X-E4vs 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?
Compact Street & Travel Photography — X-E4 (2021): The X-E4 is for photographers who want the minimum camera that still delivers maximum image quality. If you love shooting from the rear screen and want the smallest possible X-mount body, this is your camera. If you need a viewfinder or IBIS, look at the X-S20 or X-T30 II.
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
X-E4 (2021)
- Street photographers who prioritise portability and discretion
- Travel photographers packing minimally
- Fujifilm fans who shoot primarily from the rear screen
- Anyone who wants the X-Trans sensor in the smallest possible body
Quick take: The pentax 17 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | X-E4 (2021) | Pentax 17 (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £699 | £400 |
| Sensor | 26.1MP APS-C X-Trans CMOS IV | 35mm half-frame (18 × 24mm) |
| Resolution | 26.1MP | — |
| Video | 4K/30p, 1080p/240p slow-motion, F-Log | N/A — film camera |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect, 425 points, face/Eye detection | Zone focus (0.35m / 1m / 3m / ∞) |
| Stabilisation | None (no IBIS) | N/A — film camera |
| Burst Rate | 8fps mechanical, 20fps electronic | Manual wind-on |
| Battery Life | ~460 shots (CIPA) | 2× CR2 lithium batteries |
| Weight | 364g (body only) | ~165g (without batteries) |
| Dimensions | 121.3 × 72.9 × 32.7mm | 113 × 66 × 44mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | No |
| Viewfinder | None — rear screen only (EVF accessory available) | Optical viewfinder with half-frame framelines |
| Screen | 3.0" fixed touchscreen, 1.62M dots | N/A |
| Mount | Fujifilm X-mount | 35mm film (ISO 25–3200 via DX coding + manual dial) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I | 35mm 135-format film cartridge |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | N/A |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | X-E4 | Pentax 17 |
|---|---|---|
| Street | ||
| Travel | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Video | — | |
| Wildlife | — | |
| Everyday | — | |
| Landscape | — | |
| Low Light | — |
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