Had a shutter blade snap on a Pentax 67 during a test fire

Was checking a camera I just got in. Fired the shutter at 1/500. Heard a nasty crunch sound. Opened it up and found a tiny piece of metal blade stuck in the curtain. Happened two days ago. Anyone know a good source for 67 shutter blades, or is this a full curtain replacement job?

4 comments

4 Comments

morgan_stone332mo ago

Wait, it snapped at 1/500? That's a pretty standard speed, not like you were pushing some crazy limit. Makes you wonder about the blade's condition before you got it. That's a rough find on a new-to-you camera.

sam_cooper2mo ago

Actually 1/500 is pretty fast for an old mechanical shutter. Could have been a weak spring or just bad luck, not necessarily a worn out blade.

hunt.jennifer2mo ago

Remember my buddy had this exact thing happen on his 67. He was just doing a basic function check too, maybe at 1/250. That crunch sound is unforgettable. He ended up sending the whole curtain assembly to a specialist because sourcing a single blade was a nightmare. Took a few weeks but they got it fixed right.

fionamurphy27d ago

Just me and my butterfingers, finding the one camera in existence with a shutter blade that wanted to become a tiny metal butterfly and fly into the curtain. Great luck, right? At least my wallet is getting some exercise today. But honestly, hunting down a single blade sounds like trying to find one specific grain of sand on a beach, so I'm guessing full curtain replacement is the way to go. Almost makes me miss my old digital camera that just said "error" and quit completely instead of playing these games.