C'mon Matt, really? $500 for a toy camera when there are millions of functioning quality 35mm film cameras available? I thought 2024's buzzword was SUSTAINABLE? Why are you promoting new plastic junk instead of reusing what is already available? Your previous colabs with KEH made sense. This is nonsense and nothing but shilling for views. Sad.

That winder lock is the one feature that has kept me from buying this and every other Nikon that works this way. That's what a dedicated on/off switch is for, having that lever sticking out drives me absolutely mad! The F3 IMO is a much better camera because of this, although battery driven.

This is a very good and objective review. Thanks for your video as always! I agree with you that this camera is not for everyone. That’s really a shame! Based on all the marketing and reviews, it sounds like they spend so much time and creativity on creating this camera and they could have spent the same or less resources on creating a good and solid manual film SLR that works with all of their existing manual lenses. Alternatively, they could have gone for a more modern and cheaper version of Contax T3. I want this camera to succeed but I don’t think the product management at Pentax really knows their audience. With that said, the manual and point-and-shoot film camera used markets have many existing competitors so their thought was probably to make something new.

Love Pentax classical cameras. Owned many of them. 1/2 frame idea is an acceptable reentry product, but the delivery is an epic failure. Whatever the team smoked, it damaged their brain. A half-bake, cheap plastic, and cheap lens is a gimmick camera. Instead of giving a full metal and solid design with a modern touch to a real film camera (compatible with legacy lenses) for loyal fans waiting to get one just for nostalgia, Pentax decided to incite first-time film users.

Pentax: The last SLR maker standing (everyone else has rushed to mirrorless), and now the last film camera maker. They could have made this the God camera by giving us full manual shutter and aperture control. I'm conflicted. As a home developer and scanner who doesn't print, half-frame does have its attractions. Hmmm....

I was having a beer at home alone and thought id just join these boys... 4 years later

Thats one beautiful white elephant.

Matt, this is great advice and exactly what I, as a massive procrastinator and over-thinker lol, needed to hear. Appreciate you and your channel! Cheers 🍻

Imagine if one of the 3 is a brand new medium format bodies, would pay for that

A full frame version of that camera would be a hit for sure at that price point. Even being a half frame it looks like a great second camera to take all around and have fun while having almost full control of how you shoot

I noted your mention of "your M6". Thank you for your objective views. Thank you to Ricoh Pentax.

Hi I have the Nikon Coolpix p950, should i buy the 3L or the 6L?

My Pentax 17 arrived today. I was a little disappointed with the feel of the camera. The plastic somehow doesn't feel as high-quality as it appears in the review videos. 550€ in Germany is a lot of money for a 35mm analog point-and-shoot camera. But I really wanted to have the camera and am now looking forward to the first photos. The camera is fun and it fulfills its purpose as an "always-on camera". I have inserted a Fuji 400 (Made in USA) film. But it will be a while before the 72 frames are full ;-)

$500 for a piece of plastic crap that's no better than a $50 lomography camera? No thanks

marry me

I just ordered one! I’ve wanted a reliable compact film camera that I don’t have to gamble on it breaking after a few rolls that I can carry everywhere with me.

Im excited to use mine! It will nice for street😊

When Pentax announced the Film project winter 2022, they talked about the plan. The Pentax 17 is testing waters to attract their younger Asian market who are hungry for analog. They mentionned that if this is something that went well, they want to work on a more advanced model and also an SLR. I'm buying one to be a carry-everywhere next to my K-1. I've grown tired of buying used film bodies that are supposedly great, but full of issues. Repairing ends up costing more than what this would cost brand new.

I think there is a big market for this type of camera - I agree they should make a version that speaks to people that want more manual control, pro features, and some modern features to boot, but with people paying absurd prices for cameras like Contax, and disposables still being a thing this makes sense to have on the market as a film camera in 2024. Also film is expensive, creates plastic waste, chemicals to process it aren't exactly eco friendly etc so I'm not mad at more exposures per roll. It equals less waste so people can have some bokeh grain and shifted colors, lol. (No shade, i love film) Also as AI tools to up-res film scans become more accessible and refined it's also not really a valid argument against half frame resolution. I think Pentax made a reasonable choice in the design.

Like the Pentax. I do own the Olympus Pen half frame myself.

All i shoot is Gold, Colorplus and Ultramax😅 cheaper than portra😖

Nice review of a couple of nice lenses. I try to snag good copies of the vintage lenses. The Panchro equivalent I have is the Cook Amotal 2" f/2.0 with similar characteristics. The "Cooke Look", that wonderful glow at the open f-stops. The vintage lenses and their reproductions are nice on digital cameras, mellowing.

Why they put "BOKEH" sign on it, cuz the camera was made for gen-Z customers, that follow and fancy the vintage, and started to buy film cuz is't soo coooool. These types of customers have no idea what they're doing, they have no knowledge about apertures, times, etc., have no idea how to setup the camera. They only can follow the pictures so the camera helps them to get what they want. That's why. This camera is for people who want a new gear but vintage (oxymoron). The rest of us take an old Nikon/Canon, a Kodak's Brownie, a Yashica or whatever else - and we figure out how to use it - if we want to go analogue.

I think the call they made for half-frame is right on the money. It's been said that film is expensive, but more than ... 72exp is perfect for a fresh photog to take just one camera, buy one roll of film for the location and have just enough shot-count freedom to snap at most moments on a long weekend or whatnot they want to remember. Built-in flash makes it so you don't have to worry too much about film speed. The f3.5 makes it super forgiving to focus misjudgements. I think it's right on the money and they deserve for this thing to sell and do well.

I can tell you how I respond to it: I will be ignoring it. I shot film from about 1975 to about 2005. There is no way on earth I would ever go back to it.

I like kodak gold for what it is in bright daylight. Though it's a little grainy

Half frame is what's appealing about a camera like that. It's great for scrapbooking and compliments a full frame camera.

Was kinda interested until you said zone focusing. I find zone focusing so inconvenient and cumbersome. I hate guessing. I hate missing focus on a really good composition even more. the cheap icons for setting the distance and the lack of aperture feels half thought out for the generation that only thinks through thing halfway

Already sold out at least in Japan 😁👍🏻

500 usd 🤣🤣🤣

I prefer to be able to see what I’m focusing on, not guess the distance 😢

What a trash rip off camera. Pentax should be ashamed of themselves. 500 bucks for a toy camera.

New, with warranty.

Looks really nice... But I already use an old Olympus Pen EE3, and I find it just wonderful... I've even printed some shots on 18x24 Ilford paper and they look fine...

I want one!

Half frame cameras don't seem to be viewed outside fun/toy arena when it comes to photography,but if anybody has used the original Olympus Pen F (1963) they will see that Olympus took it seriously 62 years ago.Unfortunately or fortunately Pentax's investors were restrained about this particlar film camera and it remains a toy but with serious camera's price tag.

this camera is for hipsters who want to save money on film - 72 is better then 36

Great review/First Look as usual. This looks like a really fun camera for those that maybe don't want to chance it with a 40+ year old camera where the batteries may no longer be made, better is broken, fungus is in the lens, etc. The half frame isn't a huge downside but I can understand why someone would want the full frame option at least. If they do a FF P&S I'd love to see them do it with a 40/2 lens as I think that would be a cool focal length that can do it all while being a bit different.

Quite a few of the macro mode shots I've seen actually look pretty good for out and about detail shots. The lens actually seems pretty solid!

Was going to buy this, but let down by half frame. That was a poor decision. Going to hold out for the Rollei 35AF.

Amazing that they did this on a shoestring budget and in just 2 years! Really excited to see what their take on 120 film will be!

I think you might have it backwards. There are more “snapshot” users in the world than just those few who can make a living off of taking pictures. Besides, they have said they are very interested in making an entire spectrum of film cameras. As far as sales-Pentax has suspended new sales less than 2 days in due to demand outstripping supply. Thank goodness. Now maybe we can get a 6x9 rangefinder!

I see this as a complementary camera - people who primarily shoot on their phones and are looking to get into film - and folks like myself, I have an SLR and rangefinder, but have been looking to add a compact camera to the kit. I could get a Stylus Epic (they are not the cheapest), but will it continue to work 3 months from now? The fact that I can buy a new camera is pretty enticing to me. I also like that it is half frame as it brings something to the table that I don't already have.

I'm surprised you don't analog print on an enlarger.

Might sell a few but not enough to make a profit.

Geeesus!!! The marketing dept. lost their marbles?

It's perfect for journal shots. Better than those mini-insta cameras!

Love shooting film!!!❤

need to get my hands on this 72 shots on a roll, mostly manual. what a great way to get excited about film again. the want is strong.

£500 !