Pentax 67II Viewfinder

bryan.816 · 01-03-2019, 08:21 PM

I just picked up a 67II, everything seems to be okay with it, but when I look through the TTL viewfinder the LCD inside is very hard to see completely. It is bright, but is cut off. When I look though the viewfinder at what feels at like a normal pose, I cannot see it. If I tilt my head up and look down I can see it, but only about the top two thirds of it. I initially thought it was just me and not knowing how to look through it, but I feel something is amiss. Sorry if this description does not make sense, but I am just trying to gauge how normal this is, or if I am experiencing some kind of issue with the viewfinder. I can make out enough of the LCD to make it work, but it is a little annoying.

Reading through the instructions, it clearly shows the entire LCD in the image. In the attached photo the red line represents about what is being cut off. Thanks in advance for any thoughts on this topic.

Attached Images

abruzzi · 01-03-2019, 10:25 PM

I’ve never used the 67II, but my first thoughts would be: are you wearing glasses? Does the viewfinder eyepiece have a diopter screwed in place? Either of those may potentially impact how much you can see.

bryan.816 · 01-04-2019, 05:05 AM

I am not wearing glasses, and all the viewfinder pieces are there. I tried it with and without the diopter in place. Thanks for the ideas.

**gofour3** · 01-04-2019, 12:36 PM - **1 Like**

Check to make sure the removable focusing screen and the AE prism are mounted correctly. (Take them both off and remount them.)

Phil.

bryan.816 · 01-04-2019, 04:12 PM

Hi Phil, thanks for the tips. I had previously tried removing the prism and it did not change anything. I just gave it a try with removing the focusing screen and prism and remounted them both. I had my fingers crossed but there was no change.

**gofour3** · 01-04-2019, 04:44 PM - **1 Like**

One more thing to try is to make sure the eyepiece blind is not partially closed.

Phil.

bryan.816 · 01-04-2019, 06:20 PM

Thanks, I double checked that and it is wide open, I can see clearly through the viewfinder and lens, it is just the LCD panel in the bottom of the viewfinder that is difficult to see. I shot a roll through it today. I was able to make enough of the LCD to know what shutter speed I was at, but I am almost looking down instead of through to see it. I am considering ordering a new prism to see if that is the issue. This is my first experience with the P67 so I am just not sure if this is normal or if something is wrong with it. I have shot with a number of film cameras over the years and know with some viewfinders you have to have your eye positioned in just the right spot to see the meter or data in the viewfinder, but I have yet to see the entire LCD through this one.

**leekil** · 01-04-2019, 08:31 PM

Is the display fully visible and seem to be in the right place when you remove the prism? (I don't have a 67, but I assume it might be similar to the way the LX prism works.)

bryan.816 · 01-04-2019, 08:58 PM

Originally posted by leekil

Is the display fully visible and seem to be in the right place when you remove the prism? (I don't have a 67, but I assume it might be similar to the way the LX prism works.)

Hey thanks for the tip, I can only see it when the prism is attached to the camera. It is powered when it is attached to the camera, it does not have its own power supply. When I look through the prism when not attached it is not evident since it is not lit up.

**gofour3** · 01-04-2019, 10:41 PM

Originally posted by bryan.816

Hey thanks for the tip, I can only see it when the prism is attached to the camera. It is powered when it is attached to the camera, it does not have its own power supply. When I look through the prism when not attached it is not evident since it is not lit up.

Yeah everything relating to the meter is self contained in the AE prism. I just looked through my 67ii/AE prism with no lens attached and you can see way below the meter display.

Something in the AE prism could be misaligned or blocking the eyepiece area. Have you removed the screw-in eye frame and played with the diopter adjustment on the prism?

Phil.

bryan.816 · 01-05-2019, 09:46 AM - **1 Like**

I really think that something is blocking it. I took the prism off again, and there is black shadow across what I think should be the LCD panel. I am not able to see below it. I called LeZot camera this morning and they felt pretty confident that it could be repaired. They service the AE prisms. They just were not sure what the issue is without taking a look at it. When I shot a test roll through it yesterday it was challenging to watch the shutter speed and exposure, focus, and compose simultaneously.

I have played with the screw in eye piece and diopter, but no changes after doing so. I am going to send it to LeZot and see if the can give me a diagnosis. It looks like a replacement AE prism may be difficult to come by. Thanks again for the help.

kirillso · 02-02-2019, 03:05 AM

Hello. Take a look at P67II service manual: Download PENTAX 67 II Service Manual (page 6/9 in "prism" section)
It is easy to remove upper cover of prism. There is a small screw which adjusts vertical position of LCD. Really small movements are required to align LCD, about 1/20 turn so care must be taken.

Matthagg · 08-12-2020, 02:13 PM

Originally posted by kirillso

Hello. Take a look at P67II service manual: Download PENTAX 67 II Service Manual (page 6/9 in "prism" section)
It is easy to remove upper cover of prism. There is a small screw which adjusts vertical position of LCD. Really small movements are required to align LCD, about 1/20 turn so care must be taken.

I had the same problem and followed the instructions in the repair manual. It fixed the problem, but it took some time to figure it out. The rotation needed on the screw 0-M30 is really small.

01-03-2019, 08:21 PM	#1
bryan.816 New Member Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: Kansas City Posts: 6	Pentax 67II Viewfinder I just picked up a 67II, everything seems to be okay with it, but when I look through the TTL viewfinder the LCD inside is very hard to see completely. It is bright, but is cut off. When I look though the viewfinder at what feels at like a normal pose, I cannot see it. If I tilt my head up and look down I can see it, but only about the top two thirds of it. I initially thought it was just me and not knowing how to look through it, but I feel something is amiss. Sorry if this description does not make sense, but I am just trying to gauge how normal this is, or if I am experiencing some kind of issue with the viewfinder. I can make out enough of the LCD to make it work, but it is a little annoying. Reading through the instructions, it clearly shows the entire LCD in the image. In the attached photo the red line represents about what is being cut off. Thanks in advance for any thoughts on this topic. Attached Images

01-04-2019, 04:44 PM - 1 Like	#6
gofour3 Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 7,261	One more thing to try is to make sure the eyepiece blind is not partially closed. Phil. Attached Images

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01-03-2019, 10:25 PM	#2
abruzzi Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: New Mexico Posts: 746	I’ve never used the 67II, but my first thoughts would be: are you wearing glasses? Does the viewfinder eyepiece have a diopter screwed in place? Either of those may potentially impact how much you can see.

01-04-2019, 05:05 AM	#3
bryan.816 New Member Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: Kansas City Posts: 6 Original Poster	I am not wearing glasses, and all the viewfinder pieces are there. I tried it with and without the diopter in place. Thanks for the ideas.

01-04-2019, 12:36 PM - 1 Like	#4
gofour3 Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 7,261	Check to make sure the removable focusing screen and the AE prism are mounted correctly. (Take them both off and remount them.) Phil.

01-04-2019, 04:12 PM	#5
bryan.816 New Member Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: Kansas City Posts: 6 Original Poster	Hi Phil, thanks for the tips. I had previously tried removing the prism and it did not change anything. I just gave it a try with removing the focusing screen and prism and remounted them both. I had my fingers crossed but there was no change.

01-04-2019, 06:20 PM	#7
bryan.816 New Member Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: Kansas City Posts: 6 Original Poster	Thanks, I double checked that and it is wide open, I can see clearly through the viewfinder and lens, it is just the LCD panel in the bottom of the viewfinder that is difficult to see. I shot a roll through it today. I was able to make enough of the LCD to know what shutter speed I was at, but I am almost looking down instead of through to see it. I am considering ordering a new prism to see if that is the issue. This is my first experience with the P67 so I am just not sure if this is normal or if something is wrong with it. I have shot with a number of film cameras over the years and know with some viewfinders you have to have your eye positioned in just the right spot to see the meter or data in the viewfinder, but I have yet to see the entire LCD through this one.

01-04-2019, 08:31 PM	#8
leekil Site Supporter Join Date: May 2016 Photos: Albums Posts: 1,630	Is the display fully visible and seem to be in the right place when you remove the prism? (I don't have a 67, but I assume it might be similar to the way the LX prism works.)

01-04-2019, 08:58 PM	#9
bryan.816 New Member Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: Kansas City Posts: 6 Original Poster	Originally posted by leekil Is the display fully visible and seem to be in the right place when you remove the prism? (I don't have a 67, but I assume it might be similar to the way the LX prism works.) Hey thanks for the tip, I can only see it when the prism is attached to the camera. It is powered when it is attached to the camera, it does not have its own power supply. When I look through the prism when not attached it is not evident since it is not lit up.

01-04-2019, 10:41 PM	#10
gofour3 Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 7,261	Originally posted by bryan.816 Hey thanks for the tip, I can only see it when the prism is attached to the camera. It is powered when it is attached to the camera, it does not have its own power supply. When I look through the prism when not attached it is not evident since it is not lit up. Yeah everything relating to the meter is self contained in the AE prism. I just looked through my 67ii/AE prism with no lens attached and you can see way below the meter display. Something in the AE prism could be misaligned or blocking the eyepiece area. Have you removed the screw-in eye frame and played with the diopter adjustment on the prism? Phil.

01-05-2019, 09:46 AM - 1 Like	#11
bryan.816 New Member Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: Kansas City Posts: 6 Original Poster	I really think that something is blocking it. I took the prism off again, and there is black shadow across what I think should be the LCD panel. I am not able to see below it. I called LeZot camera this morning and they felt pretty confident that it could be repaired. They service the AE prisms. They just were not sure what the issue is without taking a look at it. When I shot a test roll through it yesterday it was challenging to watch the shutter speed and exposure, focus, and compose simultaneously. I have played with the screw in eye piece and diopter, but no changes after doing so. I am going to send it to LeZot and see if the can give me a diagnosis. It looks like a replacement AE prism may be difficult to come by. Thanks again for the help.

02-02-2019, 03:05 AM	#12
kirillso New Member Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: Novosibirsk Photos: Albums Posts: 2	Hello. Take a look at P67II service manual: Download PENTAX 67 II Service Manual (page 6/9 in "prism" section) It is easy to remove upper cover of prism. There is a small screw which adjusts vertical position of LCD. Really small movements are required to align LCD, about 1/20 turn so care must be taken.

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08-12-2020, 02:13 PM	#13
Matthagg New Member Join Date: Aug 2020 Posts: 1	Originally posted by kirillso Hello. Take a look at P67II service manual: Download PENTAX 67 II Service Manual (page 6/9 in "prism" section) It is easy to remove upper cover of prism. There is a small screw which adjusts vertical position of LCD. Really small movements are required to align LCD, about 1/20 turn so care must be taken. I had the same problem and followed the instructions in the repair manual. It fixed the problem, but it took some time to figure it out. The rotation needed on the screw 0-M30 is really small.