FIRST LOOK at the New Pentax 17

This week we got our first look at the new Pentax 17 film camera. One of the most anticipated 35mm film camera releases ever. This camera will he a half frame camera, and come fitted with a prime lens. Pentax has made some unique design choices with this camera and I'm excited to talk to you guys about them in this video. What do you think of the Pentax 17 35mm film camera? Let me know in the comments.
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#FilmPhotography #AnalogPhotography #luckyfilm #filmphotography #35mmphotography

[@AnalogFramecraft]

When full frame is split in half what you get is portrait.

[@romanglinnik8073]

The design is outstanding, both futuristic and vintage. Both detailed and minimalist. Pretty neat.

[@Overexposed1]

I like it too!

[@allen_snapped]

It's a half-frame camera. I think it makes sense that the viewfinder is in portrait orientation since that's what the frame will look like with the camera held horizontally. I think it's going to make shooting feel a little more comfortable. Yeah, some people may have to get used to it, but I don't think it'll be that big of an adjustment. It's really distinctive, that's for sure.

[@StanleyKubick1]

25mm on half-frame is equivalent to 35mm full-frame

[@Adi-hj3nd]

37,5mm

[@tappenyaki]

I think all eyes are on Pentax for the next year as other camera manufacturers are seeing how well this re-entry into film goes for them. I hope the camera is a success and leads to further investment in the space from other companies! They just need to see people are serious about this hobby permanently!

[@MikeRinz]

2:30 what's up with the hate, all my half-frame cameras have portrait oriented viewfinders.

[@Overexposed1]

No clue. There are basically two camps of folks on my channel. Younger folks exploring film, and older folks who are purists and lived film in its heyday. As much as I would like these circles to overlap, lots of times they don't. This camera will clearly appeal to one of those groups, which Pentax has correctly identified as the future.

[@nwmi23]

I learned about this today, and just placed an order directly from the Pentax website. I'm stoked to get a new film camera in 2024!

[@PokhrajRoy.]

1:41 Great freeze frame. Now get this framed. Professional Lurking Cat

[@DalerTashkhuzhaev]

Thanks for the video! I guess that the orientation of the viewfinder isn't an option with half-frame film cameras, since they're using only one half of the 35mm negative which by default has a vertical orientation. Virtually all old half-frame film cameras like Olympus Pen-E or Canon Demi had a vertical viewfinder.

[@thomasa.243]

The price apparently will be a big surprise, in the positive way. If it is the case, I will buy it even if I don’t need it. Just to tell them that it is good that they try something as risky as this.

[@Overexposed1]

I’m just happy to get something that we can get parts for if something goes wrong. There’s real value in that!

[@thomasa.243]

@@Overexposed1 that one as well, yeah. I have 5 Minox 35, all broken. Parts? Hard to get, close to impossible. And on all of them, the same part broke. So, I can’t reuse them… But yes, getting something that has warranty, „just works“ and is less than a Leica is a win. If people buy it, of course

[@robine5280]

It's 550€ over here...

[@thomasa.243]

@@robine5280 well… well… I mean, I don’t know. On the one hand, this is a niche product and development costs money which they have to return first. On the other hand, I don’t know who they target at 550€ (or USD or whatever, is almost the same).

[@flohmin]

On an assumption that it's having a standard 40.5 mm filter ring (which is also displayed on the leaked photo) and if we do some measuring and quick math, it's around ~105mm by ~60mm. Similar size of a Ricoh GR. So not really a chunky camera, just the person's hands holding the camera are small.

[@rikardlandberg]

Half frame = horizontal viewfinder. Nothing strange there.

[@dansmouse7393]

I think the native orientation of a half frame is portrait.

[@dansmouse7393]

Most people today shoot with their phones more than anything else which normally are shot in portrait orientation. Makes sense for a new camera aimed at today’s generation.

[@enricodeharder4984]

Nope, half frame is vertical orientation.

[@---us7qf]

Man ALIVE! If I owned Pentax, I'd buy the rights to the Contax G2, and copy it down to the most intricate design details. I'd do a full re-make, colour and all (of course, with more robust materials and better processor, silent operations etc.), with the same 3 primes lenses (only updated with the latest and best coatings), the same accessories (again updated to the latest standards), and market that thing like it was the latest sheeeit. Muahahahahaha! It would hit the new MiNT Rollei 35AF out of the water, and be nipping at not just the Fujifilm X100VI heels, but also Leica.

[@Bertzcommodities]

I have a perfect working Dial 35 half frame camera The design is so funky yet beautiful with the styling of an old rotary phone It has shutter speed selection and auto aperture but if you pull a little knob you have full manual aperture adjustment as well Honestly idk if I can justify purchasing one of these YET, I think they look pretty traditional in a camera sense which isn’t a bad thing The dial 35 also has a clockwork winder that allows for like 20 frames with auto advance and then you wind it up again lol Excited to see the finished product and mainly curious to see the results the lens puts out

[@WesleyVerhoevePhotography]

The camera is small but might, I've been getting great results the past few weeks.

[@rjbiii]

I don’t have a half frame, so I’ll definitely be picking this up.

[@PokhrajRoy.]

We just have to wait till we see it, in practical use. I’m waiting for you to show us

[@harryniedecken5321]

I can see it. Former 35 mm pentax spotmatic f user, eventually ended up with M43. Film camera for photography students and when the urge hits for film. Most common mode for me would be having the camera vertical and and having easy eye access. If it used M43 lenses that would be really convenient for me. As long as the aperture and focus is on the lens area, not a problem. If I can get 2x as many negatives from an expensive roll of film, life is good enough. If I want super high end film results, will hire a pro with a medium format or 4x5.

[@rlaclaos0619]

Quality cat/camera video.

[@Overexposed1]

We aim to please!

[@REMY.C.]

The vertical viewfinder isn't made to suit phones, it's because it's a half frame, 17-18mm which is yeah... Half of 34 36 so it can only be vertical to suit the horizontal 24x36 film size.

[@Overexposed1]

This was from one of the interviews posted on the Pentax channel. The decision to do half frame, vertical format was specifically to appeal to young people and the orientation being selected because of mobile phones and social media. That’s not my speculation, they said this.

[@REMY.C.]

@@Overexposed1 oh yeah I know it wasn't your speculation, but the fact say said that is very strange to me because it's just that it can't be done otherwise. Correct me if I'm wrong but the film is 36 long, 24 height, put horizontally on the stripe, unless you physically rotate the whole system to get the 17x24. Maybe it's just a marketing trick to let those young ones believe it has been made for them 😂

[@brugj03]

@@Overexposed1 Then they are out of their minds at Pentax, it`s analog, so there is nothing to share. You have to get throough all the hassle of shooting film including using up your roll of film for that one shot you like to share. Crazy.

The design is debatable...I don't think it's that great, but I'm happy that a manufacturer has the courage to develop a new film camera. I think the decision to go for half format is spot on. I hope it's good, not too expensive and hopefully sells well so that other manufacturers see a new area of ​​business.

[@RobertFalconer1967]

Disagree. The design is aesthetically awkward and given that 35mm film is now well behind digital in overall IQ, half-frame negatives are going to be incredibly disappointing for many if not most people. Hate to say it, but I think this is going to flop.

[@VDDDRex]

@@RobertFalconer1967 IQ is overrated just look at social media. This camera is not ment to compete in that regard. The half frame encurages the user to take pictures with it and grab a moment. I rather take a chance capture a moment that wont hold up to the pixel peepers then missing it. I think this camera is for folks who want to have fun fiddeling around with something that gives a haptical feedback and a physically existing result. Of course i could easily get a camera that would blow this thing out of the water for $500 but thats not the point. Maybe you should stop overthinking stuff. I am considering it, would be fun to bring it to a party. It would be a vastly different experience in all regards... only real drawback that i can see is that developing film takes ages around here and the price which is 1/3 of a 35mm GM.

[@Zzzzzz-ns7lg]

I definitely plan on buying it. I’m a Pentax guy so it only makes sense

[@eyeofalchemy]

I think the camera looks beautiful. Like the Pen F, it's giving rangefinder vibes without actually being one and i think that makes it really sleek. Looks like a satin finish, which i dig too. Well done, Pentax!

[@petesime]

Hopefully you can manually select the ISO on this camera and not just rely on DX codes. Ideally you could select 25 to 3200. And hopefully you can select the aperture yourself - there's something to be said for just sitting on f/8 and having objects between around three meters and infinity in focus. Further, this reminds me a lot of an early 80s Minolta: the Hi-Matic S2. Which was full frame, but shares a lot of the known features - a zone focusing camera with automatic shutter and aperture.

[@StanleyKubick1]

focal distance on a 25mm is closer to 1.5m-to-inf

[@petesime]

@@StanleyKubick1 Even better.

[@Threetails]

Wish it took K mount lenses.

[@linusfotograf]

Their next camera probably will

[@PokhrajRoy.]

I think if a vertical orientation exists in Instax, it can exist in Pentax

[@achaycock]

It's early days yet, but this seems very positive. You're observations are spot on, though like others I will add that portrait framing makes sense for half frame. I've had a number of modern Pentax cameras and all have been robustly made and good value, so I fully expect this to meet that criteria. I was not excited for their first film cameras, but I am now. This would be great for street photography where zone focusing is perfect. I suspect that Pentax may have had this in mind. This exceeds my initial expectations.

[@KrisHomemadeBaking]

what did the cat type on your script LOL

[@seanimal_rex]

Camera cat demands to be seen!

[@Overexposed1]

He loves coming out here when I make videos and he thinks I’m talking to him. Lol

[@guccimain89]

I mean I have a zillion cameras. If the price is reasonable, I’ll definitely pick one up I think.

[@nareyubr]

Other considerations: although it has a built-in flash (which is good), it doesn't seem to have a hotshoe nor outlet for external flash; ø40.5mm will be kinda hard to get filters for; zone/estimative focusing is the most frustrating focusing method for a camera and will probably frustrate people unfamiliar with that system, specially because it's very easy to forget to focus before taking the picture; it has a manual winding crank in top which looks to be made of plastic (probably the first part of the camera to break with use).

[@tarishmahajan1]

It's all plastic...$500+, ridiculous.

[@ixtirochiavlodlar]

Lika for cat😊

[@Mike_to_the_k]

The viewfinder orientation is definitely so people frame their half frame correctly. If it were in standard landscape orientation the framing wouldn’t be as self obvious

[@kevin.itruth6880]

25mm on half frame usually has a 1.4x crop which equates to 35mm focal length. Im assuming they went that route with this one like with the old Olympus Pen F lenses.

[@davidsaylors]

That cat tho’ 🤣👌🐈

[@XMarkxyz]

Funnily enough many more images and information got out a few hours after this video was published 😅

[@arricammarques1955]

Bill Cunnigham snapped with a 35mm half frame camera.

[@AFluffyMobius]

Hopefully this is a prototype, because they can definitely do with a little more refinement all around design-wise. Heck the lettering around the lens is like an afterthought sans-serif font. Not the biggest fan of the color but maybe it looks way better in person or better lighting. idk, in general its a little ugly imo, haha. This is coming from a Pentax user through and through (love my LX, MX, MZ-S, and K-1). But having said that im still looking forward to this. Always wanted to try out a half-frame and it being a new production film camera is always welcome.

[@melmothmoth]

The viewfinder being in portrait by default isn't really a decision that Pentax made for new generations or anything, it's because the camera shoots in half frame, half frame cameras need the shots to be vertical in order to get more room on the film, hence why they shoot double the amount exposures.

[@Overexposed1]

Take your point of observation a step higher, Pentax decided to make a half frame camera instead of a traditional 35mm camera. That’s the strange decision.

[@news603redux]

Zone focusing will not be a "challenge" for some, it will be a "problem".

[@BillLovesFilm]

Great content as always! What do you make of the focus scale (as pictured) going from infinity to ten feet, then all the way down to 0.25 in very precise small increments? Seems odd for zone focus and considering target buyer.

[@barrymckeown6822]

Great video thanks. Isn’t it also 50 mm effective focal length given the half frame?

[@Overexposed1]

Not 50, but 35mm equivalent - but yes you are correct, it would be a longer focal length. Thanks for that!

[@Kalua85]

Looking at your youtube subscriber counter in the background, I think you might have a framerate/shutter inconsistensy with your countries power frequency. Are you using the 180° shutter rule?

[@Overexposed1]

Not sure, I will check - I usually let the camera determine shutter. Thanks for the comment!

[@Kalua85]

@@Overexposed1 if your camera don't have shutter angle, just use double shutterspeed of your framerate. It should take care out it. And thanks for the video.

[@jacasan2000]

I think the orientation odd but new generation like selfies and portrait and if that the target it is well think….and the size it’s about a regular phone , so maybe the portability is part of the deal on this camera . And 1/2 frame may good for the wallet .

[@abdulkadir1990]

the zonefocus will be a much smaller prolem for the users than most think. i shot zone focus cameras many times. it has a certain flow to it and you learn how to focus within 2 roll of film.

[@abdulkadir1990]

and im prettysure it wont be under 500dollar. probably more arounf 650

[@j.cdenton9342]

Incredible design but no autofocus functions at all kinda puts me off

[@roydoorenspleet1548]

Nice design in áll respects. Excellent how they implemented the range finder! 'portrait orientation point of contention' how else would you get two exposures on one negative? XD Half frames have always been portrait. There is no other viable design possible.

[@Overexposed1]

The contention is why they would make this instead of a 35mm with a traditional horizontal layout. Not why didn’t they make a half frame camera in horizontal orientation.

[@roydoorenspleet1548]

@@Overexposed1 From people blissfully unburdoned by film prices only lol...

[@Brusentsev]

Nice cat

[@Overexposed1]

He’s the man

[@oliverlison]

I would have tried to align the slots of the screws next to the viewfinder. Anyway, FF would have been nice. A SLR would have been even nicer, especially if it would be a mechanical camera.

[@Sumenbi]

Ill buy it directly

[@analogtechnik704]

i think this Pentax is the Fiat Multipla as a camera

[@cstpa1]

i had no damn idea this was coming out only the rollei35af

[@donnabartolome873]

$399 for the standard and 499 for the limited edition (color way)

[@REMY.C.]

I think the color is close to champagne color.

[@justcallmesando]

Not quite what I expected gotta say. Looks interesting though.

[@stdman4036]

Not to mention getting 72 shots out of a roll of film! My wallet will like that.

[@PokhrajRoy.]

The way I see it, *YOU* generated some discourse.

[@chipmiddleton1439]

All 1/2 frame cameras have that style viewfinder. It would be odd if it was horizontal.

[@klausmoritzpeitzsch690]

Pentax! Why 35mm half frame instead of 4.5 x 6 roll film?

[@stefanvasilev9318]

Looks great! Reminds me of the Olympus Pen-f half-frame film cameras from the 80s - huge film and censor size is overrated. A good image is a good image 🤷

[@---us7qf]

Why are the grip material and camera faux leather different patterns?

[@nelsonclub7722]

Pentax is owned by Ricoh

[@Poorgeniu5]

So this is kinda like an modern Olympus Pen (Not the digital ones) huh?

[@doctorstrobe]

HF means half frame

[@BriansPhotoShow]

Do we know how many and which shutter speeds it offers?

[@Overexposed1]

Nothing on that yet!

[@martinvalencia798]

All half frames have portrait as default because when you half a 135 you are left with a portrait frame.

[@Overexposed1]

I understand. The criticism is why they would choose to make this and not make a traditional 35mm camera

[@BradleySwainAwesome]

The Yashica Samurai begs to differ

[@martinvalencia798]

@@BradleySwainAwesome ooooh. I never knew that. Most of my half frames from Olympus and Canon are portrait

[@stevemiller6167]

Why not make some new olympus om1n just like the new leica m6?

[@PaulSafford]

$500! I wish them success but I think that price point is a mistake. If that lens is a simple two or four element design I think $100-$150 is fair otherwise why not seek out the classics!

[@juho1057]

Exactly. Anything over 200 usd is just lunacy. Rollei 35 AF is going to be around 600-800USD and it comes with LIDAR autofocus, much better optics etc.

[@MajoroTom]

if it's got a 40.5mm ∅ lens filter thread it's probably not gonna be very big, I'd say that's a good thing! somebody do the math on that

[@edwardsblake3630]

Since it’s half frame won’t that make it a 50mm focal length?

[@headwerkn]

35mm full frame equivalent. 38mm on half frame is about your 50mm FF equivalent.

[@PokhrajRoy.]

1:52 Hahaha

[@SomeUnremarkableGuy]

I hope my G.A.S. won't kick with this one.

[@jw48335]

Hope for under $500??? What? It's a zone focus prime lens plastic half frame P&S. I might pay $200 if it had autofocus. I've got $5 garage sale cameras I'd rather use. I can get a NOS Konica Genbakantoku 35 for $200. Everything about this particular camera is disappointing. I hope it's a hit and they use that success to fund a camera that photographers would actually want to use.

[@shanan1124]

I appreciate Pentax’s effort, but I’ll stick with my MX and KX…🤔🤷🏾‍♂️😏

[@bikebeerrun1960]

The device functions and appearence of them to have A "Mister Potatohead" look to me

[@flyonwall360]

Nice. However. If you scan your negatives at 24x17mm, now you have half the resolution. I'll just use my Canon Elan 7e with the power grip and shoot horizontal and get better image quality.

[@Socman86]

But why half frame? 😭

[@headwerkn]

Economy, size, simplicity and cost of manufacture

[@SteveMillerhuntingforfood]

I've owned many Pentax film cameras; this won't be one of them. Love my 67ii and all the glass I have with it. Hope they sell millions of them to the hipster crowd.

[@tarishmahajan1]

$500+ is ridiculous!!!

[@zabtej1645]

Sucks big time. You can get 40mm full frame with 1.7 lens with coupled rangefinder and full manual.

[@michaelsweet4232]

Honestly, this camera does not look well made at all. A lot of plastic!! A few pieces of stamped metal isn't going to save this camera. Sorry, but I had much higher hopes for this project. Also a slow lens. I'm going to pass on this ultimately!

[@mgman6000]

I'd rather have a CLAd Olympus PenF than this thing and it would probably be cheaper and a lot more useful

[@headwerkn]

Agreed. I understand the need for a basic spec first up to establish the market but if it’s more than US$200-$300 no one will buy it. Especially if it looks that butt ugly. I know looks don’t take the photo but the younger generation will treat this as much of a fashion accessory as cashed up fotogs do with Leicas. For $500 you can get a minty, sorted Pen F with a couple of lenses, perfect classic design and real metal.

[@winheiMR]

Sie kann also quer gehalten, wie üblich, nur Hochformat Fotos machen und hoch gehalten querformat Fotos machen? Schade

[@juliovila8233]

Overpriced !! I could by a dozen Olympus Pen in all E’s for that price

[@Fun-Photo]

Hässlich und zu teuer (549)

[@brugj03]

A stupid move from a dying brand, film doesn`t share well on social media. Because it`s analog you know.......... You can`t turn back time, film sucks for almost everyone and i know. before digital i shot a lot of film. People don`t understand that digital is heaven compaired to film. Film is worthless and extremely cumbersome and expensive. The camera is nice looking and pretty well priced with lens included, but no way in hell i`m ever gonna use a stoneage device ever.

[@fustigate314159]

I'm sorry you're sad.

[@Old-School-Liberal]

Lame