I saved a fortune on the Pentax 17 by shopping in the US instead of paying the Korean markup

Why the Pentax 17 is the hit of 2026

It has been a couple of years since its initial release, but even in 2026, the Pentax 17 remains the most talked-about piece of gear in my photography circles. If you are like me and love the look of film but hate the rising cost of every roll, this half-frame genius is a lifesaver. We get 72 shots out of a standard 36-exposure roll, which makes clicking the shutter feel a lot less stressful on the wallet.

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I have seen so many people in Seoul carrying these lately. The vertical format is perfect for how we share photos today, and the manual zones make it feel like a real tool rather than just a point-and-shoot toy. However, trying to find one at a reasonable price at local shops in Namdaemun or online marketplaces has been a nightmare lately.

The price gap is real

The biggest frustration I faced was the price difference. In South Korea, the Pentax 17 is often marked up by 30% or more because of limited supply. Some resellers are even charging premium prices for used units. When I checked the us trends, I realized that major retailers in the States like B&H and Adorama actually keep the camera in stock at the original MSRP quite regularly.

Even with the current exchange rate, buying directly from a shop us store and paying for international shipping ended up being significantly cheaper than buying it locally. It felt like a no-brainer once I did the math.

Where I find stock in the USA

I usually start my search at the big names. B&H Photo, Adorama, and even Amazon often have better inventory levels than our local distributors. If you ever run into an issue where a US store doesn't accept your Korean credit card, I highly recommend looking into a proxy shopping service. I have used the BuyForMe service before when my payment was declined, and it made the whole process seamless.

Shipping estimates for the camera

When you are planning your purchase, you need to account for the physical size of the package. Here is what I found when my Pentax 17 arrived at the warehouse.

I suggest using a shipping calculator to get a precise idea of what you will pay. You can also look at the current international shipping rates to compare different speeds and carriers.

How I shipped it to Korea

Since most US retailers don't offer direct shipping to Korea—or if they do, it is incredibly expensive—I used a freight forwarder. I personally use comGateway because they provide a tax-free us address in Oregon. This is a huge deal because it means I don't have to pay US sales tax, which can save me another 7% to 10% right off the bat.

Once the camera arrived at my US address, I just had to forward packages to my home in Seoul. The tracking was great, and I felt much safer knowing they have a robust help center if anything went wrong during transit.

Korean customs and taxes

One thing we have to remember in Korea is the de minimis value. For goods coming from the US, you can generally import up to $200 USD (including the cost of the item and domestic US shipping) without paying import duties or VAT, as long as it is for personal use. Since the Pentax 17 MSRP is often around $499, you should expect to pay about 10% VAT when it enters Korea. Even with that tax, it still came out cheaper for me than the inflated local prices.

If you have never done this before and feel nervous, I recommend checking the support documents or the FAQ on the forwarder's site. They explain exactly how to declare your items so they clear customs without a hitch. I've done this for several cameras now, and it has always been a smooth experience.