My recent vintage Pentax 67 has an intermittent problem... Occasionally when I attempt to make the first exposure of a set-up (that is, after carrying the camera around for a while - frequently the first shot at sunrise, when timing can be critical), I lock the mirror up and trip the shutter, the shutter fires, but stays open and the mirror stays up. The only way to release them is to remove the battery (which is a bit of a pain because of the Really Right Stuff quick release plate which covers the battery hatch.) I then replace the battery and continue shooting just fine. It may only happen every few days or so. I have already had the body repaired once for this problem and now must send it in again. The problem started a few months after Pentax modified the body to allow the shutter to be locked open mechanically for long (e.g. star shot) exposures. Anyone else have this problem??? thanks....william.stone@juno.com

-- William Stone (william.stone@juno.com), January 27, 1998

Answers

I would be interested in hearing how this is resolved. When I first got the 67, I had some lock-up trouble, but I finally attributed it to a marginal battery. Could you return here to post your findings?

Thanks

-- Benson (btw@vnet.net), January 31, 1998.

postscript

Would these problems have any connection to (cold) temperature extremes?

-- Benson (btw@vnet.net), January 31, 1998.

I have had the same problem a couple of times and found the shutter speed dial positioned in between settings. -just slipped! Could it be as simple? Glen

-- Glen Reichwein (photogr@passport.ca), February 09, 1998.

If you don't get the shutter speeds dead on, the shutter will stay open at any speed. Your modification may have something to do with it.

-- Gene Crumpler (crumpler.gene@epa.gov), May 08, 1998.

Ditto on the shutter speed dial. it is very easy to move, doesn't have a very positive detent and will lock up the mirror and shutter. Happens to me on portrait shoots because I use the camera in vertical mode on a tripod and my left hand is always inadvertantly moveing the dial. Dan

-- Dan (dan.boone@lamrc.com), June 12, 1998.