spacing between photograms

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I bought a Pentax 67II new two months ago. I shot two 120 rollfilms and I noticed that both have irregular distances between the photograms: from 1.5 to 4.5 millimeters in the first rollfilm and from 2.0 to 5.0 millimeters in the second. On the other end, I read on a review about this camera that an optoelectronic device assures a very precise spacing between the photograms. What is true? My camera is OK, or I have to send it to an assistance center? Thank You in advance to anybody who will answer. Giovanni

-- Giovanni Russo (giovanni.russo@unimi.it), November 09, 2000

Answers

The older versions have the spacing problem as well. I thought Pentax had solved this problem in the P67 II, but it doesn't sound like it. The spacing problem has never caused me to lose any shots in my Asahi model however. SR

-- Steve Rasmussen (srasmuss@flash.net), November 10, 2000.

Giovanni,

I just looked at several rolls of film taken recently with my P67II, and the spacing between frames varied between 2.5mm to 4.5mm; not much different than yours.

I have not owned a previous version of this camera, but I've read that the earlier models had problems with very irregular spacing. I've also heard this about other types of medium format cameras, namely Bronicas, so it must be fairly commonplace.

-- Scott Whitford (swhitford@msn.com), November 09, 2000.


I have two of the P67II bodies and have not noticed an unusual spacing between frames. It probably does happen, but I am in the habit of cutting individually frames and putting them in slide sheets when I edit my E6 film and my black and white contacts appear to be evenly spaced. A friend owns a Mamiya RZ and I have noticed that his backs vary from time to time. I don't think that it's much of an issue unless you start losing frames or overlapping images on a roll of film.

-- Tony Clark (tcphoto@earthlink.net), November 09, 2000.

Giovanni, There isn't anything wrong with your 67II as long as you get 10 frames per 120 roll and 21 frames per 220 roll. I wouldn't worry about this unless you start getting loss or overlap of frames, as Tony said.

One of the advantages of the 67's revamp to the 67II is that you get more accurate spacing between frames compared to the old 67... so much more accurate that you get an extra frame out of a 220 roll. I like the 21 frames I get out of a 220 roll because if I want I can then bracket my shots in threes and end up with seven subjects or views of a subject per roll if so desired. And then the film cuts down to the bracketed subject, which nicely fits in plastic storage sheets.

-- Randy Darst (darstdesign@cfu.net), November 11, 2000.


Giovanni, I own two 67II bodies and both have the same behaviour as yours. I haven't measured the spacing between the frames but I haven't worried about that since the frames don't overlap. Ciao

Roberto Manderioli

-- Roberto Manderioli (ManderioliR@bfb.ima.it), November 13, 2000.



Thanks to all who answered my question. I received an answer also from pentax europe, which I include here: In reply to your e-mail dated 09,November concernig the distance between the pictures of the Pentax 67II. Film winding mechanism of the 67II are the following. In order to stop the film in the prescribed position, the amount of the film movement is detected electronically, current is fed to the film stopper magnet in the prescribed position, the spool gear is latched and the film is stopped. The amount of film movement is detected by counting the pulse generated by photo interrupter linked to the counter roller. >From you e-mail,you have pointed out that your 67II has some irregular of the distances between the pictures. It is possible that distances between the pictures are not exactly same all the time, depend on the film winding speed . We think that your 67II is OK and distance between the pictures are within the limits.

Best regards

Pentax European Technical Service Center

-- giovanni russo (giovanni.russo@unimi.it), November 13, 2000.


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