The Problem with the New Film Cameras.

Modern Film Cameras are a great concept in theory but in practice I feel like the lack of variety and lack of attention to the current market has produced substandard models that no one was really asking for. YOU can disagree but it's an opinion so share yours in the comments down below!

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[areallyrealisticguyd]

I think Mint and Pentax are doing a good job filling the camera market. You gotta realize that when they started these projects 5 or so years ago the new trendy cameras to get were the contax t2, Olympus MJU, Nikon 35Ti, and Ricoh R1. People wanted high quality fixed lens point & shoot cameras and then over the pandemic when film was at an all time high cost people converted to half frame cameras to get the most out of their rolls. Even though trends pass there is a sizeable group of people who still wanted these new systems and would be willing to pay for them brand new. The only other option is spending hundreds of dollars to gamble on whether or not these 30 year old point & shoots would work.

[xtactic]

There's no scale to increase build quality and keep prices down in a niche market. Something brand new, similar to a Nikon F3, probably wouldn't be affordable for most of us, like it wasn't in its time.
I still think it's great to have new lenses with more modern coating and warranty. Like I said here before, film community complained about Pentax – because it's half frame; they are complaining even more about Rollei AF because, well, Mint is no Pentax, and they will complain about prices when Pentax launches their full frame

[beepboopbeepboop]

I bought a pentax 17 because I'm sick of wasting money on old film cameras that last for a month or two and then something breaks and then i have to find someone to fix it and pay a couple hundred or more to get it fixed. Assuming parts are available to fix it which is a problem I keep running into -- repair shops say they can't fix it because parts don't exist. I don't regret the Pentax 17 but I do regret almost all of the older film cameras I've bought in the last 5 years. The pentax 17 isn't my dream camera but it's a film camera that probably isn't going to shit the bed 2 months later and that's the entirety of my reasoning in buying it. I can't deal with sending out another camera for cla, getting it back, and then two weeks later something else goes wrong over and over. At this point the only film camera I have other than the pentax that's working is a nikon fe but the amount of non-working film cameras on my shelf outnumber those 10:1. I love my digital cameras and I really should have spent the money on another digital camera instead of the many short-lived film cameras I've bought. I have a bunch of old soviet fed cameras I'd love to get working because I love them but I'll be damned if I'm going to keep spending a couple hundred dollars every few months.

[ravelrm]

I think that both the Pentax and the Mint camera show that there's some consideration for the people that are completely new to film. I also think companies are trying to rebuild or improve on whatever the understanding/technology was of what we could do with a camera, and trying to accommodate for the current state of film costs and market. They're not perfect but they are both flexible enough to fit either someone who is learning the fundamentals, or someone who knows them well enough but maybe doesn't need manual focus? And both account for the cost of film. This sorta reminds me of companies making electric cars, where first models were made so that many kinds of people would buy them to then make room for more specific needs. In a way the market of film cameras is both going through a reboot but also catching up to the current state of reality of shooting film in 2024.

Now, my question to other people would be, what kind of camera do you want? I do think it's good that people talk about what they need from a camera, or that they point out where a camera may fall short. Personally I would love it if Sony released the Konica Big Mini again, and maybe even the Konica Recorder, but with better metering, better build, and maybe in different colors.

[UncleDon]

Why buy the new Rollie 35? Because it looks great, and the old ones are already expensive af. Why risk that kind of money on a second hand camera that may not work when you can get a new one? I wish it were sub $300, but I've seen new cameras come out and get their price cut by 20% in a year after release. But I think the biggest driving factor is people just want to own something new, rather than used. Some people have no problems picking up a used camera. Some will only do it if it has been serviced. But some people just want to be the first owner, and there are very few options for those people.

[imjh]

Your argument is very solid, but the Pentax 17 is almost the half-camera I was looking for. - which is : manual loading half frame camera with 'accurate' auto exposure. But adjustable autofocus or rangefinder style focus system is very desirable.

[Furry]

Also the 17 has a lens built in, so pretty small, pocketable… still film

[rjbiii]

I like that the new film cameras are quirky. To your point, there are tons of great old film cameras out there. Just releasing an updated version of an older SLR for $1000 might do great, or people might say why buy that when I can buy a vintage one for $150? So for now, we get a neat half frame, a tiny full frame point and shoot, and even supposedly a widelux or whatever. Now I can throw a Pentax 17 and a nettar folding camera in a relatively small bag and go have a blast.

Don't get me wrong, I really hope that Pentax or someone makes a new or re-released SLR. But in the meantime, things are way better than I could have imagined. Film is alive and kicking, and we've had a few new cameras in 2024(!).

[Joshua_Ott]

With all this renewed interest in film photography classic brands like Canon and Nikon even Mamiya should reissue some of their classic film cameras!

[keironstoneman]

The problem with new film cameras is that they aren't built to last. I can't see any of them lasting 40+ years like my Pentax's

[TheWutangclan]

As great as these new film cameras look. I really really want to see fuji, epson, and anyone else rebuilding their film scanner or a new scanner built from the ground up that is FASTER.

[richardhale]

Although neither camera is for me, I get the point of both of them. Starting with the Mint, it is clear that this was a personal crusade and challenge for its creator. He wanted a modernised version of the original and has built a camera to is own unique taste which may or may not be shared by others. I think it will appeal to those who would otherwise buy a Contax T2* or similar due to the outrageous prices those cameras now go for. A lot of people are buying those old high end film compacts because they are a form of jewellery, not because they are a sensible buy. I think the Mint will do well because it definitely falls into that niche IMO especially as I suspect production numbers will be low. It would not surprise me if used ones end up going for a higher price than new. Onto the 17. Pentax stated clearly what their target consumer was, and it wasn't film nerds like us. They designed a camera for a new generation and it pretty much seems to fit the bill. Half frame is fine for sharing low res scans on your phones. I question some of the design decisions such as why is a half frame camera so large and if you have zone focusing why do you need a motor to achieve that (which requires that big ugly battery housing stuck on the side like a plastic carbuncle), but maybe these decisions are based on the ability to make a FF version with AF on the same basic shell at minimal extra production cost. In addition the target market will not have had experience of really small cameras like the Pen or XA ranges. so the size is probably not an issue for them. I personally would have been happier with a camera like the Konica C35 without a rangefinder though, but there we go.

Having shot loads of film cameras from compact 35mm, through old folders, TLR's, SLRs (35mm and 120) over the years and now loads of various digital cameras, I question the desire from some for a new film SLR, even though I still have quite few of my own. The virtue of an SLR is its versatility, but here's the problem - interchangeable digital cameras are way more versatile than a film SLR ever can be. So for me if I want versatility I will shoot either one of my Fujifilm mirrorless or Pentax DSLRs. If I want fun (which I do quite a lot) I will choose to shoot one of my old 120 folders or a nice small and compact PAS camera or an older rangefinder. Being very small and compact it is no issue to always take something like a Minox or XA with me which really does fit into a jeans pocket with no uncomfortable bulge, or something like a Olympus 35 RC or Konica C35 which are still very discrete together with a interchangeable lens digital camera. I think Pentax is on the right lines if it concentrates on the compact market first before anything grander.

*Just before the dawn of the digital age, my LCS owner, who had many years of experience even then recommended that I did not buy a T2 as in his opinion, having owned one, it was a POS, despite his store stocking them. He recommended either the Mju II or Yashica T5. At the time I think the T2 was going for around £400-£500 new, the T5 £200 and the Mju II £100. It gives me a wry smile to see what the T2 goes for now.

[ataboyboyboy]

I watched a lot of videos on the rollei and the Pentax, I have the budget to buy one. I also have in my hand a canon A1. I look at the new ones and at my canon and I say “nah”, they don’t offer anything beyond marketing. Then I look at my FED 3, beauty, “nah, I have everything, thank you”. 😅
It would be tough to sell a new film camera 📸, you have to offer beauty in design and full bodies armour, not plastic and compatible with existing lenses, manual of course. My opinion.

[johnathanlo]

Both are lack of hotshoe/flash sync port killed my interest on them.

[OriginalTLab]

I completely agree with you, well apart from your pronunciation of "Rollei" ;) (Yeah, I know, I should just accept that some people will call it "Rollie", no matter what...)

About the parts: Many people were happy to see the Pentax 17 because it's new and comes with a warranty and spare parts will be available. And many, maybe most of the people who have bought a Pentax 17, thought it's a mechanical camera, which it _isn't_.
As you said, there are plenty of parts cameras. Many of the cameras build in the last 50 to 70 years can still be repaired. Since the Pentax 17 is basically an old school digital point and shoot camera with a film compartment, that's gonna be more difficult. I think that maybe, in about 20 years or so, it would be easier to repair a Canon AE1 or such than getting parts for a P17.

Pentax does either not have the knowledge or capacity to build mechanical cameras - or they can do it, but not at economically viable costs. The will anounce more analog (or "film", as you call it) cameras, soon. I guess the next one is gonna be a medium format camera. It's either gonna be as affordable as the P17 and it'll also be a digicam with a film compartment. Or it'll actually be some kind of SLR with interchangeable lenses - but then it's gonna be really expensive! I think it'll be the first option.

[TheDamnGarage]

Pentax: maker of the legendary 67 makes the half frame for the price of a 67 with a lens. The 17 has the advantage of snapping 72 crappy pictures instead of 12 (I think) really good photos.

[crazedcamcollector]

If someone came out with the Contax G1/G2 camera using some newer technology, and not even a lot is needed, that would be amazing. For me, the G cameras were the pinnacle of a luxury P&S that still provided enough creative control for just about any scenario. Yeah would be a bit expensive but I would think less than a Leica. Would also be great to have a re-release of ANY of the 35mm brands that supported their old lenses. The last Canon EOS cameras were amazing. And I did buy the 17 and pre-ordered the Rollei. I’m a sucker for gear regardless.

[petesime]

I'm holding out hope that Pentax will release an SLR for the 50th anniversary of the K mount next year, but I have my doubts.

[thevoiceman]

Well don't these new cameras have warranties and techs to fix them compared to the older cameras that break and your screwed?

[slippinjimmothy]

I was on the early preoder for the 35AF, but cancelled after hearing more about it.

I own a Leica MP with 50mm and 35mm summicrons. I bought it all for around $8k used, which is an insane amount for a film camera. The nice thing is that buying used Leica gear holds value quite well. Plus my MP is only 3 years old and is serviceable. That being said, any 35mm SLR is probably objectively better and costs $7, 000 less.

These new cameras definitely have identify issues. Hopefully we'll see some better options soon.