How a $496 Pentax 17 Became a Mini Cinema Camera Overnight

One can often enhance their photographic career by continuing to experiment and explore. Sometimes, you experiment with the gear and other times, with the images in post-processing. However, the example we are discussing is the former: a half-frame analog camera, which can produce unique panoramic frames. How is that possible? Here is the story of a young photographer on Reddit who achieved this with ease. Let’s have a look.

All the images in the article are screenshots of images by u/vagifabdulla.

On Reddit’s r/AnalogCommunity, user u/vagifabdulla chose to create cinematic images. He used a Pentax 17, an exciting half-frame camera, but with a Panomicron Alum v1 anamorphic adapter, and the roll of Kodak Gold 200. The reason for using a half-frame was not revealed by the user, but one could argue that the half-frame has allowed for more shots. And so, it is something you want to turn to save film. But as one commenter put it, “Half frame shot in landscape is roughly equivalent to a frame of 35mm motion picture film—this is what anamorphic was made for.”

However, the creativity also came with its own set of challenges. U/vagifabdulla notes that the adapter, while designed for stills, is not ideal for Pentax 17. The setup had some quirks, which included the viewfinder getting blocked. The latter also means you are composing the image with only one-third of what your final frame will have. He also adds:

Secondly, it shifts the focus point to about 5-10 meters, depending on the spacer you have installed. I just shot everything at infinity and it was mostly fine. 

If this was not enough, the challenge of a strong distortion is another thing that one has to tackle. The anamorphic bends and curves are visible in some images. Moreover, the light meter, although it works, is partially obscured by the adapter. This can result in uncertain light. You also need step-up rings to move from Pentax’s 40.5mm filter thread to the thread size used by your adapter.

However, the end results are pretty exciting. The frames are elongated, the bokeh has subtle ovals, and it turns everyday images into scenes from an indie film. In fact, in a time when digital images look almost the same in many ways, this experiment has further helped one realize that while it is not perfect, the setup is a great start to making unique images.

Pentax 17 is a device best suited for young photographers, but this DIY post only showcases that a camera is as good as your vision. If anything, let this be a new start for you to think differently.