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Pentax K-3 vs Pentax RS1500

Portability
59
Imaging
66
Features
85
Overall
73
Pentax K-3 front
 
Pentax Optio RS1500 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
30
Overall
34

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax RS1500 Key Specs

Pentax K-3
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 800g - 131 x 100 x 77mm
  • Launched April 2014
  • Replacement is Pentax K-3 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
  • Introduced March 2011
Photography Glossary

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax RS1500 Overview

Its time to look much closer at the Pentax K-3 versus Pentax RS1500, one is a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are manufactured by Pentax. There exists a crucial gap among the sensor resolutions of the K-3 (24MP) and RS1500 (14MP) and the K-3 (APS-C) and RS1500 (1/2.3") use different sensor dimensions.

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The K-3 was revealed 3 years after the RS1500 which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Pentax K-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax RS1500 being a Compact camera.

Before we go in to a thorough comparison, below is a short introduction of how the K-3 grades vs the RS1500 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 over the Pentax RS1500

 K-3 RS1500 
IntroducedApril 2014March 2011More modern by 38 months
Display sizing3.2"2.7"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution1037k230kClearer display (+807k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax RS1500 over the Pentax K-3

 RS1500 K-3 

Common features in the Pentax K-3 and Pentax RS1500

 K-3 RS1500 
Focus manually Dial exact focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch display Neither provides Touch display

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax RS1500 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to carry around your camera regularly, you need to factor its weight and size. The Pentax K-3 provides outer dimensions of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") and a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs) while the Pentax RS1500 has specifications of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).

Check the Pentax K-3 versus Pentax RS1500 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Following is the front view measurement comparison of the K-3 versus the RS1500.

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax RS1500 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the K-3 and RS1500 is 59 and 93 respectively.

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax RS1500 top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax RS1500 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's hard to visualize the gap in sensor sizes purely by looking through technical specs. The picture below will give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the K-3 and RS1500.

As you can tell, both the cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The K-3 having a larger sensor is going to make achieving bokeh simpler and the Pentax K-3 will result in more detail because of its extra 10MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop pics far more aggressively. The more modern K-3 provides an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax RS1500 sensor size comparison

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-3 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax RS1500 as a Portrait photography camera
79
you can focus manually
good resolution (24MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
35
manual focus
decent megapixels (14MP)
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Pentax K-3
Street photography with Pentax RS1500
69
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
environment proofing
very good ISO range (51,200)
no articulating screen
54
environment proof
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K-3 Sports photography features
Pentax RS1500 Sports photography features
76
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (24 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports tracking autofocus
environment proofing
comes with phase detect AF
terrible battery pack (560 shots)
37
decent megapixels (14MP)
supports tracking autofocus
environment proof
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Pentax K-3
Travel photography with Pentax RS1500
60
environment proofing
good resolution (24MP)
has built in flash
terrible battery pack (560 shots)
display is not selfie friendly
67
environment proof
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
rather wide (28mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-3 Landscape photography info
Pentax RS1500 Landscape photography info
78
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
good sized screen (3.2")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (24 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
no low pass filter
very good ISO range (51,200)
supports RAW formats
environment proofing
has double storage slots
terrible battery pack (560 per charge)
40
manual focus
rather wide (28mm)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
environment proof
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
lack of manual mode
does not have image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax K-3 Vlogging features
Pentax RS1500 Vlogging features
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have external microphone port
display is not selfie friendly
25
rather wide (28mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external mic socket
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Pentax K-3 vs Pentax RS1500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-3 and Pentax RS1500
 Pentax K-3Pentax Optio RS1500
General Information
Brand Name Pentax Pentax
Model type Pentax K-3 Pentax Optio RS1500
Category Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2014-04-10 2011-03-16
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Prime III -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.6mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 366.6mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 6016 x 4000 4288 x 3216
Max native ISO 51200 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 27 9
Cross type focus points 25 -
Lens
Lens mount type Pentax KAF2 fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-110mm (3.9x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Number of lenses 151 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3.2 inches 2.7 inches
Screen resolution 1,037k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology TFT LCD monitor TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.64x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 seconds 4 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/1500 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 8.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 3.90 m
Flash modes Auto, on, off, red-eye, slow sync, slow sync + red-eye, trailing curtain sync, high speed, wireless, manual Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p) 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
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 800 gr (1.76 lb) 157 gr (0.35 lb)
Dimensions 131 x 100 x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 80 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 23.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 13.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 1216 not tested
Other
Battery life 560 pictures 260 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID D-LI90 D-LI92
Self timer Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Dual 1
Launch cost $639 $150