Pentax 67II
I took the Pentax 67II out to Sutton Harbour, just a short walk from the shop, to see how this legendary medium format SLR would perform. Even before loading the camera, it was impossible to ignore its sheer presence. The Pentax 67II was an XXL SLR in every sense, super sized, unapologetically heavy and built a little more like a studio tool than a walkaround camera. Once loaded with Ilford Delta 400 and paired with the Takumar 55mm f3.5, it felt every bit as serious as its reputation suggested.
Because of the weight, I paired the camera with a strap to make it more manageable while walking around the harbour. This helped, but over time it became clear that a left hand grip would have been preferable, especially when shooting for longer periods. That said, the heft did bring a certain stability and confidence when composing shots, particularly when working with capturing architectural details.
Sutton Harbour proved to be an ideal testing ground. The area offered a compelling mix of old cobbled streets and modern architectural elements, making it perfect for exploring contrast, surface detail and structure. I focused on capturing textures and the subtle interplay between old and new. The slower, more deliberate shooting style encouraged by the Pentax 67II suited this approach perfectly.
The Takumar 55mm f3.5 lens was a fantastic pairing. Sitting just slightly wider than a standard focal length in the 6×7 format, it was ideal for architecture and environmental scenes. It allowed a little more context into the frame without introducing distortion. The lens rendered detail beautifully and had a clarity that complemented the textures I was aiming to capture.
Despite its size, the Pentax 67II was surprisingly intuitive to use. The metering was clear and easy to read. Everything was laid out exactly where you would expect if you were familiar with a 35mm SLR, making the transition to medium format far less intimidating. It felt like using an oversized 35mm camera rather than a completely different system.
Ilford Delta 400 performed exactly as expected and was a strong choice for this outing. As one of the most popular black and white films available, it was known for its fine grain, wide exposure latitude and flexibility in varied lighting conditions. Delta 400 handled the contrast between bright modern surfaces and darker, textured stonework with ease, retaining detail in both highlights and shadows. Its reliability and forgiving nature made it an excellent companion for a camera that encouraged thoughtful, measured shooting.
In summary, the Pentax 67II paired with the Takumar 55mm f3.5 and loaded with Delta 400 was a great combination. While the camera’s size and weight demanded commitment… and occasionally made me wish for something more travel sized, it provided an exceptional shooting experience and stunning image quality. From testing the Pentax 67II I understand why it has remained such a respected and sought after camera.
