Pentax 17vs A7C II
Pentax
Pentax 17 (2024)
Starting from £400 new
Best for Film photography enthusiasts & diptych storytelling
View Pentax 17
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GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
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.
Full-Frame Hybrid — A7C II (2023): Full-frame AI autofocus in the most compact body available — the best camera under £1,500 for hybrid shooters.
Who should buy what
A7C II (2023)
- Travel photographers who want full-frame quality in the most compact body
- Hybrid shooters who need full-frame video and IBIS in a small package
- A7C owners looking for a significant AF and video upgrade
- Portrait and wedding photographers who want a discreet full-frame backup
Quick take: The pentax 17 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Pentax 17 (2024) | A7C II (2023) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £400 | £1,499 |
| Sensor | 35mm half-frame (18 × 24mm) | 33MP Full-frame Exmor R BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | — | 33.0MP |
| Video | N/A — film camera | 4K/60p oversampled, S-Log3, 10-bit internal |
| Autofocus | Zone focus (0.35m / 1m / 3m / ∞) | 759-point phase-detect, AI subject recognition |
| Stabilisation | N/A — film camera | 5-axis IBIS, 7.0 stops |
| Burst Rate | Manual wind-on | 10fps mechanical, 30fps electronic |
| Battery Life | 2× CR2 lithium batteries | ~530 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | ~165g (without batteries) | 514g body only |
| Dimensions | 113 × 66 × 44mm | 124.0 × 71.1 × 63.4mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | No |
| Viewfinder | Optical viewfinder with half-frame framelines | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.70× magnification |
| Screen | N/A | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen |
| Mount | 35mm film (ISO 25–3200 via DX coding + manual dial) | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | 35mm 135-format film cartridge | Dual slots: SD UHS-II + CFexpress Type A |
| Connectivity | N/A | USB-C (3.2), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Pentax 17 | A7C II |
|---|---|---|
| Street | ||
| Travel | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Everyday | — | |
| Landscape | ||
| Low Light | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Sports & Action | — |
More comparisons with Pentax 17
Camera family history