Upgrade Guide
Pentax Pentax K-3 Mark III→Pentax Pentax 17
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
→
Situational
One clear hardware improvement over the Pentax K-3 Mark III. Worth it if that specific upgrade aligns with what you shoot.
What's new in the Pentax 17
-
Generation3 years newer (2024 vs 2021)
Unchanged or similar
-
Weather sealingNot present in new body
-
StabilisationIBIS not present in new body
Suitability by genre
Base scores — computed from verified specs for an enthusiast shooting photo and video. The Upgrade Checker adjusts them for your skill level.
| Genre | Pentax K-3 Mark III | Pentax 17 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | +0.4 | ||
| Street | -1.2 | ||
| Travel | +3.5 | ||
| Wedding & Events | — | ||
| Filmmaking | — | ||
| Documentary | — | ||
| Sports & Action | — | ||
| Landscape | +0.8 | ||
| Wildlife | — | ||
| Casual | +4.7 | ||
| Food | — | ||
| Macro | — | ||
| Architecture | — | ||
| Astrophotography | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | Pentax K-3 Mark III | Pentax 17 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,699 | £400 | |
| Released | 2021 | 2024 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 25.7MP APS-C BSI CMOS (AA-filterless) | 35mm half-frame (18 × 24mm) | |
| Resolution | 26MP | — | |
| Video | 4K/30p, 1080p/60p | N/A — film camera | |
| Autofocus | SAFOX 13 phase-detect, 101-point (25 cross-type) | Zone focus (0.35m / 1m / 3m / ∞) | |
| Stabilisation | 5.5-stop 5-axis IBIS (Shake Reduction III) | N/A — film camera | |
| Burst Rate | 12fps | Manual wind-on | |
| Battery Life | 800 shots (CIPA) | 2× CR2 lithium batteries | ↓ |
| Weight | 820g (body only) | ~165g (without batteries) | ↑ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Not weather sealed | ↓ |
| Viewfinder | Optical pentaprism, 100% coverage, 1.05× magnification | Optical viewfinder with half-frame framelines | |
| Screen | 3.2" fixed touchscreen | No screen | |
| Mount | Pentax KF-mount | 35mm film (ISO 25–3200 via DX coding + manual dial) | |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-II | 35mm 135-format film cartridge |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See Pentax K-3 Mark III and Pentax 17 next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.
Get a personalised upgrade score
Run the upgrade checker →
Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the Pentax 17 against your specific genres — not just specs.
Other upgrades from the Pentax K-3 Mark III
Related buying guides
Camera family history