Pentax is a brand that you do not hear about as much. But they have always been at the forefront of introducing some exceptional models. The company introduced K series DSLRs, and they have always been a fan favorite of many photographers. Like this, Pentax is also known for medium format models, and this device has just been gaining traction on the used market.
The camera is the Pentax 67 II 61 Limited. The 6×7 camera debuted in 1965 as a prototype dubbed the Pentax 220, and was later released in 1969 as the Asahi Pentax 6×7. Over the next 30 years, the camera had multiple Pentax models, including the Pentax 67 II, which was released in 1998.
The 67 II can shoot 120 or 220 medium format film, producing 6×7cm negatives, which are 4.5 times larger than the 35mm negative. This results in tonal gradation, depth, and high quality images. For a camera that is old, the Pentax 67 II 61 Limited sold for $5,000, according to WatchCount.
The SLR camera is different from the Hasselblad and Mamiya systems. Wedding, landscape, portrait and documentary photographers all adore the Pentax 67, and the camera continues to be important for them.
The Pentax 67 II was discontinued in the early 2000s, when digital photography began to peak. While the device’s original price is not revealed, the camera, given a medium format, would cost a lot for its time. Over the years, the Pentax has increased in price, with some models going up to $3,100 on eBay at the moment. However, there is one model that goes up to $7,000.
The 67 II offers improvements over its predecessors, and it also offers grip, has right-hand grip of earlier models, an LCD panel to display ISO, film frames, battery status, shutter status and flash status. The AE prism finder is also another reason why people would buy it.
With more and more people turning to the medium format, this only proves that prices of Pentax 67 will go up. Photographers who like detail will certainly go for it, and you also get wonderful lenses as well. You also get 20 different focal lengths, and you also get a wonderful wide aperture as well.
We have not tested the 67 II, but we did test the former one. In fact, in our review, we said:
The Pentax 67 is honestly a fantastic medium format SLR camera. It has found a way into the heart of so many photographers. With a plethora of fantastic lenses, it is surely best used when shooting with natural light outdoors. It’s not the best for studio work and location work with a flash due to the long flash duration of 1/30th. You’ll also want to use wider lenses for something like that.
Overall, the 67 II seems to be the perfect camera for many serious photographers, and it will continue to get their attention even a decade down the line. Film cameras offer a quality that many digital cameras can’t compete with.