Nikon Zfcvs Pentax 17
Nikon
Nikon Zfc (2021)
Starting from £799 new
Best for Lifestyle, street & casual shooters
View Nikon Zfc
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?
Lifestyle, Street & Casual Shooters — Nikon Zfc (2021): Nikon's most beautiful camera — FM2-inspired dials and styling wrapped around a capable modern sensor with Z-mount 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
Nikon Zfc (2021)
- Photographers who want APS-C Z quality in a retro film-camera aesthetic
- Beginners and enthusiasts attracted to tactile dial controls
- Street and travel photographers who want a compact, stylish Z body
- Anyone who wants the Nikon Z system entry point with a distinctive look
Quick take: The pentax 17 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Nikon Zfc (2021) | Pentax 17 (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £799 | £400 |
| Sensor | 20.9MP APS-C CMOS | 35mm half-frame (18 × 24mm) |
| Resolution | 20.9MP | — |
| Video | 4K/30p (slight crop), 1080p/120p | N/A — film camera |
| Autofocus | Hybrid phase/contrast AF with subject detection | Zone focus (0.35m / 1m / 3m / ∞) |
| Stabilisation | None (lens-based only) | N/A — film camera |
| Burst Rate | 11fps | Manual wind-on |
| Battery Life | 300 shots (CIPA) | 2× CR2 lithium batteries |
| Weight | 445g body only | ~165g (without batteries) |
| Dimensions | 134.5 × 93.5 × 43.5mm | 113 × 66 × 44mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | No |
| Viewfinder | 0.39" OLED 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 UHS-I SD | 35mm 135-format film cartridge |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | N/A |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Nikon Zfc | Pentax 17 |
|---|---|---|
| Street | ||
| Travel | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Family & Everyday | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Everyday | — | |
| Landscape | — | |
| Low Light | — |
More comparisons with Nikon Zfc
Camera family history