Half-and-Half: The Cream of the Current Half-Frame Camera Crop Go Head-to-Head

In a shocking development, two camera manufacturers arrived at the same product destination via two distinctly different routes. That destination was a half-frame camera and the two manufacturers were Pentax and Fujifilm. The path chosen by Pentax was a film camera, while the course charted by Fujifilm culminated in a digital X Series camera. Now we have the Pentax 17 and the Fujifilm X half. Two halves that make a whole lot of photographers nervous.

What could possibly get photographers so uppity about two itty-bitty half-frame cameras? Simply put, both the Pentax 17 and the Fujifilm X half buck the trend of all new cameras which “should be” packaged into either one of two nice and tidy pre-existing categories: mirrorless APS-C image sensor or DSLR; oh and an occasional full frame venture is permitted…sorta. Pity the poor Panasonic Lumix S9, for example. A deliciously delightful full-frame camera that was vilified for “lacking” features (e.g., viewfinder and hot shoe) that buyers felt that every camera must possess. And this takes us right back to these twin half-frame cameras. Each one is a charming expression of choice: would you like a film camera or do you prefer a digital camera for meting out your half-frame photographs.

See for yourself, the results are awaiting your judgement.

Two Halves Equal a Whole

Each of these half-frame cameras is remarkably compact and easy to handle in a variety of different photographic scenarios. Likewise, each camera is feature-rich with tools for enabling you to achieve the absolute best film or digital images. Therefore, the winner in this head-to-head half-and-half competition comes down to which do you prefer: film or digital. Or, maybe, go completely rogue with a devil-may-care attitude and select both the Pentax 17 and the Fujifilm X half as your preferred half-frame camera. Because two halves make a whole lot of sense.

Enjoy.

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