this Pentax 17 It feels very special. as new Coming from a big brand, it’s unique to what’s available. but What’s more, it embraces the fun and style of analog photography without descending into kitsch. This is one of the most fun things I’ve ever had with a camera.
I spent a lot of time testing the Pentax 17 its announcementshot on a road trip, and even at a show at a local punk club, I ran a few rolls Color (Kodak UltraMax 400, Portra 800) and black and white (Kodak Tri-X 400) negatives. I even tried to get sassy with some guys Very Expired color film, including cross processing A roll of decades old E6 slides (positives) to C41 color negatives. (Cross-processing is simpler than it sounds. You’re essentially just asking the photography lab to swap the chemicals they normally use, but this can lead to unexpected results and potentially serious color changes.)
Even when I relied on the built-in flash for some low-light indoor photos, I was still impressed with the results. Even when shooting close up in macro mode and shooting wide open at f/3.5 maximum aperture using a 37mm equivalent lens, images are crystal clear.
While I love taking nasty pixel-peeping photos from full-frame cameras with high-end lenses, I can admit that sharpness and resolution aren’t as important on half-frame point-and-shoot film cameras. You might view scanned film images on a small screen or upload them to social media like Instagram, where almost anything can look good. But the Pentax 17’s images do have a punch that you just can’t get from cheap film cameras like $40. Kodak Ektar H35.
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The H35 is also a half-frame point-and-shoot, and although it’s less than a tenth the price of the Pentax 17, its focus-free lens means most subjects look the same, without any depth. The Pentax is a “fun” camera, but it’s still a more serious image-making tool.
I used to sneer at half-frame, but now the cost of film is high, and it feels good to view photos on a mobile phone
The Pentax 17 operated much like most analog cameras before it, with a manual advance lever, film rewind crank, and a simple, bright viewfinder with frame lines that could be used to approximate composition. Aside from the CR2 battery hidden beneath the built-in handlebar that powers the camera and its semi-automatic features, there aren’t really many modern features on offer.
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You can set the mode dial to Auto and let the camera handle everything, locking focus to cover most subjects from a meter or more away. But the Pentax 17 is most engaging and produces its best results when you take some control (choosing the lens’s focus range and choosing a preset exposure mode). The camera’s mode dial features color-coding for modes with or without flash, as well as a simple bokeh option that ensures you shoot wide open to get as much pleasing background blur as possible.
Embrace spontaneity, but put some thought and care into it
go through By manually setting one of six focus ranges, you can experience the life of a street photographer “shoot as you please”, dancing with your subjects while trying to estimate their distance from the camera to ensure focus. This exercise allows you to see the entire scene in front of you instead of squinting through the viewfinder, and there’s nothing better than getting the film back and realizing you’ve successfully captured the shot – or, conversely, that you’ve gotten something unexpected , charming surprise.
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As great as the Pentax 17 is, this approach may turn off some enthusiasts who always want proper full manual control (and frankly, I’m generally in this camp). When using a film camera, I was used to taking pictures meticulously because each photo cost money, whether I sent the film to a lab or developed it myself. But the Pentax 17’s half-frame format (which allows you to shoot up to 48 or 72 exposures per roll instead of 24 or 36) helped me relax a bit and easily get into semi-auto exposure modes and preset zone ranges.
In exchange for smaller images that can’t be printed or scanned, half-frame shooting gives you a low-risk sense of freedom. Taking a chance on a quick snapshot that might be too dark or blurry is no longer a big deal. Just point and shoot, hope for the best, and be happy when the film comes back from the lab.
I have to admit, the Pentax 17’s Easy mode is perfect for this style of shooting, even though part of me will always want manual controls. The vertical frame feels more similar to the default orientation when we pick up the phone ( most casual camera).
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The Pentax 17 has its charm. From its compact size and sufficiently sturdy build quality to its quirky design, it can be a great companion for documenting your daily life. But there is a hint of weirdness Style, casual, but not also The casual, film-based approach to photography brings a touch of magic to the mundane.
Taking the Pentax 17’s approach will give you lovely, timeless photos. Of course, you can spend less and buy a used film camera with more features, e.g. which was my first film camera (even though I think it only cost me $80 to $100 in 2006). But you’re always rolling the dice with older cameras, especially on some of the models that are difficult or impossible to restore these days.
Of course you can spend more money and buy a street photography camera with more features and better build quality, like a Leica M rangefinder (I imagine my old camera) I feel betrayed because I fell in love with a shitty Pentax). But when every photo has a 50% discount built in, the risk is much lower and the results are just as fun.
Photography: Antonio G. Di Benedetto/The Verge
