Cover image © RICOH IMAGING COMPANY
Ricoh Imaging has officially announced the film camera 'PENTAX 17' with a half-frame format. The announcement date is June 18, 2024. The price is confirmed to start at $499.95 overseas (approximately 70,000 yen). The release date in Japan is yet to be determined.
Introduction of the Latest Half-Frame Film Camera
The 'PENTAX 17' incorporates a manual film winding feature of an SLR, designed with a simple structure to prevent mistakes by film camera beginners.
It features a frame counter that counts up to 72 frames, a recording format of 17mm x 24mm, and a newly developed 25mm F3.5 prime lens. This lens is based on the optical system of the PENTAX Espio Mini released in 1994 and is coated with HD (High Definition) coating. It also includes a zone focus system for easy setting of shooting distances, a 25 cm macro focus zone, and a bright Albada-type bright frame finder with parallax correction frame.
Expand Your Photography with Versatile Features
The 'PENTAX 17' offers seven shooting modes to accommodate various uses and features an automatic exposure control function that adjusts the shutter speed between 1/350 second and 4 seconds based on the exposure meter.
It also has an independent exposure compensation dial and features a robust yet very lightweight magnesium alloy body. It supports 40.5 mm filters, ISO film speeds (ranging from 50 to 3200), and the cable switch CS-205, operating on a lithium battery CR2. This new PENTAX film camera combines functionality that expands shooting possibilities with high durability.
Main Specifications of the New Product
- Type: Half-frame behind-the-lens shutter 35mm film camera
- Frame size: 24×17mm
- Compatible film: 35mm film ISO 50, ISO 100, ISO 125, ISO 160, ISO 200, ISO 400, ISO 800, ISO 1600, ISO 3200
- Lens: HD PENTAX lens 25mm (equivalent to 37mm in 35mm format) F3.5, 3 groups 3 elements, maximum magnification approx. 0.13x (at 0.25m), filter diameter φ40.5mm
- Albada bright frame finder
- Zone focus (manual operation) 6 zones (0.25m, 0.5m, 1.2m, 1.7m, 3m, ∞) (0.82ft, 1.7ft, 4ft, 5.6ft, 10ft, ∞)
- Exposure metering EV2.5～16.5 (ISO100) ±2EV (1/3EV step)
- 1/350～4 seconds, bulb
- Flash: Guide number approx. 6 (ISO100・m)
- 3V lithium battery (CR2) x 1
- Approx. 127.0mm (W) × 78.0mm (H) × 52.0mm (D)
- Approx. 290g (excluding film and battery)
