Why Pentax Built a Brand New Film Camera in 2024

Vintage film compacts are dying faster than repair techs can save them — and the Pentax 17 exists precisely because one designer watched a young shooter blow their savings on a broken camera and decided someone had to build something new. If you're shooting film or thinking about recommending it to anyone just getting started, this is the clearest explanation of why new film hardware matters more than hunting eBay for a 30-year-old Point & Shoot that might last six months.