Canon EOS R3vs Pentax 17
Canon
Canon EOS R3 (2021)
Starting from £5999 new
Best for Sports & photojournalism professionals
View Canon EOS R3
Pentax
Pentax 17 (2024)
Starting from £400 new
Best for Film photography enthusiasts & diptych storytelling
View Pentax 17
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Sports & Photojournalism Professionals — Canon EOS R3 (2021): The pinnacle of Canon's mirrorless lineup for speed — Eye Control AF and 30fps burst in the most rugged body Canon has ever produced.
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
Canon EOS R3 (2021)
- Professional sports and photojournalism photographers
- Canon users who need the fastest burst and most reliable AF in the system
- R5 users who want a pro-grade grip and faster shooting speed
- Event photographers who need eye-controlled AF and dual card slots
Quick take: The pentax 17 is the most affordable; only the canon eos r3 is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Canon EOS R3 (2021) | Pentax 17 (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £5,999 | £400 |
| Sensor | 24.1MP full-frame BSI stacked CMOS | 35mm half-frame (18 × 24mm) |
| Resolution | 24.1MP | — |
| Video | 6K RAW, 4K/120p, 1080p/180p | N/A — film camera |
| Autofocus | Dual Pixel CMOS AF II with Eye Control AF | Zone focus (0.35m / 1m / 3m / ∞) |
| Stabilisation | 8-stop IBIS | N/A — film camera |
| Burst Rate | 30fps electronic / 12fps mechanical | Manual wind-on |
| Battery Life | 620 shots (CIPA) | 2× CR2 lithium batteries |
| Weight | 1015g body only | ~165g (without batteries) |
| Dimensions | 150.0 × 142.6 × 87.2mm | 113 × 66 × 44mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | No |
| Viewfinder | 0.76" OLED EVF, 5.76M dots, 120fps | Optical viewfinder with half-frame framelines |
| Screen | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen | N/A |
| Mount | Canon RF | 35mm film (ISO 25–3200 via DX coding + manual dial) |
| Memory Cards | Dual CFexpress Type B | 35mm 135-format film cartridge |
| Connectivity | USB-C 3.2, HDMI full-size, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth, LAN | N/A |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Canon EOS R3 | Pentax 17 |
|---|---|---|
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Wildlife | — | |
| Photojournalism | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Street | — | |
| Portrait | — | |
| Everyday | — | |
| Landscape | — | |
| Low Light | — |
More comparisons with Canon EOS R3
Camera family history