Pentax 17 Unboxing and First Impressions 

Thank you! I won't lie, they definitely don't feel or sound like it. I'm definitely taking the bottom plate off of mine to check that.

@mipmipmipmipmip with luck, someday I'll have a good idea.

I had been hoping for a new 6x7, not a slightly better non disposable camera, but they had to start somewhere I suppose. Will this compete against smart phones? I have my doubts, Instax has that market.

Yeah, this is definitely a stepping stone. I doubt a 6x7 is ever in the cards, unfortunately.

Thank you and same here! I really want this to be a success with people who love using it. There's a lot right with it, especially in terms of user interface.

@@DavidHancock I can use my 6x17 and trim the scans down to 6x7. I'm not going to compose for 6x7 on it though, that would be too wasteful. I've an architectural project that 6x7 would be nice for, but I'm not buying another camera just for it when I have others. If it were a paid one I might, but it isn't.

I've been trying to figure out if it's possible and it would have required a whole battery chamber redesign. I still think it would have been a good idea, but the existing chamber cover needs the screw to be fully removed in order for the cover bit to cover off. Part of me thinks magnets would work, but they might not work well enough to have that be a viable grip, too. So I don't have a better idea, unfortunately.

Makes sense

Why wouldn't you have done this already? The Spotmatic is a great camera.

@@doctorbohr1585 I have not shot film since 2005 until now i have had no reason to shoot a film camera again i still photograph with digital cameras sparingly as i remember each film shot was more costly than digital. Having to slow down and frame the shot with a film camera cannot be a bad thing

@@doctorbohr1585 I gave up shooting film in 2005 when I bought my first digital camera a Pentax istDL I still have and use I bought the Spotamatic for the Takumar lenses that came with it I put it away in a drawer until somebody gave me a roll of film I had no pictures on the roll and discovered the light Seals were bad. Now that I can't drive for 6 weeks after heart surgery I have the time for these delayed projects

The K-1 is full frame so you know, I would love one, but I don't have the extra funds for another digital system since I shoot mostly film.

I assume they are relying on/going to point people towards online guides/video content demonstrating how to use it (something younger generations seem to be more drawn to). It seems a common opinion of early reviews that the manual is rather useless, so why they have included it in the first place I'm not sure. If they expect people to look online then they should've created first-party videos, and if they wanted people to read the manual they should have made a proper manual.

I love shooting the old olympus pen and xa compact film cameras. Being brand new to photography (let alone film photography) i enjoyed those cameras (and still do) for the same reason i think pentax made this one. Zone focus isn't complicated when you dont really know what it is and you're not used to focusing manually. You just don't really worry about it and the wide field of focus on an admittedly slow lens will bridge the gap 90% of the time. The result is a shoot from the hip experience that makes it easy to take your camera everywhere. 72 exposures means youre not too pressed about messing up a few frames and if theres something you truly dont want to miss you just snap a few backups with your phone. Thats my opinion as someone who's the target demo age-wise for this project and still a pretty novice photographer. That said i do consider myself a bit of an enthusiast (hence why im even seeing this content) so my thoughts might not be all that representative of how my "peers" will receive this anyways

If there's another camera with a similar interface, I haven't ever encountered it. There are some interesting design and engineering approaches, too. I'm not sure yet if I'll like it, but I'm in absolute awe that they did it.

Had I known how well they'd sell, I may have waited because it looks like Ricoh didn't need my money and, honestly, I'm not a half-frame fan at all. But if this is anything like the potential FF, I'm going to really like that camera.

@@DavidHancock that 2 year extended warranty card thats included for free with purchase or is that a paid warranty extension?

@@Bubblestheghost not yet. It's in the next batch to script.

I agree. That one item needs a redesign.

Well, even at half-frame, it still is that. :D

What you said is correct. It's fixed in Auto at that range. What did I say? (I assume I mis-spoke.)

Even with warnings, lots of people are dripping those screws. Ricoh is going to make its shareholders very happy with the profits off the 17's replacement screws.

@@DavidHancock I'll just hang onto my pentax M42 and K-mount bodies. Also have a Pen FT Olympus.

After I uploaded, I was able to confirm that the shutter is a guillotine -- it looks much better than what's on the reusable cameras but it's the same concept. Also it looks like the lens is an achromatic doublet and it is entirely in front of the shutter (which is fine) and appears to be glass (which is great.) not sure what the aperture is like yet. The interface looks pretty well thought out and designed.

@@DavidHancock The lens being entirely in front of the shutter makes sense if they're going to expand on this body by swapping lenses and potentially adding to it. The more I see of this the more I expect a "17AF" or even a "17RF". They're going to want to be ultra conservative on both R&D and production costs.

It's one that has a single shutter blade that moves out of the way and back, often down then up in 35mm cameras.

@@DavidHancock which ones have that and whats the benefit?

@@monsieurgolem3392 it's not that there's a specific benefit. There are a bunch of different types of shutters -- guillotine, leaf, and focal plane are the most common. They're selected based on camera need, design, and cost. There are some different benefits in terms of flash sync and maximum shutter speed, also trade-offs in cost and complexity.

@@DavidHancock got it.

Well, yeah, but what's the price point on that going to be? If the 17 came out in 1950, when viewfinders were common, converting dollars over time, it would have been priced at $40, about the price of an Ansco Memar back then. And, honestly, this compares favorably to that and would serve the same market were they to have been released next to each other for the same price. So I would not compare this to the Rollei for the same reason that I would not compare a Ford Explorer to a Maclaren M1.

@@DavidHancock I hear the Rollei 35AF will sell for about $700-800. If true then then I think there will definitely be people choosing between the two. The key USP of the Pentax might only be the 72 frames.

@@Democratiser Wow. If the Rollei really is only twice the price of this, that's going to be 1- awesome for the prospects of future cameras and 2- kind of a harsh damnation of the Ricoh pricing model.

@@DavidHancock Indeed, I agree it should be a bit of a hit. I just checked and the range quoted by Japan Camera Hunter is actually US$650-$800. The 35AF is apparently using the sonar lens like the 35S and 35SE. It is such a beautiful body design. The cold shoe being on the bottom is the main quirk.

Having done a partial disassembly, it's very well made and definitely worth the cost. As for the market? That's a fair question and I suspect that it's geared toward people who want to use film and cut their costs a bit. People don't make huge prints often anymore, but do share images on phones all the time. Half-frame images are almost indistinguishable from full-frame imaged on most social media platforms, even when viewed on a computer monitor.

@@DavidHancock Why use film for social media which is usually an instant post for instant gratification and likes etc and while £400 might not be a lot to yourself it when you are young I don't see that market being interested in the cost of the camera-film-developing nor the time for developing

@@Robthevampire666 I think the sales numbers may not back up the lack of a market. As I understand it, the first run, which was large (Europe alone received 10,000 units,) sold out in a day or so with the Japan allotment selling out in minutes (I don't have confirmation that Europe sold out completely, but if not, many of them did sell.) As I understand it, both Japan and the U.S. are on backorder for the next production run. So the market appears to be there.

@@DavidHancock Not sure where you got that information from as it is not yet on sale in Europe I would be surprised as the reception to it here in the UK has been very negative and I can assure you the social media users I know want instant access it's the whole point of these platforms the Guardian called it "30 years too late" and I'm afraid it is just that a modern antique

@@Robthevampire666 Well, I bought mine while I was in Europe last week.

@@Pedro240896 no, but a lost grip is. And that doesn't look like a standard screw based on the thread and what design. Fortunately, the battery won't need to be changed often.

I was not given one of these. I got to buy it. Honestly, I didn't even know it was being released on the 18th. I just thought it was an announcement.

@@DavidHancock Funny how many have said this, yet all of the first videos came out pretty much within the same day. Not saying I don’t believe you, but I have a great deal of cynicism these days with social media and how content creators are influenced.

Pentax didn't send this to me, no. I did not get an offer from Pentax, either. And as a matter of policy, I now decline all offers for free gear, period and with zero exceptions. I bought this and it was actually about $600. So in that regard, I'd gladly have spent $500 instead. 🤓

@@DavidHancock Is the camera made in Japan?

@@michaelacookePDX Good question and I didn't even think to ask until you did. Vietnam.

Yeah, this is a curious one.

After looking at a few videos and reading a bit, I've added to my original comment. "Curious" is giving this contraption the benefit of a doubt it might not deserve. This seems like a high-end Kickstarter project - which has been released before having the kinks worked out. @@DavidHancock

Finding fault with people who find fault with a camera? That's a curious approach to joining an informative conversation! Best wishes from Vermont 🍁

@mipmipmipmipmip I think there are many of us who want the camera to succeed but are perplexed by Pentax design choices here. This camera is very important - it potentially determines the future for any more cameras from any big player not just Pentax. But they released a curious camera that is very niche, shouldn't they have tried to produce a camera that appeals to widest audience? and at $500usd thats 1000aud here in Oz - too much. I know regards R&D and recoup costs and value today vs 1990 prices etc etc - the problem is this camera has been released not in a vacuum but in world that means its competing against old cameras and at that price - fully refurbed 1/2 frame cameras in minty condition that will give trouble free use for years and years that are just plainly batter cameras. I want it to succeed I fear it wont.

I wasn't a fan of the design at first and still don't like how the viewfinder fits into it. The top is growing on me and i the interface is absolutely delightful to use. I'm about halfway through my first roll and the way everything feels is nice. It's also filled with fun tricks like the strap being the same length as the minimum focus distance, which I've been making use of. The grip also feels fantastic to hold and carry. I am curious to know how the little triplet lens works and can't wait to finish this roll and send it off.

@@DavidHancock lens can be sharp, Pentax has always made outstanding glass but half-frame can never compete with full frame, there are no miracles on this matter. If you are into half-frame you can buy a gorgeous Olympus Pen F for the same price, an value wise, it's a better choice.

@@nunoteixeiradesign going with a vintage used camera over this is definitely not a great choice. The Pen cameras have shutters that, if they jam, are ruined and generally unrepairable. Also, they're old now and worn and have higher and higher failure rates now than even a few years ago. Plus the 17 is packed with features that the Pen series lacked. Comparing this to any vintage camera is unfair to both cameras because the feature sets and component ages are so different.