Olympus XZ-1 vs Pentax Q-S1

Below is a extended assessment of the Olympus XZ-1 vs Pentax Q-S1, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the XZ-1 (10MP) and the Q-S1 (12MP) is fairly close but the XZ-1 (1/1.63") and Q-S1 (1/1.7") use totally different sensor size.

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The XZ-1 was released 4 years earlier than the Q-S1 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus XZ-1 being a Compact camera and the Pentax Q-S1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going in to a in depth comparison, below is a brief summary of how the XZ-1 scores vs the Q-S1 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus XZ-1 & Pentax Q-S1. The complete galleries are available at Olympus XZ-1 Gallery & Pentax Q-S1 Gallery.

When you are intending to lug around your camera often, you are going to need to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus XZ-1 has exterior measurements of 111mm x 65mm x 42mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7") and a weight of 275 grams (0.61 lbs) and the Pentax Q-S1 has measurements of 105mm x 58mm x 34mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") and a weight of 203 grams (0.45 lbs).

Compare the Olympus XZ-1 vs Pentax Q-S1 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have chosen during that time. Following is the front view dimensions comparison of the XZ-1 vs the Q-S1.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the XZ-1 and Q-S1 is 88 and 92 respectively.

Usually, it is very tough to see the gap in sensor measurements just by researching specs. The graphic underneath will offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the XZ-1 and Q-S1.

As you can plainly see, both cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The XZ-1 because of its larger sensor will make getting shallow depth of field less difficult and the Pentax Q-S1 will provide you with greater detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also help you crop pics far more aggressively. The older XZ-1 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.