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Canon S120 vs Pentax RS1500

Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
57
Overall
45
Canon PowerShot S120 front
 
Pentax Optio RS1500 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
30
Overall
34

Canon S120 vs Pentax RS1500 Key Specs

Canon S120
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-120mm (F1.8-5.7) lens
  • 217g - 100 x 59 x 29mm
  • Launched November 2013
  • Succeeded the Canon S110
Pentax RS1500
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-110mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
  • Revealed March 2011
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Canon S120 vs Pentax RS1500 Overview

Following is a extensive overview of the Canon S120 and Pentax RS1500, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by companies Canon and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the S120 (12MP) and the RS1500 (14MP) is relatively close but the S120 (1/1.7") and RS1500 (1/2.3") posses different sensor measurements.

Photography Glossary

The S120 was manufactured 2 years after the RS1500 which is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before delving right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a concise synopsis of how the S120 scores against the RS1500 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon S120 over the Pentax RS1500

 S120 RS1500 
RevealedNovember 2013March 2011More modern by 33 months
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution922k230kClearer screen (+692k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax RS1500 over the Canon S120

 RS1500 S120 

Common features in the Canon S120 and Pentax RS1500

 S120 RS1500 
Manually focus Very exact focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Canon S120 vs Pentax RS1500 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to carry around your camera regularly, you will need to consider its weight and size. The Canon S120 has exterior dimensions of 100mm x 59mm x 29mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 1.1") along with a weight of 217 grams (0.48 lbs) whilst the Pentax RS1500 has specifications of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") and a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).

Contrast the Canon S120 and Pentax RS1500 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you choose at that moment. Following is a front view dimension comparison of the S120 versus the RS1500.

Canon S120 vs Pentax RS1500 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the S120 and RS1500 is 92 and 93 respectively.

Canon S120 vs Pentax RS1500 top view buttons comparison

Canon S120 vs Pentax RS1500 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is tough to visualize the gap in sensor sizes simply by researching a spec sheet. The pic below should offer you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the S120 and RS1500.

Clearly, each of the cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The S120 due to its bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field simpler and the Pentax RS1500 will provide you with extra detail due to its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will enable you to crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The more recent S120 should have an advantage in sensor innovation.

Canon S120 vs Pentax RS1500 sensor size comparison

Canon S120 vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon S120 vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon S120 Portrait photography highlights
Pentax RS1500 Portrait photography highlights
42
focusing manually
provides face detection focus
delivers RAW files
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/1.7")
35
manual focus
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
manual mode not available
can't use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon S120 Street photography factors
Pentax RS1500 Street photography factors
65
built in image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW files
offers touch to focus
screen does not articulate
sensor size is small (1/1.7")
heavier than average (217 grams)
54
weather proof
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon S120 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax RS1500 as a Sports photography camera
38
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides tracking autofocus
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/1.7")
has no phase detect auto focus
37
MP count decent (14MP)
includes tracking autofocus
weather proof
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
no image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon S120 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax RS1500 as a Travel photography camera
67
offers touch to focus
has built in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
heavier than average (217 grams)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
67
weather proof
MP count decent (14MP)
flash built-in
really wide (28mm)
lack of Timelapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon S120 Landscape photography info
Pentax RS1500 Landscape photography info
57
focusing manually
relatively wide (24mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW files
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/1.7")
40
manual focus
really wide (28mm)
MP count decent (14MP)
weather proof
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
tiny screen (2.7")
manual mode not available
no image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon S120 Vlogging information
Pentax RS1500 Vlogging information
35
relatively wide (24mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
has touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have external mic jack
heavier than average (217g)
25
really wide (28mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external microphone socket
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Canon S120 vs Pentax RS1500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon S120 and Pentax RS1500
 Canon PowerShot S120Pentax Optio RS1500
General Information
Brand Canon Pentax
Model Canon PowerShot S120 Pentax Optio RS1500
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2013-11-26 2011-03-16
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Digic 6 -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/1.7" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 7.44 x 5.58mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 41.5mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 4288 x 3216
Maximum native ISO 12800 6400
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-120mm (5.0x) 28-110mm (3.9x)
Maximum aperture f/1.8-5.7 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus range 3cm 1cm
Crop factor 4.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 2.7"
Screen resolution 922 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech TFT PureColor II G Touch screen LCD TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15s 4s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1500s
Continuous shooting rate 12.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 7.00 m 3.90 m
Flash modes Auto, on, slow synchro, off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 or 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 217 gr (0.48 lb) 157 gr (0.35 lb)
Physical dimensions 100 x 59 x 29mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 1.1") 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 56 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.3 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 11.9 not tested
DXO Low light score 246 not tested
Other
Battery life 230 photographs 260 photographs
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NB-6LH D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Price at launch $449 $150