PENTAX introduces the new PENTAX 17 Compact Half-frame Film Camera. Its true-to-old-film features plus modern twists make it worthy of becoming a staple in today’s world. Its half-frame format allows for two times the number of exposures per roll, catering to both budget-conscious and prolific photographers.
Key Features of the PENTAX 17 Compact Film Camera
- Half-size format: Two 17mm X 24 mm pictures within a single 35mm frame
- New lens with HD and SP coating
- Albada-type viewfinder
- Zone-focus system to switch the in-focus area
- Seven shooting modes
- A wide selection of ISO film speeds (50 to 3200)
- Noteholder on the back cover
- Three-strap lugs
- Compatibility with the optional CS-205 Cable Switch
What’s New About the PENTAX 17 Compact Film Camera?
Half-Frame Format
Although not new, it’s still worth a shoutout. First introduced in the 60s, half-frame cameras were made to double the exposures in a single roll of film. That means two smaller frames are captured in one 35mm frame; twice as many photos without having to change film.
Shooting in a half-frame format encourages photographers to deeply understand the art of composition due to limited frame space. The format combined with the rest of the features of the PENTAX 17 exudes classic old film plus modernity. This is because it’s akin to today’s popular social media photo format.
Newly Developed Lens and HD, SP Coating
The lens of the PENTAX 17 is new and absolutely phenomenal in every regard. With how it’s built, it seems PENTAX has gathered every new technique in alignment, manufacturing, and even coating in the past few decades and merged all of it into this new lens. Its result is a 25mm pancake lens attached to the PENTAX 17.
PENTAX multi-coating is all over this new lens, coming with HD and SP (Super Protect) coating. The HD coating helps give every shot high contrast and high definition, while the SP coating allows the lens to tell water and oil to sashay away.
Albada-type Optical Viewfinder
Brought to life by a Dutch inventor in the 30s, the Albada-type viewfinder is quite special. Basically, it has a distinct mirrored lens that gives off the illusion of projected viewfinder frame lines when you peek through. These projected lines were made to help a photographer become more aware of the edges of the image, further aiding them in achieving better composition.
Another skill that this Albada viewfinder gives to its user is the ability to compose close-up shots more accurately, thanks to its close-up visual field compensation frame.
Automatically Adjusts Exposure
The PENTAX 17 automatically adjusts its exposure settings based on the lighting data it receives. This feature makes this film camera more advanced than the other competing manual-only vintage cameras.
This makes the PENTAX 17 more user-friendly for beginners. Additionally, it makes shooting in varying lighting more convenient for photographers who have less time for camera adjustments. This is also particularly useful for when you’re at a concert or a club with strobing lights. There’s no need to worry about exposure settings with this automatic lighting adjustment feature.
Who should buy this camera?
Film Photography Enthusiasts
If you’re a film photography enthusiast and a PENTAX fan, the PENTAX 17 is what you’ve been waiting for. It offers a tactile experience of manual camera operations and doubles the number of exposures per roll, so you don’t have to keep changing film.
Moreover, you can revisit classic old film photography with this camera’s zone focus, exposure compensation, and ISO adjustments.
Smartphone Photographers Seeking a New Challenge
The half-frame and vertical format along with the manual operations of the PENTAX 17 are sure to pose a challenge for smartphone photographers. But that’s what makes photography fun! Smartphone photographers who are seeking a new challenge such as opening up to cameras will be satisfied with the PENTAX 17. Maybe they’ll find their love for analog photography, too.
Comparable PENTAX Cameras
Since this is the first half-frame film camera from PENTAX since 2003, we can expect that its most comparable models are very old. Hence, the most recent and similar PENTAX camera to the PENTAX 17 is the PENTAX K-3 Mark III DSLR Camera.
First and foremost, the K-3 Mark III has an optical viewfinder with a nearly 100% field of view and 1.05x magnification, giving you a shooting experience that is similar to the viewfinder of a classic 35mm film SLR. Secondly, the PENTAX K-3 Mark III integrates manual controls, promising build quality, and high-resolution imaging, making it the most comparable recent digital camera to a traditional film camera within the PENTAX lineup.
This combination of features ensures that photographers who appreciate the tactile, immersive experience of film photography can enjoy a similar experience in a modern digital format.
Final Thoughts
The PENTAX 17 Compact Film Camera is a blend of old and new, so it’s no surprise that it appeals to a wide range of photographers. You can be a seasoned film enthusiast, a beginner in analog photography, or a smartphone photographer looking for a new medium, the PENTAX 17 offers something unique to everyone who holds it.
Its half-frame format, newly developed HD-coated lens, and Albada-type viewfinder exude nostalgic charm and modern power. With its versatile shooting modes and user-friendly features, the PENTAX 17 is poised to become a beloved tool for creatives everywhere.
