Pentax 17vs Sony FX30
Pentax
Pentax 17 (2024)
Starting from £400 new
Best for Film photography enthusiasts & diptych storytelling
View Pentax 17
VS
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.
Video Creators & Filmmakers — Sony FX30 (2022): The Cinema Line entry point — S-Cinetone colour science, 4K/120p, and XLR audio in a compact, affordable body that punches far above its price.
Who should buy what
Sony FX30 (2022)
- Filmmakers and video creators who want a dedicated cinema-style APS-C body
- Content creators who need S-Cinetone and S-Log3 in a compact form factor
- A6700 owners who want cinema-style ergonomics and a full-size HDMI port
- Video professionals who want Sony's colour science without full-frame pricing
Quick take: The pentax 17 is the most affordable; only the sony fx30 is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Pentax 17 (2024) | Sony FX30 (2022) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £400 | £1,799 |
| Sensor | 35mm half-frame (18 × 24mm) | 26.1MP APS-C BSI Exmor R CMOS |
| Resolution | — | 26.1MP |
| Video | N/A — film camera | 4K/120p, 4K/60p S-Log3, 1080p/240p |
| Autofocus | Zone focus (0.35m / 1m / 3m / ∞) | Real-time tracking AF, 759-point phase-detect |
| Stabilisation | N/A — film camera | 5-axis Active IBIS |
| Burst Rate | Manual wind-on | 20fps electronic |
| Battery Life | 2× CR2 lithium batteries | 740 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | ~165g (without batteries) | 579g body only |
| Dimensions | 113 × 66 × 44mm | 129.7 × 77.8 × 84.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | Optical viewfinder with half-frame framelines | None (EVF optional via XLR handle) |
| Screen | N/A | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen |
| Mount | 35mm film (ISO 25–3200 via DX coding + manual dial) | Sony FE (E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | 35mm 135-format film cartridge | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | N/A | USB-C 3.2, HDMI A, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Pentax 17 | Sony FX30 |
|---|---|---|
| Street | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Everyday | — | |
| Landscape | — | |
| Low Light | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Documentary | — | |
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Sports & Action | — |
More comparisons with Pentax 17
Camera family history