Decision tools · Compare
Leica M6 vs Pentax 17
Quick take: The Pentax 17 is the most affordable.
15 specs side by side·5 genres scored·UK prices from Wex Photo Video and Clifton Cameras
How to read this page. Highlighted cells win that row on the spec alone. Genre scores are the engine's base scores (enthusiast, photo and video); Camera Match re-weights them for your level and priorities. Price buttons are affiliate links; the price you pay is the same.
Pentax
Pentax 17 2024
Best for Film photography enthusiasts & diptych storytelling
£400
list price · used from £209 at eBay
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Verdictwhich should you buy?
Pentax 17 — Film Photography Enthusiasts & Diptych Storytelling: 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
Pentax 17 (2024)
is the right camera for you if…
- Experienced film shooters who want a brand new camera with real manual controls
- Street photographers attracted to the compact half-frame format
- Digital shooters curious about film who want more than a point-and-shoot
- Anyone who finds disposables too limiting but isn't ready for a full SLR
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
| Specification | Leica M6Leica | Pentax 17Pentax · 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £5,200 | £400Best |
| Sensor | 35mm film (no digital sensor) | 35mm half-frame (18 × 24mm) |
| Video | None (film camera) | N/A — film camera |
| Autofocus | Manual focus, coupled rangefinder (0.72x) | Zone focus (0.35m / 1m / 3m / ∞) |
| Stabilisation | No stabilisation | N/A — film camera |
| Burst Rate | Manual film advance | Manual wind-on |
| Battery Life | Single 3V battery (light meter only — mechanical shutter needs no power)Best | 2× CR2 lithium batteries |
| Weight | 585g | ~165g (without batteries)Best |
| Dimensions | — | 113 × 66 × 44mm |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | Not weather sealed |
| Viewfinder | Optical rangefinder, 0.72x magnification | Optical viewfinder with half-frame framelines |
| Screen | None (film camera) | No screen |
| Mount | Leica M-mount | 35mm film (ISO 25–3200 via DX coding + manual dial) |
| Memory Cards | None (35mm film) | 35mm 135-format film cartridge |
| Connectivity | No wireless connectivity | No wireless connectivity |
Wins the row — price, resolution, burst, battery, weight and sealing are compared; text specs aren't ranked.
How they score by genreengine base scores out of 10
Genre
Leica M6
Pentax 17
Street
—
9.0/10
Travel
—
9.0/10
Portrait
—
7.0/10
Casual
—
9.0/10
Landscape
—
7.0/10
Scores come from the same engine as Camera Match: verified specifications weighted by what each genre needs, with documented adjustments. The product page and this table show the enthusiast base score. See how scores are calculated →
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