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Nikon D300S vs Pentax K-1

Portability
55
Imaging
52
Features
65
Overall
57
Nikon D300S front
 
Pentax K-1 front
Portability
55
Imaging
76
Features
82
Overall
78

Nikon D300S vs Pentax K-1 Key Specs

Nikon D300S
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 3200 (Increase to 6400)
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 938g - 147 x 114 x 74mm
  • Announced November 2009
  • Succeeded the Nikon D300
  • Successor is Nikon D600
Pentax K-1
(Full Review)
  • 36MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 204800
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 1010g - 137 x 110 x 86mm
  • Released February 2016
  • Newer Model is Pentax K-1 II
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Nikon D300S vs Pentax K-1 Overview

Below is a extended analysis of the Nikon D300S versus Pentax K-1, both Advanced DSLR digital cameras by brands Nikon and Pentax. There is a noticeable difference between the image resolutions of the D300S (12MP) and K-1 (36MP) and the D300S (APS-C) and K-1 (Full frame) come with totally different sensor dimensions.

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The D300S was launched 7 years before the K-1 and that is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras offer the identical body type (Mid-size SLR).

Before going through a detailed comparison, below is a simple summation of how the D300S scores versus the K-1 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D300S over the Pentax K-1

 D300S K-1 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-1 over the Nikon D300S

 K-1 D300S 
ReleasedFebruary 2016November 2009More recent by 76 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display sizing3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution1037k920kCrisper display (+117k dot)

Common features in the Nikon D300S and Pentax K-1

 D300S K-1 
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly display Absent Touch friendly display

Nikon D300S vs Pentax K-1 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to lug around your camera regularly, you'll have to consider its weight and volume. The Nikon D300S comes with external measurements of 147mm x 114mm x 74mm (5.8" x 4.5" x 2.9") accompanied by a weight of 938 grams (2.07 lbs) while the Pentax K-1 has sizing of 137mm x 110mm x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4") with a weight of 1010 grams (2.23 lbs).

Look at the Nikon D300S versus Pentax K-1 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have at the time. The following is the front view dimensions comparison of the D300S against the K-1.

Nikon D300S vs Pentax K-1 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the D300S and K-1 is 55 and 55 respectively.

Nikon D300S vs Pentax K-1 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D300S vs Pentax K-1 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very tough to visualise the contrast between sensor measurements just by going over specs. The visual underneath should give you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the D300S and K-1.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The D300S because of its tinier sensor will make getting shallower depth of field more difficult and the Pentax K-1 will offer you extra detail utilizing its extra 24 Megapixels. Greater resolution will help you crop pics far more aggressively. The older D300S is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Nikon D300S vs Pentax K-1 sensor size comparison

Nikon D300S vs Pentax K-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D300S vs Pentax K-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Nikon D300S
Portrait photography with Pentax K-1
63
manual focus
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
MP count low (12MP)
85
you can focus manually
amazing MP (36 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
features face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Nikon D300S
Street photography with Pentax K-1
52
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
weather proofing
no moving screen
no image stabilization
more heavy than competition (938 grams)
70
screen can move to multiple angles
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
exports RAW formats
environment proof
good high ISO (204,800)
more heavy than competitors (1,010g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Nikon D300S
Sports photography with Pentax K-1
59
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
weather proofing
sensor has phase detect autofocus
no image stabilization
MP count low (12MP)
76
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
amazing MP (36 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
features tracking focus
environment proof
supports phase detect autofocus
low frames per second (4.4 frames per second)
bad battery power (760 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Nikon D300S Travel photography factors
Pentax K-1 Travel photography factors
48
weather proofing
flash built-in
more heavy than competition (938 grams)
MP count low (12MP)
does not have selfie friendly display
53
environment proof
amazing MP (36MP)
bad battery power (760 per charge)
more heavy than competitors (1,010g)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon D300S as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-1 as a Landscape photography camera
65
manual focus
switch lenses (Nikon F mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
weather proofing
has dual storage slots
no image stabilization
MP count low (12 megapixels)
81
you can focus manually
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3.2 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
amazing MP (36 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
does not have anti aliasing filter
good high ISO (204,800)
exports RAW formats
environment proof
has dual storage slots
bad battery power (760 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D300S as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-1 as a Vlogging camera
22
has face detection autofocus
includes external microphone jack
does not have selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
more heavy than competition (938g)
31
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with microphone jack
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
more heavy than competitors (1,010 grams)
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Nikon D300S vs Pentax K-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D300S and Pentax K-1
 Nikon D300SPentax K-1
General Information
Make Nikon Pentax
Model type Nikon D300S Pentax K-1
Category Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Announced 2009-11-16 2016-02-17
Body design Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Expeed -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Full frame
Sensor measurements 23.6 x 15.8mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor area 372.9mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 36 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Highest resolution 4288 x 2848 7360 x 4912
Highest native ISO 3200 204800
Highest boosted ISO 6400 -
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW files
Min boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 51 33
Cross type focus points - 25
Lens
Lens support Nikon F Pentax KAF2
Available lenses 309 151
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 3" 3.2"
Resolution of screen 920 thousand dot 1,037 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech Super Density TFT color LCD with wide-viewing angle -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.63x 0.7x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 7.0 frames/s 4.4 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain Auto Flash Discharge, Auto Flash + Red-eye Reduction, Flash On, Flash On + Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Slow-speed Sync + Red-eye, P-TTL, Trailing Curtain Sync, Contrast-control-sync, High-speed sync, Wireless sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/250 seconds 1/200 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (24 fps), 640 x 480 (24 fps), 320 x 240 (24 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional Built-in
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 938 grams (2.07 lbs) 1010 grams (2.23 lbs)
Dimensions 147 x 114 x 74mm (5.8" x 4.5" x 2.9") 137 x 110 x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 70 96
DXO Color Depth rating 22.5 25.4
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.2 14.6
DXO Low light rating 787 3280
Other
Battery life 950 shots 760 shots
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL3e D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Compact Flash Type I/SD/SDHC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I)
Storage slots Dual Dual
Launch price $1,630 $1,499