Leatherette Mod for the Pentax 17

I added leatherette to the back of my Pentax 17, and you should too! It's easy, and improves the camera's look and feel. I predict Pentax will offer leatherette kits for free to everyone who bought the new Pentax 17.

[@sigxcpu9787]

PPP cameras in the UK sells different colors that are custom-cut for the Pentax 17, mine just shipped yesterday. It seems like a no-brainer to add this to the camera

[@michaelacookePDX]

I'm really left wondering what the decision making process was at Pentax regarding the leatherette on the back. Did they intend to cover the back with leatherette but then decide leaving it off would be a quirky feature people would like? And was the big screw for the battery cover an aesthetic choice to bring an industrial feel to the build? Someone in another video implied that the two screws on the front were fake and just there for looks.

[@guenin]

I suspect they used the leatherette on the front to hide screw heads, otherwise they would have used plastic all around.

[@steveharper3559]

That really does look much better now, however you may have voided your warranty? No? Nah probably not. I’m more thinking everybody will get a better cover screw with a nylon locking back washer. Just press it on. One other thing somebody sort of griped about is that on bokeh mode it really doesn’t shoot very wide open. That’s because at its max 1/350th speed it can’t. As it is, you won’t see any bokeh with film more than 100 iso, maybe 50.

[@campyonlyguy]

I'm going to try the Bokeh mode with an ND filter, which should let the camera open the aperture more. Totally agree about the screw. I plan to stop by my local hardware store and find something flatter.

[@steveharper3559]

@@campyonlyguy
You’ve been watching shoot film like a boss I bet! He was just talking about nd filters for longer exposures.

[@harrysaliba1848]

did you smooth out the texture on the back case or just apply directly?

[@campyonlyguy]

@@harrysaliba1848 I put it directly on the textured surface. Sticks just fine.

[@sirnubenegra]

500 well spent. Lol. They are laughing their way to that bank😅😂

[@lespecsman]

You can't make a silk purse from a Sows ear and I so advise 🙄