17.06.24 - Pentax 17 - It's time for film

The PENTAX 17 was developed based on the PENTAX Film Camera Project (link), a concept first announced in December of 2022, in which RICOH IMAGING revealed that it was planning to develop and market a new PENTAX-brand film camera.

The popularity of film cameras has grown rapidly in recent years — especially among young photographers who have experienced this type of camera for the first time ever — because of the distinctive, somewhat nostalgic ambience that is so much different from that of digital cameras.

Contrary to this recent trend, the ability to hand down the knowhow and technology of experienced expert engineers to their younger counterparts for the development of film cameras has been diminishing every year, because digital cameras are now the overwhelming mainstream of photography.

The PENTAX 17 was developed using a vast amount of knowhow and technology which RICOH IMAGING/PENTAX had accumulated over the years, with experts and younger engineers working closely together. The camera was designed to allow photographers to express their originality and creativity by leaving some room for manual operation, rather than making it a fully automatic camera.

The PENTAX 17 lets photographers fully enjoy the world of film cameras — the origin of photography. It is an ideal model not only for film camera enthusiasts who have enjoyed film photography for years, but also for young photographers who are excited about trying film photography for the first time.

The concept of the Pentax 17 is designed accordingly. It delivers outstanding image results with minimal operating effort, offering users maximum enjoyment with the camera. Confirmed by its success, the PENTAX Film Camera project will be continued, because „It’s time for film!“

More about the story, please find on our YouTube channel ... (link)