----- Original Message ----- From: "J. C. O'Connell" Subject: My First impressions - P67
> Shot a roll of 120 with my newly acquired P67 today. > Here are some of my impressions of the shooting. > (wont get film back for 2 days). > Lens used : SMC Takumar 200mm F4 /6X7 > TTL prism : but meter is dead on my example > so no comment on that. I seldom if ever use > built in light meters anyway. > Film: Kodak portra 400 ( needed high shutter speeds > for hand held use) JC, the meter may not be dead. Things need to be put together in the correct order with the 6x7. Try removing the lens and meter prism, then put the meter prism back on, then the lens. While you have the prism off, check the jewel chain in front of the screen and make sure it is on and that it isn't broken. The meter only actuates for about 30 seconds. The lever moves towards the back of the camera to turn the meter on, and returns to the centre position when released. Comments on the rest, in numerical order: 1) yup, its a biggun allright. I tend to use the grip for carrying the camera, but when shooting, I cradle it like a big 35mm camera. 2) The finder is very nice, but adds substantially to the weight. 3) Watch how fast you advance the film. Don't force it to go faster than it wants to. 4) I use my thumbnail to change the frame counter. I guess us Canucks are just tougher<G>. 5) For me, the film loading is the weakest part of the operation. 6) My beef is that there is no way to release the mirror once locked up, other than to release the shutter. 7) They went electronic for reliability and accuracy. Keeping a spare battery close by is a good idea. The PX28L is fine in the 6x7. 8) The 6x7 makes 8x10s with virtually no cropping. This is the formats major selling feature. There is lots of neg to crop a bit off the top and bottom if you want a longer aspect ratio. I don't agree with you regarding making it a 6x6 instead. I love the 6x7 format. 9) It will sync at any speed slower than 1/60. The X speed cuts out the meter is all. I don't think the camera was ever intended for outdoor flash use. In the studio, the 1/30 second sync is fine. Outdoors, I tend to use reflectors rather than flash. 10) Nope, its not for the stealthy. Be proud of the pictures you take with it. Don't bother trying to sneak around with it. 11) The shutter release takes a bit of getting used to, there is a slight but noticeable detent just before the shutter trips. Watch the lock, it is very easy to release the shutter side of the prism when unlocking the shutter. Get in the habit of checking that the prism is firmly seated fairly regularly. 11b) I really think extension tubes are a must have accessory for the 6x7. The auto/ manual switch should lock down the aperture by moving the switch to manual, then pulling up on it slightly. I would stay away from T-Max with the 6x7. The film base is too thick, and the film advance will suffer premature failure from it's use. This was enough of an issue that the Mamiya RB owners association filed a class action suit with Kodak when the film first came out, and all the piddly cheese gears in the RBs started getting chewed up. With the 6x7, the film advance can become very erratic. William Robb - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
