Background Info:
This camera well....... is amazing it's the next step up from 35mm this is the medium format at its best 120mm film twice the size of 35mm, The Pentax 67 gets its name from its film size ratio as each image is about 6x7 in size and that's about 10 images per roll on 120mm if used and done successfully.
The reality of this camera well brace it's heavy using it for about 45mins on the 1st use it felt like my wrist was going to snap and with every image taken that slap of that iconic shutter the sheer force takes you off balance so if you are doing a long exposure be sure to use the mirror lock to reduce the shake that it creates as this camera is no joke.
This camera is designed for the next true level of photographer I believe as it's so raw in the sense you have full control of the aperture, speed and focus with 0 assistance within the camera so this is where you need to focus and harness your understanding of the properties of a camera.
I would say that the camera is heavy and really the neck strap well it's there to snap your neck not to hold the camera as its so weighted and that's really the main drawback I have but this camera is well built to last and I've been lucky enough to take a gamble purchasing this camera that over a small 2-year span has increased in value around double now reaching almost triple for what I paid for it originally.
A camera built-in 1976 has aged well with just the prism losing a bit of its black paint revealing a gold finish shine underneath, that's about it. The awesome thing about this camera is that there are so many types of extras you can get hold of surprisingly such as a wooden grip holder, an electronic prism to help with exposure, to lens choice even for its huge size and much more. The issue is much of the parts need to come from Japan where it was all created as parts in the west are rare to obtain.
The lens I carry with this camera well is the masterpiece of this camera that many Pentax owners wish to have. It's a 105mm lens which is prime such as an 85mm/50mm lens for a DSLR camera. The reason being is this gives a perfect blend of focus points and control with the distance you need with a camera like this so it’s not in someone's face.
If you are looking for a 120mm camera that is discrete and not noticeable this isn't one for you as it's loud, big, heavy and eye-catching so this for street photography isn't ideal for a fast getaway. The great feature that I don't use too often is you can remove the prism altogether and take hip shots without even having to move the camera off your neck that is if you ended up using the neck strap! But the camera sheer quality and look/feel within the images leave you mesmerised by the style it can produce compared to say its competitors such as the Mamiya rz67 (price range UK about £500-600 *growing price demand) which in its own class as a solid and good camera.
What I would say as a comparison on the two is that the Mamiya RZ67 uses a leaf shutter which makes it better for using flash, but it only has a max shutter speed of 1/400 for outdoor use which for myself isn’t ideal as this camera is really designed to be in the studio. As for the Pentax 67, on the other hand, can go up to 1/1000, but isn't as good with flashes, since it has an awful flash sync of 1/30 so this has to be weighed up where you would use the cameras most ideal if you are stuck between one or the other. This was something I was left with to think about when purchasing the Pentax 67 as I was unsure at the time.
Overall the camera has its drawbacks as any other camera does, this one is the weight I would say but the quality, style you get out of it is just amazing! The battery lasts well over 6 months with almost a roll of 120mm shot every 4 days on average so do keep a spare one in case but the camera lasts well with a single battery for a while without any issue, the faster the speed you use the more battery you drain.
The thing I would need to highlight also is because of the size of this mirror and its style if you are going to shoot any slower than 1/125sec I recommend using a tripod or placing the camera on a non-moving surface as that slap of the camera takes your hands off balance by 1mm which is very noticeable I have come to learn over the few years.
Just please bear this in mind as its something I didn’t really think about as I purchased my own online p&p is paid by you yes about £30-40 to get it to be transported but for customs, you will have to pay on top too which is an extra fee for myself at the time it was £130 but since then the prices and weight cost has gone up, also all depends on the seller how they pack it and what size the box it gets put in as this affects the price too. So like myself I would recommend taking a precautionary step and put aside around £200 for the customs as I did which then just puts you in a safe place meaning it won’t hurt as much when they tell you it's only £140 for customs. If you can obtain a camera like this within your region or country it could be more beneficial as dependent, where you are you are protected by laws, incase for some reason the camera is fatality if you make a risky purchase such as myself it's more a less a gamble to see if it works or not.
I hope you like looking at some of the images taken with this camera if you have any issues or worries either with a Pentax 67 or are thinking about purchasing one feel free to contact myself to answer questions or put yourself at ease.
Features:
SMR release shutter - best sounding shutter shot I've ever had.
120/220mm film (medium format)
1 to 1/1000 sec shutter speed at this shear size
Flash sync 1 to 1/30 of a sec
1976 model - mirror lock-up feature
Minimal features - which I believe is a pro as it teaches you to understand the shutter speed, iso and aperture to work in sync to create beautiful images.
Battery test button
Shutter lock - stops any mistake exposure being taken.
Battery - A544 - this supports the mirror as it's so big and heavy that it needs mechanical support.
120/220mm film (medium format)
1 to 1/1000 sec shutter speed at this shear size
Flash sync 1 to 1/30 of a sec
1976 model - mirror lock-up feature
Minimal features - which I believe is a pro as it teaches you to understand the shutter speed, iso and aperture to work in sync to create beautiful images.
Battery test button
Shutter lock - stops any mistake exposure being taken.
Battery - A544 - this supports the mirror as it's so big and heavy that it needs mechanical support.
For an extra £3.95 off etsy you can buy 120mm to 35mm adapters which then enable you to take smaller but more panoramic images, you will only be able to have about 6 shots per roll and you will need to use a darkroom to feed the roll back - but a cool process never the less.
Price:
Purchasing cost - £250 included the perfect 105mm lens. P&P with shipment - £130
Total = £380
current value (2020) - £800 (eBay)*the valuation is based on an average as many 67 bodies only sell around for £400-500 and a complete camera with a lens sell at around £800-1,500 depending on its condition and lens. My own 67 can be seen with great wear and tear I would say as the black colour fades the gold shines through on the top of the viewfinder but other than that the condition is in excellent.
Purchasing cost - £250 included the perfect 105mm lens. P&P with shipment - £130
Total = £380
current value (2020) - £800 (eBay)*the valuation is based on an average as many 67 bodies only sell around for £400-500 and a complete camera with a lens sell at around £800-1,500 depending on its condition and lens. My own 67 can be seen with great wear and tear I would say as the black colour fades the gold shines through on the top of the viewfinder but other than that the condition is in excellent.
Size Comparison to a Pentax sp:
the Weight of the sp is an average 868 grams compared to the 67 which is just above double the weight at an average weight of 1660 grams. the camera is almost double the weight yes, but then again it is double the quality, style and size.
The party Piece:
Shutter release at 1/1000 and at 1/125
Roll Of images:
