I have a Pentax 67II.

I have experimenting with the muliple exposure function with less than acceptable results. The subject has been a city skyline made from the east looking west atop a building with the hope to expose the same frame of film to an evening sunset, night lighting, and morning sunrise. Rest assured, I have secured the tripod, stablized the camera on the tripod's mount, and advanced the film with the least amount of vibration possible(ever so cautiously). After several failed attempts I contacted a technician at Pentax in Englewood, Colorado.

His response was that the sprocket advancing the film when the multiple exposure function has been engaged does not catch sprocket holes on the film cleanly causing the film to slip between the first and subsequent exposures. He had addressed this problem before as it has been a concern of other photographers. Thus the subject appears blurred because the film has moved ever so slightly when cocking the wind lever after multi exposure lever has been engaged.

His suggestion was leave a lense cap on, stop down to the smallest apeture setting at the fastest shutter speed, engage the muliple exposure lever then make the first exposure without the subject in the view finder. Engage the multiple exposure function advance the wind lever then compose the subject through the view finder, expose and release the shutter after mirror lockup. Then repeat this process for each exposure for as many as necessary per frame to attain the desired result.

I am under deadline to get a cover shot for a book and I am fustrated by my failed attempts. Any recommendations or similar experiences from other photographers with Pentax 67II?

-- Bob Castellino (wildman@whisperingriver.com), February 11, 2001

Answers

"His response was that the sprocket advancing the film when the multiple exposure function has been engaged does not catch sprocket holes on the film cleanly causing the film to slip between the first and subsequent exposures. "

What does he mean by sprocket? 120/220 film does not have sprockets like 35mm film.

The only time I've done multiple exposure with a P67II is when I tried getting a softfocus effect. The first shot was esposed sharp, and then the second frame was shot out of focus. The results were poor. It looked like an earthquake shot, not a softfocus one. But maybe the results were not my fault, but the cameras? Peace, Rolland

-- rolalnd (relliott@nasheng.com), February 12, 2001.

Bob, I can't help you with the multi-exposure problem, as I have not yet tried that feature of the 67II. But, since you are under the gun on this project I might suggest creating the effect digitally.

As a graphic designer, with a lot of experience in Photoshop and Hi- resolution scans for offset printing, I do this quite often. You could shoot the two images on film (transparency is preferable). Have the shots drum-scanned at a color separation house or by the printer that will be printing the book... I am guessing that the publisher/printer has these capabilities. Then have them merge the multiple exposures together. This practice is done every day and is a great way to create effects with multiple shots. The result may not be exactly what would be produced in camera... though it might turn out better!

The publisher/printer should be able to steer you in the right direction. If you want to discuss the process further just drop me a note at darstdesign@cfu.net.

Sorry I can't help with the 67II issue. I hope to hear a better solution than provided by the Pentax technician!

Good Luck, Randy

-- Randy Darst (darstdesign@cfu.net), February 13, 2001.

Well I was just reading through a Canon EOS1v instruction book and it warns that multiple exposures should not be taken near the beginning or end of a roll of film because the film tension is not very tight and the frame registration may therefore slip.

Perhaps the same is true of the P67II?

-Rolland

-- rolland (relliott@nasheng.com), February 14, 2001.