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Panasonic XS1 vs Pentax Q

Portability
97
Imaging
40
Features
26
Overall
34
Panasonic Lumix DMC-XS1 front
 
Pentax Q front
Portability
93
Imaging
35
Features
47
Overall
39

Panasonic XS1 vs Pentax Q Key Specs

Panasonic XS1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.8-6.9) lens
  • 103g - 94 x 54 x 14mm
  • Announced January 2013
Pentax Q
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax Q Mount
  • 180g - 98 x 57 x 31mm
  • Announced June 2011
  • Successor is Pentax Q10
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Panasonic XS1 vs Pentax Q Overview

In this write-up, we are looking at the Panasonic XS1 vs Pentax Q, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a huge gap between the resolutions of the XS1 (16MP) and Q (12MP) but they feature the same exact sensor size (1/2.3").

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The XS1 was unveiled 19 months after the Q making the cameras a generation away from one another. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic XS1 being a Compact camera and the Pentax Q being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving through a complete comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the XS1 scores vs the Q in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic XS1 over the Pentax Q

 XS1 Q 
AnnouncedJanuary 2013June 2011Newer by 19 months

Reasons to pick Pentax Q over the Panasonic XS1

 Q XS1 
Manual focus Very accurate focus
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic XS1 and Pentax Q

 XS1 Q 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch display Neither provides Touch display

Panasonic XS1 vs Pentax Q Physical Comparison

For those who are going to travel with your camera regularly, you will need to think about its weight and measurements. The Panasonic XS1 provides outside dimensions of 94mm x 54mm x 14mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.6") and a weight of 103 grams (0.23 lbs) and the Pentax Q has proportions of 98mm x 57mm x 31mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.2") and a weight of 180 grams (0.40 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic XS1 vs Pentax Q in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Below is the front view sizing comparison of the XS1 and the Q.

Panasonic XS1 vs Pentax Q size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the XS1 and Q is 97 and 93 respectively.

Panasonic XS1 vs Pentax Q top view buttons comparison

Panasonic XS1 vs Pentax Q Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very hard to visualize the contrast between sensor dimensions simply by checking specifications. The picture below will help give you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the XS1 and Q.

To sum up, both of the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but different megapixels. You should anticipate the Panasonic XS1 to resolve greater detail having an extra 4MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop images a little more aggressively. The newer XS1 should have an edge in sensor tech.

Panasonic XS1 vs Pentax Q sensor size comparison

Panasonic XS1 vs Pentax Q Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic XS1 vs Pentax Q Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic XS1 Portrait photography factors
Pentax Q Portrait photography factors
30
megapixel count good (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
45
you can focus manually
high flash sync speed (1/2,000 seconds)
exports RAW formats
low resolution (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Panasonic XS1 Street photography factors
Pentax Q Street photography factors
64
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (103g)
no articulating screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
69
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
exports RAW formats
lighter than competition in class (180 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic XS1 Sports photography information
Pentax Q Sports photography information
41
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
31
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports tracking focus
max frames per second very slow (2.0 frames/s)
low resolution (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
low battery power (230 shots)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic XS1
Travel photography with Pentax Q
69
lighter than competition in class (103 grams)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
fairly wide (24mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
57
lighter than competition in class (180 grams)
built-in flash
does not have Timelapse mode
low battery power (230 shots)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic XS1 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax Q as a Landscape photography camera
39
fairly wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.7")
manual mode not possible
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
doesn't have Timelapse mode
51
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Pentax Q mount)
screen is a good size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
exports RAW formats
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
low battery power (230 per charge)
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic XS1 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax Q as a Vlogging camera
31
fairly wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (103 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external microphone support
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (180g)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
does not have microphone socket
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Panasonic XS1 vs Pentax Q Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic XS1 and Pentax Q
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-XS1Pentax Q
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-XS1 Pentax Q
Type Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2013-01-07 2011-06-23
Physical type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 100 125
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points - 25
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Pentax Q
Lens zoom range 24-120mm (5.0x) -
Highest aperture f/2.8-6.9 -
Macro focusing range 5cm -
Total lenses - 8
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech TFT LCD TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/1600s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.40 m 5.60 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Trailing-curtain sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/2000s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720p (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 103 gr (0.23 lb) 180 gr (0.40 lb)
Dimensions 94 x 54 x 14mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.6") 98 x 57 x 31mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 47
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 20.2
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.1
DXO Low light rating not tested 189
Other
Battery life 260 photos 230 photos
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI68
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Retail price $130 $695