Unleash the Fun and Creative Freedom of Half-Frame Film Photography with Our Pentax 17 in-Depth Review
The Pentax 17: A Film Camera That’s All About Joy and Style
The Pentax 17 is a unique film camera that’s unlike any other. As a new $500 film camera from a major brand, it’s special simply for existing. But what makes it truly stand out is its ability to capture the joy and style of analog photography without slipping into kitsch. It’s some of the most fun I’ve had with a camera.
I spent ample time testing the Pentax 17, shooting on a road trip and even at a show at a local punk club. I ran a handful of rolls of color (Kodak UltraMax 400, Portra 800) and black-and-white (Kodak Tri-X 400) film through it. I even tried getting funky with some very expired color film, including cross-processing a roll of decades-old E6 slides (positive film) to C41 color negatives.
The Good
- Fun!
- Lightweight at under 300 grams
- Capable of taking sharp pictures
- Half-frame format gets more value out of 35mm film rolls
- Repairable from the manufacturer
The Bad
- Pricey compared to cheap toy cameras or older used models
- No full-manual controls
- LED warning lights can get confusing and a little disorienting in dark settings
The results consistently impressed me, even when I leaned on the built-in flash for some low-light shots. The Pentax 17’s simple modes are a perfect fit for this style of shooting, even if part of me always wishes for manual controls. And the vertical framing feels more akin to our default orientation when picking up a phone (the most casual of snapshot cameras).
The Pentax 17 has charm to it. From its compact size and solid-enough build quality to its quirky design, it could be a great companion to document your everyday life. It oozes a slightly eccentric style, and its casual, yet not too casual, approach to film photography brings a touch of magic to even the mundane.
Embracing the Pentax 17’s approach rewards you with lovely, timeless-looking shots. Sure, you can get used film cameras with more features for less money, like the Pentax K1000 and 50mm f/2 lens. But you’re always rolling the dice with used cameras, especially on some models that are difficult or impossible to repair these days.
And of course, you can spend much more on a street photography camera with more features and better build quality, like a Leica M rangefinder. But the stakes are much lower when each photo has a built-in 50 percent discount and the results are just as fun.
Photography by Antonio G. Di Benedetto / The Verge
