I’ll pass. Way too expensive for a meh-looking and limited zone focus half-frame camera. You’re better off with a much more capable, more versatile, sharp-looking, less expensive used Olympus Pen F if you want truly good results with half-frame.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts! For a CLA'd Olympus Pen F in decent shape from the US, you'd pay about the same price as the Pentax 17, if you can find one. Where are you located?
Thank you for the post! I'd pay up to about $250 for the 17 -- $500 is a little too rich for my blood, but I understand the cost. And it would be fun to use as one of my cornucopia of cameras -- but not an everyday shooter. I think that Pentax did a good job of taking a lot of the nostalgic/traditional features, updating some of them with modern tech (the lens actually moves via motor to match the focus setting, right when you shoot), to appeal to a newer consumer. Much like the 1984 Mustang - throwback design but amazing engineering compared to the models that it harkened back to. So younger shooters can get into 'film camera stuff' with this camera that are not there in the modern reusable cameras, and are often quirky on the 30+ year-old vintage cameras. Hopefully they sell enough to add some more models higher/lower in price/features -- and to tweak competitors (are you listening Nikon? Canon?) into producing their own. And maybe even keep the film industry going (much like the microbrew renaissance of 10-20 years ago). All good things! And Holgas are OK too!!!! :-) Cheers!!!
Not even close to same price and the Pen F is far better. I bought my Pen F w/ 38mm lens in great cosmetic and working condition for about $150 several years ago and you can still find them easily on eBay for around $200 or less. I’m in the US.
Thanks for the overview of the '17, Molly. It's always good to hear when a big player in the field puts out a genuinely new analogue product.
As an 'old guy', comfortable shooting full manual, my concern has been focused on the few suppliers of film stocks. The ice still feels thin on that front. If demand for roll film were to shrink much more...then, well, why would a company continue to produce our beloved stock?
So, when I see that the '17 is marketed towards a new generation of film shooters, it gives me hope that the recent increase in demand for roll film will remain robust.
But....on the other hand.....half frame means half sales and half demand for the film companies.
Still, it is certainly conceivable that the '17 will be a *gateway camera* for new shooters. And, perhaps Pentax will be able to draw them into full-frame, 120 and beyond?
Thanks to the links for the new Pentax 17 reviews- excited to check those out. And thanks for the push to take my Holga out!
yes! get the holga out! haha and of course :) let me know what you think after ya have a look :)
I’ll pass. Way too expensive for a meh-looking and limited zone focus half-frame camera. You’re better off with a much more capable, more versatile, sharp-looking, less expensive used Olympus Pen F if you want truly good results with half-frame.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts! For a CLA'd Olympus Pen F in decent shape from the US, you'd pay about the same price as the Pentax 17, if you can find one. Where are you located?
Thank you for the post! I'd pay up to about $250 for the 17 -- $500 is a little too rich for my blood, but I understand the cost. And it would be fun to use as one of my cornucopia of cameras -- but not an everyday shooter. I think that Pentax did a good job of taking a lot of the nostalgic/traditional features, updating some of them with modern tech (the lens actually moves via motor to match the focus setting, right when you shoot), to appeal to a newer consumer. Much like the 1984 Mustang - throwback design but amazing engineering compared to the models that it harkened back to. So younger shooters can get into 'film camera stuff' with this camera that are not there in the modern reusable cameras, and are often quirky on the 30+ year-old vintage cameras. Hopefully they sell enough to add some more models higher/lower in price/features -- and to tweak competitors (are you listening Nikon? Canon?) into producing their own. And maybe even keep the film industry going (much like the microbrew renaissance of 10-20 years ago). All good things! And Holgas are OK too!!!! :-) Cheers!!!
Thanks Dana!!! I have a feeling they will, I'm excited to see how it goes and what happens next :)
https://open.substack.com/pub/wesley/p/149-first-look-pentax-17-a-new-film?r=2b8uel&utm_medium=ios
thanks for sharing! I saw the video but the post is awesome, the photos are gorgeous! :)
Not even close to same price and the Pen F is far better. I bought my Pen F w/ 38mm lens in great cosmetic and working condition for about $150 several years ago and you can still find them easily on eBay for around $200 or less. I’m in the US.
Thanks for the overview of the '17, Molly. It's always good to hear when a big player in the field puts out a genuinely new analogue product.
As an 'old guy', comfortable shooting full manual, my concern has been focused on the few suppliers of film stocks. The ice still feels thin on that front. If demand for roll film were to shrink much more...then, well, why would a company continue to produce our beloved stock?
So, when I see that the '17 is marketed towards a new generation of film shooters, it gives me hope that the recent increase in demand for roll film will remain robust.
But....on the other hand.....half frame means half sales and half demand for the film companies.
Still, it is certainly conceivable that the '17 will be a *gateway camera* for new shooters. And, perhaps Pentax will be able to draw them into full-frame, 120 and beyond?