OM System OM-1 Mark IIvs Pentax 17
OM System
OM System OM-1 Mark II (2024)
Starting from £1999 new
Best for Wildlife, birds & outdoor sports
View OM System OM-1 Mark II
Pentax
Pentax 17 (2024)
Starting from £400 new
Best for Film photography enthusiasts & diptych storytelling
View Pentax 17
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Wildlife, Birds & Outdoor Sports — OM System OM-1 Mark II (2024): OM System's most capable camera — 120fps AF burst, AI subject detection, and IP53 weather sealing make it the best-value pro wildlife camera.
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
OM System OM-1 Mark II (2024)
- Wildlife and bird photographers who need the best subject tracking in MFT
- Sports photographers who want weather sealing and 50fps burst
- OM-1 owners looking for a meaningful autofocus upgrade
- Professionals who need pro-grade weather sealing in the lightest possible system
Quick take: The pentax 17 is the most affordable; only the om system om-1 mark ii is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | OM System OM-1 Mark II (2024) | Pentax 17 (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,999 | £400 |
| Sensor | 20MP Micro Four Thirds Live MOS | 35mm half-frame (18 × 24mm) |
| Resolution | 20.0MP | — |
| Video | 4K/60p, 1080p/240p, 4K HLG | N/A — film camera |
| Autofocus | AI subject detection AF (birds, animals, motorsport) | Zone focus (0.35m / 1m / 3m / ∞) |
| Stabilisation | 8.5-stop IBIS | N/A — film camera |
| Burst Rate | 120fps with AF tracking | Manual wind-on |
| Battery Life | 520 shots (CIPA) | 2× CR2 lithium batteries |
| Weight | 599g body only | ~165g (without batteries) |
| Dimensions | 134.8 × 91.6 × 72.7mm | 113 × 66 × 44mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | No |
| Viewfinder | 0.83" OLED EVF, 5.76M dots, 120fps | Optical viewfinder with half-frame framelines |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen | N/A |
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | 35mm film (ISO 25–3200 via DX coding + manual dial) |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-II | 35mm 135-format film cartridge |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | N/A |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | OM System OM-1 Mark II | Pentax 17 |
|---|---|---|
| Wildlife | — | |
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Landscape | ||
| Travel | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Street | — | |
| Everyday | — | |
| Low Light | — |
More comparisons with OM System OM-1 Mark II
Camera family history