Orientation for a Pentax 6x7, Pentax 67

[@randallstewart1224]

Note that there are two variants re the 6x7 system. (1) The early bodies do not have the mirror lock up feature and switch demonstrated in the video version. (2) The early metering prism had a manual on/off switch which does not shut off after 25 seconds as mentioned in the video. That early design caused a lot of folks to forget that the meter was "on", causing the body battery to drain and die after they put the camera away. Thus, the auto-off function change after a year or so. If shopping for a 6x7, the lack of mirror lock-up is apparent from the missing release button. (Back in the day, Pentax would modify an early 6x7 to add this function for an owner.) The on-off switch looks the same on both versions of the meter, so you can only sort them by giving the meter a test drive.

[@PhotoTeacherBlog]

These are very good tips, especially about the meter shutoff.

[@jimpurcell]

That is a really clean and good looking 6x7 and meter!

[@PhotoTeacherBlog]

Aw, thanks. Hard to believe I've had it for almost 20 years now!

[@criemer2586]

This is such a great video! I've got an issue with my 6x7 & wasn't sure whether it was operator error or a problem with the camera - I think I'm closer to identifying the cause now!

[@PhotoTeacherBlog]

Thank you! I am glad to hear that it helped.

[@paulbalogh4582]

Or is it just the beginning??? This was my staple $’erating income camera 30 yrs ago. Have not touched them since. So happy I still have them & I’m going to get back to BIG film. I forgot how to use this beautiful beast.

[@Pentax67]

Thank you for using my creation.

[@burnhamny]

super useful - thank you!

[@MarcS4R]

so leaving the lever on "Auto" on the Lens does nothing to the exposure of the final image ? for the longest time i thought it would have to be set on "manual" :)

[@randallstewart175]

Right. Each Pentax 67 lens (except some older, long telephotos) has a switch selecting "auto" or "manual" on its barrel. In "auto", the lens aperture is wide open at all times and shuts down to the aperture selected for exposure only for an instant at the time of exposure. In "manual" the aperture iris is directly linked to the aperture selector, so the iris closes or opens as you turn the selector to various f-stops. The main function of this switch is to allow the user to study depth of field (or "bokah") at various apertures before taking a photo.

[@yomansup]

One thing to note: I believe you need to remove the lens before you take the prism off. You can damage/break the chain inside if you don't do so! I may be wrong, but I'm pretty sure that's the way to do it.

[@PhotoTeacherBlog]

I wondered that myself, and checked the manual to be sure. Pentax advises to remove the finder first, then remove the lens. The reason was not given, but I believe this provides a more gentle/slow release of the coupling slide and chain. Either way, you are right that the lens must be off before replacing the prism.

[@Pentax67]

@@PhotoTeacherBlog there are lot of things to know to avoid premature wear of the Pentax 67 and breaking it. ONLY TTL viewfinder should be removed after the lens is removed first. It is very important. To give less stress to the chain when removing the lens , I suggest to set the lens to smallest aperture for ex f/22 and remove the lens. always accompany your film lever back , do not let it hit the camera, it has fragile mechanisms .

[@randallstewart175]

The presentation here is exactly correct. The lens does not need to be removed before removing the metering prism, but the lens does need to be removed before remounting the metering prism to the 6x7 or 67 bodies. This allows the chain which connects the aperture control of the lens to the meter to return to its default position before the meter prism is remounted. Pretty much everything else you hear about this sequence is the result of ignorant errors carried forward and repeated numerous times in other YT videos, much like some of the comments here. Not mentioned is that this rule does not apply to the other three finders for the system, which can be removed and remounted in any sequence you please, as they do not engage the meter linkage in the body. Also, the rule does not apply to any finder or lens on the 67II body.

[@crosstalktv5780]

How come my model does not have the ISO dial also I don’t see an arrow for my shutter speed how do I line it up with the battery light? also when you open up the back it does not say 120 or 220 gosh I feel like I got an older model😢

[@randallstewart175]

Your body is not equipped with the accessory metering prism, but probably just a regular prism. All 6x7 and 67 models are functionally the same as to internal metering. They have no metering in the body. The bodies take any of four different finders, two of which are prisms. One of the prisms incorporates the TTL metering system. So to have a metering Pentax 67 or 6x7 camera, you must mount a metering prism. There are two styles of metering prism. On either, you manually switch on the meter. In the first version, the meter stayed on until the user manually switched it off. This caused a lot of negative feedback to Pentax from users who forgot to switch off their meter and drained the battery. Since the meter (either model) draws power from the main battery in the body, such users were left with a totally dead camera and a more expensive than average battery to replace. Within a couple of years, Pentax replaced the first metering prism with another, where the user manually activates the meter, and the meter turns itself off after about 30 seconds, avoiding the battery drain issue. The later meter can annoy by turning off in the middle of an extended metering effort, but its operation is fixed as to "on" duration, so you adapt to it. Both types are readily available, but the newer version is much more common, being made for nearly 20 years. The 67ii body had a metering prism, but it is entirely different and not compatible with the 67 or 6x7. Likewise the metering prism for 67/6x7 does not function on the 67ii.

[@By__Faris]

Nice review but I read at many website that the lens need to be removed before the prism ..

[@PhotoTeacherBlog]

Thanks for the comment. The Pentax manual states to remove the prism, then the lens. However, the critical part is that the lens be removed before replacing the prism.

[@randallstewart1224]

Don't believe everything you see on YT. The confusion follows from a lot of YT posters rushing to put up superficial videos on matters they personally know nothing about, just parroting nonsense posted in earlier videos. Sort of a chain reaction of stupidity.

[@denniswilliams4789]

Maybe next week you can share how to shift with a manual transmission in a 68 VW Bug.

[@PhotoTeacherBlog]

If I had the equipment I would try!

[@AMarsh-hg9wr]

I thought that we remove the Lens 1st

[@PhotoTeacherBlog]

The Pentax manual states that the TTL prism should be removed first. Pentax does not explain why. One benefit I see is that the chain does not snap back quickly, as it would if the lens is removed first.

[@randallstewart1224]

There is a lot of misinformation on YT about lens removal in reference to removing and remounting the meter on the 6x7/67. Before removing the meter, you may remove the lens or not as you wish. You must remove the lens before remounting the meter/prism. The explanation given in the video is clear and correct. Note that on the last body, the 67II, a different metering system is used, and it makes no difference whether the lens is removed when removing or reinstalling the meter/prism.

[@terribaal1917]

"Light meter will not function properly in manual." Erm... yes it does. It's what the light meter is for.

[@PhotoTeacherBlog]

Unfortunately, the meter prism used here does not work properly when the lens is on M, for manual. In that mode, the depth of field preview is engaged. Once you disengage the depth of field preview, the metering will be accurate again.

[@zy5992]

1:43 f stop