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Pentax K-01 vs Pentax RS1500

Portability
76
Imaging
57
Features
68
Overall
61
Pentax K-01 front
 
Pentax Optio RS1500 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
30
Overall
34

Pentax K-01 vs Pentax RS1500 Key Specs

Pentax K-01
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Increase to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 561g - 122 x 79 x 58mm
  • Released May 2012
Pentax RS1500
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-110mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
  • Revealed March 2011
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Pentax K-01 vs Pentax RS1500 Overview

Its time to look much closer at the Pentax K-01 vs Pentax RS1500, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are sold by Pentax. The sensor resolution of the K-01 (16MP) and the RS1500 (14MP) is fairly similar but the K-01 (APS-C) and RS1500 (1/2.3") posses different sensor dimensions.

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The K-01 was introduced 15 months later than the RS1500 making them a generation apart from one another. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Pentax K-01 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax RS1500 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight to a thorough comparison, here is a concise summation of how the K-01 matches up vs the RS1500 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-01 over the Pentax RS1500

 K-01 RS1500 
RevealedMay 2012March 2011More recent by 15 months
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kClearer display (+691k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax RS1500 over the Pentax K-01

 RS1500 K-01 

Common features in the Pentax K-01 and Pentax RS1500

 K-01 RS1500 
Manually focus Dial exact focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch display Neither offers Touch display

Pentax K-01 vs Pentax RS1500 Physical Comparison

If you're going to lug around your camera often, you have to think about its weight and size. The Pentax K-01 offers exterior dimensions of 122mm x 79mm x 58mm (4.8" x 3.1" x 2.3") having a weight of 561 grams (1.24 lbs) while the Pentax RS1500 has specifications of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") having a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).

Look at the Pentax K-01 vs Pentax RS1500 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are employing at the time. Following is a front view physical size comparison of the K-01 vs the RS1500.

Pentax K-01 vs Pentax RS1500 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the K-01 and RS1500 is 76 and 93 respectively.

Pentax K-01 vs Pentax RS1500 top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-01 vs Pentax RS1500 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very difficult to picture the contrast between sensor measurements just by reading technical specs. The graphic here should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the K-01 and RS1500.

As you can tell, both of these cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The K-01 using its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF easier and the Pentax K-01 will deliver more detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The newer K-01 should have an edge in sensor technology.

Pentax K-01 vs Pentax RS1500 sensor size comparison

Pentax K-01 vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-01 vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-01 Portrait photography information
Pentax RS1500 Portrait photography information
74
manual focus
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
provides face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
35
you can focus manually
MP count decent (14MP)
no manual mode
can't use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Pentax K-01 Street photography advice
Pentax RS1500 Street photography advice
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
screen does not articulate
heavier than competitors in class (561g)
54
weather proof
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K-01 Sports photography info
Pentax RS1500 Sports photography info
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
better than average battery (540 per charge)
max fps very slow (6.0 fps)
doesn't have phase detect AF
37
MP count decent (14MP)
provides tracking focus
weather proof
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
does not have image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax K-01 Travel photography highlights
Pentax RS1500 Travel photography highlights
65
better than average battery (540 per charge)
good MP (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
heavier than competitors in class (561 grams)
display is not selfie friendly
67
weather proof
MP count decent (14MP)
has built in flash
rather wide (28mm)
missing Timelapse recording
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-01 Landscape photography factors
Pentax RS1500 Landscape photography factors
80
manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
better than average battery (540 per charge)
40
you can focus manually
rather wide (28mm)
MP count decent (14MP)
weather proof
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
no manual mode
does not have image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax K-01 Vlogging factors
Pentax RS1500 Vlogging factors
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has external mic socket
display is not selfie friendly
heavier than competitors in class (561g)
25
rather wide (28mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing microphone port
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Pentax K-01 vs Pentax RS1500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-01 and Pentax RS1500
 Pentax K-01Pentax Optio RS1500
General Information
Brand Name Pentax Pentax
Model type Pentax K-01 Pentax Optio RS1500
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Released 2012-05-30 2011-03-16
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 23.7 x 15.7mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 372.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4928 x 3264 4288 x 3216
Max native ISO 12800 6400
Max enhanced ISO 25600 -
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 81 9
Lens
Lens support Pentax KAF2 fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-110mm (3.9x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Available lenses 151 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of screen 921 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech TFT LCD monitor TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 secs 4 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1500 secs
Continuous shutter speed 6.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 3.90 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow-speed Sync, Trailing Curtain Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24 fps),1280 x 720 (60, 50, 30, 25, 24 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25, 24 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 561 grams (1.24 lb) 157 grams (0.35 lb)
Physical dimensions 122 x 79 x 58mm (4.8" x 3.1" x 2.3") 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 79 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 23.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.9 not tested
DXO Low light rating 1135 not tested
Other
Battery life 540 images 260 images
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID D-LI90 D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Price at release $899 $150