Pentax 17 F3.5 Half-Frame Camera with HD Coating Lens and Easy Loading System (Dark Silver)

The Pentax 17 F3.5 Half-Frame Camera produces two 17mm x 24mm pictures within a single 35mm format (36mm x 24mm) film frame, with a ratio similar to images captured by smartphones.  The camera features a selectable zone focus system, manual film winding, manual film advance lever, exposure compensation, and ISO sensitivity adjustments with separate dials. The retro-styled camera boasts a solid yet lightweight magnesium alloy. Available in a Dark Silver finish, the Pentax 17 features a newly developed 25mm F3.5 lens (equivalent to a 37mm lens in the 35mm format). The lens’ HD coating offers sharp and clear images. The Albada-type bright frame finder in the optical viewfinder, along with the close-up visual field compensation frame, allows close-up images to be composed easily. With seven shooting modes, the camera can easily accommodate various shooting styles. The exposure settings can be adjusted automatically based on the metering sensor. The Pentax 17 employs a manual film advance lever – when you hold the camera in a traditional orientation, it captures vertical format pictures with ratios similar to that of smartphones. Just like the Pentax-SLR film cameras, this camera features a manual film winding mechanism. Its film advance lever offers a nostalgic feel to the users with its winding action and a wind-up sound after every shutter release. The easy loading system prevents film loading errors. The Pentax 17 features manual film rewinding operation using the rewind crank; ISO sensitivity setting via the ISO sensitivity dial, and exposure compensation via the exposure compensation dial.

The newly developed 25mm F3.5 lens (equivalent to a 37mm lens in the 35mm format) in the Pentax 17 model is based on the optics incorporated in the acclaimed Pentax Espio Mini (marketed in 1994) and has been redesigned to perfectly fit the half-size format. This makes casual pictures look flawless.

The Pentax 17 has six focus zones, separated by marks for each zone. In the macro focus zone, you can take pictures as close as 25 centimeters away. The focus zone enables the selection of the best-suited zone. The included hand strap lets you measure the distance more accurately.

The camera’s advanced optical viewfinder has an Albada-type bright frame finder and a close-up visual field compensation frame to enable users to compose close-up images more easily.

The Pentax 17 features seven shooting modes for various applications. In Full Auto mode, all exposure settings are selected by the camera. It has Slow-speed sync, which is useful in twilight photography. The Bulb mode is perfect for photographing nightscapes and fireworks. The Pentax 17 has an independent exposure compensation dial that allows the user to shift the exposure level to accommodate different types of subjects in the swiftest manner.

The classic design and traditional look of the camera is surprisingly tough yet lightweight. The top and bottom are made of magnesium alloy and the camera features a 40.5mm filter mounting thread that can be used to mount a range of filters available on the market.