More on the Pentax film camera project

The exposure controls are quite comprehensive. The "Bokeh" and "Night" settings are listed as "wide aperture priority shooting" and "slow shutter speed shooting" in the product info pamphlet. So they really are program shift settings that are actually very handy in practice. It even has Bulb. Full range of manual ISO and exposure compensation, easily accesible flash modes, etc. These go far beyond any 1980s' zone focus cameras, or even some of the luxury P&S of the 1990s, IMO.

Viewing from the top, such sophistication contrasts sharply with the rudimentary zone focus pictographs. Actual distance scale is at the bottom of the lens, visible only when you turn the camera over. HOWEVER like others have noted, this camera likely focuses by-wire. Groundbreaking for the class if true. Reviews also claim that the camera factors in the distance when setting the diagram (I'm sure the flash output too). The close focus warning light by the viewfinder indicates capability to detect the actual distance. Could be a proximity sensor - is it the smaller hole in the filter ring, by the light meter?

With these extra details surfaced, I can somehow understand the pricing. It's an...unnessarily complicated camera, ultimately underwhelming, but with marks of ambition here and there. Puzzling, and likely handicapped by marketing decisions, so not for me. But looks like a working foundation toward something greater. Personally I'm willing to pay double for a full frame successor that has a proper rangefinder. I gather it will have the potential, if ever realized, to finally become what the long forgotten Yasuhara T012 Akitsuki was imaged to be...
 
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sojournerphoto said:
- it’s not aimed at ‘old farts like us’, but there’s a few of us quite taken by it, the young at heart perhaps😉

- on the B&H livestream they again mentioned that many young people don’t pick up their negs from the lab. I was surprised when my daughter’s lab made return of negs optional, but she got hers back and made a lampshade! However, if you just get the lab scans back then they do go straight to phone and whatever social media place you’re sharing in. Half frame works in every way at this scale, even though it seems a cumbersome way to pictures for a digital native…
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This is something I'm struggling to grasp, old fart that I am. If the camera is marketed as being primarily for "fun" happy-snaps, and the scans are going straight to folks' phones (without much concern about the negatives), then why not just shoot with a phone? As I said in a previous post, the fun will quickly fade when the expense and inconvenience become obvious. Sadly, I expect these cameras to be a short-lived fad, but one that may, initially, see a lot of sales. I'm just concerned that the first "new" film camera is one that might, eventually, shoot the whole film revival in the foot as new users become disenchanted.
 
Archlich said:
HOWEVER like others have noted, this camera likely focuses by wire. Groundbreaking for the class if true. Reviews also claim that the camera factors in the distance when setting the diagram (I'm sure the flash output too). The close focus warning light by the viewfinder indicates capability to detect the actual distance. Could be a proximity sensor - is it the smaller hole in the filter ring, by the light meter?
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The mechanism is essentially Ricoh snap focus! That's exactly how the GR behaves in snap focus mode.

I don't think the LED indicates actual proximity to the subject, I think it illuminates when the close focus ends of the focus scale is selected (as a reminder).
 
Retro-Grouch said:
This is something I'm struggling to grasp, old fart that I am. If the camera is marketed as being primarily for "fun" happy-snaps, and the scans are going straight to folks' phones (without much concern about the negatives), then why not just shoot with a phone? As I said in a previous post, the fun will quickly fade when the expense and inconvenience become obvious. Sadly, I expect these cameras to be a short-lived fad, but one that may, initially, see a lot of sales. I'm just concerned that the first "new" film camera is one that might, eventually, shoot the whole film revival in the foot as new users become disenchanted.
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The film revival has been going on for long enough to convince Ricoh-Pentax at least that there's staying power.
 
I had a good laugh watching the BH Pentax 17 show: two elderly, white-haired Pentax representatives in matching Pentax shirts explaining the design philosophy behind the camera: we want to reach a young audience. This said I'll get one if available in Saigon, not for social media use -I don't have any, but for fun and the easy diptych option.
 
agentlossing said:
The mechanism is essentially Ricoh snap focus! That's exactly how the GR behaves in snap focus mode.

I don't think the LED indicates actual proximity to the subject, I think it illuminates when the close focus ends of the focus scale is selected (as a reminder).
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Yes, the proximity sensor likely returns only yes and no. Good use for something that's cheap and ubiquitous these days though.

The way they made snapshot in the GR is a byproduct of the AF lens being driven by-wire in the first place. For a zone focus camera, they could have just done as good with a regular helicoid. After a while I realized the point is to facilitate body-lens communication on the distance without any rangefinder - in a truly 21st century fashion. It will provide more balanced ambient flash performance, without requiring a 1970s mechanical link.

I kinda have changed my negative mind at this point, seeing them put quite some thought and effort into the camera. Definitely not just a dusted off 1980s budget camera. If only...agh! Who knows what comes in the future?
 
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Archlich said:
Yes, the proximity sensor likely returns only yes and no. Good use for something that's cheap and ubiquitous these days though.

The way they made snapshot in the GR is a byproduct of the AF lens being driven by-wire in the first place. For a zone focus camera, they could have just done as good with a regular helicoid. After a while I realized the point is to facilitate body-lens communication on the distance without any rangefinder - in a truly 21st century fashion. There is a reason there is no sensor to regulate the flash output. No 1970s mechanical link required too.

I kinda have changed my negative mind at this point, seeing them put quite some thought and effort into the camera. Definitely not just a dusted off 1980s budget camera. If only...agh! Who knows what comes in the future?
Click to expand...
I don't think it's a proximity sensor though. I think it's just a reaction to the close focus setting being selected on the lens.
 
Archlich said:
Viewing from the top, such sophistication contrasts sharply with the rudimentary zone focus pictographs. Actual distance scale is at the bottom of the lens, visible only when you turn the camera over. HOWEVER like others have noted, this camera likely focuses by wire. Groundbreaking for the class if true. Reviews also claim that the camera factors in the distance when setting the diagram (I'm sure the flash output too). The close focus warning light by the viewfinder indicates capability to detect the actual distance. Could be a proximity sensor - is it the smaller hole in the filter ring, by the light meter?
Click to expand...
The pictogram focusin is like the MInolta HImatic that my sister had int he 80s. I routinely made fun of her 😀

Yes, unnecessary and expensive, but I'll buy it
 
titrisol said:
The pictogram focusin is like the MInolta HImatic that my sister had int he 80s. I routinely made fun of her 😀

Yes, unnecessary and expensive, but I'll buy it
Click to expand...
I don't hate the pictogram themselves. It's just that they look a bit...overwhelmed by the array of exposure controls that occupy the rest of the camera's top view.

Another "for the kids" decision maybe. But I can't help but wonder if it'll be a bit more, well, precise to use if they have the actual distance scale at the top.

Now I do hope these can pay off, so hats off to you. They really have put a lot of effort into it. Toward a somewhat skewed direction.
 
Archlich said:
I don't hate the pictogram themselves. It's just that they look a bit...overwhelmed by the array of exposure controls that occupy the rest of the camera's top view.

Another "for the kids" decision maybe. But I can't help but wonder if it'll be a bit more, well, precise to use if they have the actual distance scale at the top.

Now I do hope these can pay off, so hats off to you. They really have put a lot of effort into it. Toward a somewhat skewed direction.
Click to expand...
At least there are secondary markings for actual distance. Shouldn't be too hard to memorize what the pictograms correspond to.
 
I don't know what type of market research was conducted that begat this strange fruit.
My young photography students were eagerly awaiting the new Pentax 35mm camera to replace their older, heavier, sometimes unreliable, and economically unrepairable 35mm SLR's.
I am very disappointed....so are my students.
What serious analog photographers want and require are fully manual/automatic 35mm cameras that use existing lens mounts.
The K-mount is perfect!
I believe that a "new style" K1000 SLR (maybe plastic) body could have been retailed for under $500, providing a decent profit margin for Ricoh/Pentax Corp.
Thousands of students shot millions of photos with K1000-type cameras.
Why did Pentax turn their back on a proven winner?
 
kkdanamatt said:
I don't know what type of market research was conducted that begat this strange fruit.
My young photography students were eagerly awaiting the new Pentax 35mm camera to replace their older, heavier, sometimes unreliable, and economically unrepairable 35mm SLR's.
I am very disappointed....so are my students.
What serious analog photographers want and require are fully manual/automatic 35mm cameras that use existing lens mounts.
The K-mount is perfect!
I believe that a "new style" K1000 SLR (maybe plastic) body could have been retailed for under $500, providing a decent profit margin for Ricoh/Pentax Corp.
Thousands of students shot millions of photos with K1000-type cameras.
Why did Pentax turn their back on a proven winner?
Click to expand...
If you're interested in answers to your questions, you could follow along the Film Project videos which Pentax posted.
 
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