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A straightforward entry into actual movie pictures

Regardless of predictions of digital expertise spelling doom for analog cameras, film photography has by no means totally fizzled out. However because the youthful technology buys old school digital point-and-shoots to remain within the second and off their smartphone (even with their high-quality cameras), movie might very properly be the subsequent step in an rising yearning for authenticity and retro expertise. The Pentax 17 is the model’s first new film 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 handbook 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movie digital camera blends vintage-inspired options with these designed to ease fashionable photographers into the outdated artwork type. 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 — slightly than the extra commonplace horizontal — and in a 17mm by 24mm measurement that is nearer to the house on a smartphone display. The digital camera lacks full handbook controls however provides important controls like an aperture precedence mode, publicity compensation, and the flexibility 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I’ve had an outdated Pentax K1000 on my shelf for years now, an outdated storage sale discover that I’ve by no means actually discovered the time to dabble with.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 pictures earlier than diving headfirst into totally handbook movie cameras.


Advisable

Pentax 17

The Pentax 17 is a neater entry into movie pictures. The digital camera’s mixture of automated modes and half-frame format will enchantment to photographers who’ve by no means tried movie. Critical movie photographers might discover the Pentax 17 missing, nevertheless, because it does not provide handbook modes, double publicity, or interchangeable lenses. However, for relieving into movie, the Pentax 17 has lots to supply.

Professionals

  • Simple to study
  • Compact, retro design
  • Stunning actual movie photos
Cons

  • Errors rewinding movie
  • No handbook publicity
  • Battery is not rechargeable

Worth, 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 implies that a roll of 36-exposure movie really 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 handbook focusing, and a non-rechargeable CR2 battery.

What I like in regards to the Pentax 17

The digital camera is a straightforward introduction to movie pictures

A photograph of the Pentax 17 film camera with other film cameras in the background


If a digital and a movie digital camera performed Rooster 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 handbook 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 a terrific mix between comfy and moveable. The battery compartment doubles as a bump grip to wrap your fingers round it pretty comfortably. However, at 10.2 ounces, it isn’t onerous to tuck right into a bag and pull out when a photographic alternative presents itself.

A photograph of the Pentax 17 film camera front view


The convergence of recent and basic helps make the Pentax 17 a beginner-friendly movie digital camera. Two indicator lights proper on the viewfinder assist warn you in case you 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 handbook in my digital camera bag for that second once I wanted to recollect the right way to rewind and reload the movie, however the taking pictures 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, slightly than horizontal, and also you flip the digital camera to shoot a horizontal picture as an alternative of the opposite approach round.


The result’s a vertical picture that is barely wider than a 2:3 facet ratio that feels destined to fill a smartphone display. Is a movie digital camera in a format designed for smartphone screens sacrilege? Maybe, however that is the world that we dwell in. This additionally lets you get twice as many photos per roll of movie, which is extra bang to your buck on movie prices however can up the price of creating that movie.

The imperfections did not all the time really feel like a foul factor.


Whereas the built-in lens performs a job, on a movie digital camera, a lot of the picture high quality as an alternative stems from no matter movie that you just load inside. I examined the Pentax 17 with Kodak UltraMax coloration and Ilford black and white, each ISO 400 movies. The ensuing photos have that lovely, genuine movie really feel that digital filters attempt (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 beautiful movie grain that merely does not examine 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 kind 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

A photograph of the Pentax 17 film camera with the back open

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 resulting from dangerous directions — as “flip till you are feeling resistance, then flip three extra occasions” feels open to interpretation. Simply how a lot resistance? What occurs if I flip greater than thrice?

On each rolls, once I popped the again open, the movie hadn’t utterly rewound. I needed to shoot the door once more and rewind far more than the thrice that the instruction handbook says earlier than the movie totally wound, however by then the harm to the roll was already carried out. Both clearer directions or some kind 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 figuring out the movie hadn’t totally rewound — ruined a couple of frames, it created gentle leaks in others. Sure, a number of the gentle leak photos have been full trash, however it’s value noting that some have been blissful accidents, the place the little bit of glow on the sting of the body added to the texture of the picture, slightly than detracting from it.

One other facet that I did not love was the main focus dial across the lens. The design makes use of small icons to point the final 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 focus setting seems within the viewfinder as a reminder, I forgot a number of occasions, and even once I did not, a variety of it’s guesswork as to how shut the topic is.


I missed the tactile really feel of turning the handbook focus lens and watching the picture come into focus within the viewfinder, one thing the outdated 35mm cameras on my shelf provide. With the Pentax 17, you possibly can’t inform utilizing the viewfinder whether or not or not the picture is in focus.

I feel 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 straightforward because the Pentax 17 was to leap into, I additionally really feel like severe photographers might develop out of the $500 digital camera a bit of rapidly. The Pentax 17 appears like a gateway drug to more durable, severe pictures. The 17 lacks full handbook publicity management, the lens is mounted 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 desirous to dive into outdated SLRs too.


Do you have to purchase the Pentax 17?

It might be the gateway to movie pictures, however with a brief runway

A photograph of the Pentax 17 film camera top view

The Pentax 17 eases budding photographers into the world of movie pictures. With all new elements and an entire instruction handbook, the 17 is a neater bounce than a used movie digital camera. After taking pictures with the 17, I used to be really 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 abilities.

Whereas the dials and controls on the Pentax 17 combine the trendy and classic for less complicated operation, the ensuing photos have that lovely, emotive really feel of movie. The pictures aren’t good, however, truthfully, that is kind of the purpose. Getting again a grainy, contrast-filled however imperfect picture appears like a extra trustworthy illustration of the second.


It is pretty straightforward to discover a classic 35mm SLR with interchangeable lenses for much less.

If you happen to’ve all the time wished to attempt movie pictures, however newbie’s nerves have all the time gotten in the way in which, purchase the Pentax 17. The digital camera is a neater entry into 35mm movie — nevertheless, as you are factoring in the price of the digital camera, the price of movie, and the price of movie improvement, you could simply get hooked on movie and wish to develop right into a digital camera with interchangeable lenses and full handbook controls.

If you wish to dive proper into movie with full handbook controls, then the Pentax 17 is not the correct selection. You can too 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 right now’s digital cameras, however it’s pretty straightforward to discover a classic 35mm SLR with interchangeable lenses for lower than that.


The Pentax 17 camera against a white background.

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Pentax 17

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