Pentax

Pentax 17

The Pentax 17 is the most exciting new film camera in years — a half-frame 35mm compact with real manual controls, a genuinely sharp 25mm f/3.5 lens, and a build quality that puts most disposables to shame. It shoots two frames per 35mm frame, meaning a 36-exposure roll gives you 72 shots and a natural diptych format. Released in 2024, it proves there is a real appetite for thoughtfully designed new film cameras.

Typical Price
£169–£199
Average price across retailers: ~£184
Available at 2 retailers
✓ Available at 2 retailers 🔒 No signup needed 📦 UK stock only
RetailerPriceStock
AM
Amazon ★ Best
New
In Stock Check on Amazon →
EB
eBay
New
In Stock Check on eBay →
Core
Released
2024
Sensor
35mm half-frame (18 × 24mm)
Mount
35mm film (ISO 25–3200 via DX coding + manual dial)
Dimensions
113 × 66 × 44mm
Weight
~165g (without batteries)
Weather Sealed
No
Performance
Autofocus
Zone focus (0.35m / 1m / 3m / ∞)
Stabilisation
N/A — film camera
Burst Rate
Manual wind-on
Battery Life
2× CR2 lithium batteries
Features
Video
N/A — film camera
Viewfinder
Optical viewfinder with half-frame framelines
Screen
N/A
Memory Cards
35mm 135-format film cartridge
Connectivity
N/A

Select up to 2 cameras to compare against the Pentax 17. It's always pinned as the baseline.

Select 1–3 cameras to compare
Suitability Score by Genre
Street
9.0
Travel
9.0
Portrait
7.0
Everyday
9.0
Landscape
7.0
Low Light
4.0
Great For
🏙️
Street Compact and discreet. Zone focus is fast once practiced. Half-frame pairs tell street stories beautifully.
✈️
Travel 72 shots per roll means less swapping mid-trip. Lightweight and pocketable.
👤
Portrait Pleasing subject separation at f/3.5. Manual ISO lets you dial in the film stock perfectly.
📷
Everyday The ideal carry-everywhere film camera — small enough for a jacket pocket, capable enough for anything.
🏔️
Landscape Tripod use unlocks bulb mode. Strong sharpness across the frame stopped down.
⚠️ Not Ideal For
🌙
Low Light f/3.5 is reasonable but not fast. Push-processing a high-ISO film helps considerably.
📝 How suitability scores are calculated Scores reflect the aggregated consensus from verified purchaser reviews across tracked UK retailers, weighted by photography genre tags applied by reviewers. This is community opinion — not GearFrame editorial assessment.
Price History — Pentax 17
Go deeper

Keep exploring