A simple entry into actual movie pictures

Regardless of predictions of digital expertise spelling doom for analog cameras, film photography has by no means absolutely fizzled out. However because the youthful technology buys old school digital point-and-shoots to remain within the second and off their smartphone (even with their high-quality cameras), movie may very properly be the subsequent step in an growing yearning for authenticity and retro expertise. The Pentax 17 is the model’s first new film camera in over 20 years , a conglomeration of classic and fashionable designed to pique the curiosity of recent movie photographers.

Whereas the Pentax 17 makes use of handbook movie development and zone focusing, the compact movie digicam blends vintage-inspired options with these designed to ease fashionable photographers into the previous artwork type. The 17 makes use of 35mm movie however is a half-frame digicam, which implies every roll of movie takes twice as many photographs as marketed. Such a design additionally means the Pentax 17 shoots vertically by default — fairly than the extra customary horizontal — and in a 17mm by 24mm measurement that is nearer to the area on a smartphone display. The digicam lacks full handbook controls however presents important controls like an aperture precedence mode, publicity compensation, and the power to show the built-in flash on and off.

I’ve had an previous Pentax K1000 on my shelf for years now, an previous storage sale discover that I’ve by no means actually discovered the time to dabble with. The Pentax 17 has proved to be simply the digicam I wanted to ease into the waters of movie pictures earlier than diving headfirst into absolutely handbook movie cameras.

Really helpful

Pentax 17

The Pentax 17 is a neater entry into movie pictures. The digicam’s mixture of automated modes and half-frame format will enchantment to photographers who’ve by no means tried movie. Critical movie photographers could discover the Pentax 17 missing, nevertheless, because it would not supply handbook modes, double publicity, or interchangeable lenses. However, for alleviating into movie, the Pentax 17 has loads to supply.

Professionals

• Simple to be taught
• Compact, retro design
• Lovely actual movie pictures

Cons

• Errors rewinding movie
• No handbook publicity
• Battery is not rechargeable

Worth, specs and availability

The Pentax 17 was introduced in June 2024 and retails for about $500. The Pentax 17 is a compact movie digicam with a set 25mm lens. Whereas it accepts 35mm movie, it is a half-frame format, which signifies that a roll of 36-exposure movie truly takes 72 pictures as a result of every publicity can take two pictures. Its most notable specs embrace a zone-focusing system, which is a less complicated type of handbook focusing, and a non-rechargeable CR2 battery.

What I like in regards to the Pentax 17

The digicam is a simple introduction to movie pictures

If a digital and a movie digicam performed Hen and collided, I think about the end result would look one thing just like the Pentax 17. The digicam is a mishmash of classic and fashionable, however that is not essentially a nasty factor. Like a movie digicam, the highest homes a handbook rewind crank, a movie advance knob and a clicky shutter launch. However, the mode dial has an auto mode in addition to an assortment of different choices, together with a “bokeh” mode for wider apertures and bulb for lengthy exposures.

The Pentax 17 can be an ideal mix between comfy and moveable. The battery compartment doubles as a bump grip to wrap your fingers round it pretty comfortably. However, at 10.2 ounces, it isn’t onerous to tuck right into a bag and pull out when a photographic alternative presents itself.

The convergence of recent and basic helps make the Pentax 17 a beginner-friendly movie digicam. Two indicator lights proper on the viewfinder assist warn you when you forgot to advance the movie or the picture is simply too darkish since you forgot to take away the lens cap (responsible as charged). Granted, that is the primary time that I’ve felt the necessity to carry round an instruction handbook in my digicam bag for that second after I wanted to recollect how one can rewind and reload the movie, however the taking pictures settings themselves felt pure and intuitive.

A part of the 17’s fashionable really feel is the truth that it shoots half-frame pictures, or two pictures on each single customary publicity of 35mm movie. Even the viewfinder is vertical, fairly than horizontal, and also you flip the digicam to shoot a horizontal picture as a substitute of the opposite manner round.

The result’s a vertical picture that is barely wider than a 2:3 facet ratio that feels destined to fill a smartphone display. Is a movie digicam in a format designed for smartphone screens sacrilege? Maybe, however that is the world that we stay in. This additionally lets you get twice as many pictures per roll of movie, which is extra bang on your buck on movie prices however can up the price of growing that movie.

Whereas the built-in lens performs a task, on a movie digicam, a lot of the picture high quality as a substitute stems from no matter movie that you simply load inside. I examined the Pentax 17 with Kodak UltraMax coloration and Ilford black and white, each ISO 400 movies. The ensuing pictures have that stunning, genuine movie really feel that digital filters attempt (and sometimes fail) to mimic. The colour movie delivered the deep but much less saturated greens and reds that remind me of my childhood photographs. The black and white movie delivered deep distinction in a wealthy monochrome picture. Each had beautiful movie grain that merely would not examine with the noise of digital sensors.

The movie pictures really feel much less excellent, but extra emotive than if I had taken the identical photographs with a digital digicam. Are some out of focus from the type of guesswork that comes with judging how far-off the topic is? Sure, however the imperfections did not all the time really feel like a nasty factor.

What I did not like in regards to the Pentax 17

Rewind directions weren’t clear and a few superior options are lacking

Whereas the Pentax 17 felt like a less complicated transition from digital to movie, the expertise did not go with out its challenges. The movie didn’t absolutely rewind in each rolls that I shot. This might have been person error resulting from unhealthy directions — as “flip till you are feeling resistance, then flip three extra instances” feels open to interpretation. Simply how a lot resistance? What occurs if I flip greater than 3 times?

On each rolls, after I popped the again open, the movie hadn’t utterly rewound. I needed to shoot the door once more and rewind way more than the 3 times that the instruction handbook says earlier than the movie absolutely wound, however by then the injury to the roll was already finished. Both clearer directions or some type of indicator of whether or not the movie was absolutely rewound would have made a world of distinction — or, maybe, altering the roll out in a darkish room, simply in case.

Whereas the untimely opening of the digicam again — not understanding the movie hadn’t absolutely rewound — ruined a couple of frames, it created gentle leaks in others. Sure, among the gentle leak pictures have been full trash, but it surely’s price noting that some have been glad accidents, the place the little bit of glow on the sting of the body added to the texture of the picture, fairly than detracting from it.

One other facet that I did not love was the main focus dial across the lens. The design makes use of small icons to point the overall topic distance, like mountains for a lot away and silverware for a tabletop shot. It is a focusing sort that photographers name zone focusing. Whereas the main focus setting seems within the viewfinder as a reminder, I forgot a number of instances, and even after I did not, numerous it’s guesswork as to how shut the topic is.

I missed the tactile really feel of turning the handbook focus lens and watching the picture come into focus within the viewfinder, one thing the previous 35mm cameras on my shelf supply. With the Pentax 17, you’ll be able to’t inform utilizing the viewfinder whether or not or not the picture is in focus.

As straightforward because the Pentax 17 was to leap into, I additionally really feel like severe photographers could develop out of the $500 digicam somewhat rapidly. The Pentax 17 seems like a gateway drug to more durable, severe pictures. The 17 lacks full handbook publicity management, the lens is mounted and never interchangeable, and the digicam additionally would not let me try a double publicity. I liked the pictures coming from the Pentax 17, however the introductory expertise to 35mm movie additionally left me desirous to dive into previous SLRs too.

Do you have to purchase the Pentax 17?

It might be the gateway to movie pictures, however with a brief runway

The Pentax 17 eases budding photographers into the world of movie pictures. With all new components and an entire instruction handbook, the 17 is a neater bounce than a used movie digicam. After taking pictures with the 17, I used to be truly ready to determine why the movie wasn’t loading on the previous Pentax K1000 SLR I picked up at a storage sale years in the past. My expertise with the 17 helped construct some much-needed movie troubleshooting expertise.

Whereas the dials and controls on the Pentax 17 combine the trendy and classic for less complicated operation, the ensuing pictures have that stunning, emotive really feel of movie. The pictures aren’t excellent, however, actually, that is type of the purpose. Getting again a grainy, contrast-filled however imperfect picture seems like a extra trustworthy illustration of the second.

In the event you’ve all the time needed to attempt movie pictures, however newbie’s nerves have all the time gotten in the best way, purchase the Pentax 17. The digicam is a neater entry into 35mm movie — nevertheless, as you are factoring in the price of the digicam, the price of movie, and the price of movie growth, it’s possible you’ll simply get hooked on movie and need to develop right into a digicam with interchangeable lenses and full handbook controls.

If you wish to dive proper into movie with full handbook controls, then the Pentax 17 is not the suitable alternative. You may also discover extra focal size choices and higher background blur by selecting a digicam that is not half-frame and may swap lenses. One other mark within the “do not buy column” is the fee. $500 is nice in comparison with in the present day’s digital cameras, but it surely’s pretty straightforward to discover a classic 35mm SLR with interchangeable lenses for lower than that.

Really helpful

Pentax 17