Z5vs 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?
Entry-Level Full-Frame & Dslr Switchers — Z5 (2020): The most affordable route into full-frame Z — dual card slots, IBIS, and a capable sensor at an accessible 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
Z5 (2020)
- DSLR photographers switching to full-frame mirrorless for the first time
- Enthusiasts who want full-frame image quality on a tighter budget
- Photographers stepping up from APS-C who don't need fast burst or 4K
- Z5 II shoppers on a budget — the original Z5 is now excellent value used
Quick take: The pentax 17 is the most affordable; only the z5 is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Z5 (2020) | Pentax 17 (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £999 | £400 |
| Sensor | 24.3MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS | 35mm half-frame (18 × 24mm) |
| Resolution | 24.3MP | — |
| Video | 4K/30p (with crop), 1080p/60p | N/A — film camera |
| Autofocus | Hybrid AF — 273 phase-detect points, eye/subject detection | Zone focus (0.35m / 1m / 3m / ∞) |
| Stabilisation | IBIS — up to 5 stops | N/A — film camera |
| Burst Rate | 4.5fps | Manual wind-on |
| Battery Life | ~470 shots (CIPA) | 2× CR2 lithium batteries |
| Weight | 590g (with battery) | ~165g (without batteries) |
| Dimensions | 134 × 100.5 × 69.5mm | 113 × 66 × 44mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | No |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.8× magnification | Optical viewfinder with half-frame framelines |
| Screen | 3.2" tilting touchscreen | N/A |
| Mount | Nikon Z mount | 35mm film (ISO 25–3200 via DX coding + manual dial) |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-II slots | 35mm 135-format film cartridge |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | N/A |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Z5 | Pentax 17 |
|---|---|---|
| Portrait | ||
| Travel | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Everyday | ||
| Sports | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Street | — | |
| Low Light | — |
More comparisons with Z5
Camera family history