Regardless of predictions of digital know-how spelling doom for analog cameras, movie images has by no means totally fizzled out. However because the youthful technology buys old-fashioned digital point-and-shoots to remain within the second and off their smartphone (even with their high-quality cameras), movie may very properly be the following step in an growing longing for authenticity and retro know-how. The Pentax 17 is the model’s first new movie digital camera in over 20 years , a conglomeration of classic and fashionable designed to pique the curiosity of latest movie photographers.
Whereas the Pentax 17 makes use of guide movie development and zone focusing, the compact movie digital camera blends vintage-inspired options with these designed to ease fashionable photographers into the outdated artwork kind. The 17 makes use of 35mm movie however is a half-frame digital camera, which suggests every roll of movie takes twice as many pictures as marketed. Such a design additionally means the Pentax 17 shoots vertically by default — moderately than the extra commonplace horizontal — and in a 17mm by 24mm measurement that is nearer to the house on a smartphone display screen. The digital camera lacks full guide controls however provides important controls like an aperture precedence mode, publicity compensation, and the power to show the built-in flash on and off.
I’ve had an outdated Pentax K1000 on my shelf for years now, an outdated storage sale discover that I’ve by no means actually discovered the time to dabble with. The Pentax 17 has proved to be simply the digital camera I wanted to ease into the waters of movie images earlier than diving headfirst into totally guide movie cameras.
Really useful
Pentax 17
The Pentax 17 is a better entry into movie images. The digital camera’s mixture of automated modes and half-frame format will attraction to photographers who’ve by no means tried movie. Severe movie photographers might discover the Pentax 17 missing, nonetheless, because it does not supply guide modes, double publicity, or interchangeable lenses. However, for relieving into movie, the Pentax 17 has so much to supply.
Value, specs and availability
The Pentax 17 was introduced in June 2024 and retails for about $500. The Pentax 17 is a compact movie digital camera with a set 25mm lens. Whereas it accepts 35mm movie, it is a half-frame format, which signifies that a roll of 36-exposure movie truly takes 72 photos as a result of every publicity can take two images. Its most notable specs embody a zone-focusing system, which is an easier type of guide focusing, and a non-rechargeable CR2 battery.
What I like in regards to the Pentax 17
The digital camera is a simple introduction to movie images
If a digital and a movie digital camera performed Hen and collided, I think about the consequence would look one thing just like the Pentax 17. The digital camera is a mishmash of classic and fashionable, however that is not essentially a foul factor. Like a movie digital camera, the highest homes a guide rewind crank, a movie advance knob and a clicky shutter launch. However, the mode dial has an auto mode in addition to an assortment of different choices, together with a “bokeh” mode for wider apertures and bulb for lengthy exposures.
The Pentax 17 can be an amazing mix between snug and transportable. The battery compartment doubles as a bump grip to wrap your fingers round it pretty comfortably. However, at 10.2 ounces, it isn’t laborious to tuck right into a bag and pull out when a photographic alternative presents itself.
The convergence of recent and traditional helps make the Pentax 17 a beginner-friendly movie digital camera. Two indicator lights proper on the viewfinder assist warn you for those who forgot to advance the movie or the picture is simply too darkish since you forgot to take away the lens cap (responsible as charged). Granted, that is the primary time that I’ve felt the necessity to carry round an instruction guide in my digital camera bag for that second after I wanted to recollect how you can rewind and reload the movie, however the capturing settings themselves felt pure and intuitive.
A part of the 17’s fashionable really feel is the truth that it shoots half-frame photos, or two photos on each single commonplace publicity of 35mm movie. Even the viewfinder is vertical, moderately than horizontal, and also you flip the digital camera to shoot a horizontal picture as an alternative of the opposite manner round.
The result’s a vertical picture that is barely wider than a 2:3 side ratio that feels destined to fill a smartphone display screen. Is a movie digital camera in a format designed for smartphone screens sacrilege? Maybe, however that is the world that we stay in. This additionally lets you get twice as many photos per roll of movie, which is extra bang in your buck on movie prices however can up the price of growing that movie.
The imperfections did not all the time really feel like a foul factor.
Whereas the built-in lens performs a task, on a movie digital camera, a lot of the picture high quality as an alternative stems from no matter movie that you simply load inside. I examined the Pentax 17 with Kodak UltraMax colour and Ilford black and white, each ISO 400 movies. The ensuing photos have that stunning, genuine movie really feel that digital filters strive (and infrequently fail) to mimic. The colour movie delivered the deep but much less saturated greens and reds that remind me of my childhood pictures. The black and white movie delivered deep distinction in a wealthy monochrome picture. Each had pretty movie grain that merely does not evaluate with the noise of digital sensors.
The movie photos really feel much less good, but extra emotive than if I had taken the identical pictures with a digital digital camera. Are some out of focus from the form of guesswork that comes with judging how far-off the topic is? Sure, however the imperfections did not all the time really feel like a foul factor.
What I did not like in regards to the Pentax 17
Rewind directions weren’t clear and a few superior options are lacking
Whereas the Pentax 17 felt like an easier transition from digital to movie, the expertise did not go with out its challenges. The movie didn’t totally rewind in each rolls that I shot. This might have been person error as a result of unhealthy directions — as “flip till you are feeling resistance, then flip three extra instances” feels open to interpretation. Simply how a lot resistance? What occurs if I flip greater than 3 times?
On each rolls, after I popped the again open, the movie hadn’t utterly rewound. I needed to shoot the door once more and rewind rather more than the 3 times that the instruction guide says earlier than the movie totally wound, however by then the harm to the roll was already finished. Both clearer directions or some form of indicator of whether or not the movie was totally rewound would have made a world of distinction — or, maybe, altering the roll out in a darkish room, simply in case.
Whereas the untimely opening of the digital camera again — not realizing the movie hadn’t totally rewound — ruined just a few frames, it created mild leaks in others. Sure, a number of the mild leak photos have been full trash, however it’s price noting that some have been comfortable accidents, the place the little bit of glow on the sting of the body added to the texture of the picture, moderately than detracting from it.
One other side that I did not love was the main target dial across the lens. The design makes use of small icons to point the overall topic distance, like mountains for much away and silverware for a tabletop shot. It is a focusing sort that photographers name zone focusing. Whereas the main target setting seems within the viewfinder as a reminder, I forgot a number of instances, and even after I did not, plenty of it’s guesswork as to how shut the topic is.
I missed the tactile really feel of turning the guide focus lens and watching the picture come into focus within the viewfinder, one thing the outdated 35mm cameras on my shelf supply. With the Pentax 17, you may’t inform utilizing the viewfinder whether or not or not the picture is in focus.
I believe a chargeable battery would go one step additional into making the 17 the perfect of each outdated and new, however, alas, the battery is the throwaway sort.
As simple because the Pentax 17 was to leap into, I additionally really feel like critical photographers might develop out of the $500 digital camera just a little shortly. The Pentax 17 seems like a gateway drug to more durable, critical images. The 17 lacks full guide publicity management, the lens is fastened and never interchangeable, and the digital camera additionally would not let me try a double publicity. I liked the photographs coming from the Pentax 17, however the introductory expertise to 35mm movie additionally left me eager to dive into outdated SLRs too.
Must you purchase the Pentax 17?
It might be the gateway to movie images, however with a brief runway
The Pentax 17 eases budding photographers into the world of movie images. With all new components and a whole instruction guide, the 17 is a better bounce than a used movie digital camera. After capturing with the 17, I used to be truly ready to determine why the movie wasn’t loading on the outdated Pentax K1000 SLR I picked up at a storage sale years in the past. My expertise with the 17 helped construct some much-needed movie troubleshooting expertise.
Whereas the dials and controls on the Pentax 17 combine the fashionable and classic for easier operation, the ensuing photos have that stunning, emotive really feel of movie. The pictures aren’t good, however, truthfully, that is form of the purpose. Getting again a grainy, contrast-filled however imperfect picture seems like a extra trustworthy illustration of the second.
It is pretty simple to discover a classic 35mm SLR with interchangeable lenses for much less.
When you’ve all the time wished to strive movie images, however newbie’s nerves have all the time gotten in the best way, purchase the Pentax 17. The digital camera is a better entry into 35mm movie — nonetheless, as you are factoring in the price of the digital camera, the price of movie, and the price of movie improvement, chances are you’ll simply get hooked on movie and need to develop right into a digital camera with interchangeable lenses and full guide controls.
If you wish to dive proper into movie with full guide controls, then the Pentax 17 is not the precise alternative. It’s also possible to discover extra focal size choices and higher background blur by selecting a digital camera that is not half-frame and may swap lenses. One other mark within the “do not buy column” is the fee. $500 is nice in comparison with as we speak’s digital cameras, however it’s pretty simple to discover a classic 35mm SLR with interchangeable lenses for lower than that.
Really useful
Pentax 17