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Canon S120 vs Pentax S1

Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
57
Overall
45
Canon PowerShot S120 front
 
Pentax Optio S1 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
31
Overall
34

Canon S120 vs Pentax S1 Key Specs

Canon S120
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-120mm (F1.8-5.7) lens
  • 217g - 100 x 59 x 29mm
  • Revealed November 2013
  • Previous Model is Canon S110
Pentax S1
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
  • Announced March 2011
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Canon S120 vs Pentax S1 Overview

Below is a extended overview of the Canon S120 and Pentax S1, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by competitors Canon and Pentax. The image resolution of the S120 (12MP) and the S1 (14MP) is very similar but the S120 (1/1.7") and S1 (1/2.3") use totally different sensor measurements.

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The S120 was revealed 2 years later than the S1 and that is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting through a in-depth comparison, below is a quick summary of how the S120 matches up against the S1 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon S120 over the Pentax S1

 S120 S1 
AnnouncedNovember 2013March 2011More recent by 34 months
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution922k230kClearer display (+692k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax S1 over the Canon S120

 S1 S120 

Common features in the Canon S120 and Pentax S1

 S120 S1 
Manual focus Very exact focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Canon S120 vs Pentax S1 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to lug around your camera frequently, you'll have to consider its weight and proportions. The Canon S120 comes with external measurements of 100mm x 59mm x 29mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 217 grams (0.48 lbs) while the Pentax S1 has measurements of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") and a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).

Analyze the Canon S120 and Pentax S1 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are employing at that time. Following is the front view overall size comparison of the S120 versus the S1.

Canon S120 vs Pentax S1 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the S120 and S1 is 92 and 93 respectively.

Canon S120 vs Pentax S1 top view buttons comparison

Canon S120 vs Pentax S1 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's difficult to see the difference between sensor measurements purely by going over specs. The photograph underneath should provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the S120 and S1.

All in all, the two cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The S120 with its larger sensor will make achieving shallower DOF easier and the Pentax S1 will deliver more detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop photos far more aggressively. The newer S120 will have a benefit in sensor innovation.

Canon S120 vs Pentax S1 sensor size comparison

Canon S120 vs Pentax S1 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon S120 vs Pentax S1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon S120
Portrait photography with Pentax S1
42
focusing manually
provides face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
no external flash support
megapixel count low (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/1.7")
35
focusing manually
good resolution (14 megapixels)
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon S120
Street photography with Pentax S1
65
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW files
features focus via touch
no moving screen
very small sensor size (1/1.7")
more heavy than competitors in class (217 grams)
56
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon S120 Sports photography features
Pentax S1 Sports photography features
38
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides tracking autofocus
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/1.7")
lack of phase detect autofocus
39
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
low frames per second (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon S120 Travel photography highlights
Pentax S1 Travel photography highlights
67
features focus via touch
has built in flash
decently wide (24mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
more heavy than competitors in class (217g)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
does not contain selfie friendly display
64
good resolution (14MP)
flash built-in
relatively wide (28mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon S120 Landscape photography advice
Pentax S1 Landscape photography advice
57
focusing manually
decently wide (24mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW files
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
megapixel count low (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/1.7")
42
focusing manually
relatively wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
manual mode not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon S120
Vlogging with Pentax S1
35
decently wide (24mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
touchscreen enabled
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not contain selfie friendly display
does not have external microphone port
more heavy than competitors in class (217g)
28
relatively wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external mic support
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Canon S120 vs Pentax S1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon S120 and Pentax S1
 Canon PowerShot S120Pentax Optio S1
General Information
Make Canon Pentax
Model Canon PowerShot S120 Pentax Optio S1
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2013-11-26 2011-03-02
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Digic 6 -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/1.7" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 7.44 x 5.58mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 41.5mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 12800 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-120mm (5.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture f/1.8-5.7 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus range 3cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 4.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3" 2.7"
Display resolution 922 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology TFT PureColor II G Touch screen LCD TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15 seconds 4 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1500 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 12.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 7.00 m 3.90 m
Flash options Auto, on, slow synchro, off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
Auto exposure 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)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 217 gr (0.48 lb) 157 gr (0.35 lb)
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 Overall 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 images 260 images
Type of battery 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 One One
Retail price $449 $174