Z50 IIvs 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?
All-Round Photography — Z50 II (2024): Nikon's updated APS-C body with 4K/60p, improved subject tracking, and a vari-angle screen — a solid all-rounder.
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
Z50 II (2024)
- Beginners stepping into the Nikon Z system wanting improved autofocus
- Content creators who want APS-C Z quality with subject detection AF
- Z50 owners who want meaningfully better AF performance for people and pets
- Travel photographers wanting a compact, capable Z body at an accessible price
Quick take: The pentax 17 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Z50 II (2024) | Pentax 17 (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £899 | £400 |
| Sensor | 20.9MP APS-C CMOS | 35mm half-frame (18 × 24mm) |
| Resolution | 20.9MP | — |
| Video | 4K/60p uncropped, 1080p/120p, N-Log | N/A — film camera |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect, 249 points, subject detection (human/animal/vehicle) | Zone focus (0.35m / 1m / 3m / ∞) |
| Stabilisation | None (no IBIS) | N/A — film camera |
| Burst Rate | 11fps mechanical, 30fps electronic | Manual wind-on |
| Battery Life | ~330 shots (CIPA) | 2× CR2 lithium batteries |
| Weight | 385g body only | ~165g (without batteries) |
| Dimensions | 127.0 × 96.8 × 66.5mm | 113 × 66 × 44mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | No |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots | Optical viewfinder with half-frame framelines |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen | N/A |
| Mount | Nikon Z-mount | 35mm film (ISO 25–3200 via DX coding + manual dial) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | 35mm 135-format film cartridge |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | N/A |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Z50 II | Pentax 17 |
|---|---|---|
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Family & Everyday | — | |
| Landscape | ||
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Street | — | |
| Everyday | — | |
| Low Light | — |
More comparisons with Z50 II
Camera family history