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Nikon S100 vs Pentax MX-1

Portability
94
Imaging
39
Features
40
Overall
39
Nikon Coolpix S100 front
 
Pentax MX-1 front
Portability
84
Imaging
37
Features
60
Overall
46

Nikon S100 vs Pentax MX-1 Key Specs

Nikon S100
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.9-4.8) lens
  • 175g - 99 x 65 x 18mm
  • Launched August 2011
Pentax MX-1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 391g - 122 x 61 x 51mm
  • Revealed July 2013
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Nikon S100 vs Pentax MX-1 Overview

On this page, we are contrasting the Nikon S100 vs Pentax MX-1, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by companies Nikon and Pentax. There is a considerable difference between the image resolutions of the S100 (16MP) and MX-1 (12MP) and the S100 (1/2.3") and MX-1 (1/1.7") provide totally different sensor sizes.

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The S100 was brought out 22 months earlier than the MX-1 making them a generation away from each other. The two cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before getting into a thorough comparison, here is a concise summation of how the S100 matches up vs the MX-1 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Nikon S100 over the Pentax MX-1

 S100 MX-1 
Display dimensions3.5"3"Larger display (+0.5")
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax MX-1 over the Nikon S100

 MX-1 S100 
RevealedJuly 2013August 2011More modern by 22 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution920k820kCrisper display (+100k dot)

Common features in the Nikon S100 and Pentax MX-1

 S100 MX-1 
Manually focus More exact focusing
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen

Nikon S100 vs Pentax MX-1 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to carry around your camera, you'll have to think about its weight and volume. The Nikon S100 provides outer dimensions of 99mm x 65mm x 18mm (3.9" x 2.6" x 0.7") with a weight of 175 grams (0.39 lbs) and the Pentax MX-1 has sizing of 122mm x 61mm x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") having a weight of 391 grams (0.86 lbs).

Take a look at the Nikon S100 vs Pentax MX-1 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Following is a front view measurements comparison of the S100 against the MX-1.

Nikon S100 vs Pentax MX-1 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the S100 and MX-1 is 94 and 84 respectively.

Nikon S100 vs Pentax MX-1 top view buttons comparison

Nikon S100 vs Pentax MX-1 Sensor Comparison

Often, its tough to envision the gap between sensor sizes just by checking a spec sheet. The pic here will help give you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the S100 and MX-1.

As you can see, both the cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The S100 due to its tinier sensor will make getting shallower DOF more challenging and the Nikon S100 will give you extra detail having its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop photos a bit more aggressively. The more aged S100 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Nikon S100 vs Pentax MX-1 sensor size comparison

Nikon S100 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon S100 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Nikon S100
Portrait photography with Pentax MX-1
40
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
supports face detect autofocus
no manual control
cannot use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
42
you can focus manually
supports face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
sensor is small (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Nikon S100 Street photography features
Pentax MX-1 Street photography features
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with touch to focus
fixed screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
65
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW files
sensor is small (1/1.7")
heavier than others in class (391g)
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Sports Comparison

Nikon S100 Sports photography advice
Pentax MX-1 Sports photography advice
38
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
supports tracking focus
slow fps (6.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
low battery power (150 shots)
does not have phase detect autofocus
43
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports tracking autofocus
great battery power (290 shots)
max frames per second very slow (1.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/1.7")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon S100 Travel photography highlights
Pentax MX-1 Travel photography highlights
65
comes with touch to focus
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
rather wide (28mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
low battery power (150 shots)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.9)
61
great battery power (290 CIPA)
flash built-in
rather wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
no Time Lapse mode
heavier than others in class (391g)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon S100 Landscape photography factors
Pentax MX-1 Landscape photography factors
45
focusing manually
rather wide (28mm)
very good size screen (3.5 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.9)
no manual control
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
low battery power (150 per charge)
does not have Timelapse recording
55
you can focus manually
rather wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW files
great battery power (290 CIPA)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/1.7")
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon S100 Vlogging advice
Pentax MX-1 Vlogging advice
35
rather wide (28mm)
touchscreen enabled
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.9)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
does not have microphone support
33
rather wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no external mic socket
heavier than others in class (391g)
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Nikon S100 vs Pentax MX-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon S100 and Pentax MX-1
 Nikon Coolpix S100Pentax MX-1
General Information
Brand Name Nikon Pentax
Model Nikon Coolpix S100 Pentax MX-1
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2011-08-24 2013-07-01
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Expeed C2 -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/1.7"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 3200 12800
Min native ISO 125 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points - 25
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-140mm (5.0x) 28-112mm (4.0x)
Max aperture f/3.9-4.8 f/1.8-2.5
Macro focus range 1cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 4.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3.5 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 820k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology Organic LED monitor TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/8000s
Continuous shooting rate 6.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range - 12.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Speed sync, Trailing Curtain sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080, 1280 x 720p (30fps), 640 x 480 (30fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 175 gr (0.39 lb) 391 gr (0.86 lb)
Physical dimensions 99 x 65 x 18mm (3.9" x 2.6" x 0.7") 122 x 61 x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 49
DXO Color Depth score not tested 20.4
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.3
DXO Low light score not tested 208
Other
Battery life 150 shots 290 shots
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL12 D-Li-106
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Cost at launch $240 $400