Adventures in 35mm Photography: Pentax 17 Film Camera!

[@tested]

Pentax 17 Half Frame Film Camera: www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1834281-REG/pentax_17_film_camera.html Camera Provided by Pentax Australia and C.R.Kennedy Imaging for purposes of review

[@Greyjayjay]

Pentax are smart. Knowing film has made a MASSIVE come back but we all hear "Film is expensive".. they have made it essentially more affordable. Ok the film is the same price but instead of doing a city walkaround with 35mm cam and shooting two rolls... you shoot 1 roll but same amount of shots. Clever, smart and I'm all for it. Well done Pentax - nicely played. ✨️👌

[@theangrymarmot8336]

I ordered one on the day they became available - and so far have ~8 rolls through mine. I really like the camera, it is my "edc" camera replacing my Minolta HiMatics. The image quality is fantastic (the Pentax apparently has great glass and modern lens coatings are awesome) and the camera is a joy to use. This camera got so much unwarranted hate when it came out - and most of it was from people who never even handled one. It doesn''t feel cheap at all (many "reviewers" were parroting this statement) and the image quality is much better than my other (old) pocketable film cameras. I like zone focusing, and the meter is always very accurate. Worth the money for a brand new camera, with modern lens and coatings.

[@africanpenguin3282]

Yeah I initially hated the idea of it as well but upon reviewing prices of older higher quality half frames It's about on par with inflation adjustments. The only thing I wish they had done was given you the option of at least seeing focusing distancing in feet or meters instead of the approximate picture markings.

[@theangrymarmot8336]

@@africanpenguin3282 You can see the distance measurements in feet and meters, it is on the bottom of the lens assembly.

[@abhinaybuiss]

The way I look at the haters of this camera is "your loss" People hate them, and if somehow the products are hyped, pay twice or even thrice the original price on second hand markets.

[@nikoladimitrijevic8172]

@@africanpenguin3282 Meters and feet markings are placed under the lens. It's not a bad idea to put a "cheat sheet" in a film reminder holder.

[@carterc174]

Really loved this video. Not only the review of the Pentax camera but also the bit of film history we got. Would love to see more of this stuff on the channel!!!

[@AnimeRonin]

Wow. This takes me back nearly thirty years when I started photography. Nice to see film's making a comeback. Not that I'm going to convert my closet to a development nook again, though.

[@abhinaybuiss]

Give it time ;)

[@figaro-dg5c5]

It never went away

[@williamoorejr]

I carried a med format Bronica around the world in early 70s . Now that was an adventure. I am really glad to see an interest again. Thanks for your production.

[@frankgulla2335]

it has been a while and amazing that I can get a "new" 35mm to use once again.

[@karoliandrygoods6457]

Great composition in the talking heads - bringing in the shape of the 35mm and the pinball machine to focus on Joey.

[@nikonshooter71]

I can’t wait to see that one day build. I have been rewatching some of Adam’s one day build vids before covid. And wow do I really love them. The different depth of field shots. Angles , top down. Rich colors. I know it’s more work for Tested as a whole. But I found myself even more engaged with the build.

[@hillside21]

The first photos I ever shot were with my Dad's Olympus half-frame camera, later a Contax. Dad mainly went to Nikon, but preferred the Contax for candid photography, because it didn't have that loud Nikon click. He could shoot from the hip and know exactly where the camera was framed.

[@j.robertsergertson4513]

You're lucky ,my dad wouldn't trust me with his Nikon (grown ups camera) .I got to take photos on a Kodak 110 with "magic cube" flash😂😂

[@CaramelSunflowers]

I have missed film cameras so much and plan to purchase this one. Long live film, it wasn't broken neither are paper back books!

[@samipso]

This camera is actually great for seasoned digital photographers because it's so different and yet so correct.

[@xliquidflames]

Matt Parker/Stand Up Maths recently did a video about film which explains all the different sizes and stuff. This explanation is great and I learned a lot about film from this video. Matt's video uses each type of film to shoot the video if you want to see what they look like.

[@VAXHeadroom]

highly recommended, surprised Joey didn't mention it...

[@xliquidflames]

@@VAXHeadroom Yeah, me too. But to be fair, this video is great and it's more about still cameras and Matt's is about video. So, I can see how it wouldn't be relevant.

[@CoryDAnimates]

Pentaxian reporting in!

[@KristiChan1]

I have a Pen EE3 so I'm not in the market for one, but I'm happy to see there's an interest in this format.

[@PhilG999]

Interesting! I've been into photography since I was 5 or so learning how to use my Pop's Rolleicord! I still have the first pic I ever took (Mom wrote on the back "Philip took this"). I'm almost 66 now BTW. I never knew about the difference in "perfs" in 35mm film photography. The only experience I had was with a company that took "expired" 70mm movie film and split it to 35mm and "resprocketed" it (I guess "re-perfed" would be more accurate). I have always had Pentax cameras, from my first Pentax ME Super (rare blackbody version, had to order it) to my *istD Digital DSLR, which I bought because I already had the "K-Mount" glass and telescope adapters. Learned something new today... Thanks! 😁

[@VariTimo]

I don’t know where the thing with the Moon setting (which is long exposure mode) comes from that it closes down the aperture to 16 by default. It does the same auto aperture and shutter speed settings as the other modes. With the difference that it goes to up to four seconds exposure times for night photography. Bokeh, P, and Auto-Mode (when the flash hasn’t charged up) all go to 1/30th as their longest shutter speed. Bokeh-Mode will prioritize a wider lens opening but it’ll stop down if necessary. Auto doesn’t set the focus point to infinity, it sets a hyper focal distance so everything between 1m and infinity is in focus. And Flash-Moon mode will not stop the lens down to f16 either. It meters for the background and uses that for the shutter speed. With a tripod you can have the subject and the background both be exposed correctly, even if the flash doesn’t reach far enough for the background. And handheld you can get some light streaking effects. And there is no delay if you half press the shutter release before taking the picture. It’ll set the focus on half press and immediately fire when you full press. There is only a delay when you full press right away.

[@thir13enthman]

Very informative. Thanks!

[@MorhosFilmLab]

Very excited to see the 2C camera video! I own a Arriflex 2C 2perf camera. I love it so much. The motors I use are the regular 2 pin power connectors. Would love to see a video on modifying the motors for 4 pin XLR. Those 2 pin cables are hard to find and am always worried if something happens to my cable. Love these analog videos! I have a motion picture scanner and have scanned some cool projects. :) Thank you for sharing this!

[@JJCPhotography]

Great video!

[@joehopfield]

The effective resolution of photographic film steadily improved over its hundred years. That's basically underlies Moore's law. Using fewer perfs has kept resolution, steady or improving despite being more efficient

[@undercover83]

05:12 Loading & Unloading 05:21 ISO selection 05:32 Camera settings 05:42 P Mode 06:22 Zone focus 08:28 Moon Setting 08:55 Bokeh Setting 09:10 B Setting 09:20 P mode with Flash 09:48 Auto Mode 10:29 Advance Film Lever 10:43 Battery

[@GxAce]

Love to see more photography videos over here :D. Cheers!

[@jmtphotographymedia]

This is an interesting concept. I find the controls a little complicated though. Remind me of my Lomo instant automat mini. Shoots vertical, zone focuses, no manual control.

[@BejaeIngate]

The backwards portrait/landscape thing is crazy!

[@undercover83]

Love the video! However one tip/advice to make it even better, time stamping certain important point allow us to look at a particular section. Thanks for the pentax review again!

[@underbikedoverconfident1142]

I still have my Pentax ME super!

[@timmy3822]

Using my dad’s Pentax MV 😊 it needs fixing though sadly the rewind dial doesn’t move when advancing film now for some reason. Hyped to see a new film camera I’d love to get one.

[@davidmccarthy6061]

Bought their K1000 when it came out and it was a great camera. Great for learning but I'd never go back to film now. But I can see it'd be fun for those that have never experienced it.

[@steveweinberg462]

Brings me back to the 1970s. Protip: Back in the day we had "lens cap keepers." It'd glue onto the cap, and have a string you'd loop to the neckstrap swivels.

[@nathkrupa3463]

Great video sir

[@porvoonosho]

I've always found taking digital photos of film negatives amusing.

[@Merlinherk]

For me it was a Pentax K1000 in my HS Freshman Photography class and then I bought my own and used till digital.

[@RobertPilla]

I still use mine. Of course I also have the Pentax 67 and a Pentax K-1 Mk2

[@Merlinherk]

@@RobertPilla Carried mine most of my time USAF and wasn't ever combat camera.

[@cornbeef]

That's a great review, I like and agree with everything in it. Is it worth the money? Yes and no. I feel without buying it I can't decide, I feel if I buy it, I will think it's worth every penny. I just need to make that leap...

[@CristianGeelen]

Awesome camera. Pentax did something great by releasing a film camera again.

[@thetbird69]

I still have a minolta ax7 which i got from japan i still use from time to time. You can grt digital photos printed to look like film but theres just something about using the proper old equipment

[@hobbyfarmer62]

Sounds like they took one of my favorite old school cameras by Pentax and then automated the bulk of features. Can you change out the lens or is it just the single lens?

[@j_taylor]

The lens is built into the camera body.

[@kevinwalsh8933]

Some old film cameras had the dials marked with ‘Light Value’ numbers which were used with light meters to set your ASA/ISO, aperture, and shutter. Eg., if the lightmeter read 16 you’d set the LV numbers on the dials to add up to 16. This camera could have been easier to use if the dials were marked with LV numbers. But anyway - cool camera.

[@bradleymarks]

So is the arriflex anything like the old bolex?

[@matteotummino8987]

Hey, not sure you've noticed but there's a constant high pitch hiss/noise in your recording, just thought I'd point it in case you haven't!

[@RobertPilla]

Once you go Pentax 67 you never go back.

[@LilSirAxolotl]

I'm interested in this one but just got a Lomo LC-Wide for only €150! It's missing the frame masks for half and square frame pics. But I couldn't resist a point and shoot camera with a 17mm lens for that money. Especially because I plan on getting a second one. So then I only need one set of masks Before you think about buying this Pentax though getting a Lomo Diana Mini might be more affordable. While you can still get them. Because Lomography is replacing that model with the Lomourette. Their website is almost out of stock

[@brucejacobs4026]

cool video but some of the terminology seems to have coined new terms for terms that have been in use in photography for decades. Some very simple things seem to have been left off like DX coding, From the video, I think this is an auto exposure version of the very simple cameras that were the cheapest models available in the 50s and 60s

[@77tubuck]

That screw that holds the battery cover on looks uncomfortable. I would replace that screw with a round hexagonal recessed screw. Some people call them Allan heads. Those hexagonal screw heads don't have the sharp angles other screws have.

[@Lutz101]

Rather have an updated Pentax Auto 110 Super with shutter and aperture dials for manual exposure along with shutter priority and aperture priority shooting in addition to the auto modes, and a +/- exposure override dial when using the auto modes.

[@metalfingersfilm]

Woah, Adam Savage & film photography!!

[@jwcph]

While Joey's quick & dirty film format run-down does the job, for anyone who wants a deeper dive into the practicalities & history of perfs, frames & footage I recommend Matt Parker's comprehensive (and fun) video on the subject - which itself is actually shot on 35mm 😁 kzbin.info/www/bejne/h4q4dmlva9Bpfbs

[@rsaunders57]

The real problem is the price. $250 will get you a nice Canon on eBay with a 50mm lens, and $500 will get you a Nikon. Film is great to experience, and the cost of good used gear is so low and making new stuff is a dubious value.

[@John-1984]

I agree. I can't see paying $500 for a plastic camera when you can get a working demi ee17 in excellent condition for less than $200 that comes with a built in meter.

[@timmy3822]

The issue being the older cameras won’t be around forever. If this is successful and indicates to other brands there’s a demand being unfulfilled they might start making new film cameras of their own. I see it more about allowing film photography to have a future once vintage stocks are exhausted. Pentax already said demand has been higher than anticipated. If they made a full frame version of this or even a full manual SLR akin to a modern K1000 I think they’d sell like hot cakes.

[@billbucktube]

👍‼️

[@Greg_Koenig]

What happened to 1 day builds?? Only reason i subbed

[@RoelfvanderMerwe]

Wow. I just learned a whole bunch.... I love these videos

[@deathchopvhs]

Love my Pentax 17! Haters gonna hate.

[@jeffsaxton2051]

While interesting, I think i'll just stick with my trusty ME Supers from the mid 80s.

[@jayinstandarddefinition]

Why is this thing so expensive?

[@timmy3822]

Research and development, marketing, production etc. The vintage film cameras we see on eBay in today’s money would be about £1000 or higher when adjusted for inflation. This isn’t actually that expensive when you look at it from that perspective, at least in my opinion.

[@davidt8438]

So I should hang on to my Nikon F2?

[@valentinozoboli4592]

Definitely don't get rid of your Nikon F2

[@spamsfilms]

Wasn't expecting to recognise local areas in your photos, some very nice shots of Richmond!

[@jongmassey]

Weird high pitched whine on the audio

[@michaelcarltock3223]

I loved making double exposures. Digital you cant

[@bob11712]

There is a terrible high pitched whine in the right channel for most of this video, very curious to know what that is.

[@hok_ton5480]

Hello

[@spiscione]

More film cameras are Coming, including the legendary Rollei 35.

[@saltycracker2344]

I was so excited when I heard that Pentax was making a brand new film camera, then they released a really expensive point and shoot...

[@knowwherefamous9067]

Adam should build a twistsaber! It's a 3d printable lightsaber that extends and retracts by twisting the hilt! It looks so cool!

[@jonathanreedpike]

$500 HaHaHa

[@Lutz101]

Why not just make a half-frame version of the Olympus XA2 for half the price?

[@writerpatrick]

The problem with film is getting it developed. There's not many places left that will do it.

[@AB-Prince]

I have an old, all mechanical SLR pentax film camera. which I got from an antique shop for less than £50 including a couple of lenses. $500 is a straight up scam. when digital cameras were starting to replace film. this was the exact spesifications of what would have been considered a budget camera. late 90s, early 2000s you could have had this type of camera new for about $30. now you could get a nearly identical camera from a charity shop for no more than $10.

[@j.robertsergertson4513]

I love when millennials and Gen Z rediscover , something that was a common everyday things ,20-25 yrs ago like it's some magical artifact .😂😂😂😂😂,

[@elk3407]

How young do you think millennials and gen Z are? We know what film is and used it as children The return to film is driven by a desire to disconnect from technology

[@j.robertsergertson4513]

@@elk3407 😂😂😂😂😂 triggered , next you'll marvel over cursive writing and analog clocks 😂😂😂

[@elk3407]

@@j.robertsergertson4513 I learned cursive in school, I had an analog clock most of my life. You're yelling at clouds old man go back to the graveyard you crawled out from

[@TheVRSofa]

ok...awesome. but this needs slowing down and explaining. i like cameras but im no expert. this dud just started shouting at me about cameras and i have no idea what hes talking about, whop these companies are lol. take a break dude. :) the doodle helps but whats gate size? it shows the film having a different sixze omage on and a box you drew, but what IS IT? how is it super wide and what on earth is a 4 perth?! this was like listening to somone talk in alien

[@j_taylor]

That technical explanation of historical use of half-frame is not essential to understand the camera. He described how some movie directors would save money by using smaller areas of the film strip. They would adjust the camera so the movie image was only 3 perforations (the square holes) tall instead of the standard 4 perfs tall. By keeping the same width but making the image shorter top-to-bottom, the resulting movie looked like what we now call "wide screen."

[@merickful]

Perhaps a video on the basics of photography.

[@TheStockwell]

No offense intended, but three and a half minutes into this frantic spiel about everything except the Pentax camera, I gave up on hearing anything ABOUT the Pentax. 🙄 It was like a talk about the James Webb Space Telescope beginning with a frenzied speech about Galileo and Copernicus. Best wishes from Vermont 🍁

[@Pleezath]

They missed all the marks for me with that camera

[@africanpenguin3282]

I kind of thought it did it first for me but when I compared it to older camera models of a half frames type in similar build quality the price is just about the same with inflation. Though I think they could have gone a little bit further with the optics and made it similar to Olympics pen s system with potential interchangeable lens in the future

[@mikewilson6128]

I can't even imagine who on earth would want to buy this camera - I went through the half frame era in the late 60s early 70s with Olympus Pen EE and Pen F cameras when it was a good idea to get 75 photos on one 36 exposure film. But these days there are so many excellent digital cameras with great zoom capabilities, accurate auto exposure systems and excellent pocketability, that can take at least a thousand images on a reusable SD card. This camera is 50 years too late and rediculously overpriced.