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This camera uses these films:
When I wrote my initial review I had taken just a few images on a Photowalk and hadn't seen the results of my own efforts. However I have just received a roll of Ultramax back from AW with Premium scans and thought I would share a few thoughts!
The Zone focussing takes a bit of getting used to, I've done this in the past but autofocus is almost universal now. Also using A mode means that things quite close to the lens aren't in focus. Its a learning curve but I don't think a long one.
The Portrait mode isn't as irritating as I thought it would be, we are used to phone images like this and its easy to turn the camera around.
Although half frame the lens is sharp and the images don't seem reduced in any way by the format.
Macro is good and the 25cm wrist cord seems to work well as a distance measure (see fruit photo).
The images themselves were crisp and clean, and Ultramax 400 seems an ideal film for this camera. Having bought my first Pentax over 50 years ago, and having had all manner of Pentaxes since, its an absolute joy to be shooting with a new Pentax film camera again. There is something unique about the brand and this camera continues the tradition.
I'm making this lovely piece of kit my number 1 camera - currently pausing my longstanding passion for the 110 format (Pentax of course).
I bought this camera as soon as it came to AW, as my £50 Ektar 35 had just broken down on only it's 2nd roll. I figured at £500 the P17 would let me do 20 rolls at least before that happened 😆.
I've put 3 rolls through it now, and it has a well made, solid feel to it, but comfortable to have in your pocket, so it's fast become my daily walk about camera. It has zone focusing symbols, which I'm familiar with from having a Holga, with the corresponding feet/meters shown at the bottom of the focus ring, and the symbols show up in the viewfinder too. The wrist strap is also a 23cm measuring guide for taking macro shots which is handy. The lens is glass and renders images nice and sharp.
Why only 4 stars?
1) The great big loose screw holding the battery compartment on the camera. a) it's ugly, and b) it's easy for old fumble-fingers to have it slip onto the floor and require creaky~knee bending to retrieve it. A hinge would be kinder.
2) The programme wheel is easy to accidentally alter when winding the film on and if you don't realise that, you end up shooting in bulb mode when really you wanted to be in P.
3) Really don't care for symbols or measurements, would have preferred a manual focus.
But on the whole a sturdy little piece of kit that has already become my favourite P&S. Well worth the money.
Nice little compact camera, and half-frame means up to 72 shots per roll! To my surprise, and with a little care, it will take selfies too. What's not to like?
There’s no excuse for me not to carry this with me everywhere, which is exactly why I wanted it. It’s for the snapshot and it does it so well.
It's a lovely camera. Very well made and a pleasure to shoot with. I'm impressed by the sharpness of the lens as well. The whole design of the camera is excellent. The viewfinder works really well, with the zone focus setting visible, framing guides and the little lights giving info. I'm so pleased that Pentax has returned to making film cameras.
