The new Pentax 17

I've just watched the petapixel video on this.

I can see the appeal. The lack of control and the limited settings did surprise me but also appeal. I think the biggest surprise for me is the portrait orientation set up but I can see why and I suppose they know the market they're aiming at. I wish them luck and I'm sure it'll be fun to use.
 
The more I think about it the more I don't know who this is aimed at. If it's aimed at new film photographer's then why choose one of the hardest things to learn, zone focusing.

I'm still tempted though
 
MrDrizz said:
The more I think about it the more I don't know who this is aimed at. If it's aimed at new film photographer's then why choose one of the hardest things to learn, zone focusing.

I'm still tempted though
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I’m tempted too but I think I’ll wait since my XA is still going strong. I zone focus that thing most of the time anyway so aside from the half frame it’s not too different to the way I shoot.

As for focusing, just match the icons on the lens to what you see in the viewfinder. Depth of field is pretty generous on a 25mm and the lens will be stopped down most of the time. Love how they designed the viewfinder so you can see those icons while it’s up to your face, reminds me of my SWC’s finder. The sample photos on Matt Day’s video convinced me on the quality/ease of use,
 
I would have hoped for a more ambitious attempt by Pentax. It looks like a triumph of form over function. I'd prefer to use an old film camera methinks.
 
I had my hands on one today for a few mins. Not quite what I expected but still nice. On the downside it is a little light and a bit plasticky, but not excessively so. Other than that I rather liked it. I don't feel it is overpriced. In addition to the homage paid to past cameras there is enough inspiration taken from current Pentax products to open up conversion of other current, digital cameras.
It's something I'd like but certainly don't need but then my life is full of things I don't need!
 
I just made a first impressions video if you'd like to see it in some degree of close up. Just an FYI if anyone looking to buy one of these in the Newport area the Weat and Wales show which has its last day tomorrow (saterday June 22nd) has 10% off all Pentax cameras including the 17 which also has a three pack of Kodak film givern away with it.
View: https://youtu.be/Cb5fxi0VD60
 
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Plain Nev said:
I think you could be on to something there. There is scope to convert it to full frame, by the look of it. How much that is part of Pentax's strategy I suppose only time will tell.
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From everything I have seen of this camera, it is a platform for future development. My first thought upon seeing the back was the same - it's set up for easy conversion to full frame in a future model.

I understand the zone focus is actuated electronically, not a mechanical link (which also explains the small delay talked about in the video after turning the camera on). That makes it very simple to add autofocus in a later version.
 
It's £500 :eek: and half frame! I have an Ilford Advocate which is really enjoyable to shoot and the Pentax 17 wouldn't tempt me to change.

I have a Pentax ME Super with a few lenses. Which is a much better proposition for anyone wishing to venture into film photography.

And I have a rangefinder Zeiss Super Ikonta - okay that's not 35mm film but is really satisfying to see end results on a 6x6.

I think Pentax would have been better advised to create something digital to compete with the Fuji X100V. Factor in the cost of shooting film and the delayed results from it..... it's a brave move.
 
For a little perspective, the Ilford Advocate was £15 15s at launch in 1950, plus £6 16s. 6d. purchase tax - £22.58 total in decimal

Ilford Advocate

Ilford Advocate
www.photomemorabilia.co.uk

The Bank of England inflation calculator pegs that at about £650 in 2024 money.

Another popular example of a small fixed lens camera, the Olympus XA was US $200 at launch in 1979, which is about $865 today
 
Musicman said:
For a little perspective, the Ilford Advocate was £15 15s at launch in 1950, plus £6 16s. 6d. purchase tax - £22.58 total in decimal

Ilford Advocate

Ilford Advocate
www.photomemorabilia.co.uk

The Bank of England inflation calculator pegs that at about £650 in 2024 money.

Another popular example of a small fixed lens camera, the Olympus XA was US $200 at launch in 1979, which is about $865 today
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Mine does not have the Dallmeyer lens, it has the Wray lens which is f/3.5 - it does however have the flash sync sockets. And has a case with a set of colour filters to fit the lens.
 
Whenever I hear about the Bank of England inflation calculator, I always wonder why they significantly reduce inflation...

In 1989, I was earning almost 4 times my 1979 salary, and 20 times my 1970 wage. OK, I became more valuable with experience, but milk, fillet steak and even potatoes have gone up by about 20 times...
 
Musicman said:
From everything I have seen of this camera, it is a platform for future development. My first thought upon seeing the back was the same - it's set up for easy conversion to full frame in a future model.

I understand the zone focus is actuated electronically, not a mechanical link (which also explains the small delay talked about in the video after turning the camera on). That makes it very simple to add autofocus in a later version.
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I think so. It makes a lot of sense to do it that way.
 
Received today. It is very lightweight, rather like a plastic camera but does feel well made and solid despite that. Mostly intuitively easy to use, the film loading is easier and more reliable than the old grip and pull method with the leader. The winder is very positive. I've loaded a film and will wait to see what turns up after we';ve shot it (will be shared with my wife - she loves it and wants to keep it for herself!). There are some nice touches as observed in the reviews. It's great to have a new Pentax film camera.
 
Haych said:
I think Pentax would have been better advised to create something digital to compete with the Fuji X100V. Factor in the cost of shooting film and the delayed results from it..... it's a brave move.
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Ricoh, who own Pentax, already sell the Ricoh GRIII and GRIIIx cameras, which are often compared as alternatives to the X100 range.

The new Pentax film camera(s) have no real competition (in this price bracket) apart from the new Rollei 35 being produced by Mint.

Sure, you can buy better specced used cameras for less, but this not only gives the intended market the opportunity to buy something brand new, but also has the potential if its a success to lead to better cameras in the future and maybe even spur other manufacturers to do similar things.
 
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FishyFish said:
Sure, you can buy better specced used cameras for less, but this not only gives the intended market the opportunity to buy something brand new, but also has the potential if its a success to lead to better cameras in the future and maybe even spur other manufacturers to do similar things.
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Absolutely. But there may be a balance to be struck, as ever - between marketing adventures, and true social function ...
 
I do not understand the appeal. There is a wide range of far better second hand film cameras easily available.
 
I don't think this is aimed at people with a full frame background or interest.

The half frame portrait format mirrors the shots you'll take on your smart phone. For me it's pitched at phone users who want to explore and experience "proper" photography.

It also makes it more economical - 72 shots on a roll of film from a half frame camera is cheaper to process than 72 shots on 2 rolls of film from a full frame camera.

Yes, there'll be some loss of IQ vs full frame, but from what I've read it's pretty good due to modern lens design and costings.

You're also buying a new camera with warranty, etc, and don't need to bother yourself with finding someone to do a CLA, etc.

I'd say Pentax has identified a niche market which they plan to exploit. Good on them.
 
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A friend of mine has just picked one of these up and he's very impressed with it. For background, he has had and has used and has access to a LOT of used cameras and gets to try pretty much every used item available. He's enjoying using it but hasn't finished a roll yet.

When people say how much better a used camera you can get for less and whilst true, this is a brand new film camera with an endless supply of spares and a 12 month warranty. It's also the first consumer film camera in 20 years that a company has decided there's space in the market for. So many people are happy to spend £250 on a used MJU II which may fail in a few weeks so this market is for those folks. I personally think it's a great move and really welcome it.

Also, there are many, many digital alternatives to a fuji X100. We don't need another digital compact.
 
My wife has just come back from a long dog walk (our favourite along the coastal path), taking the 17 with her. She shot off 41 pictures in the 2 hour walk, so the half-frame approach really works for her as she would not have wanted the hassle of taking a spare film and changing it, and she found the zone focusing really intuitive and easy. She really liked the handiness and user-friendliness of it. This is someone who likes taking photos and "snaps" but is bored by her digital cameras by and large, she much prefers the mechanical approach of setting the focus zone, and manually winding after shutter release.
I have obviously lost the camera before even having a chance to use it myself!!
 
I had an Olympus Pen half frame but I wasn’t impressed with the quality of the photos. This has got to a big improvement over that. Can’t wait to see some of the results uploaded here.

lindsay said:
I have obviously lost the camera before even having a chance to use it myself!!
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Been there myself. Bought a small compact as a take everywhere camera and lost it almost straight away. My wife now refers to it as her camera :(
 
Terrywoodenpic said:
I do not understand the appeal. There is a wide range of far better second hand film cameras easily available.
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But will they work when you receive them? If there's a shop nearby where you can inspect the cameras and if you know what to check and how that's a good option but for some people the lottery that buying used on line can be might make buying new more attractive.

I don't think I'm overly fussy but a significant percentage of my photography related used buys from on line market places have been bad. I suppose buying used online from an established and honest online shop is a safer bet than buying from some individual you don't know.
 
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woof woof said:
But will they work when you receive them? If there's a shop nearby where you can inspect the cameras and if you know what to check and how that's a good option but for some people the lottery that buying used on line can be might make buying new more attractive.

I don't think I'm overly fussy but a significant percentage of my photography related used buys from on line market places have been bad. I suppose buying used online from an established and honest online shop is a safer bet than buying from some individual you don't know.
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Who needs to buy?
I have a few agfa solinettes, two of which have good bellows, an Olympus trip, a Olympus xa and Olympus xa2 an Olympus om1 all in excellent condition. I also have an ensign selfix 2 16-20 with Ross Xpress lens for roll film. And a few other similar cameras.
Can't see myself buying a new toy film camera ay time soon.

I also have a Pentax S1a one of the earlier popular slr's, but it needs a shutter service.
 
I think the point is, that we photographers really don't "need" this new camera but may want it; whereas we are not the target market particularly anyway (except for Pentax fanboys like myself) I believe. People like my wife and her 30-year old hipster equivalent probably are.
 
Terrywoodenpic said:
Who needs to buy?
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I think Pentax hopes someone will and if so one question is what? This new camera or an old one?

I have a couple of compacts. I still have my first camera, a Kodak 36 Instamatic, but I gather you can't get film for those anymore. I do have another compact which may be a Miranda or something like that and I think that does take ordinary 35mm film. I just might give that a go one day if it still works.
 
woof woof said:
I think Pentax hopes someone will and if so one question is what? This new camera or an old one?

I have a couple of compacts. I still have my first camera, a Kodak 36 Instamatic, but I gather you can't get film for those anymore. I do have another compact which may be a Miranda or something like that and I think that does take ordinary 35mm film. I just might give that a go one day if it still works.
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Personally I'd go for an old one every time. A good solid manual classic, maybe a Pentax LX, Nikon F3, Canon A1, Olympus OM1, something like that. A plastic half frame? Nahhhh. ;)
 
I've been watching this with interest and have read multiple reviews (albeit from people who've been given a pre-production/BETA version).

Many of those reviews also wonder who it's aimed at.

Stating that if you're already into film cameras and understand how SLRs work, it's probably not for you. And if you're looking for something simple to use for your first foray into film, then a fully automatic PAS film camera would (probably) be better suited.

Still - it's all horses for courses and you never know what's going to appeal. I, for instance, have just asked for a DISPOLENS to make a full-frame digital camera prduce results like a £9.99 disposable plastic one. So ...
 
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It might be aimed at youngsters, but I don't think that means a great deal, to be honest. They are not necessarily disposed to being giddy, party animals, anymore than us, more mature gentlemen, are sober DSLR users.
 
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It seems to be hugely overpriced for what it is. £499 for zone focussing? Wouldn't you be better off with an Olympus trip, or some other vintage compact? Not that what people buy is always wholly subject to logic, of course. ;-)
 
droj said:
It seems to be hugely overpriced for what it is. £499 for zone focussing? Wouldn't you be better off with an Olympus trip, or some other vintage compact? Not that what people buy is always wholly subject to logic, of course. ;-)
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The postman delivered a Ricoh FF-1 yesterday. On paper, a nice Minox 35GT clone. It was one of those MINT A++++ jobs off Japan. I went through the ebay images with a fine comb. All looked good on paper. I pulled the trigger.

Camera gets here. It does look beautiful. I pop in a couple of SR44 batteries. Aaaand. Nope. Shutter doesn't fire. It's a brick. I'll have to go through the hassle of opening an eBay case, hoping the seller is nice enough to deal with this fairly,I might have to upload videos and images etc. EVEN IF I manage to get my money back after the return, I will be stung by the customs+VAT fee probably.

Before that I tried an XA bought locally. Looked beautiful. Great glass, mechanics fine. I try a couple of test shots. Terrible results. Holga-like sharpness. I do some table tops sharpness tests. Left side is sharper than right. Something, somewhere, in the course of this camera's long life has gone wrong. Knocked over perhaps, and quickly dumped on the ebay.

And the above are just two of the many 'meh' used camera experiences I've had. Honestly, I'm tired of buying crappy, poorly described, misrepresented used cameras. At best you need to spend other 300 quid for a CLA. But good techs are disappearing. Newton & Ellis is no more. Camera repair is a crapshoot. If they even accept to work on the camera (and most often they won't take these small P&S), you'll have to wait for months to actually get it back and go take some bloody pictures.

Well I don't have time to wait, or hope that a camera works, or tinker with it on a workbench if it doesn't. People are busy. Jobs, kids.

Some people just want to click a button, place an order, get a wrapped, functioning, fresh product at their doorstep.There's a warranty, there are spare parts. There is no mould, rust, hazy viewfinder, sticky shutters etc. It's so refreshing. Those 500 quid are entirely justified. IMHO.
 
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trypdal said:
Just received a Ricoh FF-1 yesterday. On paper, a nice Minox 35GT clone. It was one of those MINT A++++ jobs off Japan. I went through the ebay images with a fine comb. All looked good on paper. I pulled the trigger.

Camera gets here. It does look beautiful. I pop in a couple of SR44 batteries. Aaaand. Nope. Shutter doesn't fire. It's a brick. I'll have to go through the hassle of opening a case, hoping the seller is nice enough to deal with this fairly,I might have to upload videos and images etc. EVEN IF I manage to get my money back after the return, I will be stung by the customs+VAT fee probably.

Before that I tried an XA bought locally. Looked beautiful. Great glass, mechanics fine. I try a couple of test shots. Terrible results. Holga-like sharpness. I do some table tops sharpness tests. Left side is sharper than right. Something, somewhere, in the course of this camera's long life has gone wrong. Knocked over perhaps, and quickly dumped on the ebay.

And the above are just two of the many 'meh' used camera experiences I've had. Honestly, I'm tired of buying crappy, poorly described, misrepresented used cameras. At best you need to spend other 300 quid for a CLA. But good techs are disappearing. Newton & Ellis is no more. Camera repair is a crap shoot. If they accept to work on the camera, you'll have to wait for months to actually get it back and go take some bloody pictures.

Well I don't have time to wait, hope that a camera works, tinker with it on a workbench if it doesn't. People are busy. Jobs, kids.

Some people just want to click a button, place an order, get a wrapped, functioning, fresh product at their doorstep.There's a warranty, there are spare parts. There is no mould, rust, hazy viewfinder, sticky shutters etc. It's so refreshing. Those 500 quid are entirely justified. IMHO.
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Very true. What price being able to use it straight out of the box?
 
lindsay said:
Received today. It is very lightweight, rather like a plastic camera but does feel well made and solid despite that. Mostly intuitively easy to use, the film loading is easier and more reliable than the old grip and pull method with the leader. The winder is very positive. I've loaded a film and will wait to see what turns up after we';ve shot it (will be shared with my wife - she loves it and wants to keep it for herself!). There are some nice touches as observed in the reviews. It's great to have a new Pentax film camera.
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When my son's bought a digi compact for my wife.....she found it too confusing compared with a film compact, anyway she continued to use it just set for only point a shoot and ignored all the other controls/setups that you could use . :rolleyes:
 
I did hear it said that the 17 is sold out in Japan.
 
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