| Author: | | Loyal Site Supporter Registered: October, 2018 Location: Quebec City, Quebec Posts: 1,953
2 users found this helpful
| | Lens Review Date: December 12, 2020 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $319.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Built to last a lifetime, surprisingly SHARP and contrasty | | Cons: | Heavy, GIGANTIC, difficult to focus critically | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 5
Value: 10
Camera Used: 645Z
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I tested this GIGANTIC P67 lens on my 645Z and Manfrotto 028 tripod.
While perusing eBay last week, I noticed this behemoth costing 319 $. I was certain this was some crummy old lens with poor sharpness and contrast. I have never seen any prior technical review describing the handling and the performance of this telephoto lens. What was my surprise when I first tried taking pictures with it. This lens is super HEAVY and necessitates the utmost attention when manipulating it. I mounted the lens alone on my Manfrotto 028 using both of my hands and mounted the 645Z afterwards so as not to drop the whole assembly. I aimed the camera towards a children's playground that I see from my front bedroom window and focused carefully on this sliding contraption. I oriented the camera vertically using the locking mechanism on the tripod-mount, set the ISO at 400 and took 4 pictures at f/5.6, f/8, f/11 and f/16 in overcast weather. The pictures are surprisingly sharp and colorful, particularly the one taken @ f/16.
 f/5.6  f/8  f/11  f/16
The lens alone weighs 7 pounds, so when the 645Z body and adapter are added, the combo weighs almost 10 pounds.The '67 to 645' Pentax adapter permits automatic exposure in Av mode simply by selecting an opening on the aperture ring. The FOV is equivalent to a 400 mm lens in Full-Frame (500 mm X 0,8 = 400 mm). The pictures are a little flat wide-open (@ f/5.6) but sharpness and contrast pick up and become outstanding starting at f/8 and going up to f/22. Totally unexpected results from such an old design dating back to 1970, though this particular late "67" copy is probably only 30 years old and looks like it was assembled last week.
 f/5.6
 f/8
 f/11
 f/16
 f/22
 f/16
 f/11
 f/8
The performance of this lens is SURPRISINGLY good, given its age and despite its poor reputation. The only problem is finding critical focus. IMHO f/8 to f/16 is the optimum aperture range.
| | | | | | | Loyal Site Supporter Registered: September, 2017 Location: Medellín Posts: 1,284 | | Lens Review Date: December 31, 2019 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $500.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Relatively light and small. | | Cons: | Aperture failure. | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: K-5, 6x7 MLU
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Unfortunately my copy failed after a while and the aperture is stuck wide open. I hope I can have it repaired in the near future so I can use it on the 6x7. Works quite well wide open on my K-5 plus a gimbal head and also with teleconverters.
| | | | | Pentaxian Registered: March, 2007 Location: Kokkedal Posts: 333
5 users found this helpful
| | Lens Review Date: November 19, 2015 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $400.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Can be had for a reasonable sum | | Cons: | Quite heavy and stiff focusing ring | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 7
Value: 9
Camera Used: Pentax 67 II, Pentax K-5
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November 19, 2015:
I have just got this lens (the second version smc Pentax 6x7 500mm 1:5.6), so I will come back with a full review later. But initially I can say that the lens is big and heavy, which should come as no surprise. Also the focussing ring is rather stiff - possibly to do with its age (initially bought by the previous owner around 1982). It is still smooth, but it takes some effort to turn the ring.
The weight stated above (1430 grams) is not correct - my lens weighs in at 2961 grams without front and rear covers (3012 grams with covers).
EDIT: Another error in the tables above: all variants of the smc Pentax-6x7 500mm F5.6 use the inner bayonet.
 K5_26609 by Lars Holte, on Flickr
February 26, 2016:
I bought this lens mostly because the opportunity presented itself, but I am pleasantly surprised at the image quality of the lens, which is quite good, actually.
The lens is big and heavy and needs a tripod. The focus ring is still quite stiff, so handheld use is out of the question, though the previous owner is said to have used it for airshows.
The lens gives very good results on film - sharp and contrasty (Pentax 67 II) - and it will, I think, prove a useful addition to my assortment of lenses. The minimum focus distance is around 8 m, but since the lens itself has a very sturdy tripod mount and uses the inner bayonet, the close focus distance can be reduced by means of the normal set of extension tubes, which are fairly common.
I have also tested the lens on my Pentax K-5, and even though this lens is by no means meant for digital, the results were better than expected, but they will not stand up to intense pixel peeping. However, the lens is big and clumsy on a DSLR, and I would advice against purchasing it for that purpose. The lens shines on film.
From my tests on digital I know that F5.6 (fully open) and F8 are best avoided, whereas F11 is quite good and F16 is pretty sharp with little chromatic abberation.
May 4, 2016: I initially wrote: In addition, the diaphragm does not open fully again [on my lens] after taking a shot when stopped down in AUTO. It works perfectly on MANUAL, and the blades are clean, so I suspect that the spring return mechanism is malfunctioning somehow. I can open the diaphragm again by selecting F5.6, but that is a bit tedious in the long run. Will see how it turns out in practice or if it loosens up with use.
Well, I can now report that after a period of use and some extra manipulation of the aperture lever on the back of the lens, the diaphragm now opens and closes just as it should in AUTO. The lens must have been laying idle for a long time, but now it works perfectly. I have therefore upped the rating for handling from 6 to 7, and overall I find it quite a good lens when used on a Pentax 6x7 film camera.
Medium distance shot on digital (Pentax K-5) @ F16 and 800 iso:
 K5_26648 by Lars Holte, on Flickr
Long distance shot on digital (Pentax K-5) @ F16 and 800 iso - most of the blur and haze is due to atmospheric conditions; the subject is 10-11 km distant.
 K5_26662 by Lars Holte, on Flickr
Another medium distance shot @ F16 and 800 iso:
 K5_26634 by Lars Holte, on Flickr
Results with 400 iso film and the Pentax 67 II - Rollei RPX 400 dev. in D-76 1+1:
Exposure: 1/180 @ F11 on tripod:
 My Favourite Tree II by Lars Holte, on Flickr
Exposure: 1/250 @ F11 on tripod:
 (He's Got) The Look by Lars Holte, on Flickr
Exposure: 1/250 @ F16 on tripod:
 Test smc Pentax-67 500mm F5.6 by Lars Holte, on Flickr
Exposure: 1/180 @ F13 on tripod:
 Lyngebækgård by Lars Holte, on Flickr
Some sample images taken with this lens on the Pentax 645N:
Exposure: 1/20 @ F11 on tripod:
 smc PENTAX-67 500 F5.6 on Pentax 645N by Lars Holte, on Flickr
Exposure: 1/125 @ F11 on tripod:
 smc PENTAX-67 500 F5.6 on Pentax 645N by Lars Holte, on Flickr
Exposure: 1/60 @ F11 on tripod:
 smc PENTAX-67 500 F5.6 on Pentax 645N by Lars Holte, on Flickr
Exposure: 1/250 @ F11 on tripod:
 smc PENTAX-67 500 F5.6 on Pentax 645N by Lars Holte, on Flickr
The sample images can be clicked larger on Flickr. A click on the image will take you there.
Size comparison smc Pentax-67 500mm F5.6 andsmc Pentax-67 300mm F4:
 smc Pentax-67 500mm F5.6 / smc Pentax-67 300mm F4 by Lars Holte, on Flickr
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