Interesting comparison I was only testing the super fujica six yesterday and fell in the river and probably bust my ribs although they're probably just bruised luckily the camera was not on the tripod at the time. I was comparing it with a Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta IV (534/16). the eye piece is annoying because I'm right eye dominant so that was a downer for me whereas the zeiss did a lot better. you forgot to mention the rangefinder has a red filter so it's very easy to focus although on one occasion the zeiss performed better on focusing on a small twig. the Zeiss feels more solid and obviously weighs more but that's the difference between German engineering and Japan engineering. A better comparison would be the fujica with a mamiya 6 very similar cameras especially the automat which I have various models of the mamiya 6 I much prefer it. I have two super fujicas 6 cameras one was a complete wreck and I needed to put new bellows on which I have made in England and I completely recovered the leather because it all was falling off and very badly damaged which was a shame because the name super fujica on the front now no longer exists the other version I have the leather was perfectly intact and in a lot better condition overall both cameras were completely stripped down and serviced by me the shutter blades and the aperture blades were individually cleaned as per how Chris Sherlock does it I enjoyed doing them up and they will now be sold at least somebody will be getting a new camera or one that will last another 60 years before it needs anything doing to it. I've always fancied the omega rapid but it looks too fiddly for me I prefer for my medium format my bronica s2a hasselblad size at less price.

great video

I've owned two Nikon S3 cameras: the original and the reissue. The reissue was leaps and bounds better than the original, with a clear, bright focus patch. I sold the original S3 because it was almost unusable, given how dim the patch was. I sold the reissue as I didn't really use it like I thought I would. Now I'm considering buying an S4 because of course I am. I'm so dumb.

Nikon S and Canon P are the counter-Leicas

Great enthusiasm, great video. Nothing wrong with getting both, to each his own.

My personal favorite every day camera is my (3)Canon VT Deluxe /Voightlander 21mm f4 Color Skopar LTM (39mm B+W yellow filter) It goes everywhere with me, in a Domke f803 loaded with Rollei RPX 100 film.

Loved my Fe cameras but both shutters stuck. Went to the F3hp and have been shooting it for 10 years now.

I have the Canon 7 and a Leica M5 (because I always dreamt about a Leica range finder camera). Even there is about 10 years between them, they feel the same to use, same size. They both take nice photos - the radioactive Canon 50mm f/1.4 is a great lens. Only, the price ratio, Canon 7:Leica M5 is about 1:10

I just got a Nikon FM2n in pristine condition for half the price of a Pentax 17 😊 By the way, Pentax K1000 was my first SLR. I bought it for my 20 years birthday in 1978. I think it was the cheapest non-Soviet camera I could afford at the time. I replaced it with a Pentax MX a couple of years later

💯🇹🇷⭐️👍 I have 1 of this NİKON F3 device, it is very clean, it is for sale, if anyone is interested, there is a video on my KZbin channel.

I run a 50/2 on my s2 and a 105/2.5 on my an F when doing documentary stuff. Especially when events are going on, its nice to have the option. The ultimate setup would be 2 rangefinders with a standard an wide, supplemented by an SLR and a telephoto.

One of the good pieces of advice ive recieved lay out prints in a "mock" before printing. Ive found that this helps avoid rushed composition in software.

Thanks for being bold and declaring your faith in Christ!!! I feel driven by God to reflect His creation whether landscape or people… it’s a great question to contemplate.

It only starts making some sense once user shoots more than 3000-4000 pics when compared to any other cheap 35mm film compact camera. And there are even older 1/2 frame cameras, then the Pentax17 advantage is only in warranty. And since user needs to shoot couple thousands of shots to even neutralize the investment into camera by shooting 72 frames instead of 36, then I must ask who the hell would be so serious with film and use such camera for capturing 3000-4000 photos. Such maniacs probably prefer proper film SLR with good lenses to start with, not a halfframe semiauto brick with 3 element lens and zone focus :)

what is that lense hood??

The shutter curtains, i believe, are stainless steel, not titanium

Gads, you youngsters! This is a lovely camera ... I have one just like it. The slow speed train in the Synchro-Compur shutter on yours is gummed up from sitting and age, any other issues the same. A good service costs about $190 or so, that will restore it to full functionality. The Color-Skopar 50mm f/3.,5 is a superb lens. Once the camera is working correctly, you have to learn how to load it properly. Et cetera. I dunno ... doing a review of a camera that you barely understand how to operate seems a bit ridiculous to me.

I have one. I like all the strange things. They make it so much more fun than having everything automatic. If you want sharper lenses, you can get those made by Voigtlander. For ease of use, I would take an infinity stylus.

Half frame is the same dimensions as super 35... notable works include your favorite movies from the 20th century. The Pentax 17 triplet is clear and contrasty. It's not a clinically sharp lens, but I think it beats Trip 35's and Pen EE's cleanly - that's the market segment it belongs to. No, I didn't buy one. I just scan other people's photos. Trust me, lack of manual controls can be a blessing to the casual user. That's the market because, believe it or not, that's most film shooters right now. What discount could even make you value this design anyway? I kind of doubt there is one.

For a fraction of the price, with the possible drawback of 6x6, the Mamiya C series tlr’s are awesome. They’re entirely manual, still quite a lot of folk who can and do service them. The glass is very good and a wide range of price points which means you can get a pretty good example for the cost of 5 rolls of film+dev+scan… All the lenses and nearly all the accessories are switchable between all models. They’re bellows bodies which makes the lenses way more versatile. TLR’s aren’t for everyone, but a heck of a good way to free up your consumables budget by saving thousands on equipment.

It's perfct.

Verifinders

The models that have the lever wind, are a bit difficut to wind with the camera hanging by astrap. The strap impedes winding in one stroke. The lever on the s has no complications like the others.

This is pretty mean for no reason. Not only is the Pentax 17 new, with a warranty and everything, it's also pretty good at what it does! I had no issues paying the price for something that had a lot of R&D put into it, and the pictures I've got back have been quite nice. People are so used to the used market that they forget what these things cost when they were new. It's sold quite well so there is a market for it, and that market will create a bigger market for more advanced cameras coming down the pipe. Frankly, this one is good enough for me for what I'm using it for. It's light and small and easy to use, perfect for carrying with me when I don't feel like hauling the Mamiya 7 or whatever. If it's not for you, it's not for you, but being a dick about it isn't gonna win you any points.

I have a very nice S2.

buy a spotmatic f and get a photography icon instead...

Now tell me what a NEW full frame SLR would cost.... Probably about $2500. The fact is this is a NEW camera. If you don't want to buy new, don't. I don't But I'm not going to tell anyone not to go buy a brand new mirrorless camera either. NEW comes with new parts, warranties and repairs etc. This camera isn't for you? Great, don't buy it. But the price is quite reasonable IF you want a new camera. And frankly, I hadn't considered buying this, but maybe I will for my wife. This would be perfect for her. They are in stock at B&H...

It's just blind consumerism - until recently nobody cared about half-frame cameras, they were a niche within a niche within a niche. Now, suddenly - everyone and their grandma wants an overpriced half-frame, zone-focusing toy camera with a triplet lens. Why? Because we need to show -Pentax- um.. -Ricoh- Hoya? that we want new film cameras? Pff, whatever. All the best film cameras have already been made, back when things were made to last.

So weird that this camera is apparently sold out in the US. I could walk into any film photography store in my city (Germany) and buy one right away.

I used this same logic when I chose to purchase a Nikon FM2N, a 28mm f2.8 ais and 50mm 1.4 Zeiss lens over a leica M6, since I was able to purchase the camera, lenses and film and still have money leftover however, I think we should all support the Pentax 17 and purchase one if possible. I'm new to film, so I purchased the camera directly from Pentax when it was announced, in hopes of contributing to keeping film alive. The camera, 2 rolls of film, 2 vouchers for development, and a 2yr extended warranty (3 year warranty in total) only cost me $600.

500 usd is serious money for investing in a hobby. Pentax made clear in their videos that this camera attempt to bring film photography to the young “smart phone”/“instagram” demography. Pentax 17 is also the first in a line-up of three or four in the Pentax Film Camera family, which will be brought to market based on the success of the Pentax 17. These camera’s will all be more premium. Your example with the K1000 is skewd as I just looked up the original price in 1993 of the body alone which was $263, adjusted for inlation I just calculated via de federal reserve bank, it would cost $553 in 2023 (excluding the lens). The Pentax 17 does include a great pancake lens and a great exposure meter. I’m impressed by the details on my scans. (I bought the Pentax 17 and am very happy with the results, they exceeded expectations)

i think that the pentax 17 will be a great way for more people to get into film photography, its a modern new camera that still has the option of repair from its manufacturer unlike almost all other film cameras. of course a newly manufactured camera will be more expensive than something thats over 2 decades old.

I've always had mixed feelings about "half-frame". For print film, the prints will generally cost the same per print. Say you are paying $.1.00 per 4 x 6 (I don't know the current rate). The negative development and film cost is only a small part of the per picture price. You don't end up saving much. For slides, the mounting cost does not leave you with much of an overall per picture saving either. The compactness is a good point, but realistically, at that point digital makes more sense to me. I'm not sure if you will have better detail when enlarging. The finer theoretical resolution of film is offset by the resolution limits of the lens. The fact that you are using real film has to have meaning to you personally, to be worth it.

oh no god forbid people buy a camera and have fun with it!

see how much film you can bulk roll for $650 lol

They still make film cameras???

You completely lost the entire point of the camera itself, focusing entirely on the pure financial economy of the purchase. Go watch all of the videos that Pentax released, before this camera was ever actually put to market. They have EXTREMELY good reasons for charging the money they charge, and hey, if $650 is too rich for your blood, then you were never the target demographic in the first place. ✌️

I put my money down for the new 17, I already have plenty of old film cameras, but supporting Pentax with this new camera will hopefully encourage them and others to continue making more new film cameras. It is a fun little camera to start, and being half frame you can save some money on film purchase as well.

You're also forgetting the cost of developing.. But it's a shit camera but I'm glad it's doing well, it should introduced more options to the market. Used cameras WILL die at some point.

This is a fantastic message. People are so easily seduced in buying something new instead of looking at what the journey of photography is. I know there is something to small pocketable cameras, but I really dig your point about your money going farther with buying a K1000 and a lens and some film. Having a relationship with photography is about that progression and that 600 dollars can be better spent on the different options you had mentioned.

I've been servicing and CLA the original Olympus pen a absolutely beautiful half camera at a fraction of the price of the Pentax 17

Personally I would spend it all on the three Ferrania film stocks. They have done a very impressive thing.

Pentax must REALLY be pushing this camera. I'm seeing it all over the youtube. For the price... ya right. I'll take a Canon Demi all day long. F/1.7, smaller body, and prettier. (ohhhhh and way cheaper)

I would prefer a Nikon FM2 with 50mm F1.4 Nikkor, for the cost of a Pentax 17. I am really sure that two photos taken by Pentax 17 will not be as good as one shot taken by Nikon FM2 + 50mm F1.4, so the price of the film is not the main argument, IMHO.

Just bought a $122 Canon P + $25 shipping on Buyee, nearly mint condition, not even a tiny wrinkle on the shutter. Still have about 500 bucks more, or 84 rolls of my fav Fomapan 100. The price for Pentax 17 was way beyond what I expected. Didn’t even expect it was gonna be a half frame. Was expecting something like $300 at most.

Buy medium format for that mamiya.

Buy a Konica Autorex P. You can shoot full or half frame on the same roll of film, and you get fantastic Hexanon lenses. Plus it's built like a tank.

I have the Mamiya 6. Great camera. If you can't afford 120 film, don't shoot it. That said, I develop my own B&W and color, so I save that way.

For the dim situation, they have small orange filters that will screw over the viewfinder for Leica's, so maybe they would work on the Nikon. Wouldn't look as odd.

Thanks sir, Just got me 2 weeks ago a black SP 2005 with this lens for 3k mint. Was so happy. Now I need to sell something’s lol. I love using it wide open.