So… The Pentax 17… <ahem>… Take. My. Money.

My thoughts on this camera are pretty well summed up in my comment on Hamish Gill’s excellent review of this camera on 35mmc.com.

Excellent review and sample images Hamish. New camera with AE and a warranty? I have spent far more for old cameras that could pack it in without warning if you looked at them too hard and some without any whiff of automation to be found so count me in. Add in it being a Pentax which I have an outsized, irrational allegiance to since my Father taught me how to use his Pentax ME Super as a child and I am defenseless. Pre-ordered mine before I finished reading your review.

For those who have been along for the ride in this space for a couple of years, I have been asking for a camera company to step up and make a new film camera.

One did answer. Leica.

But, as much as I respect Leica, a new film camera costing over twice what I paid for my elder M 240 was not what I was looking for. Fortunately, Pentax stepped up as well.

Sidebar: Yes. I am aware that neither of these companies know I exist and my ramblings did not play a part in their decisions at all. Just a touch of artistic license is all.

I hear a lot of flack being given to this camera from the internets, but this does not surprise me at all. Many have also been supportive. This makes sense since I know of only two types of camera people.

1. Salt of the Earth folks whose primary concern is capturing images regardless of their chosen genre, medium, or product.
2. Know it all, but rather, impossible to please grand declaration makers who will argue about anything that send me scrambling for the exits, real or virtual.

I am convinced no matter what Pentax would have made there would be those who would complain. As I landed on at the end of my recent ramblings about the Lumix S9 at the end of the day if you do not like it, do not buy it. Anyhoo. My spec list for a new film camera was short honestly so it was hard for Pentax to miss.

• Three digit price.
  • Taking what goes into engineering a net new product into consideration I cannot really complain about $499.
• AE.
• Decent build quality.
• Warranty.

That was it.

As far as the complaints…

Zone Focus

I did not care how it focused. While my first choice would not have been zone focusing it seems well implemented by all accounts. Plus I am not really concerned about critical focus when dealing with a 37mm FF EQ and an f/3.5 aperture. Focusing is more of a horseshoes affair rather than requiring sniper like accuracy.

Half Frame

This was a smart business choice in my mind.

• Phones have made young uns’ accustomed to a default portrait orientation.
• Getting 48-72 exposures out of a roll would seem more economical and an easier sell for an audience accustomed to capturing as many images as they wish.

Plus… I really like half frame cameras. Had one in the past (Olympus PEN FT post I wrote for KEH.)…

…and still own one (Kodak Ektar H35 review written for 35mmc.).

Some have voiced concerns about the IQ of half frame. In response, I point you to the images above that were taken with a plastic lens on a $50 half frame camera.

So, no. I am not concerned with IQ.

“High” Price

As mentioned in my comment to Hamish’s review above I have spent far more for cameras that have no warranty and no promise of working past this moment. If price concerns you there is a Kodak branded half frame camera I can recommend for $50.

Additionally some of the things some are asking for feature set wise would cost even more. In my mind the 17 strikes a nice balance between price and feature set.

Lack of control

With that $50 half-frame camera above you have control over two things.

1. Film speed used.
2. Whether you turn the flash on or not.

That is it. Everything else is fixed. And that camera is great fun. Plus when I start studying the cameras controls I think it would be more accurate to say that the camera lacks the traditional control layout many are accustomed to. Pentax has created a mode to accommodate near any occassion and offers manual control of the film speed and exposure compensation so I struggle to think of a situation where I could not get this camera to do what I wanted it to do.

Is it the “perfect” film camera I have been waiting for?

No.

Does it make for an intriguing offering for a reasonable sum that is capable of creating some nice images?

Yes.

And that is enough for me. Others will disagree and that is fine. No one is forced to buy it.

I will stop myself here.

I end on this. More than this camera alone I am excited about what this camera could mean. More specifically what I hope follows. This platform seems a strong one from which to build a more premium camera with added features like AF, higher shutter speeds, and a faster lens. This will likely also raise the price but again, I think this is reasonable. And if this Pentax film camera revival is successful perhaps other brands will join the party. Who knows?

More in this space when they see fit to send me my copy.

Happy capturing.

-ELW