Pentax: Two new compact film cameras planned - Pentax 17 announced June 2024

[BradS]

I'm going to bet a roll of film that this camera is going to sell like hot cakes. Anyone wanna one up me on that?

who give a mouse fart about sales volume?
Buy me a sweet roll and coffee and we'll call it good.

 

[Cholentpot]

Except "fixies" are the strongest, best-built, highest-grade bicycles. Look at track bicycles and Japanese Keirin racing.

I ride a late 80's LeMans Centurion. I wouldn't want to be going up and down the hills on a fixed gear. Then again, some people would do it. I don't blame them for their addled brains, whatever floats their valves.

 

[Cholentpot]

who give a mouse fart about sales volume?
Buy me a sweet roll and coffee and we'll call it good.

You're on Brad! Just not sure by what measure we're going to call it a success.

 

[bfilm]

I ride a late 80's LeMans Centurion. I wouldn't want to be going up and down the hills on a fixed gear. Then again, some people would do it. I don't blame them for their addled brains, whatever floats their valves.

Yeah, there are some advantages to gears and some nice multiple geared bicycles.

The nicest fixed gear bicycles are like mechanical Leica, Rolleiflex, Hasselblad, and Linhof. Excellently made, pure and simple (in use). Very capable for their purpose, possibly with better longevity, but not as flexible and versatile as something like Canon EOS-1V, Nikon F5, or Pentax 645, which might be considered like the nice multiple geared bicycles.

 

[cmacd123]

I am surprised that folks keep coming back to a "Basic SLR Camera" as a desirable aim. why would Pentax want to compete with their own Glory? Many Photography courses expect the students to show up with a Pentax SLR, SPECIFICALLY the K-1000. Many Photo repair shops keep refurbished K-1000 Cameras in stock. The Professors want the students to learn to use a Camera without AUTO Anything. No AF, No AE.

even one with a bad meter is selling for for the same price in dollars that they cost new.

Pentax K1000 35mm Camera Body, Chrome

The Pentax K1000 is an all mechanical manual 35mm film SLR (Single Lens Reflex) SLR. The K1000 has earned a reputation as a solid reliable camera with only fully manual functions. The no frills design means the user must figure out what they a

www.keh.com

 

[bfilm]

I am surprised that folks keep coming back to a "Basic SLR Camera" as a desirable aim. why would Pentax want to compete with their own Glory? Many Photography courses expect the students to show up with a Pentax SLR, SPECIFICALLY the K-1000. Many Photo repair shops keep refurbished K-1000 Cameras in stock. The Professors want the students to learn to use a Camera without AUTO Anything. No AF, No AE.

even one with a bad meter is selling for for the same price in dollars that they cost new.

I would think this is exactly why. They are still a popular camera type.

I think there are many people who would prefer a new camera if they were available.

 

[bfilm]

Nikon didn't find it worthwhile or possible to continue their F6. Although, it could have been discontinued mostly because of Nikon closing down all Japanese camera production.

I suspect the Nikon F6 was just a bit too expensive for many people (what was the final price, around USD 2,400 or 2,500). Others thought it made things a bit too easy for what they wanted in a film camera -- although, besides not having a hand-wound film-advance mechanism and the inconvenience of batteries, there is no reason why one couldn't use it like a fully manual camera. Of course, many people understandably love it -- it is a very nice camera.

This is why I think if Pentax could make a nice 35mm film SLR, at least medium-grade, for around USD 1,000 to 1,500 that it could be quite successful.

 

[cmacd123]

I think there are many people who would prefer a new camera if they were available.

But the manual exposure (ONLY) in the K-1000, whileexactly what a photography professor would want her students to use, is rather unfriendly to someone who was BORN in the digital age, but who wants the status of shooting pictures on "Actual Film" That user (which is the target market) needs a VERY easy to use Camera that is still distinct from a point and shoot.

 

[xkaes]

We should know this week. Maybe it will have a MAPS dial on the top!!!!!

 

[bfilm]

But the manual exposure (ONLY) in the K-1000, whileexactly what a photography professor would want her students to use, is rather unfriendly to someone who was BORN in the digital age, but who wants the status of shooting pictures on "Actual Film" That user (which is the target market) needs a VERY easy to use Camera that is still distinct from a point and shoot.

This is where it can get questionable. It could go either way.

There are probably people, as you describe, that just want something completely automatic to take a film photograph. But those cameras already exist, at least in low-grade options. And I don't think these are the people that will sustain film use long-term nowadays.

Every photographer learned the basic concepts of photography at some point, and despite it being the "digital age", I think the people who develop a genuine interest in film still want to learn and use cameras this way. Some might choose a camera that allows manual and semi-automatic type modes to suit different situations. But I think the manual camera will maintain a perennial appeal. A secondhand classic might be the choice of some, but I think many would still like the option of a new camera -- something nice but not all the way to a new Leica rangefinder film camera.

 

[Cholentpot]

Yeah, there are some advantages to gears and some nice multiple geared bicycles.

The nicest fixed gear bicycles are like mechanical Leica, Rolleiflex, Hasselblad, and Linhof. Excellently made, pure and simple (in use). Very capable for their purpose, possibly with better longevity, but not as flexible and versatile as something like Canon EOS-1V, Nikon F5, or Pentax 645, which might be considered like the nice multiple geared bicycles.

With bikes though, I want no gears or all the gears. I don't want to settle for 3 or 10. 21 minimum. Or just give me one and I'll deal with it.

I would think this is exactly why. They are still a popular camera type.

I think there are many people who would prefer a new camera if they were available.

Many of the group they're aiming at want something they can buy brand new off a website or in a store.

 

[bfilm]

Many of the group they're aiming at want something they can buy brand new off a website or in a store.

Right, but I don't understand the point of making this distinction. This is how all cameras are bought, however nice. It is the same way one buys a Leica rangefinder film camera and how one would buy a new SLR film camera.

 

[Cholentpot]

Right, but I don't understand the point of making this distinction. This is how all cameras are bought, however nice. It is the same way one buys a Leica rangefinder film camera and how one would buy a new SLR film camera.

New and unused is the point. You don't remember a time where buying a new camera was the way to go? Pre internet days buying used was a much bigger gamble than it is now in some ways.

 

[bfilm]

New and unused is the point. You don't remember a time where buying a new camera was the way to go? Pre internet days buying used was a much bigger gamble than it is now in some ways.

Right, but the point I have been making is agreeing with you on this. The message to which you replied, I made the point that I think there are many people who would prefer a new camera if they were available. Although, I have been speaking mostly about the potential for a new fairly nice camera, something in the medium-grade range that is missing today.

 

[aranzebia]

Pentax 17 video was posted two days ago

 

[foc]

I'm going to bet a roll of film that this camera is going to sell like hot cakes. Anyone wanna one up me on that?

Done.
(do we need to specify the roll of film type???)

 

[Agulliver]

Grab from the video linked above. Manual ISO from 50-3200, +/- two stops on the exposure and a mode selector dial. It looks like the modes are split into two sections...flash on and flash off. With the flash off you've got P, night, B and "Bokeh" modes. Flash on you've got P and night....and there is a full auto mode.

But all of these look like they could easily be used in an SLR body in the future.

 

[koraks]

Since there's no rangefinder and also no mirror box, I assume it's going to be zone/guess-focus?

 

[Agulliver]

Since there's no rangefinder and also no mirror box, I assume it's going to be zone/guess-focus?

Yes, Pentax said some time ago it's zone focus and if you look closely at the leaked photos and the video linked above you can see the focus scale around the lens.

 

[koraks]

Yes, Pentax said some time ago it's zone focus and if you look closely at the leaked photos and the video linked above you can see the focus scale around the lens.

Yes exactly, that's what I saw, too, and what triggered my response.
Well, to each their own. I think it's an unfortunate choice, although I understand it from a perspective of technological complexity. A $400 camera that forces you to use an external rangefinder or to guess focus...meh.

 

[ant!]

A $400 camera that forces you to use an external rangefinder or to guess focus...meh.

Since it's a half-frame, guess focus is easy, and beside the very few half-focus SLR and autofocus, it was actually the norm. I think I messed up on my Canon demi EE17 3% of the shots by forgetting to focus (in viewfinder focus zone indicator helps very much! Hope Pentax adds this as well...)

 

[koraks]

it was actually the norm

Heating the house with a coal burner was the norm at some point, but I'd rather not go back to it, especially not if it's going to cost me. Just sayin'.
Btw, coupled rangefinders have been around for a long time, and even the most basic camera of all, the view camera, has means to focus accurately. Personally, I find guess-focus a major turnoff in a camera system. YMMV and to each their own taste of course; if you think it's great, more power to you.

 

[brbo]

Doesn't look too shabby. The wind lever looks like a gimmick and in use it will be FAR from the smoothness of some better mechanically built cameras of the past, but if that helps sell the 17, then we'll just have to take it. Also noticed that the old engineers that helped design film transport for 17 obviously forgot to mention that you don't need on/off switch if you have film winding lever. Oh, well...

I hope this camera sells and the next camera is a camera* that creative young people will actually have fun with and use a ton of film shooting it...


* great lens, AF, AE with manual aperture and shutter override, motor wind, multi exposure

 

[Cholentpot]

Done.
(do we need to specify the roll of film type???)

I got all sorts of crunchy film. Nothing specific.

And judging by the photos and footage that we're gonna be seeing today and onwards I think I'm going to have some coffee and film in my future.

Grab from the video linked above. Manual ISO from 50-3200, +/- two stops on the exposure and a mode selector dial. It looks like the modes are split into two sections...flash on and flash off. With the flash off you've got P, night, B and "Bokeh" modes. Flash on you've got P and night....and there is a full auto mode.

But all of these look like they could easily be used in an SLR body in the future. View attachment 372366

Not gonna lie, that looks pretty sweet for a 'toy' camera. Lol, there's a Bokeh setting. They know their crowd.

 

[ant!]

Heating the house with a coal burner was the norm at some point, but I'd rather not go back to it, especially not if it's going to cost me. Just sayin'.
Btw, coupled rangefinders have been around for a long time, and even the most basic camera of all, the view camera, has means to focus accurately. Personally, I find guess-focus a major turnoff in a camera system. YMMV and to each their own taste of course; if you think it's great, more power to you.

In a half frame, there is more then enough depth-of field and getting it not ok focused is more difficult then nailing it. The lens is 25/3.5, so that helps as well. I mean, there are plenty old folders from the 30s-50s up to 6x9 with zone focusing only, that's a bit more difficult (might be ok with f8 and smaller).

But yes, I like the top view actually more then the front. Not sure why the mode wheel need to be separated into flash/non-flash and about the bokeh mode, but I guess it helps some people...

But I am also totally not the market, have already more then enough old and not that old cameras in many formats...