PENTAX 17 wins Camera GP 2025 Editors Choice R&D Award

TOKYO, May 16, 2025 －RICOH IMAGING COMPANY, LTD. is pleased to announce that the PENTAX 17 has won the prestigious Camera GP 2025 Editors Choice R&D Award of the Camera Grand Prix 2025 in Japan.

The Camera Grand Prix is held every year by the Camera Journal Press Club (CJPC), it celebrated its 40th anniversary last year. The Camera Grand Prix2025 awards were selected from products released in the Japanese market between April 1,2024 and March 31,2025.

The Camera Grand Prix is decided by a vote by the Camera Grand Prix Executive Committee, which is elected every year. The Camera Grand Prix is selected by members of the Camera Journal Press Club, media managers affiliated with the Camera Grand Prix, external selection committee members commissioned by each media, and a special selection committee of scholars, camera mechanic writers, photographers, etc. commissioned by the Camera Grand Prix Executive Committee of that year. The Camera Grand Prix 2025 "Camera of the Year" and "Lens of the Year" were selected by a selection committee consisting of 57 people (including organizations).

In addition, awards are given in five categories: the "Readers Award-Camera" and the "Readers Award-Lens", which are decided by general user votes, the "Editors Choice R&D Award", "Editors Choice Technology Award" and "Editors Choice Lifetime Achievement Award", which is selected by Camera Journal Club（CJPC） members from all photography-related products.

Criteria for the selection of the PENTAX 17 as Camera GP2025 Editors Choice R&D Award winner

The PENTAX 17 is a camera that has been released as a product that reevaluates the appeal and shooting experience of film photography in the age of digital cameras. The camera uses a half-size format that uses 35mm film, allowing us to take twice as many pictures as usual with one roll of film. In addition, photographers can enjoy shooting in a vertical format. The camera is designed to allow photographers to enjoy operating it, with features such as a manual winding lever and zone focusing system, and by avoiding full automation, it aims to bring out the individuality and creativity of the photographer. We have selected it as the Camera Grand Prix 2025 Editors Choice R&D Award in recognition of its symbolic role in conveying the joy of analog photography to the modern age.