OM-5vs 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?
Outdoor & Adventure — OM-5 (2022): The toughest camera at this price — IP53 weather sealing and 7.5-stop IBIS built for adventure photographers.
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-5 (2022)
- Outdoor and adventure photographers who need a compact, weather-sealed body
- Travellers who want MFT's compact size with pro-level weather protection
- E-M5 III owners upgrading to OM System's improved subject detection
- Photographers who want strong IBIS and rugged build without OM-1 pricing
Quick take: The pentax 17 is the most affordable; only the om-5 is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | OM-5 (2022) | Pentax 17 (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £899 | £400 |
| Sensor | 20.4MP Micro Four Thirds Live MOS | 35mm half-frame (18 × 24mm) |
| Resolution | 20.4MP | — |
| Video | 4K/60p, 4K/120p Cinema4K | N/A — film camera |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect, 121 all-cross points, subject tracking | Zone focus (0.35m / 1m / 3m / ∞) |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS, 7.5 stops (Dual IS with compatible lenses) | N/A — film camera |
| Burst Rate | 30fps electronic, 10fps mechanical | Manual wind-on |
| Battery Life | ~370 shots (CIPA) | 2× CR2 lithium batteries |
| Weight | 414g body only | ~165g (without batteries) |
| Dimensions | 122.3 × 87.6 × 49.7mm | 113 × 66 × 44mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | No |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.74× magnification | 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 slots | 35mm 135-format film cartridge |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | N/A |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | OM-5 | Pentax 17 |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor & Adventure | — | |
| Landscape | ||
| Travel | ||
| Wildlife | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Street | — | |
| Everyday | — | |
| Low Light | — |
More comparisons with OM-5
Camera family history