EOS R100vs Pentax 17
Canon
EOS R100 (2023)
Starting from £529 new
Best for First camera / beginner photography
View EOS R100
Pentax
Pentax 17 (2024)
Starting from £400 new
Best for Film photography enthusiasts & diptych storytelling
View Pentax 17
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
First Camera / Beginner Photography — EOS R100 (2023): The R100 does the basics well at the lowest possible price point. Its main value is as a gateway into the Canon RF ecosystem — the lenses you buy now will work on any Canon body you upgrade to later. Modest ambitions, reliably met.
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 R100 (2023)
- First-time camera buyers stepping up from a smartphone
- Students and hobbyists wanting an affordable starting point
- Anyone who wants to start investing in Canon RF glass on a budget
- Casual photographers who don't need advanced video or speed
Quick take: The pentax 17 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | EOS R100 (2023) | Pentax 17 (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £529 | £400 |
| Sensor | 24.1MP APS-C CMOS | 35mm half-frame (18 × 24mm) |
| Resolution | 24.1MP | — |
| Video | 4K/30p (slight crop), 1080p/60p | N/A — film camera |
| Autofocus | Dual Pixel CMOS AF, face detection, subject tracking | Zone focus (0.35m / 1m / 3m / ∞) |
| Stabilisation | None (no IBIS) | N/A — film camera |
| Burst Rate | 6.5fps mechanical | Manual wind-on |
| Battery Life | ~270 shots (CIPA) | 2× CR2 lithium batteries |
| Weight | 356g (body, battery, card) | ~165g (without batteries) |
| Dimensions | 116.3 × 85.5 × 68.8mm | 113 × 66 × 44mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | No |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.59× magnification | Optical viewfinder with half-frame framelines |
| Screen | 3.0" fixed touchscreen, 1.04M dots | N/A |
| Mount | Canon RF-mount | 35mm film (ISO 25–3200 via DX coding + manual dial) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-II | 35mm 135-format film cartridge |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | N/A |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | EOS R100 | Pentax 17 |
|---|---|---|
| Portrait | ||
| Travel | ||
| Street | ||
| Video | — | |
| Wildlife | — | |
| Everyday | — | |
| Landscape | — | |
| Low Light | — |
More comparisons with EOS R100
Camera family history