The
Pentax
17
feels
special.
As
a
new
$500
film
camera
from
a
major
brand,
it’s
unique
simply
for
existing.
But
more
than
that,
it
embraces
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
after
its
announcement,
shooting
on
a
road
trip
and
even
at
a
show
at
a
local
punk
club,
and
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.
(Cross-processing
is
simpler
than
it
sounds.
You’re
essentially
just
having
a
photo
lab
swap
the
chemicals
they
normally
use,
but
it
leads
to
unexpected
results
with
the
potential
for
wild
color
shifts.)
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
$500
at
Ricoh
Imaging$500
at
B&H
Photo$500
at
Adorama
How
we
rate
and
review
products
The
results
consistently
impressed
me,
even
when
I
leaned
on
the
built-in
flash
for
some
low-light
indoor
photos.
Images
can
be
pretty
sharp,
even
up
close
in
macro
mode
and
with
the
37mm-equivalent
lens
shot
wide
open
at
its
f/3.5
maximum
aperture.
While
I
love
getting
nerdy
and
pixel-peeping
shots
from
full-frame
cameras
with
high-end
lenses,
I
can
acknowledge
that
sharpness
and
resolution
don’t
matter
as
much
on
a
half-frame
point-and-shoot
film
camera.
You’re
likely
to
view
the
scanned
film
images
on
small
screens
or
uploaded
to
social
media
like
Instagram,
where
pretty
much
anything
can
look
fine.
But
the
Pentax
17
does
have
a
punch
to
its
images
that
you’re
not
going
to
get
as
consistently
with
cheap
film
cameras
like
the
$40
Kodak
Ektar
H35.
1/7
The
six
focus
ranges
are
represented
by
simple
icons,
which
are
visible
in
the
viewfinder
via
a
small
window.
The
H35
is
also
a
half-frame
point-and-shoot,
though
it’s
less
than
a
tenth
the
price
of
the
Pentax
17,
but
its
focus-free
lens
means
most
subjects
are
going
to
look
same-y,
without
any
depth.
The
Pentax
is
a
“fun”
camera,
but
it’s
still
a
much
more
serious
image-making
tool.
I
once
scoffed
at
half-frame,
but
now
with
high
film
costs
and
viewing
photos
on
phones,
it
feels
right
The
Pentax
17
operates
a
lot
like
most
analog
cameras
before
it,
with
a
manual
advance
lever,
film
rewind
crank,
and
a
simple
yet
bright
viewfinder
with
frame
lines
for
an
approximation
of
your
composition.
There
really
aren’t
many
modern
affordances
given,
aside
from
a
CR2
battery
hidden
beneath
the
built-in
grip
that
powers
the
camera
and
its
partially
automatic
functions.
1/21
Shot
on
Kodak
Portra
800.
The
band
is
Bit
Brigade,
who
I
cannot
recommend
enough
if
you’re
into
retro
video
game
music
and
speedruns.
You
can
set
the
mode
dial
to
Auto
and
let
the
camera
take
care
of
everything,
locking
the
focus
to
cover
most
subjects
one
meter
away
or
farther.
But
the
Pentax
17
is
most
engaging,
and
yields
the
best
results,
when
you
take
some
control
—
selecting
your
focus
range
on
the
lens
and
choosing
a
preset
exposure
mode.
The
camera’s
mode
dial
has
color
coding
for
modes
with
or
without
flash,
and
a
simple
bokeh
option
to
ensure
the
lens
is
shot
wide-open
to
get
as
much
pleasing
background
blur
as
it
can
produce.
Embrace
spontaneity
but
with
some
thought
and
care
put
in
By
manually
setting
one
of
six
focusing
ranges,
you
get
to
sample
a
bit
of
the
“shoot
from
the
hip”
street
photographer’s
life,
dancing
with
your
subjects
as
you
try
to
estimate
how
far
they
are
from
the
camera
to
ensure
focus.
It’s
a
practice
that
gets
you
looking
at
the
whole
scene
in
front
of
you
rather
than
squinting
through
a
viewfinder,
and
there’s
nothing
like
getting
your
film
back
to
find
you
nailed
the
shot
—
or,
by
contrast,
you
got
some
unexpected
and
charming
surprises.
1/20
Shot
on
expired
Lomography
Lomo
400
Color
Negative.
As
excellent
as
the
Pentax
17
is,
this
method
may
turn
off
some
enthusiasts
who
always
want
proper
full-manual
control
(a
camp
I
normally
fall
into,
frankly).
I’m
used
to
being
meticulous
with
my
shots
when
using
a
film
camera
since
each
one
costs
money
whether
you’re
sending
your
roll
to
a
lab
or
developing
yourself.
But
the
Pentax
17’s
half-frame
format
—
with
each
roll
able
to
capture
up
to
48
or
72
exposures
instead
of
24
or
36
—
helped
me
relax
a
little
and
ease
into
the
semi-automated
exposure
mode
and
preset
zone
ranges.
In
exchange
for
a
smaller
image
that
doesn’t
print
or
scan
as
large,
shooting
half-frame
gives
you
a
sense
of
low-stakes
freedom.
It
was
no
longer
such
a
big
deal
to
take
a
chance
on
a
quick
snapshot
that
could
be
too
dark
or
too
blurry.
Just
point
and
shoot,
hope
for
the
best,
and
be
delighted
when
the
film
comes
back
from
the
lab.
I
have
to
concede
that
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).
1/11
Shot
on
Kodak
Tri-X
400.
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,
which
was
my
first
film
camera
(though
I
think
it
cost
me
only
$80
to
$100
back
in
2006).
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
(I
imagine
my
old
Leica
M6
is
feeling
betrayed
that
I’ve
fallen
for
a
lowly
Pentax).
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
(Originally posted by Antonio G. Di Benedetto)
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