Pentax 6x7

6x7
Year introduced 1969	Mount Pentax 6x7 dual bayonet	Meter range 2.5 - 19 EV (TTL pentaprism viewfinder)	Meter pattern Average
ISO range 12 - 3200	Film type 120 and 220 roll film	No. of exposures 120 film: 10, 220 film: 21	Data imprint on film No
Exposure modes M, B, X, T	Exposure compensation Not applicable	Exposure memory lock Not applicable	Shutter speeds (auto) Not applicable
Shutter speeds (manual) 1 - 1/1000s	Shutter speeds (mechanical) None	Half step speeds in M and Tv No	Self timer No
Mirror lock-up Yes, except for the first year of production	Auto bracketing Not applicable	Multiple exposures No	Winder No
Built-in flash No	TTL flash No	P-TTL flash No	Sync speed 1/30s
Flash exposure comp Not applicable	Autofocus No	Autofocus sensitivity Not applicable	Viewfinder Exchangeable. Pentaprism 90% coverage, waist level 100% coverage
Viewfinder type Pentaprism, TTL pentaprism with light meter, folding waist level, rigid waist level magnifying hood	Diopter correction No	Exchangeable screen Yes (at service center)	Depth of field preview Yes (on lens)
Image size 55 x 70 mm	Battery 6V alkaline or silver oxide battery	External battery pack Yes, for use in cold temperatures	Size (W x H x D) 184 x 149 x 91 mm (with pentaprism, without lens)
Weight 1290 g, 1750 g with pentaprism finder	Comment Accepts leaf shutter lens for flash synchronization to 1/500s. The TTL pentaprism with lightmeter couples to the shutter speed and aperture and provides for manual 'match needle' exposure setting

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There should be a distinction made in this camera review section about the early non lock up Honeywell. It was made for the US market and was cosmetically different from the MLU Asahi that followed. The Honeywell had some design differences as well. The most noticable were the film spool pins; being longer than the MLU version. This made film loading very difficult because the spools just would not go into place easily. Many Honeywell owners have filed the pins to shorten them for a better fit. The non-USA version of this camera was called Asahi Pentax, so that is why there are some Asahi bodies with no MLU. The non-USA Asahi had bolder lettering on the finder when compared with the later Asahi MLU version. Besides the pin difference on the Honeywell, it also had a different film guide on the film door than the newer models. It would also shoot 21 frames when using 220. The film guide roller near the take up spool was flat black instead of chrome. Only one film start mark is seen inside the body. Battery door and lens release slider are two tone; black and silver.

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Asahi Pentax 6x7 MLU

Pros - it is as solid and well built as the Leicaflex cameras
- several finder options
- stronger mounting for long lenses (outer bayonet)
- accurate averaging TTL meter when using gray card
- system has full array of lens focal lengths ( 30 different optical designs)
- many focusing screen options
- can handle bumps and small drops and survive
- reliable for at least 15,000 frames
- no film flatness issues
- outstanding field camera
- can be used for portraits or weddings in a pinch, especially with the 165mm LS lens
- long history of Pro users- a proven camera
- affordable lens line up when compared with other 67 cameras
- the top 10 lenses of the system can easily compete in sharpness with any 67 camera
- 2 tier lens quality-- (Takumar/Pentax plus the higher quality/price M*)

Cons- I would have preferred to have the MLU be mechanical like the KX, so that one
could take the mirror down without wasting a shot.
- no half speeds----when you need to have a certain f-stop but the speeds can't get you
into the right exposure, a sacrifice of that f-stop is required. So having half
speeds would solve this.
- outer bay lens mount connectivity to the TTL has been an issue
No meter reading is seen with some bodies.
- delicate film advance mechanism

I have been using this camera for 21 years now with 10 being professional. The Asahi Pentax 6x7 MLU has all the attributes necessary for the pro shooter to succeed. The only limitation is the shooter himself.