EOS M5vs Pentax 17
Pentax
Pentax 17 (2024)
Starting from £400 new
Best for Film photography enthusiasts & diptych storytelling
View Pentax 17
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Travel & Portrait — EOS M5 (2016): The EOS M5 was the first EF-M camera with a built-in EVF — and it made the system feel complete. Fast Dual Pixel AF, a 9fps burst, and a high-resolution articulating screen deliver a confident shooting experience. No IBIS and 1080p video only limit its appeal for hybrid work, but for stills photographers it remains one of the most well-rounded EF-M bodies available.
Film Photography Enthusiasts & Diptych Storytelling — Pentax 17 (2024): The best new film camera of the decade — manual controls, a sharp lens, and a half-frame format that doubles your roll and forces a new way of seeing.
Who should buy what
EOS M5 (2016)
- Enthusiast photographers who want an EVF in a compact EF-M body
- Photographers switching from DSLR who want familiar handling
- Portrait and travel photographers who value fast AF and good ergonomics
- Used-market buyers wanting a capable EF-M stills camera
Quick take: The eos m5 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | EOS M5 (2016) | Pentax 17 (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £350 | £400 |
| Sensor | 24.2MP APS-C CMOS (Dual Pixel) | 35mm half-frame (18 × 24mm) |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | — |
| Video | 1080p/60p | N/A — film camera |
| Autofocus | Dual Pixel CMOS AF with face detection | Zone focus (0.35m / 1m / 3m / ∞) |
| Stabilisation | — | N/A — film camera |
| Burst Rate | 9fps | Manual wind-on |
| Battery Life | ~295 shots (CIPA) | 2× CR2 lithium batteries |
| Weight | 427g (body only) | ~165g (without batteries) |
| Dimensions | 116.2 × 88.1 × 60.6mm | 113 × 66 × 44mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | No |
| Viewfinder | Electronic, 2.36M dots, 0.39" type | Optical viewfinder with half-frame framelines |
| Screen | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.62M dots | N/A |
| Mount | Canon EF-M mount | 35mm film (ISO 25–3200 via DX coding + manual dial) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | 35mm 135-format film cartridge |
| Connectivity | USB, Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth | N/A |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | EOS M5 | Pentax 17 |
|---|---|---|
| Travel | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Street | ||
| Casual | — | |
| Landscape | ||
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Everyday | — | |
| Low Light | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
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Camera family history