Clicky

Olympus SH-50 vs Pentax Q-S1

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
48
Overall
43
Olympus SH-50 front
 
Pentax Q-S1 front
Portability
92
Imaging
38
Features
54
Overall
44

Olympus SH-50 vs Pentax Q-S1 Key Specs

Olympus SH-50
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 269g - 112 x 63 x 42mm
  • Launched January 2013
Pentax Q-S1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax Q Mount
  • 203g - 105 x 58 x 34mm
  • Launched August 2014
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Olympus SH-50 vs Pentax Q-S1 Overview

In this article, we are matching up the Olympus SH-50 vs Pentax Q-S1, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Olympus and Pentax. There exists a considerable gap among the sensor resolutions of the SH-50 (16MP) and Q-S1 (12MP) and the SH-50 (1/2.3") and Q-S1 (1/1.7") use totally different sensor measurements.

Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

The SH-50 was released 19 months before the Q-S1 making the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SH-50 being a Compact camera and the Pentax Q-S1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving straight into a full comparison, below is a short view of how the SH-50 matches up vs the Q-S1 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus SH-50 over the Pentax Q-S1

 SH-50 Q-S1 
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax Q-S1 over the Olympus SH-50

 Q-S1 SH-50 
LaunchedAugust 2014January 2013Fresher by 19 months

Common features in the Olympus SH-50 and Pentax Q-S1

 SH-50 Q-S1 
Manual focus More precise focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurements
Display resolution460k460kIdentical display resolution
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Olympus SH-50 vs Pentax Q-S1 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to carry your camera regularly, you are going to need to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus SH-50 offers physical dimensions of 112mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) whilst the Pentax Q-S1 has proportions of 105mm x 58mm x 34mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") along with a weight of 203 grams (0.45 lbs).

Check out the Olympus SH-50 vs Pentax Q-S1 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Underneath is the front view sizing comparison of the SH-50 versus the Q-S1.

Olympus SH-50 vs Pentax Q-S1 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SH-50 and Q-S1 is 88 and 92 respectively.

Olympus SH-50 vs Pentax Q-S1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SH-50 vs Pentax Q-S1 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is hard to envision the difference in sensor sizing simply by checking out a spec sheet. The photograph below should offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the SH-50 and Q-S1.

Clearly, both cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The SH-50 due to its smaller sensor will make achieving shallow DOF more challenging and the Olympus SH-50 will provide more detail as a result of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop pics far more aggressively. The older SH-50 will be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus SH-50 vs Pentax Q-S1 sensor size comparison

Olympus SH-50 vs Pentax Q-S1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SH-50 vs Pentax Q-S1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SH-50 Portrait photography features
Pentax Q-S1 Portrait photography features
44
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16MP)
has face detection autofocus
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
46
has manual focus
features face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
megapixel count low (12MP)
small sensor size (1/1.7")
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Street Comparison

Olympus SH-50 Street photography information
Pentax Q-S1 Street photography information
64
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides touch focus
lighter than competition (269g)
screen does not articulate
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
69
image stabilization (Sensor based)
delivers RAW formats
lighter than competition (203g)
fixed screen
small sensor size (1/1.7")
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Sports Comparison

Olympus SH-50 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax Q-S1 as a Sports photography camera
48
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16MP)
has tracking autofocus
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
37
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
megapixel count low (12MP)
small sensor size (1/1.7")
low battery life (250 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect AF
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Travel Comparison

Olympus SH-50 Travel photography factors
Pentax Q-S1 Travel photography factors
69
lighter than competition (269 grams)
provides touch focus
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
decently wide (25mm)
great reach (600mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
does not offer selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
60
lighter than competition (203 grams)
flash built-in
low battery life (250 CIPA)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
does not contain selfie friendly display
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Landscape Comparison

Olympus SH-50 Landscape photography information
Pentax Q-S1 Landscape photography information
49
you can focus manually
decently wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse recording
55
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax Q mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
delivers RAW formats
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/1.7")
low battery life (250 CIPA)
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SH-50
Vlogging with Pentax Q-S1
34
decently wide (25mm)
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition (269 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
does not offer selfie friendly display
doesn't have external microphone support
35
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition (203 grams)
does not contain selfie friendly display
missing external microphone port
Photography Glossary

Olympus SH-50 vs Pentax Q-S1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SH-50 and Pentax Q-S1
 Olympus SH-50Pentax Q-S1
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus SH-50 Pentax Q-S1
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2013-01-08 2014-08-04
Body design Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VI Q Engine
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/1.7"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Min native ISO 125 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Pentax Q
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focusing distance 5cm -
Number of lenses - 8
Focal length multiplier 5.8 4.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/8000s
Continuous shutter speed 12.0 frames/s 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.00 m 4.90 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync Auto, redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 480fps (176 x 128), 240fps (384 x 288) 1920 x 1080 (30,25, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30, 25, 24p), 640 x 480 (30, 25, 24p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 269g (0.59 pounds) 203g (0.45 pounds)
Dimensions 112 x 63 x 42mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.7") 105 x 58 x 34mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 - 250 pictures
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID SLB-10A D-LI68
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, Pet Auto Shutter) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Storage slots 1 1
Retail pricing $300 $250