EOS R8vs Pentax 17
VS
Pentax
Pentax 17 (2024)
Starting from £400 new
Best for Film photography enthusiasts & diptych storytelling
View Pentax 17
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Full-Frame Entry — EOS R8 (2023): Canon's most affordable full-frame mirrorless — 4K/60p 10-bit and class-leading Dual Pixel AF at an accessible entry price.
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 R8 (2023)
- Photographers wanting full-frame image quality at the lowest RF price
- EOS RP owners upgrading to better autofocus and modern video specs
- Beginners who want to start on full-frame without overspending
- Travel photographers who want a lightweight full-frame RF body
Quick take: The pentax 17 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | EOS R8 (2023) | Pentax 17 (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,099 | £400 |
| Sensor | 24.2MP Full-frame BSI CMOS | 35mm half-frame (18 × 24mm) |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | — |
| Video | 4K/60p oversampled 10-bit, FHD/180p | N/A — film camera |
| Autofocus | Dual Pixel CMOS AF II, 1053 zones, eye/face/subject tracking | Zone focus (0.35m / 1m / 3m / ∞) |
| Stabilisation | None (no IBIS) | N/A — film camera |
| Burst Rate | 6fps mechanical, 40fps electronic | Manual wind-on |
| Battery Life | ~220 shots (CIPA) | 2× CR2 lithium batteries |
| Weight | 461g body only | ~165g (without batteries) |
| Dimensions | 132.5 × 86.1 × 70.0mm | 113 × 66 × 44mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | No |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.59× | Optical viewfinder with half-frame framelines |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen | N/A |
| Mount | Canon RF mount (full-frame) | 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 R8 | Pentax 17 |
|---|---|---|
| Portrait | ||
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Street | ||
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Landscape | ||
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Travel | — | |
| Everyday | — | |
| Low Light | — |
More comparisons with EOS R8
Camera family history