Section 02

Zone focus

Choose the zone by subject distance. The camera does not autofocus or check the distance for you. These ranges are the ones published in the operating manual.

Source: Official PENTAX 17 Operating Manual, pp. 11, 22, 27–28. Page numbers refer to the printed manual.

Macro

Set the dial to 0.25 m

Manual’s focusing range
0.24 – 0.26 m

For a subject approximately 0.25 m away. Measure carefully; the documented range is only 0.24–0.26 m.

Remember Use the close-up compensation frame in the viewfinder.

Tabletop

Set the dial to 0.5 m

Manual’s focusing range
0.47 – 0.54 m

For a subject approximately 0.5 m away. Check the distance rather than estimating an arm’s length.

Remember Use the close-up compensation frame in the viewfinder.

Extremely close distance

Set the dial to 1.2 m

Manual’s focusing range
1.0 – 1.4 m

Choose this zone when the subject is 1.0–1.4 m away.

Remember The marked representative distance is 1.2 m.

Close distance

Set the dial to 1.7 m

Manual’s focusing range
1.4 – 2.2 m

Choose this zone when the subject is 1.4–2.2 m away.

Remember The marked representative distance is 1.7 m.

Medium distance

Set the dial to 3 m

Manual’s focusing range
2.1 – 5.3 m

Choose this zone when the subject is 2.1–5.3 m away.

Remember The marked representative distance is 3 m.

Far distance

Set the dial to Infinity

Manual’s focusing range
5.1 m – ∞

Choose this zone for subjects from 5.1 m to infinity.

Remember The ring’s far-distance setting is marked ∞.

All six zones, near to far

0.25 m

0.5 m

1.2 m

1.7 m

3 m

Infinity

Schematic only, not a distance scale. Use the numerical ranges above. Icons here are simplified illustrations; the distances identify each setting.

Reading the camera

The zone focusing ring sits around the lens. Icons mark each zone, with metric and imperial distance scales printed below.
The selected zone icon also appears at the bottom of the viewfinder so you can confirm before you press the shutter.
In a zone-focus mode, when the ring is set to Tabletop or Macro, the blue lamp blinks slowly on a half‑press — that is a heads‑up that the focus range is narrow in those zones, not a distance error. Shooting still works through it. See LED signals.
Full Auto ignores the focus ring entirely and uses pan focus. Tabletop and Macro distances are not supported in AUTO; keep the subject at least 1 m away. Switch to P for anything closer.
Measure short distances with the strap. The provided strap can measure approximately 0.25 m. Measure from the film-surface position mark on top of the camera, as shown on manual p. 28.