A new film camera in the age of digital, the Pentax 17 is a 35mm half-frame film camera built from the ground up. This svelte point-and-shoot is the first launch from Ricoh Imaging/Pentax's Film Project initiative and is designed using a wealth of influence from Pentax's legacy of past film cameras.
Distinct from 35mm "full-frame" cameras with a 36 x 24mm format, the Pentax 17 is a half-frame format camera with a recording area of 17 x 24mm. This smaller, more unique format has a few added benefits:
Since the frames take up about half as much space on the roll of film, you get twice as many exposures per roll compared to full-frame format cameras. On a 36-exposure roll of film, you can expect to take about 72 exposures. Since the film is running horizontally through the camera, the 17 x 24mm image area is inherently vertical; the viewfinder is setup in a vertical orientation and the camera handles best when shooting vertically.
The front of the camera has a knurled handgrip, which can be removed to reveal the single CR2 3V battery that powers the camera's meter and flash. Next is the lens; integrated in the front of the lens's housing is the light meter and the lens also has 40.5mm threads to accept filters. Since the meter is within the lens housing, filter factors will automatically be accounted for when using autoexposure.
The built-in flash on the front of the body has a guide number of 20' at ISO 100 and a recycle time of about 9 seconds. LEDs near the viewfinder display when the flash is recharging and when it is ready for use. The back of the camera has a small slot for inserting notes or a piece from a film box to remind you of the loaded film stock. Also, near the top is a 2.5mm port, which can be used with an optional CS-205 cabled remote shutter release. And, on the bottom of the camera, there is a 1/4"-20 tripod mount and the film rewind button.
