THE NEW PENTAX 17 

People complaining about price. We have been spoiled by cheap film cameras for decades now. The price is about what an Olympus Trip 35 cost in the 60's adjusted for inflation. Cameras were never cheap.

It might buy it... Just because it is a new camera with full support and it might push Pentax to make more new film cameras. Too much pessimism from the film people. Enjoy the Phoenix and Pentax17!

Regardless of how you feel about the camera it’s great to see an actual film camera come out in 2024, I just started shooting a few weeks ago and I’m already in love

If I wanted a loud camera I’d be shooting a K1000. So that somebody I’m shooting on the street from 50 yards away can hear that I’m taking a picture. That’s why I’m using a Leica and actually one of the biggest reasons I might get the 17. I have a lot of fun with one of the old Canon Sure Shot cameras right now, but it’s soo incredibly loud that even family and friends are a bit weirded out by it. And they’ve been totally desensitized to me taking pictures. A quiet shutter is great, especially in such an unassuming camera as the 17 that still has a very good lens.

I'll buck the trend. I want one, even for $500. It's small and tidy and seems to take nice pictures. I have a few vintage SLRs to sell. Anyone want an OM10 or X-370?

I think Pentax did a great job. :)

Came for the review, stayed for the knob twisting pleasure.

the fact that you're using Ektar here is actually good, because most other reviewers have used ultramax and complained about the low resolution in half-frame. duh. ektar is such fine grain it actually shows the capability of the lens very well.

The zone focusing is the best part. It is senseless to increase the cost, weight and complexity of a camera to solve a nonexistent "problem". Most cameras with exposure compensation will not go beyond the standard exposure range.

I normally comment about searching you when I see Jason but holy crap it’s a Pentax Double Feature, enough to fill a whole roll!

This makes my heart sing ❤ love Pentax

For me these cameras are just hands down fun. It allows you to shoot film not really understanding or having to think about exposure which can be quite nice sometimes especially while on vacation and it means you wont miss those really fast moments. IQ is often a bit lack luster with half frame but as you show its capable and the pentax 17 seems to have a nicely constructed lens. My GF has the Kodak H35 which has an built in flash and very similar in most ways to this, scale focus etc. Give one a go for not a lot of money ($45us).. if you love it then grab this more serious version.

I'm glad to see a new 35mm camera (who thought we'd really get one?) but at $500, there are plenty of "mint condition" cameras on eBay with better build and more features, for a lot less money.

Pentax handed the camera to the best arhitectural film shooters ever! All the photos are bangers! ❤❤❤

Great video dude, I think Pentax made something great, probably cost them more in R&D then they will get back from this model, but hopefully a good setup for future models.

Great 1st Look! I see my 1st pro Camera! The 1960's Olympus Pen-S ! 1/2 frame easily prints larger! grain is your friend .. Compact and light! Don't carry in pockets! Too much Dirt,Dust,Debris! Bravo Pentax, Bravo Bad flashes!

Already back-ordered in Japan, Pentax staff are orobably wiping their tears right now.

This camera looks like something I would love to slap endless Ektachrome and Color '92 with. The best vacation film camera right here!

Great review Caleb - pleased you didn’t get bogged down with the specs. Great pictures from this is really all that matters.

I don’t know what the people at Pentax are smoking, but it must be some high grade stuff for them to have built, priced and marketed this fantastic plastic whatyoumacallit! 😂

the low sound shutter slap is good for that fly on the wall moments....street..in a bus...in a train....

You have a good lab to develop the negatives : ) the camera looks like a lot of fun to use.

I think half frame paired well with ektar! Great photos!

I bought it and damn, it’s fun! And it takes AMAZING shots. Glad this exists. Can’t wait to see what other film cameras come out in the next bit!

Amazing and insightful video too! Thank you so much dude! Do you think you will be getting your hands on the new Rollei 35AF when it comes out?

I really don't like the scale-focusing thing either, but the images look awfully good. Or maybe my expectations were too low. Bonus points for the knife & fork, Pentax.

The lens is 🔥 it shows Pentax still has game as an optics company.

I liked your review Caleb ! Pictures turned out very nice, well done. Could be cool do to a comparison with other famous half frames like an Olympus Trip 35.

i think this is great

Дякую за вашу роботу!

We all know that Ektar requires A LOT of light for it to really showcase it's color rendition. Rating it at 50 is really its highlight

Ordered 🎉🎉

Interesting presentation and comments about the camera and its features or lack thereof. Your photos are great - sharp and crisp. Ektar was a good choice. As I noted on Jason's post, the limited shutter speed being bad for fast film, it thus tilts toward being more for slower film. There, the greater resolution and lower grain will make up for the half frame and balance out.

About 500usd is a sporty price for the camera, but far better than what the new yashica produce. But I think it's a shame that I can't use it completely manually. Quote : At the same time, Pentax limits manual focus and exposure settings. The focus distance can be determined across multiple zones from landscape to macro. The exposure time and aperture can only be changed using the program controller. In macro mode, the camera selects the widest aperture and in night mode, a longer exposure time.

This is very interesting, mix of SLR and point-and-shoot camera! PS. which app do you use for measuring light?

@5:35 you do know there is a distance scale in feet and meters on the bottom side of the lens, opposite from the pictograms, right?

Great review! I'm SO happy to see this hitting the market, have been following the project closely since it was first announced. (See interviews under my name on PetaPixel and DP Review.) I knew almost no details until it was publicly launched, and man, they *nailed* it (IMHO). I'm an old-line photo guy, have always been SLR/Mirrorless ILC oriented, lots of manual control and adjustments. I've already gone and ordered one of these though (get yours quick, first production run is likely to sell out fast), and am more excited than I've been about any product in the last couple of decades. To me, this camera is all about fun and the "analog experience". I'm looking forward to working within the limitations of a camera with almost no manual controls, and the anticipation factor before seeing my pics. I love the look of the shots I've seen coming from this camera (am particularly surprised by how good the simple 3-element lens seems to be). The fact that it's half-frame does a lot to make film and processing costs more reasonable, and I think I'm going to actually like the default vertical format.

Heeeeeyyy there! I love Pentax and still use my 1980s Pentax ME Super! It is a fantastic camera....i have the Pentax Q which is a tiny little thing that takes amazing photos actually!! I would love to get this camera, and I don't mind the half frame....but will have to see...I have been having a lot of fun doing diptycs again with the fujifilm instax mini evo...

I do believe people no longer say "fleek."

finally an announcement, must cop for that price point great video never say fleek brother lol

Dude iPods should’ve had really cool cameras back in the day. That shot when I paused at 6:36 took me back to 2008. I used to have a similar model and walked to my local bus stop on my way to work with it every day for almost 2 years. I wouldn’t have an iPhone for almost another six years. Wouldn’t have had my first camera for another two years after that. For those walks to the bus, having a camera on that iPod probably would’ve caused me to take some of my favorite photos ever. I still think about never having that camera sometimes.🤘📸

I look forward to the next version. I pray it's a rangefinder.

It's fancy but a well designed camera!

I would like to see a film camera in the style of the Nikon f6 and Canon 1v, which is to say, all the bells and whistles or none of them (your choice). Mount a modern stabilized lens on it and it stabilizes. Matrix meter, spot meter, no meter, you choose. If I want to put in in manual (sometimes we know better, having spot metered the darkest and lightest places in the frame) then I can do so. I don't want "the film camera for stupid people" but maybe I am just not cool enough to know what is on fire.

Hello, just leaving a comment to let you know I was here per usual. Won't be buying at that price but its cool pentax put time into something film related. The images I have been seeing from this camera are pretty solid from everyone so thats cool as well. Okay, BYYEEE

There's no reason for them not to have autofocus for 500 bones. It looks nice and great. I cannot do zone focus.

Ektar is the only colour film I've shot half frame and I was pretty impressed with the results. 5x7 print was pretty much grainless, and I reckon 8x10 would have been perfectly acceptable. I think Pentax have done a great job with the 17. I'm not sure it's really aimed at those of us analogue gear heads who would rather burn money this money on CLAs, definitely going for a younger, hipper crowd. But it's pretty cool anyway.

Why does Caleb appear in Jason videos but not vice versa, I think that scarf lovin' guy thinks he is too good 🤣

its very very tempting to use as a everyday carry with some 50-100 iso film, this is a pretty good point and shoot solution FAQ request - iso vs sharpness limit on half frame with this lens

Nice review. Next review should be the new Rollei 35 made by Mint camera.

Def looks like a fun camera, I have enough half frame cameras, and then the price tag is to rich for my blood. Enjoy all who is gonna purchase it. Nice shots as always!

Nice review. You brought up things other reviewers left out for sure. Blue flashing for low light? Strap length focusing aid? But $500?!?

500 for a half frame with no autofocus? For almost the same price the new rollei 35 af is obviously the way to go with modern film cameras.

My first real camera was a Pentax. Such bliss!

Lost me at half frame. Still cool but it drops 80% just on half frame, why they made that choice I’ll never understand I know films expensive but not expensive lol your scans look great though!!! And you make amazing vids and photos as always!!

Every time I see a point and shoot review I want to see flash/ night photos but never get it :(

As always I love your video! BUT, $500 (approximately) for a scale focus camera is absolutely insane. I'd rather buy a cheaper camera and spend the extra cash on film and development.

I was wondering how you and Jason were out shooting together when he was clearly using a camera that would have been under NDA, of course you also got one

Love a new camera, but man, that price. Ouch. Do like the styling though.

3:55 Pentax 617? Wishful thinking 😂 Great video though!

That shutter sounds whimpy as hell.....like a mamiya 7 but at least it's 1/8 the price!

What’s with elf look?

pentax conspiracy that we are witnessing here

Where you go in Mexico?

Senpai Posted on a Monday!!!! I Lovee this camera!!! do I dare say it?? Is this is the CONTAX of Half Frames??? #ContaxT3VideoWhen?

They really nailed the design! Shame about the scale focussing this will lead to a lot of frustration for beginners and apart from automatic exposure and flash there is no point in taking this over a mint rollei 35. except if you really need half-frame

it's way to much money for this at 500 bucks , I get that this profit will go into their r and d project and allow the next camera from pentax to come out but 500 bucks its just too much money these days , 250 bucks would be top market

In my search to shoot every format this might just be the half-frame camera that crosses that one off the list

1:17 35? Nope. 17! Pay attention, man!

Scale focus and this price. Who did they think was buying this?

Gonna hold off on the massage until I get to know you a little better

$500!?! Hell no. For a half frame? With scale focus? Who tf is gonna buy that? This is exactly what I was afraid of when they announced it. This is too expensive to be for people who don't already shoot film and nobody who already shoots film wants a camera like this... It's gonna flop and the whole industry is gonna give up on film again.

I'm glad Pentax released a new flim camera but half frame is not for me

A NEW FILM CAMERA IN 2024?! Holy moly, we are in the best timeline.

Although I wouldn't personally pay out £500 of my hard earned money, your review is certainly one of the best out there ... 👍

New film cameras need to happen but at the same time it's basically this or a pro level SLR / medium format film camera. With some good ebay luck you may even find the Pentax 67 for the same price... Hard sell unfortunately

Well, how it’s better then 30$ old Soviet Lomo LK-A? It’s not full frame, fastest shutter is 1/320 (compared to 1/500 of LK-A), lens is 3.5 (compared to 2.8). To be honest I could ignore all of the downsides, but 500$ for that…

Cream of wheat

I want to love this thing but for $500 and zone focusing I just can’t.

For $500, this camera ain'tttttttttttt it. Half frame rangefinder just brings it down to a more lightly increased brain powered point and shoot. Id rather buy 2 Nikon L35AFs with amazing glass, backlit compensation, and the crazy good flash output while still exposing it flawlessly. Which by the way, you never spoke on the flash aspect of it?!!! That's a biggie

500$ means that for now, it is as same price as a late version Pentax LX + 50/1.4….. that’s kinda overpriced for a half-frame zone focus camera ngl

Sadly, a bit disappointed. I was really looking forward to what Pentax was going to do. Half Frame? Sure, liking that. Zone Focus? not even range finder? mkay... No manual controls? Okay, just a point and shoot then, without the 'point' part, because zone focus. Kind of lightweight plasticky construction? And 500 dollars price tag? Yeah no. Just get a vintage Pentax Espio for a fraction, and you get auto focus and zoom. Or a Spotmatic, or K1000, or ME.. anything.

Awesome review! However, this camera really confuses me. Maybe I have a bias because I've never been much of a fan of half frame to begin with, but I don't understand who the target audience is with this kind of camera. Half frame was never *that* popular to begin with, and with zone focusing instead of autofocus (or fixed focus), it sits just outside of beginner friendly but not technical enough for more seasoned shooters. But with all that, I still feel compelled to buy it in order to support Pentax and getting more film cameras lol

CAleb!!!! Please don't tell me BIG FILM has forced you to do their bidding lol OMG! I just trashed this camera in my review. It does not compare to the 1988 made yashica samurai X4.0 half frame 35mm SLR point & Shoot! More bang for your buck! So glad new film cams are being made but that's my 2 cents.I'm kinda sore about it... how 'bout that massage? To be fair, I was only sent a .png copy of the pentax 17 so I may have been to harsh on it. Watching your vid is giving me uncontrollable G.A.S. so I think I didn't give it a fair shake. For now I need to go call 1800-NO-TOOTS for G.A.S. relief. Anyway in all seriousness you coped well with the scale focus and got some nice shots. Not "HALF" bad... you get it? =) Thank you for sharing and always being the realest of #reeldawgies ! Does this media blitz piece mean we miss out on the next flashy thursday?

GREAT 100 USD camera. BAD 500 USD camera. END.

$500??? lol screw that. I better get some Auto focus and real titanium for that price.

It's 2024. It costs 500$. There is literally nothing interesting, I would expect something unique in this price: rangefinder, autofocus (at least focus confirmation), ultra compact size, interchangeable lens mount compatible with old pentax mount, or unique fast (at least f2) and compact fixed lens. And there is nothing. So when you say "Good job Pentax" could you tell what is actually worth in this camera for 500$?

I'm not an elitist. My first camera was a Ricoh SLR in 1995. I have 4 Pentax film cameras, a K-5 and a K-01. I'm sorry, but this camera is garbage. First, it is 1/2 frame. I could stop there--complete garbage. Your lab will hate you. Scanners are not set up for 1/2 frame. But let's look at it as a photography tool. Max shutter speed of 350 and no manual mode???????? Only ONE METER MODE???? Pentax could have made a ZX-M type camera that could accept all K-mount lenses and still be all manual THEY USED TO MAKE IT AND SELL IT. This camera is in every way inferior to any other film camera Pentax ever made. Pentax likes to be weird and that has consistently ruined their business decade after decade. I think Bad Flashes did as well as they could making this sound interesting, but it's garbage. There are still 100's of millions of full-frame pocket film cameras out there for $5-10 that will do better than this disappointment.

Horrible design and idiotic price tag for a half-frame camera, you can buy a gorgeous Olympus Pen-F for that price.

Shooting Film became a normie thing

The shutter sound is quiet and good. Your photos are a bit dull and the film is not flattering either. So it is not about the gear but the photographer, mostly.

I can’t understand the praise this crap camera gets. Seems like people are just giving Pentax praise for doing a new film camera. Any camera since the early 80s is better. They should have just ripped out the display and sensor from the Ricoh GR and made place for a roll of film.

That looks the most annoying camera ever. The only thing I wanted to see was a piece of exposed and developed film.

500$ for a point and shoot... sorry way overpriced for what it is...

$500 for this ugly beast. Um, no.

I was following this project for the last year and presaved money for the camera! Now I hope my serial number is 00069