Pentax NEW Film Camera

[@senkawascott]

I am a Pentax shooter (MX, PZ-20, K-50) and am thrilled to know that Pentax is seriously promoting film cameras. If the new camera is not too expensive I plan to buy one, partially just to support the company and their vision. Yes, I’d prefer a new full 35mm frame camera, but like you say, if it brings new people into the film camera world I’m all for it. In Tokyo where I live, the infrastructure for getting your film developed still exists. It is not like the days when any neighborhood supermarket had a film lab, but my favorite local shop will develop my negatives in an hour. If there is a boom of film shooters, I’m sure new places will open for developing and printing. It’s kind of a now-or-never point in history, I think. That’s why I am glad Pentax is doing this project, and why I will uncomplainingly support it. I’m sure that if Pentax is taking this long to design and release a film camera that it won’t be a piece of junk plastic. How exciting!

[@LuigiBarbano]

Totally agree. Yes is very exciting to see the rebirth of film. I'm very optimist about this project!

[@chrisnovakowski9827]

Thank you for your positive comments & attitude towards this new film camera from Ricoh/Pentax! I keep seeing so many negative comments, but if everyone actually watched (& listened to) the videos that were released by Pentax, they would realize that this was the plan all along. Step one - release a camera to attract new film shooters, Step two - build upon the experience gained from step one to design & produce a more advanced consumer camera. ...etc until they get to the point of prosumer cameras. I love this approach - it makes sense as it is a way to gauge consumer interest & a way to gain valuable experience that has been lost. I am excited to see what comes from this wonderful project.

[@LuigiBarbano]

Thank you. Yes, it was defined from the first announcement of the project. Sadly too many people are ready to criticize without even listening to what Pentax said. I like how Pentax is approaching the film challenge. I'm pretty sure they will create something good. I hope to put my hands on the camera as soon it will be available. Sounds like a. fun camera to use.

[@jerzyjablonski1432]

I really love this project exactly because it is different (and I am too old fart who grown using film). Half frame means I can use it as snap shot film camera with some cheap film. Manual winding, manual focusing (even if zone only) - great feel, great introduction to more advance compact or SLR cameras. It will probably be pretty sturdy, plastic most likely (or plastic over metal bones) but quality plastic, young people like cheap but good quality items. Value for money and Pentax was always good in this aspect. I frankly care little about lens quality, how many setting it will have. Knowing Pentax I am sure it will be good enough to create nice photos that will look good on print (even if only standard postcard+ size) and on phone/tablet screen which is primary aim for them. Photography, after all is not about razor sharp images but about capturing a moment in life and sharing it with others (or not if you are like Vivan Maier ;)) It will also give Pentax experience with film camera manufacturing, give them money to spend on more advanced things. What's not to like?

[@LuigiBarbano]

Amen to this! I just hope the buyers will not be Vivian Mayer or we will have to wait 70 years to see the success of the camera! :D I'm sure it will be a good camera. Pentax is a pretty serious brand when is a matter of quality of the materia and the results.

[@lelandfitz1762]

I was and am hyped about the project. Yet, the more I learn about it, the more I am unsure how it will play out. When in 2023 it came through that the camera will cost around 500€ I thought that this is a reasonable price. That could mean decent lens quality, goods built and enough manual modes to make it a true point-and-shoot (unlike most compact film cameras from the 90s with their lagging auto focus). I think 500€ should deliver on those fronts. Yet a few weeks ago I heard that Pentax said that the camera will be priced more in the range of 650€. Of course that's a long shot towards the (up until now only) new film camera Leica M6, but that would mean, it really is aimed at people who are truly invested in the film hobby and are eager to pay that amount for a half-frame. The other big project, Mint's Rollei 35AF will come at around 850€, but it is a full frame and it's maker positions it as a high end film camera, not like Pentax who are keeping expectations low by saying they want to deliver an entry model with their first new film camera. Maybe the Rollei isn't as premium after all. Yet, I won't pay 650€ for a Pentax that doesn't come with manual focussing, so I am able to truly point and shoot.

[@LuigiBarbano]

@@lelandfitz1762 Where did you heard about the price? I still know it will be around $250. The idea is to have low priced fun camera to introduce new generations to film, if it'll be at $650 will be too much in my opinion. At that price I can get a used LX in perfect conditions.

[@lelandfitz1762]

@@LuigiBarbano I got it from the magazine camera (it's an analog camera magazine published in German and English). TKO from Pentax visited them in late 2023, that's when they wrote he said around 500€. In their newest edition from 2 weeks ago they said TKO couldn't give them any news, except the price of around 650€. They wrote they are themselves unsure what to make of it. I on the other hand haven't heard about 250€, where did you hear that from? I saw some people and KZbinrs think that Pentax camera will basically be something like the Kodak Ektar 35 with a better lens. That to me would be a pretty bad idea as it wouldn't deliver anything more than one of those many plastic cameras that are already out there today with just a better built quality. I really don't know what to make of pricing of any company today. Kodak`s cheap plastic Ektar 35N costs 80€, which is a disgrace. Australian company FilmeNeverDie will come out with their second camera. They until now also just had one of those plastic cameras. Now they will have one with a part of metal body and apparantly some kind of focussing. But nothing more. And they want 200€ for it. That's why I always assumed, if Pentax want's to make a *real* camera, everyting under 300€ couldn't be any good (just by going with the prices of their competitors).

[@GODSPEEDseven]

Hi Luigi! I also strongly believe Pentax is doing the right thing. They had talked about the first camera to be a compact and simpler camera. I will be honest; I am even more excited now since they gave us the details. Sometimes I want to do things or go around, and I cannot (or am not allowed) to carry a Full Frame, or interchangeable lens, camera. This will be great for small concerts or being with friends. I am so tired of hearing people complain! This is such a nice fresh creation and this will be great to attract many different types of photographers to film. This is incredible news for photography too, not just Pentax. Thank you for your positive video, feels good!

[@LuigiBarbano]

Thanks you. Yes, it's an exciting project and complaining seems to be an hobby for some people... and BTW, with all the political things we can complain about why to waste energies complaining about a good news about a camera???!! :D :D :D

[@malypavel25]

The only thing I am disappointed about is the zone focusing. I was hoping for a rangefinder. But other than that I am excited for what they came up with. I already have enough full frame cameras. What I need is a small half frame to carry with me everywhere I go. For now I use a chaika II, but hate the lens.

[@LuigiBarbano]

I think the zone focus is a choice to satisfy the icons generation... a little icon instead of meters or feet. They say there is an indication of the zone in the viewfinder, I'm curious to see what that will be.

[@malypavel25]

@@LuigiBarbano I hope it’s meters rather than icons. I can kind of judge distance, but icons can be confusing.

[@LuigiBarbano]

@@malypavel25 I agree... but for the smartphones addicted probably icons is easier... we will see soon!

[@MrBtodd2]

Great review, spot on!

[@LuigiBarbano]

thank you

[@tonyzoc1]

Caio Luigi, I'm fine with half frame. I've owned several Olympus half frame and currently have the Pen D3, which BTW, has no rangefinder...its scale/zone focusing. It was very common for 1/2 frames to have zone focus. What's most important is that this camera will be new! Go try to buy a Pen D or ESS. Most don't have working meters and lens fungus, etc. If you buy a clean working one, you're spending over $100...and its still an old camera. If this camera sells for under $250 I'd be interested in getting one.

[@LuigiBarbano]

I personally never tried an half frame, but I'm good with that. I cropped 135 some time and is not a problem unless you go for big enlargements. Most of all if will be on the cheap side will be great to attract new people to film.

[@RichardMaguire110]

I am looking forward to this camera. I do half frame on older cameras and to have a new one factory fresh with a warranty will be good life film photography used to be.

[@LuigiBarbano]

I'm very optimist about this camera.

[@michaelbruchas6663]

And I thought half-frame was dead as a format - except for Lomography type plastic cameras….

[@LuigiBarbano]

I'm curious to see how this camera will do on the market.

[@keenwai3001]

Sadly it not for SLR camera

[@LuigiBarbano]

Pentax always said the 1st one would be a compact point and shot. If this goes well there will be an SLR in the future!

[@xmeda]

I guess it will be just overpriced plastic compact camera with autoexposure and not very fast lens for Japanese hipsters. Half frame + probably some 35mm F4 or maybe even 35mm F8. And yes, manual film advance, manual rewind and manual selection of focus zone like switch between pictograms with one person, group, mountains like some old simple cameras had. Maybe even some F4/F8/F16 manual aperture switch, but probably not fully variable aperture. Don't expect significant sales outside Japan. There are film developments shops in Japan where you can give them film and they will send you scans soon. But in Europe it is now quite problematic and expensive to buy some film and then have it developed. Film SLR development will eat few millions of $ to be able to use modern DFA lenses, have usable AF, metering etc. That will NEVER return in sales. So such expectations from some people are just dreams. It means completely new design/development, testing, set-up of manufacturing process for low-volume special production and whole logistics. But who will then buy some $2000+ film SLR? There are tons of film SLRs around already. And even fully manual film SLR will be very expensive project these days + there are only few lenses available new for such camera with aperture rings, so there is not even profit coming from lenses.

[@LuigiBarbano]

Knowing Pentax I bet it will be a nice sturdy construction with not much plastic... In EU we will adapt if the film trend continues and this Penta can be a great stimulus for the film market. I'm very optimist about this. I also think we do not need a super electronic SLR film camera, but instead something more traditional. The used market is limited, something new can have buyers also on the high price range. LEica is an example of that.

[@GODSPEEDseven]

I for one, am very glad Pentax are doing things that catter a smaller more niche fanbase. They are a photo-centric camera company. They value quality and uniqueness over quantity. Film photography has had a very big rise, a little bit like vinyl records have a few years ago. People realize how much the "feel" of something in their hands has a deep impact on emotional connection. The physicsl pleasure of handling a large vynil record, and the act of putting it in place and slowly setting the needle on it, as you flip switches... for many, that brings an appreciation to the act of listenning ti music. I believe photography is the same. I have personally started also shooting film alongside digital. Film just has THAT special feeling that digital cannot give you. Even if it is only the act of loading a film, and hearing a mechanisms, or windong your film for the next shot, or hearing that motir advance the film... It brings incredible joy and it helps slow down your mond and process. THAT is a huge part of what is great, and I won't even tall about the quality of image and tones that film cam provide. Everything now is about having the highest megapixel, fastest focus, most possible to do anything with. Cameras have become smartphones with interchangeable lenses. New cameras have disconnected the user and made us stupid. People complain that Pentax is slow autofocus. That is funny, becaise before autofocus, ppl could take great photos of sports and events. But now, ppl have become too dependant on the camera doing everything. Pentax are going to release a great product at a time that is ideal. There has been a ressurgence in film, many shops even in "small" Canada are offering development and scans in very short time. Film supply jas been getting cheaper compared to a few years ago. Anyways, even if this new camera is not for everyone... Juts the fact Pentax is doing all this work, it is incredible news for the ENTIRE photography community!! This shows that even if photography is not as big as before, we have not all become brainwashed in thinking the only good camera, is a mirrorless camera.

[@LuigiBarbano]

@@GODSPEEDseven Amen!

[@RussellMcNeil-g6o]

I carry a $1,000 smartphone everywhere I go. It is also - wait for it - "plastic."