Nah, I want to see Jordan rent an Arri 35 and a thousand-foot magazine and shoot a serious production with it. The frame size would be exactly the same as this Pentax 17, so I'm sure the Pentax marketing department would be happy to foot the bill for the rental, crew, film stock, and processing expenses to really showcase what 17x24mm can do!
@@jlwilliams Ooooh,..... Idea,... add electronic winder and a timer or remote release, it's the new "Film" crash cam!! Well, Pentax's are built to survive anything...
@@PiDsPagePrototypes I remember reading once that a rental shop had set up some Bell & Howell 70DRs for being thrown off cliffs for POV shots... the camera usually survived, but anything it happened to hit usually didn't! At least the Pentax would hurt less when it hit...
@@jlwilliamshe was using a film video camera there. You can see it in the overall feel for the video with the colour balance how he captured sun stars in B roll and in the waterfall.
I just watched almost all the other reviews on the Pentax 17 and I have to say this is by far the best and most informative one on the camera. Chris, you absolutely killed it with the sample photos.
Smart move by Pentax to introduce the 17 initially with half-frame, zone-focusing system and relatively small apperture for wider DoF. Film photography is quite expensive nowadays and by these arrangements it would attract wider range of audience from beginners to hobbyists to enthusiasts. When the sales has reached the target, I wouldn't be surprised to a more advanced camera from this series and it would lead the competitors to follow suit.
@@HullioGQYou can purchase a rechargeable cr2 battery. If they put a proprietary rechargeable battery then it would be harder to replace when it die 10-20yrs from now.
@@JackShen-vq6gvyeah - higher than my first Nikon slr cost. It is a niche camera and will not be produced in 50,000 model run. Still have some zone focus cameras - under $200 when used. My Voigtlander Bessa L with the 25mm Skopar, full frame metering, same kind of focusing - still may be equal or better. And in early 2000s money was still less - new.
I'm trying to decipher what you are trying to say here. Your old camera was less than 500 brand new 20 years ago? Okay what was the exact price? And adjusted for inflation?
Yeah, the photo samples are amazing -- they look every bit as crummy as the results I got from shooting 400-speed color neg film in my half-frame Olympus Pen FT back in the day, except that the Olympus had a better lens, an accurate viewfinder, and allowed manual exposure settings. We all learned the hard way back then that the only way to get non-miserable results with half-frame was to use the slowest, finest-grained film you could get -- Kodachrome 25 wasn't too bad. But of course Ricoh wants you to know that the Pentax 17 isn't about image quality, it's about FUN... "fun" being the modern synonym for "taking pictures you don't care about and will delete immediately after posting them on your Instagram"...
This camera gets my approval. Pentax may be slow with getting a product to market but you can see how much thought went to it. I feel they succeeded making a film camera for 2024. Also, I love how Pentax/Ricoh makes cameras on their own terms, with almost no influence on what other manufacturers are doing.
I couldn’t agree more! Let’s hope this camera becomes a financial success. If it does... good things are on the horizon! Also for professional film photographers. For now, there are lots of professional SLRs in good working condition around, but if Pentax manages to innovate on designs from the early 2000s, I’m sure pros will get interested. Let’s hope that’s enough for Pentax, since pro-level cameras are a tiny niche of an already not-so-big market.
@@PetaPixel that would have been ridiculously cool lol. maybe for their next film camera release? they're working on like 3 or 4 other models going up in range
@@PetaPixelthat would have been hilarious. How much would it cost to shoot and scan probably 30+ minutes of super 8 footage? Im thinking it has to be at least a $1000 in film, dev, and scan costs alone 😂😳
True film photography fans need to buy this if they ever want new film cameras to pop out. If this fails, then chances are no company would attempt to do this again in the foreseeable future. C'mon guys, lets support Pentax!
Pentax isn't a charity. If they want to sell film cameras they can and should make the right camera for the market. This might have a market, but I sure ain't in it!
@@walliswizard fair enough but if this doesn't succeed then there won't be another camera that we all want. Hoping that they release a 6x7 at some point or even just a 645. Heck, I would be happy with a new LX but all of these won't come to fruition if the Pentax 17 does not succeed.
Agree! From a meeting with Ricoh staff before the launch of Pentax 17, the sales figure of this camera will definitely affect the investment decison on develop more brand new film camera models.
I was hoping for a better spec but you have to congratulate Pentax for delving back into film photography. I started my photography hobby with film many moons ago. I had plenty of different film cameras over the years before digital came into the game. Now I'm back using film cameras and loving it all over again. The only down side is the price of some of these films but if you shop around you can get a decent deal. On that note I can wholeheartedly recommend here in the UK Analogue Wonderland. They have a great choice of film for 35mms and 120 mm. They cover developing, scanning and offer cloud storage to boot. And no they are not paying for this recommendation. Let's hope Pentax does well with this camera and gets more people back into film photography.
Hands down the best preview of this epic occasion - a new film camera! I've been watching the previews on this all day and it's clear you're the only one who actually read the manual. Thank you! As for the camera, it's going to be a while before I get one since you can really find some awesome film cameras for the price. But I wish Pentax success with this and hopefully there's room in the market for an even better camera in the future.
I'm thoroughly impressed by this camera. I like the form factor, grip, and viewfinder. Looks like it will be a fun camera for lovers of film both young and old.
I recently got back into film and was surprised when I got better results from "toy" film cameras than I got from SLRs in the 90s. The development process, especially the digital editing part, is the difference. You can't separate the results you got from the film, camera and lab without controlling for each. Labs today are generally top notch because they do it out of passion. Old chemicals and bad process resulted in terrible colors at many labs in the 80s and 90s. I'd love to see a video where you edit the photos yourself with something like Negative Lab Pro!
I'm really like that this camera is what I think Pentax is good at. making something that's they always makes camera's you can love. its quirky, misses some functions but have other features that blows your mind. ha a lot of old lenses from the time I still used film, I think I started around the age of 10 with film photography and my dad collected Pentax. Now I'm 51 an have all my dad's old lenses so I decided that I need the K1 markII. and the camera is briljant, works like the old days with the older lenses. catch in focus is super with manual lenses. and on the other hand it's bulky and menu is not that great. but the way you have this over engineered. tilting screen and startracer and s many good nice things. and I think they really nailed it. it's a real Pentax even thinking of get one. I is also smaller than my MX whit 40mm pancake lens.
If we really want to see camera makers roll out new models we have to show them there is a market for them. Glad to see this release and I just placed my order. Hope that they sell enough to make a full frame version with manual features in the next phase. I am tired by Leica being the only choice to get a brand new film camera or the second hand market. We spend a lot on film and processing, we deserve access to new cameras.
By far the best sample photos I’ve seen on this channel. The colours that naturally come from film are wonderful. Edit : okay maybe not *best* but my favourite sample photos 😂
@@shang-hsienyang1284Typically, a film scanner doesn’t have its own “colour science” like a camera does. Yes you’re right that if you photographed the negatives with say, a 5D Mk 2, everything would look brown (and then whatever brown inverts too) because the “colour science” in the 5D Mk 2 makes everything look brown. But a scanner manufacturer knows that they need to capture what the colours of the film are without imposing their own interpretation onto it. So they are made to be as neutral as possible. If you could somehow attach a lens to one and photograph a picture, you would get a boring dull picture. Certainly if the scanner manufacturer knew for sure that they were only ever going to be developing C400 pro, in the same way that a camera manufacturer knows that every shot passed to their microchips came from the precise same sensor - then you might get scanners with “colour science” built in. But the second that lab gets Kodak gold, then it will clash. This is why people who develop at home buy the expensive film scanners when you can set up a little stand and hang a digital camera with a macro lens pointed at a light box with the film on top. It’s cheap, but your camera is an atrocious tool to digitise your negatives with if the way it interprets colour clashes with the way film portrays colour.
Fantastic video! So great to see the influx of film camera interest sparking companies like Pentax making new film cameras! Lets hope this industry gets a reawakening and booms once again
Chris, Jordan, this is a very good, comprehensive review of a camera that is, as you note, falling somewhere between toy and serious. It will be interesting to see how well it sells. The vertical/portrait orientation, when holding the camera "normally," is, as I know from years ago with a folding Fujifilm 645, a pain sometimes when you want to do horizontal/landscape. But...72 images out of a roll, that's a big deal now. And the whole grain/contrast compromise one now makes when shooting film over digital is kind of cool. I shot film for many years and if I got decent shots for half the roll I was really happy. That would be 36 images now! Now what we need is a return of something like Kodachrome: obviously it can't be made again, given the chemistry, but a fine-grain reversal film....ooooh.
I'm excited to see a new film camera on the market made by a larger company. I'm loving the images I've seen produced by this camera. Even with the limitations and price, that might be enough for me to buy one. I'm also very interested in the upcoming Rollei 35AF, but that'll be even more expensive.
Thank god for your review, finally a clever look at this camera ✨ thank you guys ❤️ and great scans compared to the other testers and Pentax themselves
My impression here is that Pentax leaned into the intentional limitations and “featured them up” in smart ways. That image with the woman walking away and the right half in silhouette is really nice.
"...a smartphone is going to blow this away in regards to quality..." ?? Depends on your definition of quality. These are some of the most aesthetically pleasing images I've seen on this channel. In my opinion, organic scenes need an organic camera. Kudos to the printers doing the scanning. And who knows what wonders are on the negs if you do it yourself. ;-) Great video thank you.
Great to see digital photographers being reminded of how much cooler film looks and how much fun film is. Well done Pentax for the release of the new 17. Hopefully the first of many new film cameras and hopefully cameras with more full manual features to come!
Really not that expensive when you take into account the cost related to buying another +20 or +30 year old analog camera. I hope that newcomers will jump on this camera and make great pictures. Know that your photography skills curve will be much better with film because you have to pay for each shots (it gives you incentive to work on your composition). Thanks for the review!
Hand me downs make getting into analogue far cheaper, but that really depends on what you get. I discovered a bunch of Contax/Yashica cameras and lenses in deep storage which my late father had likely used in the late 70s. All I had to really do was replace the faux leather and light seals which had deteriorated and were sticky, and they were working perfectly well. It did make me consider buying a Canon EOS 3, and relying on the vast second hand EF lens market, but I ended up not bothering. I've mostly gone back to mirrorless since I've gotten a lot busier in my life, and I realised I have a number of rolls which are either not developed after over a year, or were half shot through. Most airport security doesn't understand film anyway, so travelling with it is pointless if CT scanners now in use at bigger airports are more likely to irradiate the film, ruining it. A DSLM can go through one of those machines without any of your photos being ruined.
@@eventhori3onHave you checked prices recently? Unless you’re prepared to put up with broken, gross or mouldy gear, prices in the last year or so have sky rocketed!
Rubbish! You can pick up Canon AE-1s and some nice FD lenses all for under £100... And let's be real here..! If you are just starting in film photography (which this camera is aimed squarely at and even chris alluded too)and you don't even know if you would like film photography then get out and get a dusty old SLR with a lens for peanuts and have a go! This product is for stupid people living on nostalgia just like everything nowadays! On the other side people who are very experienced in film photography wont buy this because it has limited manual control and is toy like for $500-600! No....this is stupid .. but it will sell well as there are a lot of stupid people about unfortunately!?!? Pentax are relying on it 😊@@PippetWhippet
One of the most intelligent reviews I've seen of pretty much anything. Have recently gotten mine in part to support the initiative, in part to give me a camera I'm more likely to pick up day to day and always have with me
I hope the Pentax 17 will be so successful that Pentax will work on something like a Pentax 36 in future with K Mount or at least a full functional fast fixed lens. #filmisnotdead
Love it! Long time (35+ years) Pentaxian here, both film and digital. When I jumped into the digital wagon in early 2000s I said "Just like Black and White did not die when color arrived, film photography will not die". Time proved me right.
A little bit surprised at the price but it’s definitely cool. I think they’ve done a great job with it. I agree with basically all the design choices they made. I hope people buy it. And young people can afford it. I don’t want it to just be nostalgic older men buying it.
This is somehow a perfect replacement for disposable film cameras! It's mostly automatic, has this travel and fun vibe. And you get to shoot up to 72 pictures with it!
The angel on my shoulder: "$500 is pretty steep for a toy camera." The devil on the other shoulder: "You idiot, we don't get paid to take pictures - all our cameras are toy cameras. Besides, you loved the storytelling of two half-frame shots on one print when you had an Olympus Pen EE2." The angel: "Yeah, but we absolutely hated buying film and paying for processing, plus we were always worried about missing shots with limited controls, limited film, and no review." The devil: "Skill issue. Just sell your a5100 and make this your 'throw in the bag' camera instead. And put development costs on my tab!" The angel: "You know I always end up paying that"
Absolutely love this, considering getting one out of support in the hopes that they continue this trend. I'd love to see the shutter speed and focus modes improved though, but I love Half-Frame cameras.
I think it would be nice t-shirts with the main stamp on the back and a small petapixel logo at the left on the chest. looks like a fun camera, and your reviews always rocks, thanks. Personally i'm longing for K-1III, if ever...
Good review as usual. Hey Jordan, how often does Chris drop a camera? The way his hands move while talking and holding a camera keep me watching for him to lose his grip. Be honest now, how often? And how about posting some video of a drop in a bloopers reel? Cheers 👍
Thanks for the sample images and the explanations about its limits at longer shutter speeds, only at f/3.5 . So far it remains an alternative to the similarly priced Alfie TYCH half frame camera that is geared towards a true manual M experience and longer controlled shutter speeds at f/8. The Alfie can go below ISO 50 and use special film such as ADOX CMS 20 or Rollei RPX25. However, I like them both and will definitely buy the Pentax 17, also to support the next film camera that Pentax will release, hopefully a manual mode full frame SLR.
Wow. I didn't know what I was expecting from this launch but Pentax knocked it out the park with the 17! It's a sexy little thing that looks like a lot of fun to use, and your results were excellent. I'm not a big fan of half frame but something tells me this is gonna fly off the shelves. I hope it does and I hope it sets a new benchmark for fun film cameras. Meanwhile, I'm waiting to see what the Rollei 35AF can offer, being a big fan of the original.
Excellent review - thanks very much. I'm glad Pentax did so many things well on this new camera - especially the quality of the lens and exposure system. Hope they do well!
I feel like you guys put a lot more effort into the sample photos, trying to be more creative. Also, since the film already has a "processed" look from the factory, the photos look more finished, less like test shots.
Thank you for the review, ☺️ I think for the most of the film photography people, used market still will be the main choice😊 For bokeh and resolution on this camera you will have to go low ISO films, or Nd filter...😊
Thanks for the frankness around the exposure delay, that’s similar to the Mju II I guess and makes it unsuitable for street photography, by the time it takes the picture the scene is gone.
Looks really promising for anyone with the dedication to learn how to work with it. Fair chance i buy one. The other first instinct impression i had is "build us a digital version with the mechanical shutter cock winder" like epson did a decade ago with the RD-1. Because a big part of the tactile joy of shooting these old analogue cameras is around the film advance feeling.
You had me until $500! It's about $400 too much. If it had AF, or at least RF Manual, a wider max aperture and proper controls, then i'd say take my money. Either that or someone needs to remake the olympus mju ii.
I get you, in principle. But for $100 you can't buy a brand new film camera that gives you decent results and features. I mean, you can get new film cameras for under $100, but it's the crappy Lomography Lomourette and so on. You can get a disposable camera for $27 or less. No, thanks. I don't ever want to associate film with crappy lo-fi results.
Love the 1 geisha, 2 geisha, etc focusing marks! Reminds me of my first 35mm camera - the Minoltina P. Nobody ever talks about home scanning half frame - I haven’t done half frame in years. It used to be an issue with the old minilabs being unable to mask for half frame.
We have been asking for this for few years. I'm glad to see. Just wish it wasn't half frame. Commit fully! I understand the reasoning but also believe they could target a more enthusiast crowd if they made if ff and worked to make it the best ff film camera in 2024 for under 1k with swappable lenses rather than half frame for about 500. Not sure which novices would spend 500 for this kinda of performance. But hoping it does well! At least I have been hoping for a film camera with modern features. Hopefully they don't plan a yearly cycle, it doesn't need that. But to keep the tech alive I hope each brand has a new film camera every decade or so. They have the IP, just use it haha. I know it's not that simple but it would be nice to see.
I’d love for this to eventually usher in a new era of film photography, the same aesthetic beauty that film so effortlessly achieves with some extra QOL features (autoexposure, autofocus, maybe even a blend of digital/film - a sensor behind the film for example to allow for instant digital previews or files). I think half-frame is the one element I have mixed feelings about but I suppose they had to start somewhere, and it does halve the cost of film.
Yes, and we all have bought 35mm SLRs for good prices. In fact, a Barnack Leica with a lens can cost less than US$500. No problem. But this is a new camera with the advantages that you get with a new product. I would easily prefer the Pentax 17 over any Instax camera, just FWIW.
@@Biosynchro In my opinion this camera is not offering any advantages which worth US$500. If it was $200 then I would take it more seriously. I think this product scratches the itch for grainy "vibes" photography.
350th? the Pen F can go down to 1sec/bulb up to 500th AND you can swap lenses given it was an SLR. you can also pick up a mint one for 200 bucks. though this looks fun and simple to use and folks dont realize how hard it is to shoot through 72 images on a roll in one day lol
72 images in one day is a lot. But we are also many who shoot analogue that don't always have to finish a roll in a day all the time. I think its good for people that likes to capture moments from time.to time who might buy one roll a month or something.
Personally speaking, 72 exposures is not a lot for me. I might shoot that many frames on one subject in ten minutes. Even if I take into account the fact that shooting film does naturally reduce your frame count. That's just me, of course, and YMMV.
Max shutter speed is a bit of a bummer, wish it was at least 1/500. The price is oof. But I want to support this. I think half frame quality loss is overstated, I get amazing enlargements from my Pen FT.
I think there is confusion here with the zone focus being fly by wire and not helicoil which actuates on the shutter press and makes you think it's doing some kind of auto fine focus. It's just stepping to one of the preset zones.
Now that they’ve made a new film camera, maybe Pentax Ricoh can put some time and effort into a new Ricoh Gr, new body, tilt screen, built in optical viewfinder.
That's what I want. But they are not doubt testing the market with this. There likely hoping the Tik Tok kids will want it, and a demand will be created