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Pentax K-1 vs Pentax RS1500

Portability
55
Imaging
76
Features
82
Overall
78
Pentax K-1 front
 
Pentax Optio RS1500 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
30
Overall
34

Pentax K-1 vs Pentax RS1500 Key Specs

Pentax K-1
(Full Review)
  • 36MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 204800
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 1010g - 137 x 110 x 86mm
  • Revealed February 2016
  • Updated by Pentax K-1 II
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-1 vs Pentax RS1500 Overview

Let's take a deeper look at the Pentax K-1 and Pentax RS1500, former being a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both are sold by Pentax. There exists a substantial gap among the resolutions of the K-1 (36MP) and RS1500 (14MP) and the K-1 (Full frame) and RS1500 (1/2.3") provide different sensor measurements.

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The K-1 was unveiled 4 years later than the RS1500 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Pentax K-1 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax RS1500 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight to a in depth comparison, here is a quick summation of how the K-1 grades versus the RS1500 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-1 over the Pentax RS1500

 K-1 RS1500 
RevealedFebruary 2016March 2011More recent by 60 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display dimensions3.2"2.7"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution1037k230kSharper display (+807k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax RS1500 over the Pentax K-1

 RS1500 K-1 

Common features in the Pentax K-1 and Pentax RS1500

 K-1 RS1500 
Manual focus More exact focus
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lack of Touch friendly display

Pentax K-1 vs Pentax RS1500 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to lug around your camera frequently, you will want to think about its weight and proportions. The Pentax K-1 comes with external dimensions of 137mm x 110mm x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4") having a weight of 1010 grams (2.23 lbs) whilst the Pentax RS1500 has measurements of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).

Take a look at the Pentax K-1 and Pentax RS1500 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are working with at the time. Underneath is a front view measurement comparison of the K-1 vs the RS1500.

Pentax K-1 vs Pentax RS1500 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the K-1 and RS1500 is 55 and 93 respectively.

Pentax K-1 vs Pentax RS1500 top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-1 vs Pentax RS1500 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be tough to imagine the contrast in sensor measurements purely by going through specs. The visual here may provide you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the K-1 and RS1500.

All in all, both cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The K-1 using its larger sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field easier and the Pentax K-1 will show more detail having an extra 22MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop pics a bit more aggressively. The more modern K-1 provides an edge with regard to sensor technology.

Pentax K-1 vs Pentax RS1500 sensor size comparison

Pentax K-1 vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-1 vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-1 Portrait photography features
Pentax RS1500 Portrait photography features
85
manual focus
amazing resolution (36 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
supports face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
35
has manual focus
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
manual mode not available
no external flash support
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Pentax K-1 Street photography features
Pentax RS1500 Street photography features
70
fully articulated screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
big sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
weather proof
good ISO range (204,800)
more heavy than competitors in class (1,010 grams)
54
weather proof
no moving screen
no image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K-1 Sports photography factors
Pentax RS1500 Sports photography factors
76
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
amazing resolution (36 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
supports tracking autofocus
weather proof
has phase detect auto focus
slow continuous shooting (4.4 frames per second)
bad battery life (760 CIPA)
37
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
includes tracking focus
weather proof
slow frames per second (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
no image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax K-1 Travel photography advice
Pentax RS1500 Travel photography advice
53
weather proof
amazing resolution (36MP)
bad battery life (760 per charge)
more heavy than competitors in class (1,010g)
display is not selfie friendly
67
weather proof
megapixel count good (14MP)
flash built-in
quite wide (28mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-1 Landscape photography details
Pentax RS1500 Landscape photography details
81
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a good size (3.2")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
amazing resolution (36MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
doesnt have low pass filter
good ISO range (204,800)
delivers RAW formats
weather proof
has dual storage slots
bad battery life (760 per charge)
40
has manual focus
quite wide (28mm)
megapixel count good (14MP)
weather proof
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
small screen (2.7 inch)
manual mode not available
no image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
does not have Timelapse mode
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Pentax K-1
Vlogging with Pentax RS1500
31
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has external microphone jack
display is not selfie friendly
more heavy than competitors in class (1,010g)
25
quite wide (28mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have microphone port
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Pentax K-1 vs Pentax RS1500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-1 and Pentax RS1500
 Pentax K-1Pentax Optio RS1500
General Information
Manufacturer Pentax Pentax
Model Pentax K-1 Pentax Optio RS1500
Class Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2016-02-17 2011-03-16
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Full frame 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 35.9 x 24mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 861.6mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 36 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 7360 x 4912 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 204800 6400
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 33 9
Cross focus points 25 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Pentax KAF2 fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-110mm (3.9x)
Highest aperture - f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus range - 1cm
Available lenses 151 -
Crop factor 1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3.2 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of display 1,037 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech - TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.7x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 4 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/1500 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 4.4 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 3.90 m
Flash options Auto Flash Discharge, Auto Flash + Red-eye Reduction, Flash On, Flash On + Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Slow-speed Sync + Red-eye, P-TTL, Trailing Curtain Sync, Contrast-control-sync, High-speed sync, Wireless sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/200 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
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 Built-in None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 1010g (2.23 lbs) 157g (0.35 lbs)
Physical dimensions 137 x 110 x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4") 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 96 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 25.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 14.6 not tested
DXO Low light score 3280 not tested
Other
Battery life 760 pictures 260 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model D-LI90 D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I) SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Two 1
Pricing at launch $1,499 $150