A decade ago many have read talkin to the film camera industry with manufacturers such as Canon stating that it will no longer be produced. Cameras on smart phones and digital cameras became pallbearers for film cameras with their fans shedding tears.
But generation Z ushered in a Renaissance for analog equipment like cassettes, phonographs and now film cameras. Due to renewed demand, Ricoh launched the Pentax 17 which is their first film camera in 21 years.
The Pentax 17 is a camera with a 25mm f/3.5 lens that is based on the PENTAX Espio Mini lens released by them in 1994. Not only does this camera use analog film, the camera is also analog with the film having to be moved by itself through a manual rotary lever. The setting of the six film exposure modes can be done automatically or set manually by the user.
The pictures taken are in vertical format where one 35mm film frame is used to hold two pictures through double exposure in turn. Another feature provided is a built-in flash with a power source through a 3V lithium battery (CR2). The Pentax 17 is sold for $500 (~RM2355). starting this month in select markets.
