I had a bit of a dilemma deciding which camera to take on my little jaunt to Berlin last month – my Pentax 17 or my Pentax ME-F, so I did what everyone does in 2025, I asked ChatGPT. To my great surprise, it didn’t just list the pros and cons of both cameras, it actually made a decision, and suggested the Pentax 17 would be the best choice for a casual city break. Well who was I to argue with the great AI? I did indeed take the 17, along with a roll of Ilford FP4+ and Kodak ColorPlus 200. That ColorPlus is still in the camera, a few frames left to go, so here in this post is the results from the FP4+.
I developed the film myself in Rodinal, diluted 50+1, and scanned on my trusty Epson V550.
EDIT: I thought it might be interesting to show the guidance ChatGPT actually gave:
Pentax 17 (Half-Frame) – Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Light and compact — ideal for long walks or bike rides.
- Half-frame = twice as many shots per roll, so you can shoot freely.
- Zone focusing = faster street-style shooting.
- Great for capturing the vibe of Berlin: street art, signage, people.
Cons:
- Less control over exposure and focus.
- Half-frame resolution might not hold up for large prints.
- Fixed lens limits creative flexibility.
Pentax ME-F + Lenses – Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Full-frame 35mm = better image quality for enlargements or scans.
- Lens flexibility = wider range of compositions (street, architecture, detail shots).
- Manual and aperture-priority = more control over your shots.
Cons:
- Heavier and bulkier, especially with multiple lenses.
- Slower to use on the move, especially if you’re changing lenses often.
- More gear = more to lose or damage when travelling.
Questions to Ask Yourself:
- Are you going primarily for a relaxed holiday or a photographic trip?
- If it’s mainly a holiday, the Pentax 17 will keep things light and fun.
- If you’re dedicating time to serious photography, the ME-F gives more range.
- Do you want to shoot fast and candid, or take your time composing?
- Fast and fluid = Pentax 17.
- Thoughtful and precise = ME-F.
- Will you be carrying other heavy gear (e.g. water, guidebooks, layers)?
- If yes, saving weight with the 17 might be a smart call.
Final Thoughts
Unless you’re planning to do very intentional photography (e.g. bringing a tripod, shooting specific sites at golden hour), I’d lean toward taking the Pentax 17. Berlin is an ideal city for wandering and spontaneous shooting — half-frame makes it guilt-free to over-shoot, and it won’t weigh you down.
Alternative compromise?
Take the ME-F with just one lens — perhaps a compact 50mm or a small 28mm — and leave the rest behind.
*END OF EDIT*
The first three shots are from the departure day afternoon and evening, a Bloody Mary at Heathrow airport, and then glimpses of the S-Bahn journey from the new Brandenburg airport into Berlin itself.
On the first full day there, we walked up to Ku’damm, the shopping centre of old West Berlin, had a look at the Breitscheidplatz, then made our way through the Tiergarten and to the tourist hub of the Brandenburg Gate.
I did manage to miss focus a couple of times whilst trying to do close-ups on flowers on the Tiergarten, but other than that the zone focussing system didn’t let me down too much.
Our next sight-seeing day involved a walk through the old Eastern side of the city, working up through Mitte, past the museum district, and television tower, and on to Alexanderplatz, the centre-piece of communist Berlin.
The FP4+ ran out here. After developing the film I was pleased I’d chosen black and white to highlight the harsh clear lines of the socialist architecture. Having been using Kentmere film for so long now, I was really pleased with the extra contrast and low grain the FP4+ gave me, especially useful with the Pentax 17’s half sized negatives. I will definitely be spending the extra couple of pounds to go with this film again, whilst Kentmere is fine it needs more editing once scanned to get such a range of tones that the Ilford produces by itself.
More to come from Berlin in any case – the great Soviet War Memorial of Treptower Park – IN COLOUR!
utterlee 