Pentax
Pentax 17 2024
Best for Film photography enthusiasts & diptych storytelling
£489
new today at Wex Photo Video
Decision tools · Compare
Pentax 17 vs A5000
Quick take: The A5000 is the most affordable.
Different kinds of camera — their specs aren't comparable, so read the rows as facts, not a contest.
16 specs side by side·14 genres scored·UK prices from Wex Photo Video and Clifton Cameras
How to read this page. Highlighted cells win that row on the spec alone. Genre scores are the engine's base scores (enthusiast, photo and video); Camera Match re-weights them for your level and priorities. Price buttons are affiliate links; the price you pay is the same.
Price buttons are affiliate links — GearFrame may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never affects a score. Learn more
Verdictwhich should you buy?
Pentax 17 — Film Photography Enthusiasts & Diptych Storytelling: 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
Pentax 17 (2024)
is the right camera for you if…
- Experienced film shooters who want a brand new camera with real manual controls
- Street photographers attracted to the compact half-frame format
- Digital shooters curious about film who want more than a point-and-shoot
- Anyone who finds disposables too limiting but isn't ready for a full SLR
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
| Specification | Pentax 17Pentax · 2024 | A5000Sony · 2014 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £489 | £78 usedBest |
| Sensor | 35mm half-frame (18 × 24mm) | 20.1MP APS-C CMOS |
| Resolution | — | 20.1MP |
| Video | N/A — film camera | Full HD 1080 (60i / 25p AVCHD), 1440×1080/30p MP4 |
| Autofocus | Zone focus (0.35m / 1m / 3m / ∞) | 25-point contrast AF with face detection |
| Stabilisation | N/A — film camera | No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only) |
| Burst Rate | Manual wind-on | 3.5fps |
| Battery Life | 2× CR2 lithium batteries | ~420 shots (CIPA)Best |
| Weight | ~165g (without batteries)Best | 269g (with battery) |
| Dimensions | 113 × 66 × 44mm | 109.6 × 62.8 × 35.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | Not weather sealed |
| Viewfinder | Optical viewfinder with half-frame framelines | None (rear screen only) |
| Screen | No screen | 3.0" 180° flip-up LCD, 460k dots |
| Mount | Fixed lens | Sony E-mount |
| Memory Cards | 35mm 135-format film cartridge | Single SD slot |
| Connectivity | No wireless connectivity | Micro USB (Multi Terminal), micro HDMI, Wi-Fi, NFC |
Wins the row — price, resolution, burst, battery, weight and sealing are compared; text specs aren't ranked.
How they score by genreengine base scores out of 10
Genre
Pentax 17
A5000
Fun & simple
7.3/10
—
Portrait
—
4.3/10
Street
—
6.5/10
Travel
—
6.1/10
Wedding & Events
—
2.6/10
Documentary
—
3.5/10
Sports & Action
—
3.1/10
Landscape
—
4.7/10
Wildlife
—
4.2/10
Casual
—
4.2/10
Food
—
5.2/10
Macro
—
4.7/10
Architecture
—
4.8/10
Astrophotography
—
4.8/10
Scores come from the same engine as Camera Match: verified specifications weighted by what each genre needs, with documented adjustments. The product page and this table show the enthusiast base score. See how scores are calculated →
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