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Nikon 1 V3 vs Pentax Q-S1

Portability
87
Imaging
49
Features
79
Overall
61
Nikon 1 V3 front
 
Pentax Q-S1 front
Portability
92
Imaging
38
Features
54
Overall
44

Nikon 1 V3 vs Pentax Q-S1 Key Specs

Nikon 1 V3
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon 1 Mount
  • 381g - 111 x 65 x 33mm
  • Announced March 2014
  • Superseded the Nikon 1 V2
Pentax Q-S1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax Q Mount
  • 203g - 105 x 58 x 34mm
  • Introduced August 2014
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Nikon 1 V3 vs Pentax Q-S1 Overview

Here, we will be analyzing the Nikon 1 V3 vs Pentax Q-S1, one is a Advanced Mirrorless and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Nikon and Pentax. There exists a huge gap between the resolutions of the 1 V3 (18MP) and Q-S1 (12MP) and the 1 V3 (1") and Q-S1 (1/1.7") provide totally different sensor size.

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The 1 V3 was manufactured 4 months prior to the Q-S1 and they are of a similar generation. Both of these cameras feature the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before delving straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a short summary of how the 1 V3 scores vs the Q-S1 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Nikon 1 V3 over the Pentax Q-S1

 1 V3 Q-S1 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1037k460kCrisper screen (+577k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax Q-S1 over the Nikon 1 V3

 Q-S1 1 V3 

Common features in the Nikon 1 V3 and Pentax Q-S1

 1 V3 Q-S1 
IntroducedMarch 2014August 2014Similar generation
Focus manually Dial precise focusing
Screen size3"3"Same screen size
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Nikon 1 V3 vs Pentax Q-S1 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to carry around your camera, you're going to have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Nikon 1 V3 comes with outside dimensions of 111mm x 65mm x 33mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") having a weight of 381 grams (0.84 lbs) whilst the Pentax Q-S1 has dimensions of 105mm x 58mm x 34mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") having a weight of 203 grams (0.45 lbs).

Check out the Nikon 1 V3 vs Pentax Q-S1 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you select at that time. Underneath is a front view dimensions comparison of the 1 V3 against the Q-S1.

Nikon 1 V3 vs Pentax Q-S1 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the 1 V3 and Q-S1 is 87 and 92 respectively.

Nikon 1 V3 vs Pentax Q-S1 top view buttons comparison

Nikon 1 V3 vs Pentax Q-S1 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's hard to visualise the difference between sensor sizes only by checking specs. The image here might offer you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the 1 V3 and Q-S1.

All in all, the two cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The 1 V3 due to its bigger sensor will make getting shallower depth of field less difficult and the Nikon 1 V3 will give greater detail due to its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop shots a good deal more aggressively.

Nikon 1 V3 vs Pentax Q-S1 sensor size comparison

Nikon 1 V3 vs Pentax Q-S1 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon 1 V3 vs Pentax Q-S1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon 1 V3 Portrait photography advice
Pentax Q-S1 Portrait photography advice
69
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (18 megapixels)
good sensor size (1")
comes with face detection focus
saves RAW formats
46
you can focus manually
has face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
low MP (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Nikon 1 V3 Street photography info
Pentax Q-S1 Street photography info
76
screen tilts up and down
good sensor size (1")
saves RAW formats
supports touch to focus
no image stabilization
69
image stabilization (Sensor based)
exports RAW formats
lighter than competition in class (203g)
fixed screen
small sensor size (1/1.7")
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Sports Comparison

Nikon 1 V3 Sports photography advice
Pentax Q-S1 Sports photography advice
62
silent mode (1/16,000 seconds)
high max frames per second (60.0 frames/s)
megapixel count decent (18 megapixels)
good sensor size (1")
comes with tracking autofocus
supports phase detect auto focus
no image stabilization
not so great battery (310 CIPA)
37
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
low MP (12MP)
small sensor size (1/1.7")
bad battery power (250 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Nikon 1 V3
Travel photography with Pentax Q-S1
68
supports touch to focus
megapixel count decent (18MP)
flash built-in
not so great battery (310 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
60
lighter than competition in class (203g)
flash built-in
bad battery power (250 shots)
low MP (12 megapixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Nikon 1 V3
Landscape photography with Pentax Q-S1
65
focusing manually
swap lenses (Nikon 1 mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
megapixel count decent (18MP)
good sensor size (1")
saves RAW formats
no image stabilization
not so great battery (310 CIPA)
55
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Pentax Q mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
exports RAW formats
low MP (12MP)
small sensor size (1/1.7")
bad battery power (250 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Nikon 1 V3
Vlogging with Pentax Q-S1
35
touch screen
comes with face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with external microphone port
screen is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
35
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (203 grams)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
does not have external microphone jack
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Nikon 1 V3 vs Pentax Q-S1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon 1 V3 and Pentax Q-S1
 Nikon 1 V3Pentax Q-S1
General Information
Make Nikon Pentax
Model type Nikon 1 V3 Pentax Q-S1
Class Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2014-03-13 2014-08-04
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip Expeed 4A Q Engine
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1" 1/1.7"
Sensor measurements 13.2 x 8.8mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor area 116.2mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 18 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 5232 x 3488 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 12800 12800
Min native ISO 160 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 171 -
Lens
Lens support Nikon 1 Pentax Q
Amount of lenses 13 8
Crop factor 2.7 4.8
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 1,037 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech TFT-LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Viewfinder resolution 2,359 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Highest silent shutter speed 1/16000 seconds -
Continuous shooting speed 60.0 frames/s 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 5.00 m (ISO 100) 4.90 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Fill-flash, fill-flash w/slow sync, rear curtain sync, rear curtain w/slow sync, redeye reduction, redeye reduction w/slow sync, off Auto, redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 30p) 1920 x 1080 (30,25, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30, 25, 24p), 640 x 480 (30, 25, 24p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 381g (0.84 pounds) 203g (0.45 pounds)
Physical dimensions 111 x 65 x 33mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") 105 x 58 x 34mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 52 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 20.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.7 not tested
DXO Low light rating 384 not tested
Other
Battery life 310 images 250 images
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL20a D-LI68
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media microSD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Storage slots Single Single
Launch price $997 $250