My First Time Shooting Half-Frame with the Pentax 17
Sharing my honest take after experimenting with this much-talked-about new film camera.
Jumping from Medium Format to Half-Frame
After two years of almost exclusively shooting medium format film with my beloved Rolleiflex, I was ready to try something completely different. So, I recently picked up the Pentax 17, a new half-frame film camera that launched to market last year. Fresh out of the box, I was to discover what this fun little camera was all about so, we filmed an Amsterdam photo walk video while testing the Pentax 17 along Amsterdam's canals.
It might sound wild to switch from 120 negatives to half of a 35mm negative, but in this case, working with a smaller camera was the experience I craved. My workflow with the Rolleiflex is deliberate and technically focused, so I wanted something different, and the Pentax 17 is essentially the complete opposite.
This camera definitely pushed me out of my comfort zone, but sometimes that's exactly what we need! I'm having a lot of fun capturing little moments without overthinking my image-making process! As much as I’d love to bring my Rolleiflex everywhere, the reality is that hauling a TLR camera around in my backpack (or on my bike) isn’t ideal for lighthearted days in the city.
The Pentax 17 was promised to be lightweight, playful, and easy to use… and it delivered! Now, I love having an analog camera that fits into a small bag and is perfect for capturing spontaneous moments.
Watch the full video to see my real-time response to the camera's quirks, behind-the-scenes of street photography along the canals, and the final results from my first roll of Kodak Ultramax using the Pentax 17.
Half-Frame Explained
Maybe you've already heard of the Olympus Pen F? Well, the Pentax 17 is a newer half-frame camera that produces similar style images and has automatic features. Half-frame refers to a standard 35mm frame that's divided vertically in half. There's a big advantage to getting smaller frames—a 36-exposure roll gives you 72 shots! That's way more film to play with and encourages experimentation.
My plan was to shoot diptychs, coordinated pairs of images that tell a story together, like a wide shot paired with a close-up. And I'm happy to show that overall, this concept was well executed! Check out the video to see more of my photos.
My Honest Take on the Pentax 17
Overall, I'm quite happy with the camera's quality and I’m happy to support Pentax for launching a new film camera for the first time in 20+ years. This is a clear indication that film is not dead and the analog community is growing more every day. The Pentax 17 is designed to be lightweight and portable, making it great to bring along every day and to snap candid moments. I like that it has satisfying tactile features like a film advance lever. There are different automatic shooting modes like bokeh and macro, which I am still getting the hang of.
I Encountered A Few Challenges Too
I must admit, letting go of manual control was a mental challenge for me. I also noticed the frame counter is tricky to read, which adds a hurdle to planning diptychs. Sometimes the shutter felt slower than expected, but I've since learned that the camera can fall asleep and needs a second to wake back up.
I noticed the mode dial kept slipping, which became frustrating. Then, the rewind crank jammed at the end of multiple rolls, requiring me to open the camera in a dark room. Watch to the end of the video to see my solution!
