Image size
Selection of lenses available
Ability to use 67 lenses on the 645 system and 35mm pentax cameras.
Solid body

No digital back but you will be able to use lenses with 645 digital
Slow flash sync speed f you need it.
Heavy if you are used to carrying 35mm systems

Provides the benefits of using medium format film in a package that is tough and portable enough to be taken anywhere.
I have travelled all over Japan with the Pentax 67II system. Its produced thousands of great images, and unlike many other medium format systems I don't feel restricted in my choice of lenses. I use the fisheye through to the fantastic 400mm to get images I would be unable to get with other systems. Check out www.travel67.com to see some of the images I have taken with the 67II system.

Customer Service

After dropping the camera onto tarmac from 6 feet up (a stomach churning moment) Pentax Tokyo were able to fix the camera and more importantly lend me a replacement 67II body while the repairs took place. As I was in the middle of a 1 month trip this was fantastic.

solid reliable to the end will still be going when your in your box!

It dosen't have any. but the 800super t/pohto should come with it's own 4x4, but boy what a lens,keep em coming Pentax

They don't come any better than this

Customer Service

Never needed them !

Similar Products Used:

Mamiya RB6x7 pro s but very difficult to handle in the field without tripod.

- AE very accurate - very resistant - easy to operate - easy to load - ergonomic: good to use for portrait no tripod - great lense quality at competitive price

- Should have a clip to mount a buble lever (panoramic). Wood handle too heavy for long excusrsion.

Fantastic piece of equipement. I travelled all over China, HK, Singapore, Tibet. Climbed at 15000 ft and went thought extreme humid climat: this camera NEVER showed a sign sign of weakness. I was able to capture incredible portraits and landsacpe. Combined with a Gizo 1320 you get the best mix.

Customer Service

NA

Similar Products Used:

- F100 - Minolta 800SI - Xpan Hasselblad

Quality,ease of use, metering accuracy, price, handeling, features, just about everything on this camera.

About only thing is maybe the fact that you really need a nice stable tripod but otherwise no weadknesses at all that I can find.

This is one awesome camera. Especially if you like outdoor photography, this is the camera to get. Is has all the features anyone will need in a camera for landscapes, nature, etc. Metering is extremly accurate, camera functions are nicely laid out. I really love the simplicity of how this camera works making it easy to use. I hear a few people complain about the weight of the camera, but compare this to other 6x7 cameras and it is actually on the light side. I also hear complaints about the ease of film loading and true you don't just drop the film in and pull the leader like a 35mm, but it is not difficult to load the film at all. That is way overstated and should not be a factor at all when considering this camera. Build quality it excellent and quality of the lens is excellent also. Just using it the first time I noticed what a difference when you focus the lens and how silky smooth it is complared to 35mm lens, even my expensive ones. It operates like a fine piece of equipment in all ways. Once you see those big beautiful chromes on your light table, you won't want to ever shoot 35mm again. I could go on and on about this camera but if you like to make beautiful prints from your pictures and see tack sharp prints up to 16x20 and larger, then GET one of these. Only downside at all about this camera is that you really need a good quality tripod like a series 3 from Gitzo to utilize it's full potenial. Especially if you get a couple of the longer lens.

Customer Service

Were very great and helpful anytime I called with questions.

Very sharp, relatively inexpensive lenses. Mirror lock-up invaluable. Solid feel.

Heavy, bug that's the price you pay for medium format. I had several custom functions programmed into my camera, viewfinder display of the aperture (instead of the frame number) being one of them. It's not totally accurate. It may read f5.6 in the viewfinder, but the actual aperture may vary by 1/3 to 1/2 stop. You still have to take your eye away from the viewfinder to confirm aperture when it's critical, which is a bit irritating because I got that custom function for just that reason. The Pentax technician I talked to said that was due to the electronics trying to determine something from a mechanical mechanism. With all the electronics this camera/prism has in it, I would have liked to see a more accurate f-stop indicator in the viewfinder.

Nicely made camera. Feels good in my hands. I like the new grip and rubberized body. The quality is outstanding. I do like the more accurate frame advance and one extra exposure is nice on the 220 film. Matrix meter is superb. Plenty of advanced features for the professional nature photographer. I have an extensive system consisting of two 67 bodies, one 67II body, 45, 55-100 zoom, 90-180 zoom, 135 macro, 165 LS, 300, ext. tubes and filters. While this set-up was expensive, it was half as much as comparable systems. All are well made and solid.

Customer Service

Turn-around time for my custom functions was good (about 21 days from receiving my camera). Very courteous technicians and reps.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon F5 Nikon FM-2 Pentax 67

Very easy to use especially if you but the AE penta prism. Just aim focus and click. The best film to use with camera is Fuji 100 for daylight. Fuji 400 and 800 film speeds excellent for indoors, but still use a tripod for sharp pictures. Why? When you enlarge your photo to a 30"x40" portrait size you will see the difference.

No sync time of 125. I kind of wonder who the Ink-Engineers were thinking. These are engineers who think they are engineers!!! If you never experienced loading 120 or 220 film before, this takes time. Once you load your first 150 rolls of film, you will be amazed how fest it can be.

This medium format camera is ideal for enlargments. Must use a tripod if you want very sharp pictures of people. Outdoors is fine.

Customer Service

I haven''t had a need to use this service yet to date.

Similar Products Used:

Medium Format cameras: Mamiya, Fuji, Pentax. 35MM: Pentax, Canon, Nikon

As convienent, if not more than any other medium format system. The body is as easy to load as a Hasselblad and handles like a large 35mm body.

The 1/30 flash sync is slow, but can be manuevered around with the 90 and 165 leaf shutter lenses.

I am very happy with the Pentax II and anticapate many years of use.

Customer Service

After one year I have had no need for Pentax Customer Service.

Similar Products Used:

Hassellblad and Mamiya 645 and 67 systems.

* Numerous advances vs the previous model. Those particularly valuable to me are: multiple exposure, low voltage drain for super-long exposures, AE & TTL strobe flash capability, self-timer & winder improvement.
* Relatively low cost
* Excelent lenses
* Easy transition for those coming from 35mm
* Relatively fast shutter

* Slow shutter speed synch with flash (1/30 except for 1 lens)
* Shutter/Mirror vibration is pretty significant but can be overcome
* Lack of exposure data recording like the 645N

Excellent performance for my type of photography, which is primarily landscapes. I've used for some light studio portrait work but don't recommend it as a prime camera for that type work. I really wish Pentax had put the exposure data recording capability on this camera and could figure out how to increase the flash synch speed, but otherwise I am very pleased. A good upgrade from the 67.

Customer Service

No problems to date; have only used one month, though

Similar Products Used:

* Pentax 67 -- 10 years
* Large Format - 6 years
* 35mm -- 25 years

I have used the Pentax 67 system for almost twenty years and the Pentax 67II represents dramatic improvements over the older 67 bodies that are still available. Pentax solved the problems of the film advance to the extent that it is so accurate in the 67II that one can now get 21 exposures on a 220 roll, instead of 20 exposures with perfect spacing. The metering system, especially the matrix-type segmented metering system, is extremely accurate and easy to use with several priority options. The bracketing feature is also very effective and easy to use. When using the camera on a tripod with long exposures as I frequently do, I am able to easily operate not only the mirror lock-up but also the cover for the viewfinder to help prevent exposure problems created by light entering the viewfinder. I also find the design of the body to be very functional. It also fits well in one's hand, although most serious work needs to use tripods due to mirror shake and shutter vibration. Unlike many others, I like the slow shutter synch speed because it provides a greater opportunity to pick up ambient background light.

While I don't mind the weight of the camera and lenses as much as others, I must admit that when I load up two bodies, four lenses and my other accessories and film, I end up with a heavy bag or pack(not to mention a sturdy tripod); however, that is the price one pays for the benefits of a medium format system.

I love the Pentax 67 system and especially the new 67II body. Pentax has improved the Pentax 67 in many ways and created a camera with which 35 mm users will be very comfortable.

Customer Service

I haven't had any experience with Pentax customer service.

Similar Products Used:

I used Nikon equipment for more than 25 years and I was very pleased with it, but I felt that I was compromising since I

Good lenses cheap. Accurate meter and exposure. This new model is easy to handle. Very obvious operation.

Film loading! Without a doubt, film loading on this camera is more frustrating than any camera I've touched.

While I don't find it too heavy, I'm > 200lbs and 6' tall. Some folks may find it too heavy (with glass prism) to carry around for snapshots. Without a glass prism it is not heavy at all.

Quite a lot of camera for the money. If one is interested in 6x7 SLR's there are not a lot of choices, and the P67 II is a nice match of capability and affordability.

Similar Products Used:

Many different camera types.