Ricoh Imaging Unveils the PENTAX 17: A Modern Take on Classic Film Photography

BY DaMarko Webster

Ricoh Imaging Americas Corporation has announced the launch of the PENTAX 17, a highly anticipated compact film camera. The PENTAX 17 is a half-frame camera that captures two 17mm x 24mm images within a single 35mm-format film frame, producing vertical-format pictures with ratios similar to those captured by smartphones. This makes sharing on social media seamless once the film is developed and scanned by a film lab.

Film cameras have seen a resurgence in popularity, particularly among young photographers who appreciate the distinctive and nostalgic experience they offer. The global film camera market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.2% through 2030. A quick search of the hashtag #filmphotography on Instagram reveals over 42.6 million posts, underscoring this trend.

The PENTAX 17 was born out of the PENTAX Film Camera Project, first announced in December 2022. The new camera is the result of a collaboration between Ricoh Imaging and PENTAX experts, along with younger engineers. This team combined vast knowledge and decades of experience in film and imaging technology to design a camera that allows photographers to express their creativity while retaining some manual operations, rather than being fully automatic.

Drawing inspiration from the PENTAX brand’s heritage, the PENTAX 17 incorporates manual operations unique to film photography, gaining a loyal following in today’s digital world. These features include a selectable zone-focus system, manual film winding, manual film advance lever, and dials for exposure compensation and ISO sensitivity adjustments. The camera’s body is crafted from high-quality materials, with top and bottom covers made of solid, lightweight magnesium alloy. Additionally, the 40.5mm filter mounting thread allows for a range of filters to be used.

The PENTAX 17 features a newly-developed 25mm F3.5 lens (equivalent to a 37mm lens in the 35mm format). This lens is based on optics from the acclaimed PENTAX Espio Mini, marketed in 1994, and redesigned for the half-frame format. Treated with HD (High Definition) coating, the lens optimizes the clarity and sharpness of half-frame photos. The lens design also takes inspiration from the RICOH Auto Half, a best-selling half-frame model first marketed in 1962, ensuring casual, everyday picture-taking is simple and flawless.

The camera’s zone-focus system includes six focus zones selectable on the focus ring, enabling captures from long distances to close-ups as near as 25 centimeters in the macro zone. Its bright optical viewfinder features an Albada-type frame finder for easy scene framing and a close-up visual field compensation frame for composing close-up images. Zone focus marks are visible through the viewfinder to aid in composition.

With seven shooting modes, the PENTAX 17 accommodates various applications and scenarios. It automatically adjusts exposure settings based on lighting data collected by its metering sensor. In addition to Full Auto mode, it offers six other shooting modes, including Slow-speed sync for twilight photography and Bulb mode for long-exposure shots of nightscapes and fireworks.

The camera supports a wide range of ISO film speeds and features a note holder on the back cover for easy film identification. It includes three strap lugs for both horizontal and vertical suspensions and is compatible with the optional CS-205 Cable Switch for extended-exposure photography in Bulb mode.

“Film photography has been growing in popularity over the past decade and especially recently! The new PENTAX 17 film camera is going to kickstart an entirely new generation of film shooters,” said Philip Steblay, Cofounder of The Darkroom, an online film developing service. “This terrific new camera will add to the great pleasure and enjoyment of shooting film. The PENTAX analog functionality, film selection process and thinking more carefully about your shots will enhance the fun of photography. This, coupled with the anticipation that comes with waiting for your images to process, adds to the joy of photography. With new cameras and film coming to market the future of film photography looks bright.”

“The PENTAX 17 is a stunning camera, both in form and function,” said Kyle Depew, founder of Brooklyn Film Camera. “Its design is handsome and classic, yet it features elements that are delightfully unique and innovative. It’s amazing to see modern PENTAX engineering applied towards a new film camera. We couldn’t be more delighted.”

“The film photography community is vibrant and growing, and we are thrilled to see Ricoh Imaging recognizing this and creating new products for this market,” said Meredith Reinker, managing partner, Roberts Distributors LP. “Film photography has been growing in popularity over the last several years and supporting this community is supporting a growing industry as well as supporting the arts. We are honored to be partnering with Ricoh to make this camera available through our distribution channel of independent, local and analog-focused businesses. We look forward to watching the analog community embrace this exciting announcement as we all have a shared goal of keeping film photography alive and accessible.”

“This camera has been a reminder to have fun and not take things too seriously,” said Matt Day, photographer. “It’s fun to shoot with, it’s compact enough to carry anywhere, and double the amount of exposures makes it easier to shoot more.”

“Many photographers were first introduced to the joys of photography using a PENTAX film camera. We’re hoping to introduce a new generation to the world of film photography with the PENTAX 17,” said Ken Curry, president of Ricoh Imaging Americas. “It is an ideal model not only for film camera enthusiasts who have enjoyed film photography for years, but also for photographers who are excited about trying film photography for the first time.”