Pentax 17vs ZV-E1
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.
Video Creators, Vloggers & Filmmakers — ZV-E1 (2023): Full-frame video quality in a vlogging body — exceptional low-light performance and a genuinely compact form factor.
Who should buy what
ZV-E1 (2023)
- Video creators who want full-frame low-light quality in a compact body
- Vloggers stepping up from APS-C who prioritise image quality over resolution
- Filmmakers who want S-Log3 and cinematic colour in a run-and-gun package
- A7S III users who want the same sensor in a smaller, lighter body
Quick take: The pentax 17 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Pentax 17 (2024) | ZV-E1 (2023) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £400 | £1,999 |
| Sensor | 35mm half-frame (18 × 24mm) | 12.1MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS Exmor R |
| Resolution | — | 12.1MP |
| Video | N/A — film camera | 4K/60p (S-Cinetone, S-Log3), 4K/120p, 1080p/240p |
| Autofocus | Zone focus (0.35m / 1m / 3m / ∞) | Real-time Tracking AF with subject recognition |
| Stabilisation | N/A — film camera | IBIS — Active Mode for video |
| Burst Rate | Manual wind-on | 10fps |
| Battery Life | 2× CR2 lithium batteries | ~570 shots (CIPA) / ~105 min video |
| Weight | ~165g (without batteries) | 483g (with battery) |
| Dimensions | 113 × 66 × 44mm | 121.4 × 71.6 × 54.3mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | No |
| Viewfinder | Optical viewfinder with half-frame framelines | None — screen only |
| Screen | N/A | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen |
| 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 | Single CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | N/A | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 3.5mm mic, Multi-Interface Shoe |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Pentax 17 | ZV-E1 |
|---|---|---|
| Street | ||
| Travel | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Everyday | — | |
| Landscape | ||
| Low Light | ||
| Vlogging & Video | — |
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Camera family history