Pentax 17vs A7S II
Pentax
Pentax 17 (2024)
Starting from £400 new
Best for Film photography enthusiasts & diptych storytelling
View Pentax 17
Sony
A7S II (2015)
Starting from £799 new
Best for Low-light video, documentary & available-light filmmaking
View A7S II
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.
Low-Light Video, Documentary & Available-Light Filmmaking — A7S II (2015): A landmark in mirrorless history — the first Sony with IBIS and internal 4K, its low-light video capability still impresses today at a used-market price.
Who should buy what
A7S II (2015)
- Filmmakers and videographers who want legendary low-light performance at a used-price discount
- Documentary shooters working in unpredictable available light conditions
- A7S III shooters who want a second Sony FE body for backup or B-camera use
- Budget-conscious video producers who want full-frame 4K with S-Log at an accessible price
Quick take: The pentax 17 is the most affordable; only the a7s ii is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Pentax 17 (2024) | A7S II (2015) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £400 | £799 |
| Sensor | 35mm half-frame (18 × 24mm) | 12.1MP full-frame BSI Exmor CMOS |
| Resolution | — | 12.1MP |
| Video | N/A — film camera | 4K/30p internal (full sensor readout), 1080p/120p, S-Log2/S-Log3 |
| Autofocus | Zone focus (0.35m / 1m / 3m / ∞) | 169 phase-detect + 25 contrast AF — limited by modern standards |
| Stabilisation | N/A — film camera | 5-axis IBIS — 4.5 stops (first Sony mirrorless with IBIS) |
| Burst Rate | Manual wind-on | 5fps continuous |
| Battery Life | 2× CR2 lithium batteries | ~370 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | ~165g (without batteries) | 584g body only |
| Dimensions | 113 × 66 × 44mm | 126.9 × 95.7 × 60.3mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | Optical viewfinder with half-frame framelines | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification |
| Screen | N/A | 3.0" tilting LCD, 1.23M dots |
| Mount | 35mm film (ISO 25–3200 via DX coding + manual dial) | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | 35mm 135-format film cartridge | Dual SD UHS-I slots |
| Connectivity | N/A | USB Micro-B, Bluetooth (via app), Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic jack |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Pentax 17 | A7S II |
|---|---|---|
| Street | ||
| Travel | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Everyday | — | |
| Landscape | — | |
| Low Light | ||
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Wedding | — | |
| Sports | — |
More comparisons with Pentax 17
Camera family history