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Pentax K-30 vs Pentax S1

Portability
63
Imaging
57
Features
66
Overall
60
Pentax K-30 front
 
Pentax Optio S1 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
31
Overall
34

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax S1 Key Specs

Pentax K-30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Expand to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Introduced October 2012
  • Renewed by Pentax K-50
Pentax S1
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
  • Revealed March 2011
Photography Glossary

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax S1 Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Pentax K-30 versus Pentax S1, one being a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and both are designed by Pentax. The resolution of the K-30 (16MP) and the S1 (14MP) is relatively similar but the K-30 (APS-C) and S1 (1/2.3") offer different sensor measurements.

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The K-30 was manufactured 21 months later than the S1 which makes them a generation apart from each other. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Pentax K-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax S1 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a short view of how the K-30 matches up vs the S1 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-30 over the Pentax S1

 K-30 S1 
RevealedOctober 2012March 2011Fresher by 21 months
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kCrisper screen (+691k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax S1 over the Pentax K-30

 S1 K-30 

Common features in the Pentax K-30 and Pentax S1

 K-30 S1 
Focus manually Dial precise focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch screen Neither includes Touch screen

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax S1 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to carry your camera, you'll have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Pentax K-30 features 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) and the Pentax S1 has dimensions of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") and a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).

Take a look at the Pentax K-30 versus Pentax S1 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are working with at that time. Underneath is a front view size comparison of the K-30 and the S1.

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax S1 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the K-30 and S1 is 63 and 93 respectively.

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax S1 top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax S1 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very difficult to imagine the gap between sensor sizing purely by reviewing technical specs. The photograph here will help give you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the K-30 and S1.

As you have seen, both the cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The K-30 because of its bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF easier and the Pentax K-30 will deliver greater detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop photographs way more aggressively. The younger K-30 provides a benefit with regard to sensor tech.

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax S1 sensor size comparison

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax S1 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax S1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-30 Portrait photography advice
Pentax S1 Portrait photography advice
74
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
35
focusing manually
MP count decent (14MP)
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Pentax K-30 Street photography factors
Pentax S1 Street photography factors
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
weather proofing
screen is fixed
56
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no moving screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K-30 Sports photography advice
Pentax S1 Sports photography advice
67
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports tracking focus
weather proofing
has phase detect AF
max fps very slow (6.0 frames/s)
not so great battery (410 per charge)
39
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (14MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax K-30 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax S1 as a Travel photography camera
60
weather proofing
good megapixels (16MP)
has built in flash
not so great battery (410 shots)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
64
MP count decent (14MP)
flash built-in
rather wide (28mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-30 Landscape photography advice
Pentax S1 Landscape photography advice
73
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
weather proofing
not so great battery (410 CIPA)
42
focusing manually
rather wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
no manual exposure
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Pentax K-30
Vlogging with Pentax S1
30
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
missing mic socket
28
rather wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external mic jack
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Pentax K-30 vs Pentax S1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-30 and Pentax S1
 Pentax K-30Pentax Optio S1
General Information
Manufacturer Pentax Pentax
Model type Pentax K-30 Pentax Optio S1
Category Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2012-10-29 2011-03-02
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Prime M -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 23.7 x 15.7mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 372.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4928 x 3264 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 12800 6400
Highest boosted ISO 25600 -
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 11 9
Cross type focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens support Pentax KAF2 fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing distance - 1cm
Number of lenses 151 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of screen 921 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology 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% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.61x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 secs 4 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/6000 secs 1/1500 secs
Continuous shooting speed 6.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 3.90 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye,Slow Sync, Slow Sync+ Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/180 secs -
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)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 650 grams (1.43 lb) 157 grams (0.35 lb)
Physical 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 rating 79 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 23.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 13.0 not tested
DXO Low light rating 1129 not tested
Other
Battery life 410 photos 260 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID D-LI109,4 x AA D-LI92
Self timer Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $525 $174