I haven't bought the 17, but got this instead

Pentax 17 to be Shipped on July 18 (in Japan at least)

 See this info in the Japanese Amazon. It seems that the date of shipment of the 17 has been fixed.

And, there are some additonal technical information of the 17, in pictures with Japanese, which are almost self-explanatory by themselves.

Pentax 17 - An Olympus Pen after 60 Years?

The vertical 135 half frame, the purely-guessed manual zone focusing, manual winding and rewinding, automatic electric-eye metering, a slow fixed wide-angle lens, the very limited speed of shutter.. Now I believe that Pen stands for Pentax in 2024. ;-p And recently, I have been able to find two excellent condition Pens (of different models) each of which only costs me about 1/4th the cost of a brand-new Pentax 17, should I still need to go for the 17? :-D The Oly Pens could select the aperture which is impossible for the Pentax. In the mean time, it's time for me to pick my Canon 17 to shoot again shortly. Thank you, Pentax (Ricoh)! At the end of the day, the Canon 17 is a much more precise rangefinder anyway.

Some Pentax 17 Reviews (with Sample Photos)

1. B&H:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/videos/photography/finally-a-new-film-camera-announcing-the-pentax-17/BI/2446/KBID/3285/SID/DFF/DFF/d50

2. Kosmo Foto:

https://kosmofoto.com/2024/06/pentax-17-first-impressions/

3. 35mmc:

https://www.35mmc.com/17/06/2024/pentax-17-review/

4. Casual Photophile:

https://casualphotophile.com/2024/06/17/pentax-17-new-film-camera-review/

5. Mobile 01 (in Chinese):

https://www.mobile01.com/topicdetail.php?f=543&t=6975873

6. Cool3c (in Chinese):

https://www.cool3c.com/article/218393

My opinions on the camera it's fun and interesting. However, the guessing focusing is just not my cup of tea, especially for a $500 camera. I also have some doubt in the image quality of the 3-element lens. 

And, I just wonder why it is stated in the spec that rechargeable CR2 cannot be used, as I have been using a Chinese model in my Fujifilm instant film camera without any problem. The battery life for one single disposable CR2 for only ten rolls of film seems a bit too short. 

Lastly, the manual film speed setting would be a good idea as I usually set a lower speed to expose more to make grains less visible, especially for negatives. However, a DX coded system is yet more fool-proof for novices, though.

Read Also:

The Word First / Pentax First: My Obsolete Pentax Collection

News from Ricoh - K-1 III is Still Under Development and etc.

From a latest post in the Xitek Pentax forum, an interview with the Ricoh senior officials (from the product development and planning divisions) in a recent marketing event in Taipei was cited.

The key messages delivered are summarised as follows: 

 

1. The K-1 III is still under development. More time is required with a higher precision aimed on the design as well as owing to the difficulty in sourcing certain components and parts for the new camera.

2. The film camera project is in good progress but further details will not be disclosed. Nonetheless, collaboration with other film product manufacturers will be made for determining a right selling price and marketing strategy.

3. Feasibility for the revival of the Q system is being carried out, subject to the requests made by the Pentax fans in Japan. But considering the limitation of the Q system, it would be unlikely.

4. The 645 system is in its end of development, production of the remaining products will last for a certain period of time.

5. Mirrorless is not a viable option for Pentax.

6. New DFA* wide angle lens(es) and replacement of the DA*50-135 are being considered according to market needs.

Comparison Test of Four Different Production Units of the FA 43 Limited

Found this interesting article (in Traditional Chinese, Google English translated page here) that's worth a read.

Side-by-side comparison tests were done with the MZ-S for film and the Fujifilm GFX50S digital cropped medium format body. To view the test pictures in their original size (which can be enlarged), just right click and select to view the pictures in a separate/new tab in browser.

Besides the comments made by the author of the article, you may find other differences by yourself. As for years, I blog, you decide. :-)

The First Pentax Camera in History (Prototype)

An interesting read: https://kosmofoto.com/2019/10/the-first-pentax-camera-was-east-german/

Credit (via): DPR forum post here

Asahi Pentax Factory in 1964

Someone has scanned and uploaded at Flickr an old magazine article about the Asahi Pentax factory in 1964 which is quite interesting. Good job, guy! And, those were the days!

Pentax FF Website Updated

http://www.pentax.com/en/pentaxff/

My Pentax FF is Already Here! ;-p

My Pentax Full Film body is almost 15 years old now. And, I am right here waiting for the Pentax Digital Full Frame body for at least 13 years! :-(

Re-birth of the Film KS-1, aka Ricoh XR-6! :D

Source: http://www.butkus.org/chinon/ricoh/ricoh_xr-6/ricoh_xr-6.htm

645Z to Come in Twelve Days

http://www.camera-pentax.jp/new2014apr/en/pc/

and http://www.us.ricoh-imaging.com/645z/

Very possibly using the new Sony 50MP CMOS sensor in 44 x 33mm, with the following key specifications:

• High sensitivity  ISO100 to ISO6400 (compared to max ISO 800 for most digital backs so far).
• 14 f-stops dynamic range
• 50 megapixel CMOS sensor – 44 x 33mm (68% larger than a 35mm sensor).
• Responsive Live view (20-24 fps).
• 1.2 fps (interestingly not much faster than CCD based products).

According to the above counter, the announcement will be made in 12 days counting from tomorrow. It will possibly be named as the 645Z. However, Z is not a lucky name for Pentax as it usually meant the last thing that existed right before the whole lineup disappeared, like their Z and MZ families of the K-mount film AFSLRs! :-o

Well, the outlook of this "new" camera:




Read Also: 

What is/are the Meaning(s) of a Cropped Digital System Now?

Official Information of the "New" HD DA 1.4X Teleconverter

http://www.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/japan/products/lens/k/converter/lc-1_4x-aw/

The official on-sales date in the Japanese home-market will be March 7th. A full list of compatible Pentax K-mount digial lenses is provided, note that not every DA lens of Pentax/Ricoh is compatible.

Besides, it does look very familiar for its appearance specs including the physical parameters, many things are just too close to my ancient "Tamron" Pz (Power Zoom) TC 1.4X Model MC-4 that I purchased 14 years ago, which is yet believed to be original manufactured by Kenko!

For more information of the Tamron 1.4X MC4, look here:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tamron-F-AF-Tele-Converter-1-4X-Pz-AF-MC4-with-box-and-papers-/121171067435



Well, even the lens release lever looks exactly the same, what a "co-incidence"! :-o ;-)

But I just wonder, why it takes so long for Pentax to release such an OEM product, if it really is, which has been delayed for so many years since it was first announced back to 2008!?!

Nonetheless, my prolonged experience for that adapter is that it is great for APS-C cropped image circle but is just fair to rather mediocre optically when it works with Full Frame, no matter film or digial. Enough said! :-(

BTW, for real photo samples for how the "Tamron" 1.4X MC4 performs optically, here you will find some samples of mine:

K-5D Mark III: DA 18-55 II Converted to a 24-80 FULL FRAME Lens!

Nikon Retro-Style Full Frame DSLR is Coming

See what Nikon Rumors have disclosed:

http://nikonrumors.com/2013/10/20/breaking-new-nikon-full-frame-hybrid-mirrorless-camera-coming-soon.aspx/

With brief rumoured specs as follows:

- Nikon FM2 like design

- Pentaxprism viewfinder

- 16.2MP 36x23,9 full frame sensor (same sensor as the D4's)

- SD memory card

- 2016-pixel RGB image sensor

- 9-cell framing grid display

- 3D color matrix metering II

- Native ISO range: 100-12,800 (incl. ISO 50 and ISO 108,200)

- 5.5 fps for up to 100 shots

- 3.2" LCD screen

- Battery:EN-EL14

- Dimensions: 143.5 x 110 x 66.5mm

- Weight: 765g

- It will come with a new AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G lens

Well, while this must be a really good camera I have to say, I am rather disappointed this idea was not first adopted by Pentax instead, which I made such a proposition back to 2008, for a retro-type DSLR of K1000D.

Let's Not Forget the Prominent History of Asahi Pentax (Re: Pentax 67 and 645)

While Ricoh continues to ricohize the Pentax camera and lenses (recent examples here, here and here) and dwarf the name of "Pentax" (instead of strengthening it further!), I am glad to see someone still remember Pentax the brand and is yet making a product with the old genuine brand name of Asahi "Pentax" and here it is!

http://www.dodgeandburn.com/collections/shop/products/six-by-seven

I have got one and found that the textile quality is good and it looks cool. Below are two snapshots with my 645N SLR camera (taken with my *Pentax* K-5 + DA35):



Btw, the original Pentax 6x7, together with the original Pentax 645, are recognised as one of the milestone cameras of Pentax by AOHC whilst my 645N is recognised as a masterpiece. So, why not a 645 T-shirt also? Besides, I would want more colours of the T-shirt instead of only that light cyan colour for the background to "select" from, nonetheless.


Related:

True Fanboyism!

20 Millions of Pentax Cameras in 2013

The 645D Kit (Lens) Got Delivered to an End-User, Finally!

20 Millions of Pentax Cameras in 2013

See the posts here, here and here by Pentax PH.

So, for what is told, the 20 million-th Pentax camera has just been manufactured at Cebu's Pentax factory in Philippines this year, which has happened only after 32 years when their 10 million-th camera was made back to 1981. It is interesting to note that the first Pentax camera, the Ashaiflex I was first created and marketed back to 1952. So, Pentax was able to make and sell their first 10 millions of Pentax cameras in 29 years last time, and then for another 10 millions of cameras in another 32 years. But since cameras have become widely popular and they have been just domestic products in recent decades, the above figures have just proven and witnessed clearly about the decline of this once Giant in the camera industry and history.

For what I have just counted, I have bought 16 models of Pentax cameras these decades, for both film (5 models) and digital (11 models), SLR or not, since I first bought my Pentax SFX in 1988.

Nonetheless, as for that mentioning about the gold/brown coloured Q10 against the LX Gold Limited Edition, I think that yet once again hurts the weak sentiments of we long-time Pentaxians! :-( It is because the LX was just the last real professional grade camera body and system of Pentax whilst the Q10 is just a toy. Compare a Q10 with the LX is really rather inappropriate after all, IMHO! Btw, I have my gold/brown coloured K-r myself, which I think is still way better than a toyish Q10, isn't it?

Pentax "Spotmatic Digital" Concept / Imagination

Source:
http://www.esveldtphoto.com/collected_works/cooperations/asahi_pentax_spotmatic_d_concept

Via: A PF post here.

The concept is not bad IMO, but it lacks at least one e-dial and a set of 4+1 way buttons! :-D And well, just imagine if it is even a Full Frame body! :-o


Old Related:

My Idea of a K1000D

Copy 120 Films Using an ILDC/DSLR with a Macro Lens

First inspired by Petapixel, this is what I have tried and done myself:-

1. These are the tools that I've used: A white fluorescent desklamp at 6000K, two 77mm UV multi-coated filters, a lens hood with outer diameter in 77mm, some "white" milky transparent paper:-



2. Turn on the lamp, mine is a Panasonic with invertor circuitry which enables the lamp operated at a high frequency:-



3. Put on the "diffuser", I have made three folds of the same plastic sheet:-



* Do the custom white balance at this point with your camera. Mine was measured to be at 4600K exactly, after adding the diffuser, which is yet somehow yellowish.

4. The 120 film is then put inside the two filters, which are in the same size of 77mm. The film fits just well with that filter size. The two filters are screwed tight and the film is sandwished inside (although it is not completely flat, though, but the final DoF should be enough to cover this unevenness):-





5. Align at the position and then put on the lens hood with proper length, so as to match the magnification of the whole film frame to fit in the digital image frame and size of the camera:-





6. Find a wide angle macro lens. I am using the Sony E30/3.5 Macro on a NEX. Experiment with the subject to camera distance. I found and added another lens hood so as to make it just right for the image magnification:-



7. Take the photo with steady hands. It is preferable that everything can be screwed together although my above setup doesn't. Adhesive tape may help but I did the following unfixed. Here is the raw result:-


(Above: Pentax 645N with FA645 45mm/2.8, Fuji Provia 100F. For original picture with full EXIF, click and download here. Warning: Large File!)

8. Crop the photo and here is a clean and "complete" scan of the film:-


(For original picture with full EXIF, click and download here. Warning: Large File!)

9. If you want to compare the result for a scan from a lab machine, here is what I got from the lab which scanned my film after the film development:-


(For original photo with full EXIF, click and download here. Warning: Very Large File!)

10. The above lab scan is in 17MPs originally and mine is less than 14MPs for what my NEX could deliver (as after cropping it is less). You may note some vignetting is introduced in my "scan" as my NEX is an old model which could not correct lens vignetting in-camera. But the advantage of scanning the film by oneself is that more things can be adjusted/controlled including the White Balance, Contrast and Colour Profile and etc., which is important IMO. Also, to get the best results, a higher pixel count camera with better image quality should be used and do shoot in RAW mode, which will give you the flexibility of further post-processing for higher image quality and better results.

De-crippling the K-mount - An Upkeeping Petition at the Pentax Forums

http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-dslr-discussion/200075-pentax-ricoh-de-cripple-k-mount-petition.html

Two hundred and something Pentaxians have signed. But I bet the proposition will NOT be entertained as Pentax has never listened nor made any response of course. So, it's just a waste of time, frankly! >:-(

In fact, I have requested this for years now. I think I do have a stronger/louder voice already than an average typical individual Pentaxian, don't I? :-)


Related:-

Ten Things that I Want Ricoh to Do for Pentax

My Idea of a K1000D

1,000 Signatures of the Pentax SDM Petition Online!

What is/are the Meaning(s) of a Cropped Digital System Now?

In a recent interview with the Pentax Ricoh China Japanese Head, it was told that the 645D was just a completely different product than the 135 FF Nikon D800E, which is far more differentiated.

However, this reminds me of the fact that the 645D, like all other K-mount Pentax DSLRs, is actually also cropped for its sensor. So, I just wonder, how is the 645D different from those 135 FF DSLRs and how "large" is the difference? And besides, what are the trade-offs?

Here we go, for the factual data:-

Camera	Sensor (Film) Type	Sensor (Film) Size (in mm x mm)	Diagonal Length (in mm)	Crop Factor A	Crop Factor B	Crop Factor C
645 Film	120	56 x 41.5	69.7	1X *	0.79X	0.62X
645D	Cropped 120	44 x 33	55	1.27X	1X *	0.79X
D800/E	135	36 x 24	43.3	1.61X	1.27X	1X *
K-5II/s	APS-C (Cropped 135)	23.7 x 15.7	28.4	2.45X	1.94X	1.52X

* Reference

Is everything much clearer now? The myth has been resolved!

In fact, the 645D is the "APS-H" of the original 120 film with a crop factor of nearly 1.3X. The same applies when the 135 FF is compared to the 645D, which has the exact crop factor in 1.27X. So, how much advantage does it give?

And, *suppose* that there is a Full Frame 645D which exists, the 135 FF will then become a 1.6X "Canon APS-C" cropped machine in comparison, then this difference would be more significant!

On the other hand, the truly APS-C sized K-5IIs for its sensor, when compared to the 645D, is really sympathetic! It is almost in 2X, just like when the micro-4/3 sensors are compared to the 135 FF. Actually, the APS-C sensor is much smaller than the 135 FF, its total area of the sensor is just only in 43%!

Well, what are also in return with that cropped sensor in the old 645 form factor for the 645D then? A big, heavy, slow but rather expensive camera, but which is actually NOT having a significantly larger sensor, and thus no big edge in IQ as a result!

Indeed, cropping an old sensor/mount format is always stupid in the digital era, unless new lenses with a smaller image circle which fits more tightly into that smaller image sensor are re-designed and made!

This is the end of case and the case is closed! The 645D now is a meaningless offer after all! If Pentax is listening, please give us Full Frame DSLR bodies soonest, no matter for the K or 645 mounts!! >:-(


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