knob on the right hand side of the camera and by sliding the film pressure plate inside, giving either 10 or 20 pictures. The body is in the style of an oversized regular 35mm SLR camera, by some referred to as a "Super SLR". The camera has a dual Pentax bayonet mount. The inner mount is typically for lenses with a focal range from 35 to 300mm while the outer mount is for 400 to 1000mm. The camera is completely battery dependent and has no exposure meter. It does not work without film, unless the film counter dial is rotated away from the reset position while the back is open and closed while still holding the dial. The camera locks again when the counter dial has exposed the last frame.

Some most impressive optics makes up the lenses available for this camera including range of leaf shuttered ones, satisfying flash sync requirements and solving mirror and shutter vibration problems. The basic equipment would include the Super-Multi-Coated Takumar/6×7 1:2.4 f=105mm lens and the removable true coverage pentaprism finder, and possibly the very useful separately available left-hand grip with accessory shoe.

Mirror lock up version

Half way through its production life the vibration problem was lessened by introducing a mirror lock-up feature in 1976. Sliding a switch on the right hand side of the mirror housing upwards releases the mirror. While a small flush button located under the numeral 7 in the model name on the right-hand front helps completing the mirror/shutter cycle if released without battery power; after depressing it with a ballpoint, press the shutter once more to complete the cycle.

A Pentax 6×7 (MLU) with metered pentaprism and hand grip. image by Dirk HR Spennemann. (Image rights)

Pentax 6×7 with metered finder, 90 & 200mm lenses. image by rst12. (Image rights)

Pentax 67

Pentax 67 image by Paulo Moreira (Image rights)

In 1989, a newer revision was released called Pentax 67. Like all models before and after it share very similar specifications. The shutter has been changed because of that the bulb mode now consumes power. A new revision of the TTL metered prism is offered, it now uses a silicon photo diode instead of a CDS cell.

Pentax 67II

67II image by Ronald van Beek (Image rights)

The Pentax 67II is the newest revision released in 1998. Specifications are very similar to the previous models. The most notable improvement is the built-in right hand grip making handing much easier. For those used to the handling of the previous models; a left hand grip can still be added to the body. LCD panel located by the film advance lever is added to this model. It shows information such as frame counter, film ISO, film load status, battery status, and flash status. The film back still contains the film format (120/220) window, but now has as a emulsion memo holder. The film start mark is now the same for both 120 and 220 film. The 220 format mode can now capture 21 exposures compared to the previous 20 exposures. A new self-timer mode is available, located on the same collar as the on/off dial. It has a 12 second delay with an audible beep. Multiple exposure mode is also available. The battery has change to 2x CR123A lithium.

A newer AE finder is available for this model which offers aperture priority exposure mode along with the basic manual, T and B modes. A exposure compensation dial with a range of 3 EV. Along with center-weighted averaging metering modes, a spot mode and multi segment metering mode is also offered. Film sensitivity measuring range is also expanded with a range from 6 to 6400 ISO. Note the TTL finder from the 67 model is incompatible with the 67II.

System

Lens Original - intro 1969 55mm f/3.5 Super-Takumar 6x7, filter 100mm 75mm f/4.5 Super-Takumar 6x7, filter 82mm 105mm f/2.4 Super-Takumar 6x7, filter 67mm 150mm f/2.8 Super-Takumar 6x7, filter 67mm 200mm f/4 Super-Takumar 6x7, filter 67mm 300mm f/4 Super-Takumar 6x7, filter 82mm 400mm f/4 Super-Takumar 6x7, filter 77mm 35mm f/4.5 Super-Takumar 6x7, Fisheye 600mm f/4 Takumar 6x7, filter 77mm 800mm f/4 Takumar 6x7, filter 77mm Super-Multi-Coated - intro 1971 55mm f/3.5 Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 6x7, filter 100mm 75mm f/4.5 Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 6x7, filter 82mm 105mm f/2.4 Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 6x7, filter 67mm 150mm f/2.8 Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 6x7, filter 67mm 200mm f/4 Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 6x7, filter 67mm 300mm f/4 Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 6x7, filter 82mm 400mm f/4 Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 6x7, filter 77mm 500mm f/5.6 Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 6x7, filter 95mm 600mm f/4 Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 6x7, filter 77mm 800mm f/4 Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 6x7, filter 77mm 35mm f/4.5 Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 6x7, Fisheye 90mm f/4 Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 6x7 LS, filter 67mm, leaf shutter 1000mm f/8 Reflex-Takumar 6x7

SMC Pentax 6x7 - intro 1980's 45mm f/4 SMC Pentax 6x7, filter 82mm 55mm f/4 SMC Pentax 6x7, filter 77mm 90mm f/2.8 SMC Pentax 6x7, filter 67mm 165mm f/2.8 SMC Pentax 6X7, filter 67mm 200mm f/4 SMC Pentax 6x7, filter 67mm 500mm f/5.6 SMC Pentax 6X7, filter 95mm 800mm f/6.7 ED SMC Pentax 6X7, filter 67mm 35mm f/4.5 Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 6x7, Fisheye 75mm f/4.5 SMC Pentax Shift 6X7, filter 82mm, shift 120mm f/3.5 SMC Pentax 6x7 Soft, filter 77mm, soft focus 135mm f/4 Macro Takumar 6x7 Macro, filter 67mm, Macro 165mm f/4 SMC Pentax 6X7 LS, filter 77mm, leaf shutter SMC Pentax 67 - intro late 1990's 45mm f/4 SMC Pentax 67, filter 82mm 55mm f/4 SMC Pentax 67, filter 77mm 75mm f/2.8 AL SMC Pentax 67, filter 67mm, aspherical 75mm f/4.5 SMC Pentax 67, filter 82mm 90mm f/2.8 SMC Pentax 67, filter 67mm 105mm f/2.4 SMC Pentax 67, filter 67mm 135mm f/4 SMC Pentax 67 Macro, filter 67mm 165mm f/2.8 SMC Pentax 67, filter 67mm 200mm f/4 SMC Pentax 67, filter 77mm 300mm f/4 SMC Pentax 67, filter 82mm 300mm f/4 ED SMC Pentax-M 67, filter 82mm 400mm f/4 ED SMC Pentax-M 67, filter 67mm 500mm f/5.6 SMC Pentax 67, filter 95mm 800mm f/6.7 ED SMC Pentax-M 67, filter 67mm 35mm f/4.5 SMC Pentax 67, Fisheye 75mm f/4.5 SMC Pentax Shift 67, filter 82mm, shift 100mm f/4 SMC Pentax 67 Macro, filter 77mm, Macro 120mm f/3.5 SMC Pentax 67 Soft, filter 77mm, soft focus 55mm-100mm f/4.5 SMC Pentax 67 Zoom, filter 95mm 80mm-90mm f/5.6 SMC Pentax 67 Zoom, filter 95mm 165mm f/4 SMC Pentax 67 LS, filter 77mm, leaf shutter

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Finder Rigid magnifying hood (chimney) Rigid magnifying hood (67) Rigid magnifying hood (67II) Folding focusing hood (waist level) Folding focusing hood (67) Folding focusing hood (67II) Prism Prism (Honeywell) Prism (67) Prism (67II) TTL prism CdS TTL prism SpD (67) AE prism finder (67II) prism Right angle finder (TTL) Magnifier 2x correction lens +2, +1, -1, -2, -3, -4, -5 eyecup (TTL) focus screen micro-prism split-image matte grid grid micro-prism

Body Left wood grip neck strap remote battery cord Lens Focus ring A Focus ring B 6 x 7 to K-mount adapter 6 x 7 to P-mount adapter Macro extension tube inner bayonet (1, 2, 3) extension tube outer bayonet (A, B) helicoide extension bellows - slide copier 49mm reverse adapter 67mm reverse adapter slide holder K teleconverter T5-1.4x teleconverter T6-2x

Specs

	Pentax 6×7	Pentax 6×7MLU	Pentax 67	Pentax 67II
Introduction	1969	1976	1989	1998
Type	2 1/4 × 2 3/4 (6 × 7) Single lens reflex camera
Shutter speed	1 to 1/1000 sec			4 to 1/1000 sec
Flash sync	1/30 of a sec
Mirror lock up	No	Yes
Multiple exposure	No			Yes
Self timer	No			Yes
Strap lug	4			2
Grip	Optional left			Optional left and or right built-in
Battery	PX28			2x CR123A
Battery ext	Yes			No
Dimensions	184x101x91mm		177x101x91mm	185x108x192mm
Weight	1.29kg			1.21kg

Bibliography

• Kamera no ayumi. Zen nihon shashin renmei sōritsu 50-shūnen kinen (カメラのあゆみ・全日本写真連盟創立五〇周年記念, History of cameras, commemorating the 50^th anniversary of the All Japan Association of Photographic Societies). Tokyo: Asahi Shinbunsha, 1976. No ISBN number. P.107.
• Lewis, Gordon, ed. The History of the Japanese Camera. Rochester, N.Y.: George Eastman House, International Museum of Photography & Film, 1991. ISBN 0-935398-17-1 (paper), 0-935398-16-3 (hard). Pp.122, 133, 176 and 182.
• McKeown, James M. and Joan C. McKeown's Price Guide to Antique and Classic Cameras, 12th Edition, 2005-2006. USA, Centennial Photo Service, 2004. ISBN 0-931838-40-1 (hardcover). ISBN 0-931838-41-X (softcover). P.84.
• Sugiyama, Kōichi (杉山浩一); Naoi, Hiroaki (直井浩明); Bullock, John R. The Collector's Guide to Japanese Cameras. 国産カメラ図鑑 (Kokusan kamera zukan). Tokyo: Asahi Sonorama, 1985. ISBN 4-257-03187-5. Items 3062–3.

Links

In English:

• Pentax 6×7/67/67ii information at Photoethnography.com
• Pentax 6×7 and TTL Prism manuals at Mike Butkus' library of camera manuals
• Pentax 67 Manual and Pentax 67 II Manual from Pentax Imaging US
• The Pentax 6×7/67 forum on Photo.net
• Pentax 67 (6×7, 67, 67II) group on Flickr
• New Pentax 67II by Robert E. Mayer at Shutterbug

In Japanese:

• Pentax 67 at Asacame