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Pentax K-30 vs Pentax RS1500

Portability
63
Imaging
57
Features
66
Overall
60
Pentax K-30 front
 
Pentax Optio RS1500 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
30
Overall
34

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax RS1500 Key Specs

Pentax K-30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Bump to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Revealed October 2012
  • New Model is Pentax K-50
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-30 vs Pentax RS1500 Overview

Below is a in depth review of the Pentax K-30 and Pentax RS1500, former being a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are manufactured by Pentax. The resolution of the K-30 (16MP) and the RS1500 (14MP) is very close but the K-30 (APS-C) and RS1500 (1/2.3") use totally different sensor size.

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The K-30 was unveiled 20 months later than the RS1500 making the cameras a generation apart from each other. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Pentax K-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax RS1500 being a Compact camera.

Before delving in to a more detailed comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the K-30 scores vs the RS1500 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-30 over the Pentax RS1500

 K-30 RS1500 
IntroducedOctober 2012March 2011More recent by 20 months
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kClearer display (+691k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax RS1500 over the Pentax K-30

 RS1500 K-30 

Common features in the Pentax K-30 and Pentax RS1500

 K-30 RS1500 
Manually focus Dial precise focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch display Neither contains Touch display

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax RS1500 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to lug around your camera often, you are going to need to consider its weight and volume. The Pentax K-30 has got exterior dimensions of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") and a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs) while the Pentax RS1500 has sizing of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") along with a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).

Look at the Pentax K-30 and Pentax RS1500 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have attached at that time. Underneath is the front view scale comparison of the K-30 versus the RS1500.

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax RS1500 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the K-30 and RS1500 is 63 and 93 respectively.

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax RS1500 top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax RS1500 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its difficult to envision the contrast in sensor measurements simply by researching specifications. The photograph here will help offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the K-30 and RS1500.

Plainly, both of these cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The K-30 using its larger sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field simpler and the Pentax K-30 will result in greater detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop photos a little more aggressively. The more modern K-30 will have an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax RS1500 sensor size comparison

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-30 Portrait photography information
Pentax RS1500 Portrait photography information
74
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
35
has manual focus
decent MP (14 megapixels)
no manual exposure
cannot use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Pentax K-30 Street photography factors
Pentax RS1500 Street photography factors
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
weather proofing
fixed screen
54
environment proofing
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K-30 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax RS1500 as a Sports photography camera
67
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports tracking focus
weather proofing
comes with phase detect AF
slow fps (6.0 frames/s)
bad battery power (410 per charge)
37
decent MP (14 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
environment proofing
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax K-30 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax RS1500 as a Travel photography camera
60
weather proofing
megapixel count decent (16MP)
built-in flash
bad battery power (410 per charge)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
67
environment proofing
decent MP (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
rather wide (28mm)
no Timelapse mode
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-30 Landscape photography factors
Pentax RS1500 Landscape photography factors
73
focusing manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
weather proofing
bad battery power (410 shots)
40
has manual focus
rather wide (28mm)
decent MP (14MP)
environment proofing
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
no manual exposure
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Pentax K-30
Vlogging with Pentax RS1500
30
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
does not have microphone port
25
rather wide (28mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external microphone jack
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Pentax K-30 vs Pentax RS1500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-30 and Pentax RS1500
 Pentax K-30Pentax Optio RS1500
General Information
Make Pentax Pentax
Model Pentax K-30 Pentax Optio RS1500
Category Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2012-10-29 2011-03-16
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Prime M -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 23.7 x 15.7mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 372.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4928 x 3264 4288 x 3216
Maximum native ISO 12800 6400
Maximum boosted ISO 25600 -
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 11 9
Cross focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Pentax KAF2 fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-110mm (3.9x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Amount of lenses 151 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 2.7"
Resolution of screen 921k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.61x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 4 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/6000 seconds 1/1500 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 6.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 3.90 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye,Slow Sync, Slow Sync+ Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50,30,25,24 fps), 640 x 424 (30,25,24 fps) 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
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 650 grams (1.43 pounds) 157 grams (0.35 pounds)
Dimensions 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 79 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 23.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 13.0 not tested
DXO Low light score 1129 not tested
Other
Battery life 410 photos 260 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model D-LI109,4 x AA D-LI92
Self timer Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Launch pricing $525 $150