Beginners & Family — EOS R50 (2023): Canon's most beginner-friendly RF body — Dual Pixel AF and beautiful colour science in an approachable package.
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 R50 (2023)
Quick take: The pentax 17 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | EOS R50 (2023) | Pentax 17 (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £599 | £400 |
| Sensor | 24.2MP APS-C CMOS | 35mm half-frame (18 × 24mm) |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | — |
| Video | 4K/30p (uncropped 4K/24p), FHD/60p | N/A — film camera |
| Autofocus | Dual Pixel CMOS AF II, face/eye/subject tracking | Zone focus (0.35m / 1m / 3m / ∞) |
| Stabilisation | None (no IBIS) | N/A — film camera |
| Burst Rate | 12fps mechanical, 15fps electronic | Manual wind-on |
| Battery Life | ~380 shots (CIPA) | 2× CR2 lithium batteries |
| Weight | 375g body only | ~165g (without batteries) |
| Dimensions | 116.3 × 85.5 × 68.8mm | 113 × 66 × 44mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | No |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots | Optical viewfinder with half-frame framelines |
| Screen | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen | N/A |
| Mount | Canon RF-S / RF | 35mm film (ISO 25–3200 via DX coding + manual dial) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-II slot | 35mm 135-format film cartridge |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | N/A |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | EOS R50 | Pentax 17 |
|---|---|---|
| Family & Everyday | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Street | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Travel | — | |
| Everyday | — | |
| Low Light | — |
More comparisons with EOS R50
Camera family history