A straightforward entry into actual movie images

Regardless of predictions of digital know-how 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 might very properly be the following step in an growing yearning for authenticity and retro know-how. The Pentax 17 is the model’s first new film camera in over 20 years , a conglomeration of classic and trendy designed to pique the curiosity of latest movie photographers.

Whereas the Pentax 17 makes use of guide movie development and zone focusing, the compact movie digital camera blends vintage-inspired options with these designed to ease trendy photographers into the previous artwork type. The 17 makes use of 35mm movie however is a half-frame digital camera, which suggests every roll of movie takes twice as many photographs as marketed. Such a design additionally means the Pentax 17 shoots vertically by default — moderately than the extra customary horizontal — and in a 17mm by 24mm dimension that is nearer to the area on a smartphone display. The digital camera lacks full guide controls however affords important controls like an aperture precedence mode, publicity compensation, and the flexibility 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 digital camera I wanted to ease into the waters of movie images earlier than diving headfirst into absolutely guide movie cameras.

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Pentax 17

The Pentax 17 is a neater entry into movie images. The digital camera’s mixture of automated modes and half-frame format will enchantment to photographers who’ve by no means tried movie. Critical movie photographers might discover the Pentax 17 missing, nevertheless, because it does not provide guide modes, double publicity, or interchangeable lenses. However, for relieving into movie, the Pentax 17 has loads to supply.

Professionals

• Straightforward to be taught
• Compact, retro design
• Stunning actual movie photos

Cons

• Errors rewinding movie
• No guide 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 digital camera with a hard and fast 25mm lens. Whereas it accepts 35mm movie, it is a half-frame format, which implies that a roll of 36-exposure movie truly takes 72 photos as a result of every publicity can take two pictures. Its most notable specs embody a zone-focusing system, which is an easier type of guide focusing, and a non-rechargeable CR2 battery.

What I like concerning the Pentax 17

The digital camera is a simple introduction to movie images

If a digital and a movie digital camera performed Hen and collided, I think about the outcome would look one thing just like the Pentax 17. The digital camera is a mishmash of classic and trendy, however that is not essentially a foul factor. Like a movie digital camera, the highest homes a guide 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 amazing mix between comfy and transportable. The battery compartment doubles as a bump grip to wrap your fingers round it pretty comfortably. However, at 10.2 ounces, it is not exhausting to tuck right into a bag and pull out when a photographic alternative presents itself.

The convergence of contemporary and traditional helps make the Pentax 17 a beginner-friendly movie digital camera. Two indicator lights proper on the viewfinder assist warn you should 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 guide in my digital camera bag for that second once I wanted to recollect methods to rewind and reload the movie, however the taking pictures settings themselves felt pure and intuitive.

A part of the 17’s trendy really feel is the truth that it shoots half-frame photos, or two photos on each single customary publicity of 35mm movie. Even the viewfinder is vertical, moderately than horizontal, and also you flip the digital camera to shoot a horizontal picture as an alternative 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 digital camera in a format designed for smartphone screens sacrilege? Maybe, however that is the world that we dwell in. This additionally lets you get twice as many photos per roll of movie, which is extra bang in your buck on movie prices however can up the price of creating that movie.

Whereas the built-in lens performs a task, on a movie digital camera, a lot of the picture high quality as an alternative stems from no matter movie that you simply load inside. I examined the Pentax 17 with Kodak UltraMax colour and Ilford black and white, each ISO 400 movies. The ensuing photos have that stunning, genuine movie really feel that digital filters strive (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 does not evaluate with the noise of digital sensors.

The movie photos really feel much less good, but extra emotive than if I had taken the identical pictures with a digital digital camera. 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 foul factor.

What I did not like concerning the Pentax 17

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

Whereas the Pentax 17 felt like an easier 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 consumer error as a consequence of unhealthy directions — as “flip till you are feeling resistance, then flip three extra occasions” feels open to interpretation. Simply how a lot resistance? What occurs if I flip greater than 3 times?

On each rolls, once I popped the again open, the movie hadn’t fully rewound. I needed to shoot the door once more and rewind rather more than the 3 times that the instruction guide says earlier than the movie absolutely wound, however by then the harm to the roll was already accomplished. 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 digital camera again — not figuring out the movie hadn’t absolutely rewound — ruined just a few frames, it created gentle leaks in others. Sure, among the gentle leak photos have been full trash, nevertheless it’s price noting that some have been completely happy accidents, the place the little bit of glow on the sting of the body added to the texture of the picture, moderately than detracting from it.

One other facet that I did not love was the main target 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 kind that photographers name zone focusing. Whereas the main target setting seems within the viewfinder as a reminder, I forgot a number of occasions, and even once I did not, a whole lot of it’s guesswork as to how shut the topic is.

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

As simple because the Pentax 17 was to leap into, I additionally really feel like severe photographers might develop out of the $500 digital camera a bit rapidly. The Pentax 17 seems like a gateway drug to tougher, severe images. The 17 lacks full guide publicity management, the lens is mounted and never interchangeable, and the digital camera additionally would not let me try a double publicity. I beloved the photographs 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 images, however with a brief runway

The Pentax 17 eases budding photographers into the world of movie images. With all new elements and an entire instruction guide, the 17 is a neater leap than a used movie digital camera. 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 fashionable and classic for easier operation, the ensuing photos have that stunning, emotive really feel of movie. The photographs aren’t good, however, truthfully, that is type of the purpose. Getting again a grainy, contrast-filled however imperfect picture seems like a extra sincere illustration of the second.

In the event you’ve all the time wished to strive movie images, however newbie’s nerves have all the time gotten in the best way, purchase the Pentax 17. The digital camera is a neater entry into 35mm movie — nevertheless, as you are factoring in the price of the digital camera, the price of movie, and the price of movie improvement, you might simply get hooked on movie and wish to develop right into a digital camera with interchangeable lenses and full guide controls.

If you wish to dive proper into movie with full guide controls, then the Pentax 17 is not the best alternative. You can too discover extra focal size choices and higher background blur by selecting a digital camera that is not half-frame and might swap lenses. One other mark within the “do not buy column” is the fee. $500 is nice in comparison with at present’s digital cameras, nevertheless it’s pretty simple to discover a classic 35mm SLR with interchangeable lenses for lower than that.

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Pentax 17