G85vs 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?
Travel & Video — G85 (2016): The G85 is the definitive enthusiast MFT package — combining 4K/30p, Dual I.S. 2 stabilisation, and weather sealing in an affordable, well-built body. It lacks phase-detect AF (contrast-detect only) but covers travel, landscape, and casual video effectively. One of the best-value used-market MFT cameras available — a practical, capable companion for photographers who want reliability over cutting-edge specs.
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
G85 (2016)
- Travel photographers who want weather sealing on a budget
- Vloggers and hybrid shooters
- MFT system users stepping up from entry-level
Quick take: The g85 is the most affordable; only the g85 is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | G85 (2016) | Pentax 17 (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £350 | £400 |
| Sensor | 16MP Micro Four Thirds CMOS (no low-pass filter) | 35mm half-frame (18 × 24mm) |
| Resolution | 16.0MP | — |
| Video | 4K/30p, 1080p/60p | N/A — film camera |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF, DFD technology | Zone focus (0.35m / 1m / 3m / ∞) |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis Dual I.S. 2 (body + lens) | N/A — film camera |
| Burst Rate | 9fps | Manual wind-on |
| Battery Life | ~330 shots (CIPA) | 2× CR2 lithium batteries |
| Weight | 426g (body only) | ~165g (without batteries) |
| Dimensions | 128.4 × 89.2 × 74.3mm | 113 × 66 × 44mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | No |
| Viewfinder | Electronic, 2.36M dots, 0.74× magnification | Optical viewfinder with half-frame framelines |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.04M dots | N/A |
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | 35mm film (ISO 25–3200 via DX coding + manual dial) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | 35mm 135-format film cartridge |
| Connectivity | USB 2.0, Wi-Fi, NFC | N/A |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | G85 | Pentax 17 |
|---|---|---|
| Travel | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Street | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Wildlife | — | |
| Sports & Action | — | |
| 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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