No, Dave, I haven't missed the mirror lockup, and I've done a few macro shots on the tripod. Maybe it's more crucial with really long lenses, but with the big neg, you can shoot with 400-speed film and still get grainless 8x10s, along with higher shutter speeds. You can easily use the camera handheld at 1/250 sec.
When most people speak against the non-MLU 6x7, I think the consideration is its age, not whether or not it has that feature. My camera seems to be of '72-'74 vintage, but not heavily used. Because of its age, the shop only gave me a 30-day warranty, and the meter became sticky in the first week. The shop (Broad Street Camera, here in Victoria) fixed it quickly with no argument, and I haven't had a problem since. There are some real beater 6x7s out there, and Pentax Canada no longer repairs the early ones. Having said all that, if you want a 6x7 and you're on a budget, the early models do a fine job, if you find one in top shape. Also, whether it has a meter prism is not that crucial, as the full-area averaging metering is not that great by modern standards, so I often use a hand-held meter anyway. I mostly use the meter when using extension tubes. Are you considering joining the Brotherhood? Pat White
