Really? A new hand-winding film camera from Pentax?

Is Pentax creating a “brand-new, manual winding” film camera as part of their new film camera project? Pentax, owned by Ricoh, hinted they are considering this.

Japanese magazine Barfout! interviewed Takeo Suzuki, the product planner and designer for Pentax, as part of a discussion panel for their upcoming April 2023 issue.

First of all, we want to help young users enjoy them (film cameras), so I think something compact is the way to go. However, as Mr. Nagoshi said, it is not the same as setting everything to auto and saying, “Just press a button and you will get a beautiful shot.” With that said, we are considering a brand-new, manual winding camera.

Takeo Suzuki, Product Planner and Designer for Ricoh/Pentax, during panel discussion for Barfout! Magazine

My first SLR camera was a manual winding film camera from Ricoh. And then also being a Nightaxian (a Pentaxian who loves night photography), I had to share this information with you!

Above: My love for the amazing Pentax K-1 DSLR and night photography run deep.

Hand-winding film camera

During the panel discussion, Suzuki stated the following, resulting in surprise from the other two participants.

Developing a manual winding camera is really hard work, and it is sometimes easier to make a camera with a motor and automatic winding, but the act of winding a camera manually is a special act that is unique to film. And that is something we want young people to experience as well.

Takeo Suzuki, Product Planner and Designer for Ricoh/Pentax, during panel discussion for Barfout! Magazine

Suzuki elaborated further, stating that developing a manual winding camera is difficult and that it might be easier to make a camera that offered automatic winding.

But he also added, “The act of winding a camera manually is a special act that is unique to film. And that is something we want young people to experience as well.”

Why film? Why now?

Several months ago, Ricoh/Pentax announced their Film Camera Project.

Ricoh stated that since there has been a rebirth in interest in film cameras, they would use their film camera skills and technologies to develop new film camera products. Indeed, a poll taken by Pentax indicates that approximately 20% still use traditional film cameras, not including disposable or instant cameras.

However, most of the film cameras being used today are purchased on the used market. There’s no warranty either. So their idea is to make this more accessible to new users.

Few manufacturers today build and sell new film cameras. Some of film camera users expressed concerns about the aftercare service for used film cameras. Ricoh Imaging is prioritizing supporting film camera fans so they can enjoy film photography without worries, from film camera development, production, and sales to aftercare.

Ricoh/Pentax Press Release, 20 December 2022

What is up with Pentax anyway?

It’s easy to scratch your head at Pentax doubling down on yesterday’s technology. After all, they operate on the margins. They have not indicated that they will be creating mirrorless cameras in the foreseeable future. And they are going to be making film cameras — possibly with manual winding. Are they crazy? doubling down on yesterday’s technology. After all, they operate on the margins. They have not indicated that they will be creating mirrorless cameras in the foreseeable future. And they are going to be making film cameras — possibly with manual winding. Are they crazy?

Or are they crazy like a fox?

After all, at a time in which many camera manufacturing companies have reported dwindling sales, Ricoh has reported a rise in earnings for the first two quarters of 2022, supported by a rise in sales.

What I do believe is that if their film cameras are as good as their DSLRs, a lot of film enthusiasts will be wearing enormous smiles. And probably regardless of whether they need to manually wind their film or not.