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

[Agulliver]

This week I’ve been shooting at several touristy/photographery places and my 35mm Minolta 370 and 570 have started several conversations. This was not the case even 2-3 years ago. It took the Mamiya tlr or super ikonta to do that. With 35mm, people thought I was a dumbass old guy who couldn’t figure out how to use a digital camera.

At least a couple times this week I have noticed a palpable ininternal shudder in people having to shift their world view as they saw and heard me working the advance lever and realized I was shooting film.

Last week at the jazz/blues club I keep talking about, someone approached me at the bar...older gentleman....and said "Surely that silver camera is digital? But it looks like you're winding film?"....So I explained yes, I was indeed shooting film. He asked where I get it, and a local sax player interjected "There's a great camera shop around the corner from this club".

When I started shooting film there a few years ago people really did think I was quite mad. Now there can be anything up to 4 people shooting film at that club at a time.

But also out and about, I see young folk shooting film. And it's almost always with cameras from the 70s that have manual wind.

 

[Cholentpot]

Last week at the jazz/blues club I keep talking about, someone approached me at the bar...older gentleman....and said "Surely that silver camera is digital? But it looks like you're winding film?"....So I explained yes, I was indeed shooting film. He asked where I get it, and a local sax player interjected "There's a great camera shop around the corner from this club".

When I started shooting film there a few years ago people really did think I was quite mad. Now there can be anything up to 4 people shooting film at that club at a time.

But also out and about, I see young folk shooting film. And it's almost always with cameras from the 70s that have manual wind.

I've seen the same. Kids want point and shoot and Nikon F looking cameras.

 

[runswithsizzers]

The film advance lever is the worst way to advance the film -- except for all the other ways.

How many times have I framed the scene exactly the way I want it, carefully focused on my subject, slowly depressed the shutter button at the bottom of an exhale -- and nothing -- because I forgot to advance the film? So sure, I would love to have the film automatically advance after every shot to keep the camera in a state of perpetual rediness. Except I hate the noise, weight, and battery dependence that are necessary with motor drives. So I will keep on trying to remember to advance the film after every shot, in hopes that after another 40 or 50 years, I'll finally get the hang of it.

 

[Cholentpot]

The film advance lever is the worst way to advance the film -- except for all the other ways.

How many times have I framed the scene exactly the way I want it, carefully focused on my subject, slowly depressed the shutter button at the bottom of an exhale -- and nothing -- because I forgot to advance the film? So sure, I would love to have the film automatically advance after every shot to keep the camera in a state of perpetual rediness. Except I hate the noise, weight, and battery dependence that are necessary with motor drives. So I will keep on trying to remember to advance the film after every shot, in hopes that after another 40 or 50 years, I'll finally get the hang of it.

Double stroke.

 

[wahiba]

Manufacturing technology has moved on. Additive manufacturing (3D printing in popular parlance) and laser cutting are the relative new boys on the block. Throw in electronic controls and the dilemma for Pentax, or anyone thinking of making a film camera from scratch is daunting.

A purely mechanical camera with limited stops and shutter speeds but a decent lens would seem to be a good start. An upgraded Lomo 35mm and 120 versions of say the Diana, complete with basic interchangeable lens.

Move to an electronic system, maybe using an over the counter computer for all controls. Power wind and rewind. Is size an issue?

Personally my choice would be Lomo 'Leica'. 28/50/120 lens options, electronic shutter and aperture control with overrides self timer etc., maybe power wind or manual, I can live with either and please AAA batteries, rechargeable.

 

[cmacd123]

Manufacturing technology has moved on. Additive manufacturing (3D printing in popular parlance) and laser cutting are the relative new boys on the block.

Most 3d Printing is produces parts with no where near the hardness of machined and heat treated metal parts.
Now using electronic controls, one can design a mechanism whith does not stress those softer parts enough to cause problems. I often use a almost all Plastic Canon Rebel Ti camera and one can see where the electronics have alowed a presise result with plastic parts. the film advance uses an IR LED and detector to Count 8 perfs for example, which is precise enough that the frame line falls RIIGHT between the perfs, and also the frame numbers end up centered at the bottom of each shot.

 

[skorpiius]

How many times have I framed the scene exactly the way I want it, carefully focused on my subject, slowly depressed the shutter button at the bottom of an exhale -- and nothing -- because I forgot to advance the film?

I briefly considered getting a 1950s SLR either without instant return mirror or without automatic diaphram just for that situation

In either case you need to wind the film for the mirror to drop back down or for the aperture diaphram to open back up.

Anyway I came back to my senses shortly afterward.

 

[skorpiius]

And it's almost always with cameras from the 70s that have manual wind.

I get it,
if you think about it the view through an SLR viewfinder and the motions to take a photo for the past 30+ years has been pretty much unchanged. People want a change.

A contemporary dslr viewfinder looks very similar to this 1988 Nikon

And the turn on, point, half press to focus and meter, full press to shoot and instantly ready for the next shot sequence is also unchanged, just less motor whirr in the past decade or two.

 

[cmacd123]

I get it,
if you think about it the view through an SLR viewfinder and the motions to take a photo for the past 30+ years has been pretty much unchanged. People want a change.

A contemporary dslr viewfinder looks very similar to this 1988 Nikon

View attachment 338810
full press to shoot and instantly ready for the next shot sequence is also unchanged, just less motor whirr in the past decade or two.

I think it is the Pentax SFX (SF-1 in US) that is the LOUDEST on motor whirl.

 

[4season]

I'm pretty sure that use of 3D printers will be limited to the prototyping stage, and that more conventional techniques like injection molding will be used for production. Huge difference in the time required: Seconds for an injection molding, versus hours for a 3D print.

 

[skorpiius]

I think it is the Pentax SFX (SF-1 in US) that is the LOUDEST on motor whirl.

I have a Pentax (P)Z-1, it's also pretty darned loud. KA-CHUCK BEEEEEEEE!

 

[Oldwino]

My Nikon F4 is pretty loud, especially when empty. When loaded, the sound is somewhat dampened. The lesson is to always keep it loaded.

 

[Sirius Glass]

My Nikon F4 is pretty loud, especially when empty. When loaded, the sound is somewhat dampened. The lesson is to always keep it loaded.

Some people like going around loaded, myself included.

 

[Nicholas Lindan]

Wonder if there is a market for an a gadget that plugs into a digital camera and gives the authentic clap-chink-whirr sound of a film camera. Lets the young-uns be cool without the expense of film.

 

[blee1996]

I know these are all marketing stuff, but the second video from the engineer does sound very genuine. I'm happy to see the film advance lever and rewind will be there for the 35mm compact camera, and potentially carried over to a future SLR camera.

https://www.dpreview.com/news/2093227531/pentax-s-first-film-camera-will-be-a-point-and-shoot-but-hints-a-film-slr-may-be-next ​

 

[MattKing]

Threads combined

 

[Oldwino]

Wonder if there is a market for an a gadget that plugs into a digital camera and gives the authentic clap-chink-whirr sound of a film camera. Lets the young-uns be cool without the expense of film.

Several digital cameras with leaf shutters have the option of two or three user-selectable shutter sounds to choose from. Otherwise, you can’t tell if you’ve made an image or not. Completely silent.

 

[Agulliver]

Wonder if there is a market for an a gadget that plugs into a digital camera and gives the authentic clap-chink-whirr sound of a film camera. Lets the young-uns be cool without the expense of film.

How many phones, by default at least, have a sampled click and whirr when you press the screen to take a shot? Those sounds are still synonymous with taking a photo.

I think Pentax know what they're doing. My main hope is that they get their product out in time to catch their intended market.

 

[rodstew]

Last week at the jazz/blues club I keep talking about, someone approached me at the bar...older gentleman....and said "Surely that silver camera is digital? But it looks like you're winding film?"....So I explained yes, I was indeed shooting film. He asked where I get it, and a local sax player interjected "There's a great camera shop around the corner from this club".

When I started shooting film there a few years ago people really did think I was quite mad. Now there can be anything up to 4 people shooting film at that club at a time.

But also out and about, I see young folk shooting film. And it's almost always with cameras from the 70s that have manual wind.

So cool to see the next generation keen on film photography! Thanks for sharing your story!

 

[Nicholas Lindan]

How many phones, by default at least, have a sampled click and whirr when you press the screen to take a shot?

I have no idea, but then the depths of my Ludism are deep indeed. The only app I have on my phone is an hp 48g emulator.

I have a memory of a PBS special on Edward Weston (or someone like him, or trying to be like him) - the photographer was taking a picture at Point Lobos and as he pressed the cable release for his 8x10 the foley crew had added the clack-snick-whirrrrr of a motorized 35mm.

 

[pentaxuser]

I think Pentax know what they're doing. My main hope is that they get their product out in time to catch their intended market.

What isn't clear to me is how "high level" is the Pentax backing for this? There seems no real clues about this in the video

Maybe there are specific things mentioned by the Pentax person that does indicate this and I have just missed them?

If so can anyone point out what these are?

pentaxuser

 

[Sirius Glass]

Wonder if there is a market for an a gadget that plugs into a digital camera and gives the authentic clap-chink-whirr sound of a film camera. Lets the young-uns be cool without the expense of film.

I would like my cell photo to sound like my Hasselblad when I take a photograph. A loud TH-WACK!

 

[rodstew]

I have no idea, but then the depths of my Ludism are deep indeed. The only app I have on my phone is an hp 48g emulator.

I have a memory of a PBS special on Edward Weston (or someone like him, or trying to be like him) - the photographer was taking a picture at Point Lobos and as he pressed the cable release for his 8x10 the foley crew had added the clack-snick-whirrrrr of a motorized 35mm.

That is hilarious!!

 

[Agulliver]

What isn't clear to me is how "high level" is the Pentax backing for this? There seems no real clues about this in the video

Maybe there are specific things mentioned by the Pentax person that does indicate this and I have just missed them?

If so can anyone point out what these are?

pentaxuser

I *think* I recall that in an earlier video, it was mentioned that the board agreed to the project.

It looks like there's a fair amount of funding going into this, with current engineers spending time and resources on the design and prototyping and getting in retired engineers to help. But you can bet they've calculated that they'll make back whatever they spend on the project.

 

[Agulliver]

That is hilarious!!

It is as hilarious as it is inappropriate. But the point stands that the noise of a 35mm camera clicking and whirring is still considered by the majority to be the sound associated with taking any kind of photo. It's a bit like the 3.5" floppy remaining the symbol for saving data....even though most of us probably haven't used one in years and the teenagers I work with have likely never even seen one. But they all know what vinyl records are, and all know what Instax is.