Loading film

Source: Official PENTAX 17 Operating Manual, pp. 13–21. Page numbers refer to the printed manual.

Before you start

• You need a working CR2 3 V lithium in the grip. Rechargeables are not supported.
• Use film up to 36 exposures. Half‑frame doubles your shot count — a 36 exp. roll → up to 72 frames (the counter goes to 72).
• Load in shade, never direct sun.
• Infrared film is not compatible.
• You can rewind before the roll is finished using the bottom rewind button and the crank.

1. Find shade, fresh battery, lens cap on

   Load out of direct sun. Confirm a CR2 3V lithium battery is installed (it lives inside the grip — see the battery section below). Leave the lens cap on for the next steps.

   CR2 · shaded spot · cap on

2. Set the ISO dial

   Press the ISO dial lock release button and turn the dial to match your film: 50, 100, 125, 160, 200, 400, 800, 1600, or 3200. The dots stand for 125, 160, 400 and 1600. The camera does not read film sensitivity automatically.

   Press lock button · dial to box speed

3. Set the mode dial to P

   Before opening the back, rotate the mode dial to P. Loading with the dial on any other position can fire the flash or start a long exposure as you advance to frame 0.

   Mode dial → P

4. Open the back via the rewind knob

   There is no side latch. Unfold the rewind crank (top‑left of the body), then lift the rewind knob gently until it stops, then keep lifting it straight up. Hold the knob itself; pulling on the crank can bend the rewind shaft.

   Unfold crank · lift knob until cover opens

5. Drop the cartridge in

   Place the 35 mm cartridge into the left chamber with the cartridge shaft protrusion on the bottom side. The spool sits naturally — no need to force it.

   Left chamber · shaft protrudes downward

6. Pull the leader to the orange mark

   Pull the film leader (narrow section) out a little and align its tip with the orange film‑end indicator on the right of the gate. Remove slack and keep the film flat while closing the cover. Misalignment can prevent proper advance.

   Leader tip = orange index

7. Close the back, return knob and crank

   Close the rear cover, keeping the film flat and taking care not to pinch your fingers. Push the rewind knob back down and fold the rewind crank flat against the body.

   Cover closed · stow knob & crank

8. Turn the camera on, wind to frame “0”

   Push the main switch right to power on. Push the film advance lever to the right, then press the shutter release. Repeat until the counter reads 0. The rewind knob should rotate as the film advances — that is your sign loading is correct. If it does not turn during this initial loading check, the film is not loaded correctly. Reload in shade before taking photos. Never open the back to check a roll you have already started shooting.

   Lever · shutter · repeat → frame 0

9. Pick a mode and a focus zone

   Remove the lens cap, choose a shooting mode, and set the focus zone to the subject distance (unless using AUTO). Check that exposure compensation is at 0 unless you intend a correction. Advance the film before your next shot.

   Cap off · mode · distance · advance

Rewinding at the end of a roll

1. Press the rewind button on the bottom plate. The film is now released and ready to wind back.
2. Unfold the rewind crank (top‑left of the body, next to the rewind knob) and turn it clockwise.
3. Once you feel little resistance, turn the crank another three times to finish rewinding the film into the cartridge.
4. Lift the rewind knob to open the rear cover and remove the cartridge in shade.
5. Close the cover, push the rewind knob back down, and fold the crank flat.

You can rewind before finishing a roll with the same procedure. Do not open the rear cover until rewinding is complete: opening it early exposes the film and ruins photos. Tell the developing lab that the roll is half-frame.

Battery: type, life, and how to change it

The Pentax 17 runs on a single CR2 3 V lithium cell. There is no bottom‑plate hatch — the cell lives inside the grip. Pentax rates a fresh CR2 for about ten 36‑exposure cartridges with roughly 50 % flash use under Ricoh’s test conditions. Actual battery life depends on use.

1. Find a coin. The grip locking screw is on the side of the grip — slot, coin‑sized.
2. Loosen the screw and pull the grip straight off the body. Set the screw aside where you will not lose it.
3. Drop a fresh CR2 into the chamber, matching the orientation diagram inside.
4. Refit the grip and tighten the locking screw with the coin.

• Rechargeable CR2 cells are not supported — use single‑use lithium only.
• Dispose of used batteries according to local rules.
• Dead-battery warning: both the blue and orange lamps blink fast in alternation. At startup this blocks shooting; on a half-press it can also mean the film has not been completely advanced (complete the advance only if the lever moves freely; see the LED page).