Z50vs 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?
Beginner, Travel, Everyday — Z50 (2019): Nikon's Z system at its most accessible.
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 (2019)
- Nikon DSLR users wanting a lighter mirrorless
- First-time enthusiast camera buyers
Quick take: The pentax 17 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Z50 (2019) | Pentax 17 (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £499 | £400 |
| Sensor | APS-C CMOS | 35mm half-frame (18 × 24mm) |
| Resolution | 20.9MP | — |
| Video | 4K 30fps (1.5× crop), 1080p 120fps | N/A — film camera |
| Autofocus | 209-point phase-detect hybrid AF | Zone focus (0.35m / 1m / 3m / ∞) |
| Stabilisation | None | N/A — film camera |
| Burst Rate | 11fps | Manual wind-on |
| Battery Life | 300 shots (CIPA) | 2× CR2 lithium batteries |
| Weight | 397g (body only) | ~165g (without batteries) |
| Dimensions | 126.5 × 93.5 × 60.0mm | 113 × 66 × 44mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | No |
| Viewfinder | EVF 0.68× 2.36M-dot | Optical viewfinder with half-frame framelines |
| Screen | 3.2" downward-tilting touchscreen, 1.04M-dot | N/A |
| Mount | Nikon Z-Mount (DX) | 35mm film (ISO 25–3200 via DX coding + manual dial) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I | 35mm 135-format film cartridge |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2, Micro USB, Micro HDMI | N/A |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Z50 | Pentax 17 |
|---|---|---|
| Street | — | |
| Travel | — | |
| Portrait | — | |
| Everyday | — | |
| Landscape | — | |
| Low Light | — |
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Camera family history