Re: [APML]: Pentax 67 Questions

[A Homeyer <homeyer@chem.ucsb.edu>]

>Can anyone help with the following questions regarding the Pentax 67:

>Are there readily available T-adaptors for this camera?  If so, where can
they
>be purchased?  What is the largest ID available in a T-adaptor? 

The only adapters I have seen are for the 6x7 pentax lenses. I have made
some of my own lenses for mine from ex military lenses and just bought the
extension tube set to get the bayonets required to mate the lens to the
camera body. I believe the "T" mount adapters only apply to the 35 mm format.

>Does the camera require power to keep the shutter open?

Yes, but there are two alternatives. One---have pentax modify it so the
shutter can stay open with out the use of the battery---expensive and
modifies the body, possibley affecting future sale of the camera. Two---I
make a device that plugs into the camera, with NO camera modifications,
that allows the shutter to stay open with out the use of the battery.

>Any other comments about this camera?

Best that you can get, nothing beats it for astro photos. You will need
about a 15 to 20 power loupe to focus on the image that is on the ground
glass to arrive at perfect focus. Also if you are used to the bright image
in a 35mm camera you will be very dissapointed at the very dim image on the
ground glass of the 6x7, but you quickly get used to it. If you are
thinking of using this 6x7 on a SCT forget it, you're wasting $$$. The
SCT's just barely cover the diagonal dimension of the 35mm frame, but on a
refractor they are great. On my 5 and 7 inch AP's they fully illuminate a
circle 6 cm in diameter. Great to work with those large negs.

>Are there other 6X7 camera bodies like the Pentax 67 which I should be
>considering? 

My opinion----NO, the pentax 6x7 is the best at holding the film FLAT and
square to the optical axis at the film plane, just be sure to get the one
with the mirror lock-up provision.

>Thanks in advance,
>
>Dave Rowe
>Torrance, CA


Talk to you later.  Andy