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Pentax 17, the first new Pentax film camera in 20 years (kosmofoto.com)
3 points by Kaibeezy on June 17, 2024 | hide | past | favorite | 5 comments



Interesting in two ways. This camera is very much like my first camera, a Fujica half frame with “guess the distance” focus, some 54 years ago.

Second, film can be scanned at processing time and place, and 35mm film is about equivalent to a 24 megapixel digital image. Some say better [0]. Film rarely is affected by dust, and I have had a bunch of sensor cleanings. I change lenses in a new unused ziplock bag now.

I am getting a new scanner for my old (out of this world) color slides, mainly 2¼ square, because 35mm. slides can be 1:1 imaged by a 24 megapixel digital camera with about the same quality.

4x5 and other view cameras will last forever (if you maintain the bellows) because they are as simple as a clothespin (other than the shutters)

[0]: https://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/why-we-love-film.htm



This is notable because it’s the first longstanding camera company to return to making new 35mm film cameras. Leica never stopped, but otherwise it has only been Lomography and cheap plastic “reusable disposable” cameras for the last several years.

Pentax has said that they intend for this to be the first in a series of new film cameras, culminating in a new fully mechanical SLR.


This is exciting new indeed! I can't stomach the £499.99 purchase price. I feel like for the feature set that's a bit steep.

Nonetheless I wish them all the good luck and hopefully we'll see a full frame variety of this eventually!


It is prototype, right ?

- 25/3.5 lens - 3.5? For not replecable ???

- Minimum focusing distance of 25cms - 90's welcome !

- Shutter speeds from 1/350... - they must be proper crazy... Or vampires :>

And that price for no-electronic-included ??




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