like cassette tape and Vinyl Records (even silly cell phones), film photography is having a renaissance. However, it’s easier to get a new turntable or cassette recorder than a new 35mm film camera, unless you want toy camera or a $5,600 Leica rangefinder. The new Pentax 17 I was shooting recently needed the perfect blend of manual operation and point-and-shoot performance in a compact design.
While it’s easy to find a used camera, the $500 Pentax 17 aims to give those new to film an option without having to worry about the condition of the camera or lens. This camera’s features are a step above $400 Lomo LC-Wide and far beyond Basic features $45 Kodak Ektar H35. It’s a half-frame 35mm camera, so you can take two 24 x 17mm photos per 35mm frame. Film prices are pretty high and growing, so getting 72 shots out of a 36-frame roll will definitely help. In addition, vertical frames are more suitable for mobile photography.
The Pentax 17 was a half-frame camera, so it could take two pictures per roll of 35mm film.
The Pentax 17 features an Albada bright-frame viewfinder with framing frames suitable for normal and close-up shooting. It features an f3.5 37mm lens (35mm equivalent) based on Pentax Espio Mini optics, which has been redesigned for the half-frame format. In fact, several design features were borrowed from Pentax cameras of the past, including the manual film advance lever and shutter release, manual rewind assembly, and built-in flash.
The camera uses a zone focusing system from 0.8 feet to infinity.
The camera is not fully manual or autofocus, but instead uses a zone focus system with six zones: 0.8, 1.7, 4, 5.6, 10 feet and infinity (0.25, 0.5, 1.2, 1.7, 3 meters and infinity). Just turn the dial around the lens to the pictogram that represents what you’re shooting. If you don’t remember the shooting distances for each zone, they’re marked underneath the lens and you can double-check the settings by seeing a pictograph through the viewfinder.
The focal zone distance is listed below the lens.
Shutter speed range is 1/350 to 4 seconds. There’s also a lamp setting and an optional cable switch sold separately so you don’t inadvertently shake the camera while holding the shutter open. There are two sets of shooting modes – with and without flash – and between the two on the dial is a fully automatic mode that uses built-in metering to trigger the flash.
In addition to full automatic, there are standard programs, slow shutter and bokeh without flash (maximum aperture priority). For flash, there is a program (Daylight Sync) and a slow program. There is also a ±2EV exposure compensation dial on the side of the viewfinder opposite the mode dial.
The mode dial is divided into flash and no-flash modes, with a fully automatic mode in between.
Manual controls – from loading film to advancing frames – give it a touch that’s missing from simple point-and-shoots like the Kodak I mentioned earlier. This is definitely lacking in the mobile photography experience. The body is relatively light at 10.2 ounces (290 grams), and while it’s not slim (in part because the right hand grip houses a single CR2 lithium battery), it’s not a problem to put it in a backpack or jacket pocket. . The Pentax 17 is mostly plastic, but the top and bottom are magnesium alloy, which makes it look and feel better. I wish the dial, film advance lever, and shutter release were all metal, but balancing cost (and therefore weight) is not easy.
The Pentax has a sticky note holder on the back that holds the label at the end of the film package.
The camera supports nine ISO speeds: 50, 100, 125, 160, 200, 400, 800, 1600 and 3200. Crank the advance lever about four to five times and you’re ready to shoot. A note holder on the back cover allows you to remove labels from film packaging so you know what film you are shooting.
I haven’t made a film in probably ten years, except for instant camera. I’m very happy with the results of the photos I took with the Pentax 17. . There’s something special about holding a photo I’ve taken and not being able to magically remove the blemishes. While cameras, film, and processing equipment aren’t cheap, shooting film can change the way you think about photography and capturing friends, family, and experiences.
