Pentax 17vs A7S
Pentax
Pentax 17 (2024)
Starting from £400 new
Best for Film photography enthusiasts & diptych storytelling
View Pentax 17
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.
Astrophotography & Low-Light — A7S (2014): The original A7S pioneered the concept of a camera optimised entirely for low light. Its 12.2MP sensor has enormous photosites — extraordinary high-ISO performance that still holds up. Lacking IBIS and limited to 1080p internally (4K requires external recorder), it is a specialist tool. For astrophotography, event videography, or any scenario where light is genuinely scarce, it remains outstanding.
Who should buy what
A7S (2014)
- Astrophotographers
- Low-light event videographers
- Filmmakers needing clean high-ISO footage
Quick take: The pentax 17 is the most affordable; only the a7s is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Pentax 17 (2024) | A7S (2014) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £400 | £600 |
| Sensor | 35mm half-frame (18 × 24mm) | 12.2MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | — | 12.2MP |
| Video | N/A — film camera | 1080p/60p internal, 4K via HDMI (external recorder) |
| Autofocus | Zone focus (0.35m / 1m / 3m / ∞) | Phase-detect / contrast-detect hybrid AF |
| Stabilisation | N/A — film camera | None |
| Burst Rate | Manual wind-on | 5fps |
| Battery Life | 2× CR2 lithium batteries | ~370 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | ~165g (without batteries) | 474g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 113 × 66 × 44mm | 126.9 × 94.4 × 48.2mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | Optical viewfinder with half-frame framelines | Electronic, 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 (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | 35mm 135-format film cartridge | Single SD / MemoryStick PRO Duo slot |
| Connectivity | N/A | Multi/Micro USB, Wi-Fi, NFC |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Pentax 17 | A7S |
|---|---|---|
| Street | ||
| Travel | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Everyday | — | |
| Landscape | ||
| Low Light | — | |
| Astrophotography | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Sports & Action | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
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Camera family history