Upgrade Guide
Pentax K-S1→Pentax Pentax 17
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Situational
One clear hardware improvement over the K-S1. Worth it if that specific upgrade aligns with what you shoot.
What's new in the Pentax 17
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Generation10 years newer (2024 vs 2014)
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 | K-S1 | Pentax 17 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | — | ||
| Street | — | ||
| Travel | — | ||
| Wedding & Events | — | ||
| Documentary | — | ||
| Sports & Action | — | ||
| Landscape | — | ||
| Wildlife | — | ||
| Casual | — | ||
| Food | — | ||
| Macro | — | ||
| Architecture | — | ||
| Astrophotography | — | ||
| Fun & simple | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | K-S1 | Pentax 17 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £72 used | £489 | |
| Released | 2014 | 2024 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 20.12MP APS-C CMOS | 35mm half-frame (18 × 24mm) | |
| Resolution | 20MP | — | |
| Video | Full HD 1080p/30 | N/A — film camera | |
| Autofocus | SAFOX IX i+ phase-detect AF, 11 points (9 cross-type) | Zone focus (0.35m / 1m / 3m / ∞) | |
| Stabilisation | Sensor-shift Shake Reduction | N/A — film camera | |
| Burst Rate | 5.4fps | Manual wind-on | |
| Battery Life | ~410 shots (CIPA) | 2× CR2 lithium batteries | ↓ |
| Weight | 558g (with battery) | ~165g (without batteries) | ↑ |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | Not weather sealed | |
| Viewfinder | Pentaprism, ~100%, 0.95x | Optical viewfinder with half-frame framelines | |
| Screen | 3.0" fixed LCD, 921k dots | No screen | |
| Mount | Pentax KAF2 (K-mount) | Fixed lens | |
| Memory Cards | Single SD slot | 35mm 135-format film cartridge |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See K-S1 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.
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