Leica SL2vs Pentax 17
Leica
Leica SL2 (2019)
Starting from £4200 new
Best for Commercial, landscape, video
Used from £699 at Clifton Cameras →
View Leica SL2
Pentax
Pentax 17 (2024)
Starting from £400 new
Best for Film photography enthusiasts & diptych storytelling
Used from £209 at eBay →
View Pentax 17
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GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Commercial, Landscape, Video — Leica SL2 (2019): Leica's most capable system camera — excellent for photographers who want L-mount glass access.
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
Leica SL2 (2019)
- Commercial photographers who want Leica quality with modern AF
- Filmmakers who want Leica glass with video capability
Quick take: The pentax 17 is the most affordable; only the leica sl2 is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Leica SL2 (2019) | Pentax 17 (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £4,200 | £400 |
| Sensor | Full-frame CMOS 35mm | 35mm half-frame (18 × 24mm) |
| Resolution | 47.3MP | — |
| Video | 5K 30fps, 4K 60fps, 1080p 180fps | N/A — film camera |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF, AI-based scene recognition | Zone focus (0.35m / 1m / 3m / ∞) |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS, 5.5 stops | N/A — film camera |
| Burst Rate | 20fps | Manual wind-on |
| Battery Life | 370 shots (CIPA) | 2× CR2 lithium batteries |
| Weight | 835g (body only) | ~165g (without batteries) |
| Dimensions | 146.0 × 107.0 × 80.5mm | 113 × 66 × 44mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | No |
| Viewfinder | EVF 0.78× 5.76M-dot | Optical viewfinder with half-frame framelines |
| Screen | 3.2" fixed touchscreen, 2.10M-dot | N/A |
| Mount | Leica L-Mount | 35mm film (ISO 25–3200 via DX coding + manual dial) |
| Memory Cards | 2× SD UHS-II | 35mm 135-format film cartridge |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB-C 3.1, HDMI full-size | N/A |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Leica SL2 | Pentax 17 |
|---|---|---|
| Portrait | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Architecture | — | |
| Street | ||
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Everyday | — | |
| Low Light | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
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Camera family history