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Panasonic S1 vs Pentax K-S2

Portability
96
Imaging
35
Features
21
Overall
29
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S1 front
 
Pentax K-S2 front
Portability
64
Imaging
64
Features
82
Overall
71

Panasonic S1 vs Pentax K-S2 Key Specs

Panasonic S1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-5.6) lens
  • 117g - 99 x 59 x 21mm
  • Released January 2011
Pentax K-S2
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 678g - 123 x 91 x 73mm
  • Revealed February 2015
  • Older Model is Pentax K-S1
Photography Glossary

Panasonic S1 vs Pentax K-S2 Overview

Its time to take a more detailed look at the Panasonic S1 vs Pentax K-S2, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Panasonic and Pentax. There is a sizeable difference between the image resolutions of the S1 (12MP) and K-S2 (20MP) and the S1 (1/2.3") and K-S2 (APS-C) feature different sensor sizes.

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The S1 was announced 5 years earlier than the K-S2 and that is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic S1 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-S2 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving straight into a detailed comparison, below is a quick view of how the S1 scores against the K-S2 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic S1 over the Pentax K-S2

 S1 K-S2 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-S2 over the Panasonic S1

 K-S2 S1 
RevealedFebruary 2015January 2011Fresher by 49 months
Focus manually Very exact focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kCrisper display (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Panasonic S1 and Pentax K-S2

 S1 K-S2 
Touch display Lack of Touch display

Panasonic S1 vs Pentax K-S2 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to carry your camera, you'll need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Panasonic S1 comes with outer dimensions of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") with a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs) while the Pentax K-S2 has proportions of 123mm x 91mm x 73mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.9") along with a weight of 678 grams (1.49 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic S1 vs Pentax K-S2 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are utilising at the time. Following is the front view overall size comparison of the S1 compared to the K-S2.

Panasonic S1 vs Pentax K-S2 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the S1 and K-S2 is 96 and 64 respectively.

Panasonic S1 vs Pentax K-S2 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic S1 vs Pentax K-S2 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very hard to imagine the difference between sensor sizing just by checking technical specs. The graphic underneath should give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the S1 and K-S2.

As you have seen, both of these cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The S1 using its tinier sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field tougher and the Pentax K-S2 will resolve extra detail with its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The older S1 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Panasonic S1 vs Pentax K-S2 sensor size comparison

Panasonic S1 vs Pentax K-S2 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic S1 vs Pentax K-S2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic S1 Portrait photography features
Pentax K-S2 Portrait photography features
21
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not available
no external flash support
MP count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
78
has manual focus
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detection focusing
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic S1 Street photography info
Pentax K-S2 Street photography info
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (117g)
fixed screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
72
fully articulated screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
environment sealing
good ISO range (51,200)
heavier than competition in class (678g)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic S1 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-S2 as a Sports photography camera
27
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no shutter priority
MP count low (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
70
high shutter speed (1/6,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
offers tracking autofocus
environment sealing
sensor has phase detect AF
max frames per second very slow (5.4 frames/s)
not so great battery (410 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic S1 Travel photography info
Pentax K-S2 Travel photography info
62
lighter than competition (117 grams)
built-in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
MP count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
65
environment sealing
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
has built in flash
selfie friendly display
not so great battery (410 CIPA)
heavier than competition in class (678g)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic S1
Landscape photography with Pentax K-S2
32
fairly wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
manual mode not available
MP count low (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
lack of Timelapse mode
77
has manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
no low pass filter
good ISO range (51,200)
saves RAW files
environment sealing
not so great battery (410 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic S1
Vlogging with Pentax K-S2
31
fairly wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (117 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of microphone support
71
selfie friendly display
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes external mic jack
heavier than competition in class (678g)
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Panasonic S1 vs Pentax K-S2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic S1 and Pentax K-S2
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-S1Pentax K-S2
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-S1 Pentax K-S2
Category Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2011-01-05 2015-02-10
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine IV PRIME MII
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 5472 x 3648
Highest native ISO 6400 51200
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 11 11
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 28-112mm (4.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.1-5.6 -
Macro focus range 5cm -
Number of lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display size 2.7 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 8 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed - 5.4fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.30 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, flash on, flash on + redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync, manual flash
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 117g (0.26 pounds) 678g (1.49 pounds)
Dimensions 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") 123 x 91 x 73mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 240 photos 410 photos
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI109
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 secs)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Retail cost $269 $581