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Nikon S3500 vs Pentax S1

Portability
95
Imaging
44
Features
25
Overall
36
Nikon Coolpix S3500 front
 
Pentax Optio S1 front
Portability
93
Imaging
36
Features
31
Overall
34

Nikon S3500 vs Pentax S1 Key Specs

Nikon S3500
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-182mm (F3.4-6.4) lens
  • 129g - 97 x 58 x 21mm
  • Released February 2013
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
  • Revealed March 2011
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Nikon S3500 vs Pentax S1 Overview

Lets look a little more in depth at the Nikon S3500 and Pentax S1, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by rivals Nikon and Pentax. There exists a sizable gap among the resolutions of the S3500 (20MP) and S1 (14MP) but they come with the exact same sensor size (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The S3500 was announced 2 years later than the S1 and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go through a detailed comparison, below is a simple overview of how the S3500 grades against the S1 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Nikon S3500 over the Pentax S1

 S3500 S1 
RevealedFebruary 2013March 2011Fresher by 25 months

Reasons to pick Pentax S1 over the Nikon S3500

 S1 S3500 
Focus manually Dial exact focus

Common features in the Nikon S3500 and Pentax S1

 S3500 S1 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension2.7"2.7"Identical display size
Display resolution230k230kThe same display resolution
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly display Absent Touch friendly display

Nikon S3500 vs Pentax S1 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to carry your camera, you'll need to consider its weight and size. The Nikon S3500 offers physical dimensions of 97mm x 58mm x 21mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.8") along with a weight of 129 grams (0.28 lbs) whilst the Pentax S1 has specifications of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") having a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).

Contrast the Nikon S3500 and Pentax S1 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Here is the front view scale comparison of the S3500 and the S1.

Nikon S3500 vs Pentax S1 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the S3500 and S1 is 95 and 93 respectively.

Nikon S3500 vs Pentax S1 top view buttons comparison

Nikon S3500 vs Pentax S1 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is difficult to visualize the difference in sensor sizing just by seeing a spec sheet. The graphic below should offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the S3500 and S1.

Clearly, each of the cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements but different megapixels. You can expect to see the Nikon S3500 to provide more detail with its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also help you crop photos much more aggressively. The fresher S3500 should have an edge in sensor technology.

Nikon S3500 vs Pentax S1 sensor size comparison

Nikon S3500 vs Pentax S1 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon S3500 vs Pentax S1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon S3500 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax S1 as a Portrait photography camera
33
decent MP (20MP)
manual focus not available
manual exposure not possible
cannot use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
34
focusing manually
MP count decent (14MP)
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Nikon S3500 Street photography information
Pentax S1 Street photography information
64
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (129g)
no articulating screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
56
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no articulating screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Nikon S3500 Sports photography factors
Pentax S1 Sports photography factors
42
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (20 megapixels)
no shutter priority
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
39
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
supports tracking focus
slow frames per second (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Nikon S3500
Travel photography with Pentax S1
69
lighter than others in class (129g)
decent MP (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
rather wide (26mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
does not have a selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
64
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (28mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon S3500 Landscape photography advice
Pentax S1 Landscape photography advice
40
rather wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (20 megapixels)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
small screen (2.7")
manual exposure not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
doesn't have Timelapse function
41
focusing manually
reasonably wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
small screen (2.7 inch)
lack of manual exposure
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon S3500 Vlogging details
Pentax S1 Vlogging details
31
rather wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (129 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external microphone support
28
reasonably wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing mic socket
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Nikon S3500 vs Pentax S1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon S3500 and Pentax S1
 Nikon Coolpix S3500Pentax Optio S1
General Information
Make Nikon Pentax
Model type Nikon Coolpix S3500 Pentax Optio S1
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Released 2013-02-21 2011-03-02
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.16 x 4.62mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.5mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 5152 x 3864 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points - 9
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 26-182mm (7.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.4-6.4 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing distance - 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of screen 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology TFT-LCD TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 seconds 4 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1500 seconds
Continuous shooting rate - 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance - 3.90 m
Flash options - Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format - Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 129g (0.28 pounds) 157g (0.35 pounds)
Dimensions 97 x 58 x 21mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.8") 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 260 pictures
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI92
Self timer - Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type - SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Cost at launch $85 $174