Pentax 17 - Hands-on Preview of a NEW 35mm Film Camera

Dave & Christopher previewed the new 35mm half-frame Pentax 17 camera. camera. The PENTAX 17 is a half-frame camera, capturing two 17mm x 24mm pictures within in a single 35mm- format (36mm x 24mm) film frame. It produces vertical-format pictures, with similar ratios to those captured by smartphones.

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Dave Paul: @tcstvdave
Christopher Donovan: @kvlt_photo
Main: @thecamerastore

#pentax #pentax17 #film

[ShutterKnack]

Ok need to sell a couple of digital cameras to buy this one. We need to support this if you want new film cameras to come out!

[abymathew]

Woooow, just awessssome.
.really happy to see the Film cameras are coming back....🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳

[PiDsPagePrototypes]

The frame size on the film is similar to cinema's 2-perf area, meaning on decent film you're getting 4K equivalent images.
I'd expect we'll see a range of screw-on lenses to make it wider or tele. The AU$899 RRP is already being discounted to AU$849. It's going to stay pretty niche, and the body style would make for an excellent mirrorless chassis, or a new shallow rangefinder-K mount, that an adapter could use for K-mount lenses.

[cliff_razzo]

That looks like great little film camera. Very tempted to give it a try!

[pscion]

What I realise now, what I want is a 12 exposure film, well 12-20. I can't wait to send the film for development.

[simontrezise]

Well done Pentax! It looks great. Many thanks for an excellent review.

[johndembo]

It has a 25mm lens, which has the same angle of view as a 37mm lens on full frame.

[shred]

Some refreshing design choices were made that will make it a different experience from shooting an SLR 35mm film camera. I’ve ordered one from my local camera store here in Australia and they included 10 rolls of processing and scanning in the Price. They said I was the 11th order in the first 2 days for their store .

The vertical format comes with half frame of course, but besides being familiar for young digital natives, it changes up the way experienced photographers normally see through the viewfinder and anything that brings a different approach to composition is good for your photography.

I also like the storytelling that can come from diptych prints and scans. For 35mm film I normally shoot with an old Leica rangefinder or 70s manual MX SLR But this will be quite different and I look forward to that.

The whole camera is about user experience. Tactile and requires some control input but in such a light way that inexperienced film photographers can hardly get it wrong.. zone focus rather than auto focus or manual focus is a perfect example. 36-37mm full frame AOV equivalent is sensible. All around this is a super smart design. I can’t wait to use it.

[StevenWallacePhoto]

Incredibly excited about this camera! Already preordered it from a shop here in the States!

[mountainsunsets]

I grew up on film and the only thing holding me back (I still have my old film cameras) is the cost of processing.

[fingersmcginty]

When I had a fixed-lens, folding Fujifilm 645 it had a vertical/portrait orientation, and yeah, it did take some getting used to and as I tend to shoot mostly in the horizontal/landscape mode, it was, frankly, a bit of a pain to always have to hold the camera "sideways." However...with this camera Pentax has recognized not only that folks want to shoot film, but that film is EXPENSIVE to purchase, process (unless you're doing it at home) and then laborious to scan, unless of course you want to make prints. So doubling the number of exposures on 35mm film is brilliant. 72 images divided by the cost of film + processing ain't so painful. Maybe I'll get one...

[dzeng]

Really cool camera. I hope it’s a hit and I hope they make an ILC version.

[ThePwig]

A new 35mm camera?! It shoots half frame? Damn.

[bananaskin]

I will buy one. Thank you for the review.

[MinoltaCamera]

Do you know how much a K1000 cost when it was launched? $1000 adjusted to inflation. This is half the price.

[danmar]

I have a Minolta XD11 with motor drive, a Canon FTb, a Nikon FE and a Voigtländer VITO BL (really!). I wish I still had the Canon T90!! Should I get the new Pentax or am I all set? The vertical view looks to me like: if we can't train them to do it right, let's join them!

[adamouellette]

why did you guys test this with such a crunch film stock? would love to see this with portra

[edwardwest]

The King is in the all together, as naked as the day that he was born.

[tedwingate]

It looks like they took inspiration from the Canon Demi, which is great source material. Pentax gets full points for this one even if it flops.

[ArfurrCrown]

My Pentax MX is not a disposable still going today 😮 so Pentax quality great news