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Pentax K-3 vs Pentax S1

Portability
59
Imaging
66
Features
85
Overall
73
Pentax K-3 front
 
Pentax Optio S1 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
31
Overall
34

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax S1 Key Specs

Pentax K-3
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Display
  • 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
  • Successor is Pentax K-3 II
Pentax S1
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
  • Launched March 2011
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Pentax K-3 vs Pentax S1 Overview

Its time to take a deeper look at the Pentax K-3 and Pentax S1, one being a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are sold by Pentax. There is a crucial difference among the sensor resolutions of the K-3 (24MP) and S1 (14MP) and the K-3 (APS-C) and S1 (1/2.3") enjoy totally different sensor sizes.

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The K-3 was brought out 3 years later than the S1 and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Pentax K-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax S1 being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a quick overview of how the K-3 matches up versus the S1 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 over the Pentax S1

 K-3 S1 
LaunchedApril 2014March 2011More recent by 38 months
Display sizing3.2"2.7"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution1037k230kClearer display (+807k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax S1 over the Pentax K-3

 S1 K-3 

Common features in the Pentax K-3 and Pentax S1

 K-3 S1 
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither contains Touch friendly display

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax S1 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to lug around your camera, you are going to need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Pentax K-3 has got outer dimensions of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") having a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs) whilst the Pentax S1 has proportions of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") and a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).

Examine the Pentax K-3 and Pentax S1 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are utilizing at that time. The following is the front view scale comparison of the K-3 versus the S1.

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax S1 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the K-3 and S1 is 59 and 93 respectively.

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax S1 top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax S1 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is tough to visualise the contrast in sensor measurements purely by checking out specs. The visual below should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the K-3 and S1.

As you can plainly see, both of those cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The K-3 featuring a larger sensor will make achieving shallow DOF less difficult and the Pentax K-3 will provide extra detail having its extra 10MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop images far more aggressively. The fresher K-3 will have an edge when it comes to sensor technology.

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax S1 sensor size comparison

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax S1 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax S1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Pentax K-3
Portrait photography with Pentax S1
79
manual focus
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detect focusing
saves RAW files
35
focusing manually
good megapixels (14MP)
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Pentax K-3 Street photography details
Pentax S1 Street photography details
69
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
environment proofing
very good high ISO (51,200)
fixed screen
56
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no articulating screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K-3 Sports photography highlights
Pentax S1 Sports photography highlights
76
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
provides tracking focus
environment proofing
has phase detect AF
not so great battery (560 CIPA)
39
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (14MP)
has tracking focus
slow frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Pentax K-3 Travel photography factors
Pentax S1 Travel photography factors
60
environment proofing
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
built-in flash
not so great battery (560 CIPA)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
64
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (28mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-3 Landscape photography info
Pentax S1 Landscape photography info
78
manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
decent sized screen (3.2 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
no anti aliasing filter
very good high ISO (51,200)
saves RAW files
environment proofing
has double storage slots
not so great battery (560 CIPA)
42
focusing manually
quite wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is small (2.7")
no manual mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax K-3 Vlogging information
Pentax S1 Vlogging information
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has microphone port
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
28
quite wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of mic socket
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Pentax K-3 vs Pentax S1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-3 and Pentax S1
 Pentax K-3Pentax Optio S1
General Information
Make Pentax Pentax
Model type Pentax K-3 Pentax Optio S1
Category Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2014-04-10 2011-03-02
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor 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 area 366.6mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 6016 x 4000 4288 x 3216
Maximum native ISO 51200 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 27 9
Cross type focus points 25 -
Lens
Lens support Pentax KAF2 fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Available lenses 151 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3.2 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 1,037 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology TFT LCD monitor TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.64x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 secs 4 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/1500 secs
Continuous shooting rate 8.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 3.90 m
Flash options 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
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported 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)
Maximum 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
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 800 grams (1.76 pounds) 157 grams (0.35 pounds)
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 All around 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 shots 260 shots
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID D-LI90 D-LI92
Self timer Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Two Single
Cost at launch $639 $174