Rekindling My Love for Medium Format – Pentax 67 to Pentax 67 II
Rekindling My Love for Medium Format - Pentax 67 to Pentax 67 II
Diary
Rekindling My Love for Medium Format – Pentax 67 to Pentax 67 II
The other day, my friends were raving about the Pentax 67 II, a medium format film camera that’s been on my wishlist for some time. As the successor to the original Pentax 67, it’s slightly lighter with a brighter viewfinder and grip, addressing some of the minor issues of its predecessor. More than anything though, I’ve been drawn to its 105mm f/2.4 lens—the full-frame equivalent of an f/1.2 135 lens.
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I had the original Pentax 67 in 2017 but ended up selling it when I accumulated too many medium format cameras, including a Mamiya C330, Fuji GW690II, and Rolleiflex 2.8E. Since our conversation though, I’ve been reminiscing over the photos I took with that 105mm lens on a trip to Tokyo. It produced some striking results, as you’ll see here, using Kodak TMAX 400, Tri-X, and Fujichrome Provia RDP III film. While the lens may lack the rich contrast and bokeh of a Noctilux, it still gives images a lovely pop.
Looking through these old photos has rekindled my interest in the Pentax 67 II. For those of you who currently use one, I’d love to hear more about your experience with this medium format beast. While not quite as portable as a 35mm, the Pentax 67 II seems an ideal compromise for high-quality film photography on the go.
The versatility and image quality possible with the Pentax 67 II system make it easy to understand why it has such an avid following. I’m feeling the pull of its siren song once again after all these years. My old Pentax may be long gone, but the memories – and these cherished photos – remain. Here’s hoping I get another chance to put its successor, the Pentax 67 II, through its paces someday soon.
Drop a comment below and let me know what you think!
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The Pentax 67 was one of my favourite cameras that I used to own, I should never have sold mine as it is also one of the ones that I miss. Now that I am considering more film usage in my future, I am also thinking that I should have sat on that old Pentax 67, I had wanted to buy the Pentax 67II when it came out and I liked to look of it a lot. I looked through a few of them before for some daft reason moving back to a Mamiya 645 camera and the Pentax 67II is a much nicer camera to look though at the your subject. And if one were to come into my possession it would not be leaving my hands, It would become my go to portrait camera. That 105mm lens was also just right for portraits as it let you be close enough to your subject but also made them look great.
I completely understand where you’re coming from. Recently, I had the opportunity to hold my friend’s Pentax 67II in my hands, and I must say, it’s a truly impressive camera. The improved grip make it a pleasure to handle, and the 105mm lens is simply superb for capturing stunning portraits. By the way, I really enjoyed browsing through your website and admiring your impressive portfolio. Well done!
Cheers,
Anson