Pentax announces that they're working on new film cameras!

[Sirius Glass]

Nice to get that straight.
The amount of people you know is printing is not proportional to how many people print out of the total global amount of film shooters.
We can agree on that, right?

Enlargers that take over 6x6 are if not rare, then not something you just pick up. Especially if you want a colour head.

There simply isn’t a proportionally equal relationship between the amount of 67 cameras and the number of enlargers capable of the format on the market.

Once you factor in how many people print, it’s getting low.

A 4"x5" enlarger can handle a 6x7 negative and the inevitable 6x8 negatives that will soon follow.

 

[Helge]

A 4"x5" enlarger can handle a 6x7 negative and the inevitable 6x8 negatives that will soon follow.

And 4x5 enlargers are large and not curb finds either.

A year ago I had to convince a seller who had inherited a BIG 4x5 enlarger to not turn it into a lamp or throw it out, simply because he couldn’t find anyone willing to pick it up.
Some large format shooters are fine with contacts or scanning.

 

[rcphoto]

Enlargers that take over 6x6 are if not rare, then not something you just pick up. Especially if you want a colour head.

You think so? one of the most popular enlargers ever is a 23C and 23CII. Those do up to 6x9 and can be found almost anywhere.

 

[Helge]

You think so? one of the most popular enlargers ever is a 23C and 23CII. Those do up to 6x9 and can be found almost anywhere.

Maybe in schools and pro labs. But in total? Do you have any numbers? I did say they were not rare. But there is a hell of a lot more 6x6 enlargers.
These Besellers are also not inexpensive. Neither are the lenses that covers 6x7.

 

[rcphoto]

Maybe in schools and pro labs. But in total? Do you have any numbers? I did say they were not rare. But there is a hell of a lot more 6x6 enlargers.

Do a search on ebay. I promise you will find more enlargers capable of going up to 6x7 and 6x9 than enlargers that wont do larger than 6x6 negs

 

[MattKing]

Hopefully, they will make a 35mm camera that uses a film transport and focus plane system that can be used in more complex applications.
Shared parts would be really good.

 

[Helge]

Do a search on ebay. I promise you will find more enlargers capable of going up to 6x7 and 6x9 than enlargers that wont do larger than 6x6 negs

You know, I don’t see it. But eBay may differ between regions.
But it’s a very small hill to die on.

 

[Paul Howell]

As the Pentax D645 is based on the AF film version, uses shutter not as much reengineering as a new all mechanical 35mm.

 

[jvo]

any company that has the the Spotmatic in their lineage, will do fine! Wonderful, wonderful camera and lens.

 

[aw614]

I think we impose assumption on the new camera based on how vintage compact or point and shoot were made. I see no reason why a compact camera could not use a modern electronic shutter and power supply, rechargeable battery. An all mechanical body if metered would likely benefit from a common button battery.

For a point and shoot, seems like a 35mm F2.8/3.5 is the sweet spot that seems popular. I've always liked the early 80s autofocus models that had a manual film advance instead of builtin motor, like the Minolta AF2/AF-C, Konica C35af, etc. Something like this, but reasonable sized with modern metering could be popular.

 

[fs999]

Fiat... Baby... Bathwater... Sorry you lost me !

 

[Agulliver]

You know, I don’t see it. But eBay may differ between regions.
But it’s a very small hill to die on.

eBay UK has a small number but the only one at what I'd call a reasonable price is "for parts, not working". The rest are of the order of £400 plus £70 postage from Germany plus, no doubt, VAT.

I would reckon that a 35mm point and shoot might be the most sensible first product. Something relatively easy to use, but better than the Kodak brand ones that recently hit the market. Of course such a device is going to come with a price tag, and I do wonder what Pentax think of as "affordable". In the end, it's not just the list price but it's the fact that a new camera will have a warranty, won't need a £80 CLA on top of the purchase cost, will have spare parts availability. That's going to be part of the selling point.

If Lomography can market a 90% plastic kit which assembles in inexpert hands to make a more or less viable (if very simple) 35mm SLR......it can be done.

 

[Agulliver]

All this talk of Cosina or similar.....what if Pentax initially outsourced to get something half decent to market in, say, 2024....before launching their own in-house products in, say, 2026?

I really hope photography devotees don't go off the project if the first fruits aren't to their liking. This isn't about us. It's about people new to film, or who want to use film and haven't yet started. Sure, some of us may buy a new camera to support the project, but this isn't aimed at us.

Regarding 6x9, I shoot it sometimes purely because I like ancient folding cameras. Never even considered printing the negs because no lab locally can handle bigger than 6x7 (and then only digitally anyway) and the enlargers are silly prices. I shall be printing 35mm negs tomorrow, however. Proper darkroom prints.

 

[JParker]

I for one am looking forward to seeing what Pentax comes up with.

I am looking forward to that, too!
Kudos to Pentax!

 

[JParker]

...except of course for the temporary goldmine of weddings. Couples tend to avoid marriage these days, so that goldmine has been closed-off.

The financially successful wedding photographers have small teams, one videographer, one digital still/videographer, and one director/organizer/gofer. No more film.

That is not true that there are no more weddings shot on film. In the last years film has become popular again for wedding photography.
You can find thousands of prof. film wedding photographers on instagram.
I also know some personally who have focussed on that.

And there is also a trend back to film in prof. fashion photography, with even big fashion magazines like Vogue publishing series on film again. I am working in the fashion industry, so I am seeing that almost daily.

 

[JParker]

I really hope photography devotees don't go off the project if the first fruits aren't to their liking. This isn't about us. It's about people new to film, or who want to use film and haven't yet started. Sure, some of us may buy a new camera to support the project, but this isn't aimed at us.

I completely agree.
At least for the first product they mentioned in their "road map", the affordable 35mm film point-and-shoot camera.
I guess that will be a kind of new "Olympus Stylus Epic or Yashica T5" camera.
These models are extremely popular on the used market, with meanwhile often higher prices than their former new price.
Therefore the price difference between the used market and a new camera will be reasonable. Which is very important for the market success.

 

[BMbikerider]

Why cobble together some Rube Goldberg device? If you want to shoot film, use a film camera. If you want to shoot digital, use a digital camera. Those cars that were also boats never really took off.

In the early days of Digital there was a mock up which I am not sure if it ever took of as a practical camera. It involved a film SLR, (I don't remember what manufacturer) where the film chamber housed all the electronics while the film plane was also where the sensor fitted. Happily (apparently) so it was intended you could go from one to the other.
I seem to remember the main problem was battery life because high capacity Lithium were not available at the time

 

[Cholentpot]

That is not true that there are no more weddings shot on film. In the last years film has become popular again for wedding photography.
You can find thousands of prof. film wedding photographers on instagram.
I also know some personally who have focussed on that.

And there is also a trend back to film in prof. fashion photography, with even big fashion magazines like Vogue publishing series on film again. I am working in the fashion industry, so I am seeing that almost daily.

At this point just the novelty of a film camera on a gig gets a positive reaction. I bring my most interesting looking cameras to events that I work. It's a great advertisement.

'My Dad owned one of those!'

'I have one of them in a drawer, you want it?'

'You can still buy film?'

'Can I hold it?'

Generally positive view of film these days.

 

[jtk]

I completely agree.
At least for the first product they mentioned in their "road map", the affordable 35mm film point-and-shoot camera.
I guess that will be a kind of new "Olympus Stylus Epic or Yashica T5" camera.
These models are extremely popular on the used market, with meanwhile often higher prices than their former new price.
Therefore the price difference between the used market and a new camera will be reasonable. Which is very important for the market success.

"affordable" means poverty in some circles. different people afford different things.

Olympic Stylus epic and Yashica T5 are ancient history.

Pentax has always been successful. My long-ago boss, Adolph Gasser in San Francisco, was first to market Asahi SLR cameras in US, long ago, rebranding them as Pentax.

And, fwiw, I don't think the hipster on the OT video was connected with Pentax. But he was more affordable than genuine public announcements would have been.

 

[JParker]

"affordable" means poverty in some circles. different people afford different things.

"Affordable" means affordable for the main target groups in the main markets of such a product.

Olympic Stylus epic and Yashica T5 are ancient history.

They are extremely popular in the current film shooter community. Therefore it makes sense for Pentax designing a camera with a similar concept (and improved on some features).

And, fwiw, I don't think the hipster on the OT video was connected with Pentax. But he was more affordable than genuine public announcements would have been.

Hahaha.........you really don't know what you are talking about.
That is not a "hipster", but one of their their long-term engineers:
Takeo Suzuki, responsible for camera design and concept planning.

 

[Agulliver]

Yeah the Olympus Stylus/Mju range are fetching big money on the used market. My local camera shop had a few NOS examples in 2018 that they found in the basement when stock taking and they flew off the shelves in days. Then word got around and they had loads of enquiries about whether any were still available.

I've got two humble Mju 1 cameras and I can see the attraction. I was given them 10 years ago when they weren't considered special. But for a beginner, even for someone with experience, they deliver very high quality images.

But it's not just those models....Almost any late 80s or 90s P&S 35mm camera that's working is prized right now. They're simple to use, usually autofocus rather than fixed focus, most deliver good photos and yet most certainly do not look like digital cameras. Then after using those, generally people who want to get more serious want a film SLR. The K1000 and Spotmatic are still popular.

Thinking of digital inserts, Pentacon were working on one for the Praktica BX20S at the time that they stopped making film cameras circa 2003. Sadly I don't think there's anything left of the Pentacon manufacturing facilities either. A BX20S or BX20 or one of the less sophisticated M42 Prakticas would fit the bill.

 

[albireo]

Wonderful news. Well done Pentax. I will be buying the first iteration on their film camera roadmap to support the project, no matter the form factor.

I'm not a big point-and-shoot kind of person, though I own and use a Yashica T3 which does well in good light but often misses focus in poor light. An update to that (reasonably good quality multicoated f/2.8 prime, state-of-the-art AF, exposure compensation switch, small form factor, good battery) would be wonderful.

I won't be buying cameras from eBay anymore, and that includes Japan MINT A+++ rubbish, having been burnt more than a couple of times.

My next film camera will be new. Yay!

 

[ic-racer]

I only have a single Pentax. The IQZoom 700. Nice camera with sharp lens.

 

[Cholentpot]

I'm getting so much joy from seeing Deleted Deleted Deleted.

I have an MJU 1 and love it. Issue is, it missed focus these days more times than not. It's not worth using anymore. I really like the simplicity and form factor of the camera. Moreso than the second version. If Pentax put out a clamshell simple fixed focal point and shoot it would sell like hotcakes.

 

[infrar3d]

If Pentax put out a clamshell simple fixed focal point and shoot it would sell like hotcakes.

At least for the first product they mentioned in their "road map", the affordable 35mm film point-and-shoot camera.
I guess that will be a kind of new "Olympus Stylus Epic or Yashica T5" camera.

This is what I'm thinking too. Maybe something like an updated UC-1/Espio Mini?