Pentax 17 Comprehensive Review – The New Half-Frame Point & Shoot

By Hamish Gill

I’ve been writing about film cameras for a long time now, but the release of a new film camera from a major brand like Pentax feels somehow more significant than most, if not all that I’ve written about before. The Pentax 17 is not only a completely new film camera, it seems to be the start of a new era of film cameras from Pentax, and I can’t help but be quite excited by that prospect.

The Film Camera Marketplace

Since I started running this website, the film camera marketplace has been largely dominated by secondhand sales. There’s just so many cameras to choose from that were made over the last hundred-plus years, that it’s almost felt like there’s no need for a new film camera. After all, most film cameras have been discontinued since 2012-13 when the film photography industry bottomed out, and we’ve been doing fine surviving on ever-ageing gear for over a decade just fine since then… … right?

Well, also since then – it will come as no surprise to most people reading this – there has been something of a resurgence in film photography. We have seen both Ilford/Harman and Kodak bring new films to market, not to mention all the fringe stuff and rebrands. To be fair, there’s also been loads of new film cameras from cottage industry companies the likes of Intrepid, Chroma, Alfie and the rest who’ve been working away bringing relatively small numbers of cameras to the marketplace. Of course, it would be remiss not to mention Lomography and Leica who have also continued to bring new mass-produced film cameras to production too.

But whatever these brands release new, it’s had very little impact on the used value of secondhand film cameras, many of which have skyrocketed in many cases beyond sensible levels. When I started this website, you could buy pretty much any of the older M-mount Leicas for about £300, even an M6 could be had for about £5-600. I bought my first Contax T2 for £160 and remember at the time dreaming of buying a T3 which felt out of reach at about £500 (I think that’s about what I eventually paid). Search eBay for these cameras now and you’ll see they have doubled, tripled, even quadrupled in value. They’ve got older too, and less reliable with it. I now buy terminally-broken Contax Ts and T2s (to harvest their lenses) for more than I paid for my first working T2.

Yet despite this, none of the major manufacturers have seemingly been interested in bringing anything to market to compete with the used market. Like I said, Lomography have, but much of what they have produced is toy-like, and lower priced. And Leica have, but well, who’s got a spare £5k these days…? What’s felt conspicuously missing from the market place is a few well built, well specified, reasonably priced, and most importantly new cameras – cameras that can be bought without the need for a remortgage, and can be trusted to work, (come with a warranty in case they don’t) and take consistently good photos.

This for me, has always presented a bit of a problem for the film photography industry. Yes, for those of us who know what we’re looking at and what we are doing, buying used cameras is easy. But for someone coming into film for the first time, the lack of new cameras that fit my description above presents a barrier to entry. The amount of times I have been asked the question “what film camera should I buy?” over the years, and I have had to caveat every answer to every beginner by suggesting that they buy from a bricks and mortar shop that will help them, or at very least seek assistance off someone locally to them to help find a working one. In short, I’ve never accepted the idea that there’s enough secondhand cameras out there to mean we don’t need new ones. We do, and we have ever since the big brands stopped making them.

Pentax 17 vs Canon Point & Shoot

“It’s Time for Film!”

Which is why, after many years of rumours, I am so pleased to finally have my hands on a brand new, reasonably priced film camera from Pentax. Am I surprised it’s Pentax who, out of all of the big brands, have pulled this off first? Not really. If you had asked me a few years ago, I might have put my money on Fuji, but with Pentax (/Ricoh) concentrating on more niche markets such as DSLRS, monochrome digital cameras, large sensor compacts and rugged cameras, they feel like a good fit… probably a better fit than Fuji seeing as they have discontinued so many films too. And of course, that’s even before you consider Pentax’s rich history of making really nice consumer-level film cameras! Though, I do feel the need to cast a little bit of shade over the slightly, shall we say, basic “It’s time for film” slogan… It’s been time for film for quite a lot of us for quite some time, Pentax, kudos for finally realising though…

Pentax MX

The Pentax 17

Ok, preamble done… It’s time I told you about the Pentax 17. Let me kick off by saying I think Pentax have managed to pull off something of a unique film camera. I can’t think of anything that has this particular set of specs and shooting options.

Features & Specs

The first thing to note about the Pentax 17 is that is a half-frame camera. In a world where film and developing costs are getting higher, doubling the potential shot count per roll doesn’t feel like a bad shout. The lens is a 25mm f/3.5, giving it an approximate equivalent field of view and depth of field to a 35mm f/5 lens on a full frame camera.

Pentax 17 lens and distance markings below
Pentax 17 lens and distance markings below

The lens is manual focus only, with click stops at the focus distances indicated via a set of fairly familiar symbols. These symbols are visible on top of the lens as well as through the viewfinder. I say “fairly” familiar as the flower for macro, different sized people and mountains are all symbols I have seen on cameras before. I am not sure I have seen the knife and fork for the close-up distance between macro and portrait though – a sign of times where it has become popular to photograph one’s dinner, perhaps? Focus distances are also indicated below the lens in both meters and feet. With the 25mm f/3.5 lens, it should be pretty easy to focus, even at closer distances.

Familiar distance marks
Familiar distance marks

The Pentax 17 Camera Body

The majority of the Pentax 17, including all the controls and dials is made of plastic. The top and bottom plate appear to be made out of metal – the material certainly feels slightly colder to the touch, though it’s quite hard to tell these days. The overall feel of the camera is pretty solid, albeit slightly hollow feeling in places, though I don’t hold that against it. It feels like a fairly well built consumer-level camera.

The design of the Pentax 17 is quite interesting too. It’s quite small, but it’s not small pocket-camera small. The body is a bit smaller than a small SLR, though bigger than a lot of point & shoots. It’s probably most comparable to early point & shoot cameras from the 80s (such as the Canon above). Fortunately, the lens projects less than a centimetre off the camera which helps it feel smaller. The grip is deeper than the lens, but about the same with the lens cap fitted. The grip also holds the single CR2 3v battery.

Pentax 17 battery compartment and lose screw
Pentax 17 battery compartment and lose screw

It’s worth noting I think that the little screw that holds the battery compartment closed isn’t fitted to the plastic cover, i.e. if when you unscrew it, it comes all the way out – I can see a few of these getting lost. The cap is a nice Pentax branded pinch to release that clips into a 40.5mm filter thread. The receptor for the light meter is also just above the lens meaning it will account for any filters that might be attached in front of it.

There are also 3 strap lugs on the camera. One on the left as you hold the camera and two on the right. The nice thing about the lower one on the right is that it is flush to the camera – it just looks neat and is out of the way for people who hang the camera conventionally by the two upper lugs. On the back of the camera there is also a slot for putting the end of the film box into to remind you what’s in the camera.

3 strap lugs
The little strap the comes with the Pentax 17 also doubles up as a measure for the closest focusing distance

On the top of the Pentax 17 there’s also a set of logos, icons and bits of branding. The Asahi Optical Co. logo at the top above the Pentax logo would have probably been enough of a nod to the legacy, but underneath there’s also “Craftsmanship by Pentax” and “Film Camera” which feel a little cheesy to me. That said, I quite like the design and layout of the logos and words even if I find the wording itself a little redundant. There’s also an icon for indicating the film plane within the camera.

Pentax 17 branding on top of the camera

Overall, I think the aesthetic of the Pentax 17 is very nice. It definitely has modern Pentax vibes about it as well as being pretty retro in styling. It also feels really nice to hold and use. It is quite light, and with that there might be a tiny sacrifice in the overall feel of quality – it certainly doesn’t have the solid metal feel of the likes of a Contax T2 – but I don’t think it feels cheap. It’s a nice size in the hand too – the slightly bigger size might come at the expense of it being specifically pocketable, but the 3 strap lugs make up for that in terms of carry-ability. It still fits is a coat pocket or bigger jeans pockets too thanks to the pancake nature of the lens.

The Viewfinder

The Pentax 17 viewfinder is bright and clear – no sign of years of built up dust and haze here. It feels reasonably big to look though, though not massive. Inside the viewfinder, as already mentioned the focus distance is visible at the bottom. Also visible are two sets of framing lines, bigger ones for distance focusing and smaller ones for macro focusing. There’s no moving frame lines unfortunately, just these two, so a bit of guessing at closer-but-not-macro distances is probably going to be required for critical framing. I’ve also found the frame lines to disappear or partially disappear sometimes. You need to have your eye fairly well centred for them to be there, and sometimes given different lighting situations they seem to be less easily visible too. Next to the viewfinder, there are also a pair of LEDs that flash/light up indicating things like the need to advance the film, readiness to shoot, etc.

Pentax 17 viewfinder

There’s a few different meanings to the various combinations of flashing a illuminated lights, but the most important ones are that he two lights flashing on and off means that you’ve forgotten to advance the film, and just the blue light flashing fast indicates low light. A slow flashing blue light reminds you that the lens is set to one of the close focus ranges. A steady orange light indicates that the flash is ready to fire. One slight frustration I have found with the lights is that they are quite bright. I founds the steady orange light to be very bright in low light situations, almost making the viewfinder hard to see through.

Here’s a snapshot from the manual of the various LEDs – the full manual is available here: pentax17_om_EN

Controls & Dials

Working from the top right looking at the Pentax 17 when it’s in your hand, first there is a shot counter then the manual film advance/shutter cocking lever. The film advance clicks flush with the camera, but also has a second slightly poked-out ready position which quite nicely acts as a little thumb grip when holding the camera.

Pentax 17 film advance

We then have the shutter button which is surrounded by the on/off switch. The Pentax 17 shutter button has a half press which activates the almost silent electronic focusing mechanism and moves the lens to the preset focus position. Remember, this is a manual focus camera, so all that this is doing is setting the focus to the position selected by the user. Half press also sets exposure settings and lights up any relevant LEDs by the viewfinder accordingly. Full press, obviously, takes the photo. The button itself has a pretty nice feel to it, the half press is distinct enough to find it without the risk of an accidental full press. It’s worth noting that half press doesn’t lock exposure either – if you move the camera whilst the button is half pressed, the exposure will adjust according to what the camera is pointed at. There is no exposure lock feature either, though as I will come to, there is an exposure compensation dial.

Pentax 17 shutter button

What might be considered slightly unusual is that the manual focus dial doesn’t set the focus manually/mechanically, it just tells the camera what distance/zone to focus the lens to electronically when the shutter is half pressed. Possibly the biggest downside of this system is that it means the camera isn’t what I’d consider a true manual focus camera. The benefit of a true MF camera is that once the focus is set, there’s no shutter lag caused by an AF system having to move the lens into position for correct focus. It could be argued that a manual focus camera that sets the lens after the shutter button is half pressed is almost a worst-of-both-worlds. No AF, but still has shutter lag.

That said, thanks to the lack of AF there’s no processing time – some point & shoots take a moment to decide where to focus which adds to the shutter lag further. At least that isn’t a factor here. I have more thoughts on why the Pentax 17 might work like this in a moment too. I should probably also say that I haven’t yet really noticed the shutter lag in practice. If I think about, it’s there especially at closer distances where the lens moves more, but for normal shooting I don’t think it’s particularly noticeable – you just might notice it if you come to this camera with an expectation of a mechanical manual focus experience.

Pentax 17 lens

I think it’s also worth pointing out at this stage that thanks to the focusing system being very quiet, and this being a mechanical/manually advancing camera, the Pentax 17 a very quiet/discreet camera to use.

Next we have the control dial with various settings that are all essentially automatic, but provide a reasonable level of control over the decisions the camera makes. First, in blue is the full automatic “auto” mode. Auto is completely automatic and will select an appropriate shutter and aperture as well as firing the flash when the cameras deems fit to (Edit: The auto mode also sets the lens to a fixed hyperfocal distance – it ignores the distance the lens is set to). P for Program sets the shutter and aperture to a balanced setting appropriate for the light levels without it ever resorting to using the flash. The little moon symbol favours longer shutter speeds and “BOKEH” favours wider apertures. B is for Bulb and will keep the shutter open as long as the button is held down. Finally, there’s a pair of flash settings, one for slow sync and one for daylight/fill flash for use when the subject is backlit etc.

Pentax 17 main control dial

I must say, I’m very impressed by the Pentax 17’s selection of automatic modes. Pentax have managed to fix a few of my biggest gripes with old point & shoot cameras here. First is the fact that the nature of a dial means the camera will retain whatever your shooting preference is. Specifically, if you don’t want the camera to flash after switching it off then on again, it won’t. So few older film cameras offer this as a feature. Next is the three non-flash program settings. When I used to review point & shoot cameras back in the early days of this website, I used to hunt google for program mode settings charts (here is a time I wrote about one). Many point & shoot cameras will favour selecting slightly slower shutter speeds over opening the aperture in slightly low lit circumstances. I found Fuji cameras to be particularly prone to this. The charts would show that the cameras would set 1/30 and f/4 over 1/60 and f2.8 – this baffled me and put me off a lot of Fuji cameras (such as this one). Olympus, on the other hand, used to favour wider apertures. It’s one of the reasons I really liked the mju-ii (despite my reservations about what they cost secondhand).

Pentax have given the wider-aperture program mode the “BOKEH” nomenclature to denote that it will use the widest aperture mode readily and therefore create the shallowest depth of field. How much or little bokeh a 25mm f3.5 lens creates is another matter of course. For me, that’s irrelevant anyway. What’s important here is that we have a wider-aperture-favouring program mode which will reduce the chance of blur in some slightly lower lit circumstances. We also have a longer-shutter-speed-favouring mode for where the opposite is the preference. This might be for either intentional blurring effects (streaky car headlights for e.g.) or for simply helping to ensure larger depth of field for landscapes etc. Given lower-light shooting circumstances, it’s possibly advisable to think about a tripod or something to lean the camera on for this mode. One way or another, these three program modes strike me as being very well thought out, and as I say, I can’t help at being impressed at Pentax for including them.

Pentax 17 iso and exposure compensation dials

Jumping to the other side of the Pentax 17’s viewfinder and we first find an exposure compensation dial for -2 to +2 compensation. Above this dial is the ISO dial release button which lets the ISO dial to the left rotate for setting between 50 and 3200 ISO. Within the dial is the film rewind which is released via a lock on the bottom of the camera. Pulling the film rewind up pops open the back of the camera. Again, I’m impressed at Pentax for including any level of exposure compensation. Though there is a chance I suppose that those who like to shot some of the ultra-slow films – and/or those wishing to heavily push films – might find the 50-3200 ISO range a little limiting.

Pentax 17 back

Finally, on the back of the camera, there is also a port for an accessory shutter release as well as the film reminder slot for inserting the end of your film box.

What’s missing?

In some ways it doesn’t feel fair to talk about what’s missing from the Pentax 17 – it’s not even autofocus, so comparing it to the “best” of the point & shoot cameras out there doesn’t necessarily make sense. But, as a camera that’s entering a marketplace alongside some very highly regarded cameras – and with it having such an interesting set of features – I thought it might be an idea to make clear what I think, could by some people, be conceived as missing.

The first thing is something I’ve spoken about already, and that’s the proper parallax adjusting frame lines. This is a feature I’d love to see in a higher spec model, especially one with such close focus capabilities as this camera.

Another thing I think is missing from the viewfinder experience is any kind of digital readout telling the user what shutter speed is going to be used. I took a couple of photos in lower light where I just had to hope there wasn’t going to be motion blur. Admittedly, the flashing blue light on the back gives some indication of low light, but nothing beats a proper shutter speed readout in the viewfinder in my opinion.

There’s also the lack of an aperture control dial. Many of the higher spec point & shoots from back in the day allowed manual control of the aperture. Of course, the Pentax 17 does allow some control in the form of the three program modes. Actually, for me, these offer enough control, but some might disagree.

There’s also a lack of exposure lock. Now it’s very easy to argue that an exposure compensation dial offers a perfectly good alternative to an exposure lock button, but personally I like both. As mentioned, half press doesn’t lock the exposure either.

Finally, there’s no DX code reader. Personally, I probably prefer a lack of DX code reading, especially these days when there’s so many cottage industry films out there that don’t come with a DX code. It does however mean remembering to set the ISO of the film on the camera each time it’s loaded. I guess this will or won’t be an issue depending on the habits of any given individual user. One way or another, I thought it worth a mention.

Pentax 17 Image Quality

So far, I have only developed one roll that I have shot, but I have also been able to have a flick through some of Paul’s (from Analogue Wonderland) photos. It’s really hard not to be impressed by what the Pentax 17 is capable of. Remembering of course that this is a half frame camera, and that my results were all from Ultramax 400, which isn’t exactly at the top of my list when it comes to resolution, I think it’s really impressive!

Pentax 17 - First Roll Pentax 17 - First Roll Pentax 17 - First Roll Pentax 17 - First Roll Pentax 17 - First Roll Pentax 17 - First Roll Pentax 17 - First Roll Pentax 17 - First Roll Pentax 17 - First Roll

And here are a couple of Paul’s photos that he kindly allowed me to share

There’s also more of my photos on my flickr here – I have another roll nearly finished, so that will be uploaded soon!

Pentax 17 Key Specifications

I don’t usually share spec lists, but there’s a few key ones I thought worth sharing, as follows:

Frame size: 24 x 17mm (17 being where the camera’s name comes from)
Lens: 3 element/3 group
Lens angle of view: 61 degrees
Filter thread: 40.5mm
Metering range: EV2.5 – 16.5 (ISO100)
Shutter speeds: 1/350th – 4 seconds (and bulb)
Flash guide number: 6

If you would like to see all the specs, they can be found in the manual which I have uploaded here.

Final Thoughts

I think Pentax have done a pretty solid and well rounded job at updating and modernising the concept of the manual focus/manual advance point & shoot film camera. When selecting older film cameras, there has always been a sense that it’s a case of selecting a camera from a series of options that were designed for a by-gone era – even if that by-gone ear was only a decade or so ago. That is to say, with settings options being designed for the marketplace back then, very few cameras seem to offer what a lot of people want from a point & shoot camera today. The result of this is that those cameras that do, have gone up stratospherically in secondhand value.

The Pentax 17 has a really solid and balanced series of features. It answers questions and frustrations that many of us have had with older film cameras such as the ever-frustrating automatic flash modes that need switching off every time the camera is turned on. Impressively, at least to me, it also answers the frustration of the program mode not quite being fit for all uses by having the option of 3 different modes. It’s also quiet, and easy to understand even for the beginner, yet doesn’t feel particularly lacking to someone like me who’s tried a lot of different cameras and therefore is a little more demanding in terms of what features I want to see.

The overall build quality is certainly good enough too, and I can’t help but like how it looks. It seems to strike a fine balance between having a more modern look to it, whilst also appropriately nodding to the its heritage. Though I do retain the right to express a certain level of skepticism at the various cheesy slogans and bits of branding associated with the launch of the camera, and blazoned upon it.

Pentax 17 front on view

There are of course some limitations too. The viewfinder, whilst bright and big enough, is quite simple. The frame lines being fixed, and having a propensity to disappear sometimes make for a less than perfect framing process. The lack of shutter speed readout might also disappoint some. Though of course, it’s nice to be looking through a clean/bright finder that’s not got years of crap floating around in it. There’s also the slightly unusual electronic focusing that makes for a tiny bit of shutter lag that I wouldn’t expect from a manual focus camera. Though I should emphasise again, that I suspect most people won’t notice this in practice. Of course, it’s manual focus, which will likely limit its appeal to some. There’s no manual controls, DX code reading or exposure lock either. And then there’s the slightly larger size might, and indeed the basic fact that it’s half frame might put a few people off too.

All in all though, I have found myself really enjoying my first week or so with the Pentax 17. I really do belive that what it lacks is definitely outweighed by what it provides. Quite simply, it takes great photos in a way that I’ve found enjoyable to take them, and whilst I can nitpick, none of what I have found lacking has come anything close to being a deal breaker for me. It just feels like a really well thought out camera for a new era of film photographers. It’s also a camera I can see me recommending to beginners without reservation, which has to be a good thing for both those beginners and the industry as a whole. I’m now just looking forward to seeing what Pentax do next, as I believe this camera holds some clues to what we are likely to see.

Hints at what’s to come

The Pentax 17 is interesting in itself, but it’s also interesting in terms of what I think it hints at. Firstly, and perhaps most obviously is the size of the thing. Admittedly, the top plate is fairly crammed and therefore couldn’t be shrunk all that easily with this design and feature set. But, if they actively desired to make a smaller camera, I’m sure they could have made one – especially as it’s half frame. I just don’t think they wanted to make a smaller camera, as by making a slightly larger-bodied camera, they are potentially creating platform of at least some parts that can be shared with other future models. The biggest hint to this is when you open the back of the camera and see the amount of space around the half frame film gate. A few different components here and it could easily be big enough for full frame.

Pentax 17 back open

For me though, possibly the bigger hint at what’s to come is the electronically controlled focusing. I’m no camera designer, but if I were making a manual focus camera, I’d probably make one with a mechanically focusing lens. I’m sure it would have been a lot more simple to do so… Unless of course, a design for an electronically focusing camera had already been designed, or at very least needed to be designed for a future camera that needed such a system. It looks to me that the focusing system is based on an AF focusing system that’s been simplified to set distance based on what the focus dial is set to rather than what a AF system tells it to.

In short, I expect we might see a very similar looking camera that’s autofocus, shoots full frame, and sits very comfortably alongside the Pentax 17 in a future line up of film cameras from the brand. Fingers crossed!

If you’re looking to purchase a Pentax 17, you can get one from AW here (this is not an affiliate link).

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About The Author

By Hamish Gill
I started taking photos at the age of 9. Since then I've taken photos for a hobby, sold cameras for a living, and for a little more than decade I've been a professional photographer and, of course, weekly contributor to 35mmc.
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Comments

Kary Schumpert on Pentax 17 Comprehensive Review – The New Half-Frame Point & Shoot

Comment posted: 17/06/2024

OOOOOh, so glad to see your review here! I was so excited to see this after the rumored images of the camera at the end of last week/beginning of this week. Never have I cried for the release of a camera, but I did for this. Mostly, it's just cool that film and the people who love film (here's looking at your 35mmc community) kept it going, and now we have a film camera that is neither super expensive, nor super cheap, and made by a major manufacturer. I was excited about a few of the reusable/disposable cameras (yep, Reto, and Lomo, Ilford, Kodak), but this is super exciting. I definitely want one, and not just to support a camera company, but for my own enjoyment and just pure exhilaration that there is a new camera! I have known and loved a Ricoh GR, so I hope that maybe they (Pentax/Ricoh) will return to this design as one of their possible future film cameras. Anyway, I am so glad they were smart enough to send you one to review. Thanks for your insights and perspective, and thank you also, for cultivating this 35mmc community, of which I am so glad to be a part.
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Hamish Gill replied:

Comment posted: 17/06/2024

Thanks Kary, happy to have you onboard too! Thanks for the comment! You're right, a little GR sized camera would be very cool!

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Jeffery Luhn on Pentax 17 Comprehensive Review – The New Half-Frame Point & Shoot

Comment posted: 17/06/2024

Thank you, Hamish, for your well written review of this new take on an abandoned film format. As I often do, I shared this review with my wife. It was met with some eye-rolling which s common. After all, I ask her to look at 8x10 prints with a 8x loupe to appreciate acuity, tight grain, and other attributes that have nothing to with content. I can't blame her reactions. That's why she surprised me with her interest in this new Pentax. Let me preface this by telling you she spent 15 years running a portrait studio in a shopping mall. They only used one oversized TLR and one lighting set up. Expression and posing was everything. She's not into hardware.

Here are her questions/reaction.
This a film camera that only uses half of a 35mm frame?
Yes.
So grain will be double and sharpness will be cut in half?
Well... kinda... sorta... yes.
And it's not half the size of a normal 35mm camera?
No, it's not.
Does it come in a digital version?
No.
Help me understand why.
Why, what?
Why everything.

There you have it. Wife wisdom. I can't say that I disagree with her. I only hope Pentax makes a ton of money because I like the company and anything that's good for film.
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Hamish Gill replied:

Comment posted: 17/06/2024

Well yes, not for everyone ...

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Stevenson G on Pentax 17 Comprehensive Review – The New Half-Frame Point & Shoot

Comment posted: 17/06/2024

Wowsers. I've been waiting for a review of this and it hasn't disappointed. If I had a spare 500 quid I'd buy one right now to be honest. I agree there's a couple of 'interesting' design choices in it, but overall it does seem very decent. I also was thinking that the A-MF seemed to suggest a future AF version.
Well done Pentax I say.
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Hamish Gill replied:

Comment posted: 17/06/2024

Yep, I say the same! It's made me way more excited about what will come next!

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Marcus Gunaratnam on Pentax 17 Comprehensive Review – The New Half-Frame Point & Shoot

Comment posted: 17/06/2024

Makes you want to run away and buy an Olympus pen FT Film version ,which gives you sync at all speeds for electronic flash with a higher GN,gives interchangeble lens capacity,other lenses via adaptor using that part of lens that has more spherical&chromatic aberration correction,micro prism focussing being the only difference,parallax focus frames are OK but lacks sharpness of a micro prism,,why choose a fixed focal length lens when you can have a mouthwatering array of lenses.
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Hamish Gill replied:

Comment posted: 17/06/2024

Makes you want to buy a Pen FT ;) I am definitely of the view this camera isn't for everyone - but it will definitely work better for some than an old Pen, I am sure of it!

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Mikolas replied:

Comment posted: 17/06/2024

Oh my pen FV is quite HEAVY for it's size, for me it's a huge downside (((

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Jeroen van Weert replied:

Comment posted: 17/06/2024

That is exactly the point. The thing to value most is the fact that Pentax brought a new made camera to the maret. And that you do not start with a have all, "can do all" camera but try to get a large part of new film photographers to buy this camera is a logical choice. When this becomes a success, than it will be easy for Pentax to make another analogue camera that might be more of the liking to a different, but probably smaller, group of film photographers.

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David Hume on Pentax 17 Comprehensive Review – The New Half-Frame Point & Shoot

Comment posted: 18/06/2024

Bravo Hamish! A great review and I can think of no one better qualified to write it. I am very optimistic about a successor too. Full frame of course. That's a pretty serious set of specs and a serious amount of money so it doesn't look like they're mucking about. Oddly I have shot a Canon Demi 17 recently; a manual half-frame with a serious 30mm f 1.7 lens. Not a fan of the half-frame format really but I'm sure Pentax did their homework. I really hope this succeeds and opens the door for more.
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Hamish Gill replied:

Comment posted: 18/06/2024

Yep, you and me both! Thanks David!

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Geoff Chaplin on Pentax 17 Comprehensive Review – The New Half-Frame Point & Shoot

Comment posted: 18/06/2024

Unavailable in Japan!? Where is the camera released - EU, UK and US?
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Hamish Gill replied:

Comment posted: 18/06/2024

That is odd...

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Steve h on Pentax 17 Comprehensive Review – The New Half-Frame Point & Shoot

Comment posted: 18/06/2024

Ok so I’m impressed- I think I guess. There’s two things bad that jump out at me, $500 pounds equals $635 US dollars. It was expected and I get why, but OUCH!! I’m sure they won’t be able to make them fast enough,


but too much for me. The other is the half moon icon is supposed to mean it’ll lean towards smaller apertures? I gotta wrap my
head around that one. Lastly, hamish I think
right on about this being the platform to ad
onto with subsequent higher featured models.
I noticed it’s use of a cr2 battery when a
couple of double or triple A’s would do fine in its current simple low drain form. But that’s not a bad thing. Even if you shoot many many rolls exclusively with flash, that cr2 will last a good long time. So the next variant will need that battery and there it already is! Smart Pentax!
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Eric Norris replied:

Comment posted: 18/06/2024

B and H has them on preorder for $499 US.

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Andy on Pentax 17 Comprehensive Review – The New Half-Frame Point & Shoot

Comment posted: 18/06/2024

This camera looks amazing! I shoot an Olympus Pen EE3 from (likely) the 1970s, which uses a selenium ring for a light meter and I roll and develop my own b/w film. I love it, and it's a great size, but I'm definitely getting this one. Thanks for the great, comprehensive review and pics!
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Hamish Gill replied:

Comment posted: 18/06/2024

Thanks for the reply!

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Eric Norris on Pentax 17 Comprehensive Review – The New Half-Frame Point & Shoot

Comment posted: 18/06/2024

Regarding film speeds--you could select ISO 50 and use exposure compensation to get down to about ISO 12. At the other end, select 3200 and two stops of compensation to shoot at 12800. If you haven't seen it, Analogue Wonderland did a very extensive review video that goes into more depth on the camera and its settings than the six or either other YouTube reviews that dropped today.

P.S. I preordered one today!
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Hamish Gill replied:

Comment posted: 18/06/2024

Yes, I thought that, but with some cameras you end up pushing up against the limitations of the ev range of the camera - I can't quite get my head around the numbers though... not enough sleep recently maybe

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Jamie Winder on Pentax 17 Comprehensive Review – The New Half-Frame Point & Shoot

Comment posted: 18/06/2024

500 bucks is more than I expected, and I get that for most people (even existing film photographers) there are already more sophisticated options for the price.

HOWEVER! For a particular niche they have absolutely hit this out the park. Last year I spent months researching old half frame cameras to suit a run’n’gun street photography approach. Why half frame? Whilst shallow depth of field is harder to achieve, it means you get more in focus at any given aperture than full frame. Couple this with zone focus and a wide-ish lens and you can shoot freely and almost instantaneously. 

Anyway, the criteria for my search had 10 points and not a single camera from the past hit all 10:

1. Half frame
2. Glass lens 
3. Wide-ish
4. Zone-focus
5. Auto-exposure
6. Flash-capable
7. Built-in flash
8. Close focus (<0.9m)
9. Non-selenium meter 
10. Appealing (subjective, yes)

So, it seems the new Pentax 17 is the ONLY camera in existence that hits every single mark. 
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Hamish Gill replied:

Comment posted: 18/06/2024

Yeah, it's unique for sure

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Phil Snaps on Pentax 17 Comprehensive Review – The New Half-Frame Point & Shoot

Comment posted: 18/06/2024

It indeed looks like a solid platform for future cameras. A bit like Cosina did in its time, with many variation around the same "CT-1" platform. Would Pentax make white label cameras for other brands?
Also would they go through the difficult process of creating a new wind lever just for this camera? I don't think so.
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Hamish Gill replied:

Comment posted: 18/06/2024

Yeah, I think there is definitely going to be more to follow

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Jack on Pentax 17 Comprehensive Review – The New Half-Frame Point & Shoot

Comment posted: 18/06/2024

£500 buys us a half frame camera with weird non-intuitive controls, built mostly of plastic, with guesstimation focusing, that we awkwardly have to turn sideways all the time to take landscape format photos, with a strange viewfinder and funny lights, and we're all supposed to go wow because it's a brand new film camera from a serious name in photography that we should be grateful for and we don't want discourage them in what might come next?

Hmmm! What I think Pentax have here, after all the big big fanfare and razzmatazz, is a very big missed opportunity for them to have delivered us an exiting new 35mm film camera which sadly will probably not come again.

Thanks for the excellent review Hamish it was very revealing.
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Hamish Gill replied:

Comment posted: 18/06/2024

I would argue that it is quite intuitive actually - I picked it up easily, and I think even a beginner would too. I also don't think it is a missed opportunity - I think that would imply that they aren't going to do more, which I expect them too fairly soon.

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Jack replied:

Comment posted: 18/06/2024

I suspect that will depend on how well this product is received in the market and how far below sales expectations it falls and/or how soon and how heavily Pentax will have to start discounting the product to shift stock. ROIC always talks in these things. If the first product in a line of new cameras fails to 'wow' the market the expected follow up models often fail to appear. The question is just how much of the initial interest in the '17' will be converted into actual sales?

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Bob Janes on Pentax 17 Comprehensive Review – The New Half-Frame Point & Shoot

Comment posted: 18/06/2024

That focusing system seems oddly over-complex, but It sounds really nice - until you get to the price.

When you consider how simple (ie not a lot to go wrong) the second hand alternatives are (I'm thinking Olympus Trip 35 or one of the little Pens) they look really good value in comparison. The Pentax even makes the Lomo LC-A variants look like a really good deal. On the whole I'd be more inclined to hunt out a nice clean reconditioned Konica C35 or Ricoh G500...
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Hamish Gill replied:

Comment posted: 18/06/2024

Of course, and many who are comfortable with older cameras will carry on along that same path too. There is definitely a market for a new camera though, and I don't think this price point will be an issue for a lot of those within it

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Bob Janes replied:

Comment posted: 18/06/2024

OK, after being negative about the price, some things I was impressed about on the detail: For one, the use of slot-head screws on the front-plate, which has to be a pure nostalgia thing - plus the inclusion of the 'knidf-and-fork' instagram 'this is what I'm eating' option, both of which made me smile, despite not being aimed at me. I'm also impressed by the options on that exposure dial - giving a full auto, program without flash, bias towards wider apertures or towards longer exposures... With a lens this wide and at this aperture, there is never going to be a huge difference but kudos to Ricoh for giving the control.

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Hamish Gill replied:

Comment posted: 18/06/2024

For my money, if the bokeh mode can help save the odd shot from motion blur, then it's a winner for me!

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Michael Zwicky-Ross on Pentax 17 Comprehensive Review – The New Half-Frame Point & Shoot

Comment posted: 18/06/2024

Excellent and very comprehensive review Hamish. I just have to take issue with "well specified, reasonably priced" as you carefully don't mention the £500 tag. No. Too dear for what it offers. I'll stick to second hand full -frame cameras thanks.
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Hamish Gill replied:

Comment posted: 18/06/2024

I suppose it is hard to define "reasonable", but in my mind it was a little more than lomography and a lot less than Leica, so "reasonable" felt a good fit

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davesurrey on Pentax 17 Comprehensive Review – The New Half-Frame Point & Shoot

Comment posted: 18/06/2024

I freely admit here, for all the internet to see, that when I initially heard Pentax were planning to make a new film camera I doubted it would ever happen and some Ricoh finance exec would see it as a waste of R&D costs. This based on years in product planning and company strategy. But I clearly forgot that Pentax never likes to follow the masses; for example their continuation with DSLRs and refusal to make digital mirrorless, and in the past their unique Auto 110 mini SLR.

Having read a few reviews I believe Pentax have done their research and are aiming clearly at the generation that is used to smartphone photography. Hence the portrait orientation. (I don't buy the cost argument for half frame.) But if this is the case then I feel that lack of DX coding may be a mistake. I also feel that a 35mm EFL lens may not be wide enough for many of this market sector. And they will be used to auto-everything so it’s a brave move by Pentax to force them to have to select focal distance as well as the “type“ of auto-exposure. We shall see.
The first thing I thought when I saw a picture of the camera internals was that this is a full frame camera re-engineered to half-frame. So I agree with Hamish that it will be very easy to make a full-frame version, should this be a success. And again the rather strange way that focus is achieved seems to say that they have a fully auto-focus camera in mind, with little need for re-engineering, re-tooling or new parts. But whether such a beast would appeal to the target market is debateable.

I must admit that I find it cute and in at least one of the shots it reminded me of my Auto 110 from the front and the winder might have come from the Auto 110 parts bin. This could well be the right time for such a camera as successive smartphone releases have less and less to interest a market that thrives on novelty and “the latest” fad.

I find it interesting that all the reviews I have seen so far have been on camera sites and not on smartphone oriented sites. I’d be interested to see what they make of it. Meanwhile I will continue to use some of the very many (too many perhaps) old film cameras I have that have cost me a fraction.
Oh and why is the leaf shutter flash sync set at 1/125?

Hamish: see you at the PhotoWalk on the 29th. Now, which camera to bring???
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Hamish Gill replied:

Comment posted: 18/06/2024

Yes, see you there - I shall bring this for anyone to look at too! Otherwise, I have a roll in my Contax 139 I need to finish, so I expect I'll bring that too

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Ibraar Hussain on Pentax 17 Comprehensive Review – The New Half-Frame Point & Shoot

Comment posted: 18/06/2024

Thanks for the excellent review hamish !
I’ve been so excited about this and I think Pentax have a winner on their hands
An all metal body would’ve zoomed the price up.
It looks Great and looks modern and Pentax I think are worth supporting for this move.
And the photos are lovely. Shaper contrasty and just fantastic
They did say, in a recent interview, that a couple of other camera manufacturers will also join them in releasing film cameras !
I was wondering how the film advance lever action and sound is like?
Thanks again
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Hamish Gill replied:

Comment posted: 18/06/2024

It's pretty smooth and quiet - a little clicky maybe - not really like a fancy camera of yore, but it's fine by my standards.

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Mike on Pentax 17 Comprehensive Review – The New Half-Frame Point & Shoot

Comment posted: 18/06/2024

Big kudos to Pentax for bringing this to market. I worry about the graininess from a half frame neg though (if underexposed). I had a Nikon Pronea S APS camera back in the day and the results were always a bit sub-par compared to full frame.

I do wish someone would bring out a simple fixed MF prime lens digital camera like this, with optical viewfinder and something like a focus confirmation dot in the VF display. Like a non-RF variation on the Pixii.
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Hamish Gill replied:

Comment posted: 18/06/2024

Yeah, with a really simple set of controls - that would be a fun digital!

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Bob Janes replied:

Comment posted: 18/06/2024

Having been shooting quite a lot of 110 recently, I wouldn't worry too much about the half-frame thing. For one thing if you do your own processing, it is possible to take a little more care than you would typically get at a mass-processor - For another, because we scan these days I think we get more of the negative than you would typically have seen in an 'enprint' back in the day, some of which used to cut off a horrendous amount of the frame.

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Bob Janes replied:

Comment posted: 18/06/2024

Also interesting that Ricoh have the rights to the old AOC name and logo...

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Mike replied:

Comment posted: 18/06/2024

Yeah, I was watching the Petapixel review on YouTube, shot on a v. sunny day on Portra 400, and the results look very nice. They do point out the limited max shutter speed of the leaf shutter of 1/350th of a second. I do like it. I'm half considering if I could justify buying it lol.

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Hamish Gill replied:

Comment posted: 18/06/2024

Portra is fine way over exposed anyway

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Michael Watkins replied:

Comment posted: 18/06/2024

Yeah, true.

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Patrick Perroud on Pentax 17 Comprehensive Review – The New Half-Frame Point & Shoot

Comment posted: 18/06/2024

I own and still use a point-and-shoot pocket-size half format film camera, the Canon Dial 35. This is not my main film camera as I am using it next to a pair of massive Nikon F4S, but with a very different purpose: twin shots, to get a full frame with two different shot angles and/or distance from the same subject. Since covid, it tended to become a little bit of a "selfish" camera, since its MFD is 0.8m, equivalent to arm length. Its viewfinder is just terrible: you can't frame any picture properly, so it became quite natural to turn it toward myself at arm length.
It uses a similar AF zone system as the Pentax 17, but its max shutter speed is 1/250 against 1/350, its max iso is 400 against 3200 and its lens (28mm f/2.8 against 25mm f/3.5) sharpness is poor. I shot about 6 rolls a year with this camera, for many years. I will buy the Pentax 17 not only because it will be a very nice upgrade from my 50-year-old Canon Dial 35, but also because I should be able to turn it back in the correct direction, toward the open world outside.
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Hamish Gill replied:

Comment posted: 18/06/2024

Yeah, I don't think you will be disappointed with the sharpness here!

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fleetwoodler on Pentax 17 Comprehensive Review – The New Half-Frame Point & Shoot

Comment posted: 18/06/2024

Thanks for the excellent review!

I am feeling very disappointed to be honest. This is not a camera made for enthusiasts, like most of the people here clearly are, but rather targeted the "next generation" of film shooters. We kept film painfully alive just for them selling a new camera to Instagram kids. WOW. Also, will those kids buying a zone- focusing system for 550€ as entry point into photography?

As much as I want to support the good cause, for this price I can get well- working top- notch analogue equipment, which is not plastic crap, (either cameras or glass) or rather use the money to support the likes of ORWO and Ilford to make new film.
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Hamish Gill replied:

Comment posted: 18/06/2024

I just don't think it's as cut and dry as that - I am quite enthusiastic about photography, and I really like it. A good few of the comments here mirror those thoughts. I think the issue that is perceived by many (I hope you don't mind me calling you this) detractors like yourself is that Pentax have attempted to add some features to appeal to a wider, younger, next gen audience. But I don't think that it therefore excludes the rest of us enjoying it - I certainly didn't find the "bokeh" mode (for eg) annoying. Quite the opposite, I just worked out what it did, and how it might work for me.

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fleetwoodler replied:

Comment posted: 18/06/2024

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Hamish. Such exchange is exactly why I love 35mmc so much. It's fascinating to read such a variety of opinions in the web. The camera certainly seems to be polarizing, and the widespread discussion can only be good promotion. Despite my reservations, I genuinely hope the camera is well received and sells well. Who knows, maybe they'll design a camera in the near future that will appeal to all the current "detractors" (yes, I am one probably). Cheers!

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Mark Ellerby on Pentax 17 Comprehensive Review – The New Half-Frame Point & Shoot

Comment posted: 18/06/2024

Interesting review. It looks like a quality product, and although initially the price seemed a bit steep, on reflection for a newly designed film camera that's well built and is going to give many years of reliable use, it's not really that expensive.
I'm pleased that they went with old-school battery power and weren't tempted to include a proprietary Li-ion battery and a USB-C charging port.
If they make a full frame camera out of this design, I might be tempted. The reality is though, there are a lot of excellent second hand small film cameras available for less than £500, so it would have a lot of competition.
The fact that Pentax have brought this to market bodes well for the future film cameras, so they deserve praise for this.
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Hamish Gill replied:

Comment posted: 18/06/2024

Yeah, to me £500 feels, as I said, reasonable all things considered - I know the tech is different (more simple), but there aren't many digital cameras as low as £500 on the market...

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John Pemberton on Pentax 17 Comprehensive Review – The New Half-Frame Point & Shoot

Comment posted: 18/06/2024

There's a lot that went into the 17 name. Mostly that it is half a 35mm frame, but honestly that in part is the age of the target market. The gateway drug for teens from either cell phones or instax cameras.

The more I learned about it, the more impressed I am at its potential to be an educational tool for some basic concepts at a relatively young age. Field focus develops the idea that the camera needs to be adjusted for a subject's distance from the lens. The "Bokeh" and "blur" settings plant the seed about what an F-Stop and shutter speed can do. The half frame is presented in the view finder in portrait orientation, like so many kids are used to with their cell phones.

It is a really interesting experiment in customer development and building. Yes, they hope to sell this $500 camera today, but they also want to sell more expensive and advanced cameras to this youth cohort 10-15 years from now.

I think many of the critical comments this camera will receive have nothing to do with it, but rather all the Boomer X-er's who are offended that the world no longer revolves around them. For film photography to survive, it needs to survive beyond the people who engage with it now.

Hand a K1000 to a 14 year old and they will be overwhelmed by the math see it as a chore and lose interest soon enough. Hand this to the same kid and they will make pictures, some of which will make them happy. If they are smitten and curious then they will go further and learn what went into the good ones.

It's not the film camera that the 56 year old me would design and choose for myself now, but I hope it is everything to a group of today's kids that the Minolta Autopak 450e was to me on the day I turned 12.
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Hamish Gill replied:

Comment posted: 18/06/2024

Indeed, I'd agree with all this - it bridges a gap between total point & shoot functionality of a phone, and a "proper" camera whilst introducing some need for learning basic principles of photography.

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Jeffery Luhn replied:

Comment posted: 18/06/2024

JP, You've done a good job describing what most of us hope will be a growing market. I teach a B&W film class at a college, in addition to a couple digital classes. Your example of a young kid losing interest is true with the 18-28 year olds too. So maybe this camera will encourage them because it has 'dumbed down' controls to enable them to do some manual adjustments. "Look Daddy! I'm riding my bicycle!!" In any case, thanks to Pentax for taking the risk. Good luck with this effort!

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John Pemberton replied:

Comment posted: 18/06/2024

Thanks Jeffrey, I teach at a university as well. Stats. It really is the case that students these days grew up with many more black boxes than I did as a kid. My students seem happy with knowing the applications of ideas not wanting a deep grounding in the theories behind them. Interest for what's inside the box begins when the box doesn't do something they want it to. They are eager and capable of learning anything once they determine they want to learn a thing for the purpose it provides. I have been waiting for this release for two years now and I can't wait to drop a roll of Phoenix in it and go for a walk with no particular purpose or plan in mind.

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G on Pentax 17 Comprehensive Review – The New Half-Frame Point & Shoot

Comment posted: 18/06/2024

I am disappointed by the hefty price for a half frame camera with a fixed wide angle lens that has zone focusing. This appears to be a party camera designed for people who want to shoot pictures of friends and family. You could do so much better, with greater value, by getting an Olympus XA2 or a Canon Canonet QL17 G-III.
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Hamish Gill replied:

Comment posted: 18/06/2024

The key is, it's new, so for those who can afford it, it works and has a warranty!

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Brent Buchner on Pentax 17 Comprehensive Review – The New Half-Frame Point & Shoot

Comment posted: 18/06/2024

what a sad joke. I could buy 10 Pentax Spotmatics for that price. Or 1 Spotmatic, and every Takumar lens you'd want to use with it, a flash, bag and tripod and come out with better results than this half frame will ever deliver. prospective buyers, do yourself a favour and get a real interchangeable lens camera for a fraction of the price, watch some photography videos or find a mentor and bypass this overpriced substandard camera.
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Hamish Gill replied:

Comment posted: 18/06/2024

I disagree

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Jeffery Luhn replied:

Comment posted: 18/06/2024

Brent, Yes, for the knowledgeable enthusiast, a solid manual camera and bag of lenses is an option. An option I would take for myself, but not recommend to young folks with an interest in film because it's trendy and fun for them. Let's see where this product takes us. It's a new generation, new interests, and some have enough money to buy and enjoy this camera. They neither compete, nor harm us (older) camera bugs. I'm really enjoying the active interchange on this subject. Lastly: In an Anthropology class I took last century, the instructor showed us a cartoon. Two bearded homo sapiens are seated on a rock and one is holding up a spearpoint. It's perfect. He says to his friend, "My son made this." The other replies,"Oh no. Why waste time on chipping rocks when he should be out stabbing deer with a sharpened stick?? Humanity will never survive if we let our kids spend time on such folly!"

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Huss on Pentax 17 Comprehensive Review – The New Half-Frame Point & Shoot

Comment posted: 18/06/2024

I don’t think you mentioned that in Auto, the camera sets a fixed hyperfocal distance ignoring whatever distance you set on the lens.
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Hamish Gill replied:

Comment posted: 18/06/2024

Thanks Huss, I hadn't spotted that. I have made a little edit note.

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Huss replied:

Comment posted: 18/06/2024

I think you're right, the way the lens works it sounds like they will be releasing a FF AF version for more money. This is the budget entry level one. Which is very interesting as Mint is about to release the Rollei 35AF which is a premium 35mm AF camera with manual film advance. Supposedly under $1000. This Pentax is $500 in the US.

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Andrew on Pentax 17 Comprehensive Review – The New Half-Frame Point & Shoot

Comment posted: 18/06/2024

I was interested to see this camera has a 3 element in 3 group lens. That sounds like a Cooke Triplet, which is an interesting choice versus the more obvious Tessar. It’s going to have more aberrations and creamier bokeh. You can certainly see some very nice bokeh in some of the example pictures, and I suspect it was a deliberate intention of Pentax to go this route, not a penny pinching measure.
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Stefan Wilde on Pentax 17 Comprehensive Review – The New Half-Frame Point & Shoot

Comment posted: 18/06/2024

Good evening Hamish,

I have stumbled into a Pentax 17 release party here in the "Khrome" analogue photography store in Hamburg and got to hold it. This of course is nothing to your fantastic, comprehensive review.

I concluded that this camera probably isn´t for me, but that´s perfectly fine because I believe it´s aimed at a much more interesting audience than myself.

I have a cabinet full of old film cameras and am overequipped for any photographic situation I can think of wanting to be in. I´m not a connaisseur, but I certainly have a rich choice of cameras. Could any new camera possibly please me? Probably not, because whatever the question, my cabinet will provide an adequate answer. If I were asked what I´d desire in terms of improvement on what I already have, I´d be lost. I want mechanical excellence! Simplicity! Optical excellence! Medium format!... Wait, I have all that... I want it to be a Leica M, but without the... you know... price?... Errrrrrrr... If Pentax were trying to please people like me they´d be in a commercially unviable place. Talk to model railway makers, they know all about catering to a conservative, spoilt and aged audience.

Let´s face it, I have some more years to enjoy photography, but I´m certainly not the generation that is this medium´s future. I can´t tell, but I absolutely hope that Pentax have nailed what the new generation want. Pentax have created something I haven´t seen so far and that is exactly what is needed.
I mean, I don´t get why people would want to take pictures of their lunch, even less on film and still less why you would want a focus setting for that. But I do get there seems to be a generation to whom this makes sense. Times move on. I don´t need to move on with them when it comes to analogue photography, but if Pentax wants to sell this camera, they need to.

I so much hope this is a success. Fingers crossed, Pentax!
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Hamish Gill replied:

Comment posted: 18/06/2024

Honestly, reading this makes me wonder why others can't see it. It's not for you, and you don't even get some of the things some people would want it for, but you appreciate that there are people who think and act differently. It's not that far a stretch to think like this is it, yet so many people online seem to take the view that if it doesn't perfectly fit their needs, it must be a load of rubbish. It's such an odd way to look at the world in my opinion.

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bp_reid on Pentax 17 Comprehensive Review – The New Half-Frame Point & Shoot

Comment posted: 18/06/2024

Quite pleased to see this, as it’s better than I expected.

I like that it’s half frame, there are a lot less usable-without-repair half frame cameras out there and getting one with metering that is even vaguely reliable is an even bigger ask since most have selenium cells.

The only real gripe for me is the speed of the lens, in a half frame of this size it should have been faster.
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Hamish Gill replied:

Comment posted: 18/06/2024

Perhaps, but it might have been slightly softer with it, given the simple nature of the formula

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Andrew L on Pentax 17 Comprehensive Review – The New Half-Frame Point & Shoot

Comment posted: 18/06/2024

Thank you for the excellent and very timely review! I have to say, I am impressed by the amount of effort Pentax took to make this a good quality camera, especially considering that their marketing all along has led me to believe this camera would not be as robust and full-featured as it appears to be. There is certainly a mixed (and vocal) reception from photography enthusiasts, which is not surprising. however, many comments could be made - for instance, some are saying that this camera is too expensive, but I would invite those people to look at Lomography's prices, while keeping build quality considerations in mind. Also, for anyone comparing the price of this camera to comparable ones of yesteryear, please remember to do an inflation calculation. Then they will probably discover that the cost of this one is quite in line with many.

I find it interesting that the focus-by-wire mechanism is basically what the digital GR cameras have for their snap focus feature, and behaves the same way with the minute shutter lag when driving the focus to the preset distance. In practice on the GRIII I have not noticed any real delay.

All in all, I find myself wanting one, while all along I had told myself that this first, beginner, model is not for me.
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Hamish Gill replied:

Comment posted: 18/06/2024

I’d agree with all the points here. And yes, in practice the shutter lag is indeed very subtle.

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Peter McGowan on Pentax 17 Comprehensive Review – The New Half-Frame Point & Shoot

Comment posted: 19/06/2024

I think this camera is exactly what the industry needs. If you draw a parallel with the vinyl LP revival, one of the big differences between that and the film photography revival is the availability of new record players. Yes people still buy second hand Linn turntables, but a lot of the Gen-Z's and Millenials (the likely market that this camera is aimed at) like buying new. Again drawing the parallels, one of the attractions of vinyl music for that demographic is the slower more tactile nature of the medium, so I don't thinnk the lack of DX coding, autofocus etc in the Pentax 17 will put people off. It's part of the experience.
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Hamish Gill replied:

Comment posted: 19/06/2024

Yes, well said!!

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Tom Aspin on Pentax 17 Comprehensive Review – The New Half-Frame Point & Shoot

Comment posted: 19/06/2024

In an age when people will quite happily spend £1000 or more every few years on the latest Iphone, £500 doesn't seem expensive for what is on offer. The format makes sense as most phone pictures are taken in portrait orientation.

As I middle aged bloke ( and old camera bore) I am definitely not the target market, but I do find myself really wanting one....
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Hamish Gill replied:

Comment posted: 19/06/2024

Precisely, we also live in a world where any beginner looking to buy a new camera needs to spend at least this sort of money for a digital, if not more.

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Dave Roberts on Pentax 17 Comprehensive Review – The New Half-Frame Point & Shoot

Comment posted: 19/06/2024

I really want this camera to sell. Its not for me - I love 1/2 frame and shoot the crapola out of my Pen EED (fantastic Family/holiday snapshot camera). But I have some big reservations.
All the reviews are so very positive about it, and, I get it, its a big thing. Big. For the first time in years, one of the historical companies (lets face it none of us were ever in the Leica field of dreams with the New M6) has produced a new film camera.
But I have noticed all the reviews same similar things - this is reasonably priced, this is a great beginner camera - err? No. it isn't.
Would you really recommend this to a newby as their beginner camera? Be honest now. At $900 dollerydoos here Oz - that ain't no cheap camera, certainly not a camera to recommend to someone just starting their film photography journey.
I want to love it and at $600AUD I would buy. I just can't reconcile the price to the design choices made. For a first camera to market, to be the weathervane of viability for more models, this falls shorts because of eccentric design and pricing choices. Don't get me wrong I hope and pray it sells like fresh cream buns in bakery outside a jenny craig gathering. I just worry that Pentax has Pentaxed itself.
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Peter McGowan replied:

Comment posted: 19/06/2024

My first camera was an Olympus Trip 35, no DX coding, zone focussing, auto exposure. I got the hang of it after about 10 frames of the first film. I don't think todays generations are so stupid that they won't also be able to get the hang of the Pentax 17 in a similar amount of time.

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Stefan Wilde replied:

Comment posted: 19/06/2024

Fair point, we'll made. However, I'm not sure about Pentax price policy here. Maybe they go the phone route - start high but go to a lower street price very soon? It might be what the target aufience is expecting? And maybe they want to price it so it is more of an aspiration? Let's see how it works out, I wish them well!

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davesurrey on Pentax 17 Comprehensive Review – The New Half-Frame Point & Shoot

Comment posted: 19/06/2024

I’ve been thinking a bit more and trying to get into Pentax’s mind-set as to why they developed this camera. Most folk believe the target market is the young as they will be around the longest as purchasers. Smart move, except this market see their smartphones as their photographic tool.
There are good reasons for this; it is always with them, it costs no more whether they take one or a 100 shots, in fact it costs nothing, and it allows them to upload immediately to their friends and social groups. This third point seems to be crucial having watched kids and grandkids, even those who have used Instax and even a DSLR, which have been relegated to the cupboard.
So what does the Pentax 17 offer to this grouping? Well it’s another thing to have to carry around, developing and printing/scanning are costly if used regularly, but perhaps most importantly, waiting the time it takes to get the film processed etc as well as to use up all 72 frames isn’t what most of this generation are used to. It’s an immediate world they live in.
I think it’s going to be a tough sell.
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Stefan Wilde replied:

Comment posted: 19/06/2024

I can follow your reasoning, but I'm not so sure. It certainly is true that the vast majority of people use their phones to take pictures and share them, but I think the resurgence of film was brought about by young people. When I visit my favorite analogue photo store I usually am by far the oldest person in it at 56. I see many young people carrying point and shoots or old SLRs. People my age, if they carry cameras at all, carry digital equipment. There definitely is a lust for analogue photography in a part of the young demographic. Maybe you are right and it is a hard sell, but for the sake of the medium I hope otherwise.

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Peter McGowan replied:

Comment posted: 19/06/2024

But the same generation also use their smart phones for streaming and "instant access" to music, and yet they are the demographic that buys most vinyl records. My step daughter is firmly in the target demographic for this. For her, using her iPhone for photos and music is as natural as breathing and requires as little thought. She craves something different, more interesting, engaging. She loves vinyl music. She loved using my old Pentax K1000 until it broke, which put her off using "really old stuff". I don't know if she'd buy the Pentax 17 but it would be up there on her wish list I'm sure.

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davesurrey replied:

Comment posted: 19/06/2024

I don’t think it’s quite the same. Those that embrace vinyl tend to say they want the tangibility that they don’t get with streaming or an MP3 on a phone. That isn’t the same as the case of smartphones vs dedicated camera. Nor does it speak to the desire for immediacy nor the want to share.

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Russ Rosener on Pentax 17 Comprehensive Review – The New Half-Frame Point & Shoot

Comment posted: 19/06/2024

Yes! I have a Pen F and a Pen FT. I adore them both and that flash sync at all speeds is amazingly versatile.
However, they are at least 55-60 years old. If one of them breaks the chances of finding someone to fix it is very minimal. Half frame (Technically SINGLE frame if you come from a cinema background) is very appealing given both the current cost of 35mm film and processing. Add to that the massive advances in film technology the last 15 years in terms of grain and resolution and you have an old idea that looks new again.

Your photos made with this new Pentax 17 seal the deal for me. Photography is about pictures. The half frame format fits beautifully onto 4 x 6 inch paper. I hope the '17 takes off and inspires a new generation of film photographers.
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Eric on Pentax 17 Comprehensive Review – The New Half-Frame Point & Shoot

Comment posted: 19/06/2024

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.
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Jay Dann Walker on Pentax 17 Comprehensive Review – The New Half-Frame Point & Shoot

Comment posted: 20/06/2024

An excellent, well thought out, intelligent review, as usual and as we always expect from this site.

In Australia, with the usual retail markups we are used to in the photo trade, buying a 17 won't leave anyone with much change from AUD $1000. Too rich for my blood, but it may appeal to art/artsy students with cashed-up parents.

Overall my first impression was, it reminded me of my long-ago Olympus PEN half-frame, which I bought used in the mid-'80s and loved until the shutter went belly up and several repair shops told me sorry, no parts available. Now and then I take out a box of slides (usually Kodachrome) I shot with this little beauty, and marvel at the quality. I never did make any big enlargements from my B&W negs taken with it, tho'. That may have been a reality check...

I like the ergonomics, sort of. On the whole, the rest of it leaves me somewhat, well, underwhelmed. Shutter speeds are too slow. Many will balk at an f/3.5 lens, tho' after a lifetime of working with Rollei TLRs for me that's not a concern. Too many settings for my liking, I happen to dislike most Fuji digitals for this reasons, film simulations or let's play toy settings were never me. My goals are always to get good street images in the 1950s gritty Tri-X style, not play with Disney colors or cute B&W filter effects.

The half frame may well be its best selling point. At least in Australia where the cost of film and processing are now ultra high, and have driven many of us out of film and into the 'd' world of same-same images. Ditto darkroom supplies, and as for equipment, like buying even a secondhand quality enlarger, well, forget it!

All this written, I've not yet entirely lost interest in maybe acquiring one of these beaut babes. At home in my film fridge I have about 100 rolls of mostly B&W that I want to use up once and for all. I've made quiet plans to take one film camera and this film to Asia with me in December, and have it processed in Singapore and Malaysia where there are still a few film labs in business. Where I stay in Indonesia, fortunately a friend has a B&W darkroom, long unused, which I can expropriate for my B&W processing tho' the problem here may be finding chemistry. I'll have to check Jakarta sources online for this as nobody in Surabaya or even in Bali now does film of any sort, sadly the good old analog film days in a lot of Asia seem to have long ago vanished.

Best, DANN
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Daniel Castelli on Pentax 17 Comprehensive Review – The New Half-Frame Point & Shoot

Comment posted: 20/06/2024

A new 35mm film camera. We should be celebrating Pentax’s courage to buck the trend. This camera introduction should serve notice to film manufacturers that there is a stronger community than perhaps they think.
I just don’t understand (might be the times) why so many negative or disparaging comments across media platforms. I stated in another forum that this reminds me in a general way of people opposed to the continuing use of fossil fuel, but they complain when they see wind farms and large solar arrays because it ruins their view. Can’t have it both ways…I for one am glad this happened and can’t wait to see what comes next.
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Farside on Pentax 17 Comprehensive Review – The New Half-Frame Point & Shoot

Comment posted: 20/06/2024

I've been fancying a half-frame camera for some time, well since I first became aware of the Olympus range decades ago.
The older ones have shot up in price and are now getting old and possibly unreliable, although there are still some repairers who take them on (like Luton Cameras).
The price of this one is probably more than I'd like to pay, but in a couple of years I might get a two year old one, that will be nothing like as worn out as its fifty-year-old counterpart. Win-win.
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LJ de la Cruz on Pentax 17 Comprehensive Review – The New Half-Frame Point & Shoot

Comment posted: 21/06/2024

such a great in depth review Hamish! this has me excited to get my hands on my own. those are some beautiful shots too I must say!
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Jeffery Luhn on Pentax 17 Comprehensive Review – The New Half-Frame Point & Shoot

Comment posted: 22/06/2024

It's certain the Pentax folks sat around a conference table and said everything we're saying right now. They certainly had old half- frame cameras all laid out. The group must have been divided. They certainly did research, had focus groups, made prototypes, etc, etc, etc. I'm sure detractors said, "You don't have to pay $12 to 'develop' a vinyl record before you can listen to it. They decided to spend tons of money to develop and produce this camera. The most excitement about this is to see what happens.
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Dave Powell on Pentax 17 Comprehensive Review – The New Half-Frame Point & Shoot

Comment posted: 22/06/2024

Wonderful review Hamish! I think image-quality debates need to be put in perspective, though.

Yes, half-frame was once considered lower quality until cameras, lenses and film advanced to the point where higher-quality images became possible (the Pen F still sets a standard). And still-smaller 110/16mm photos were thought to be worse (though today, stunning images are possible with better emulsions... especially high-res microfilm).

However, one doesn't often hear complaints about "low-quality" Micro-Four-Thirds digital images. That's because those modern systems and lenses are so good. But old 110 and 16mm cameras have about the same frame size as Micro-Four-Thirds digitals! And loaded with modern emulsions, even Kodak's original Pocket Instamatic 60 could conceivably produce a higher-resolution image than a Micro-Four-Thirds DSLR.

That is, of course, comparing apples to oranges. But a film negative of any size could theoretically achieve a higher resolution than a digital sensor of the same size. That's because the real resolution achieved by film depends on the camera, lens, film and development process. But the resolution of a comparably sized digital sensor is fixed at manufacture... and could produce comparatively better or worse results.

And none of the above takes away from the fact that any camera-- regardless of film format or resolution-- can produce lovely, emotive images.
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Bill Watts on Pentax 17 Comprehensive Review – The New Half-Frame Point & Shoot

Comment posted: 30/06/2024

G'day Hamish, nice review, the film format gives the camera a 1.42 crop factor so you rightly say the lens is equivalent to a 35mm lens on a full frame 35mm camera, however aperture is a ratio of the lenses actual focal length to the area of the lens and so does not change with the crop factor - the lens is still f3.5.
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Hamish Gill replied:

Comment posted: 30/06/2024

True, but because the lens is a 25mm f3.5 lens, the depth of field will be akin to a 35mm f/5. Wider lenses, when cropped, provide more broad depth of field. Ie, it’s not going to have the depth of field of a 35mm 3.5 lens, even if it has the equivalent field of view and light gathering power of one.

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James Billings on Pentax 17 Comprehensive Review – The New Half-Frame Point & Shoot

Comment posted: 30/06/2024

A bit late catching up on the review - I'd not seen the manual-but-electronic focus mentioned elsewhere yet and agree it's an odd choice, unless something else is coming (as you suggest in your closing remarks).

I won't be immediately rushing out to buy this, mainly as I think the price is quite high (for what you get) and it's more than I can justify on another camera right now - however I absolutely applaud them for making and releasing it and do hope that those who can afford it (and for whom it suits their needs) will pick one up so they continue to invest.
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Daz on Pentax 17 Comprehensive Review – The New Half-Frame Point & Shoot

Comment posted: 07/08/2024

"Half press also sets exposure settings and lights up any relevant LEDs by the viewfinder accordingly."

I could be wrong but I don't think half press set the the exposure, just the focus.
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Hamish Gill replied:

Comment posted: 07/08/2024

Yes, I know what you mean - it doesn't lock the exposure, but it does take a reading ready to be shot... if you follow?

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