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Pentax K-5 vs Pentax RS1500

Portability
60
Imaging
56
Features
82
Overall
66
Pentax K-5 front
 
Pentax Optio RS1500 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
30
Overall
34

Pentax K-5 vs Pentax RS1500 Key Specs

Pentax K-5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800 (Boost to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 740g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Launched December 2010
  • Superseded the Pentax K-7
  • Replacement is Pentax K-5 IIs
Pentax RS1500
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • 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-5 vs Pentax RS1500 Overview

Its time to look closer at the Pentax K-5 vs Pentax RS1500, one being a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and they are both created by Pentax. The resolution of the K-5 (16MP) and the RS1500 (14MP) is relatively similar but the K-5 (APS-C) and RS1500 (1/2.3") use different sensor size.

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The K-5 was unveiled 2 months prior to the RS1500 and they are both of a similar generation. Both cameras offer different body type with the Pentax K-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax RS1500 being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight into a thorough comparison, below is a short highlight of how the K-5 scores versus the RS1500 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 over the Pentax RS1500

 K-5 RS1500 
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kSharper screen (+691k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax RS1500 over the Pentax K-5

 RS1500 K-5 

Common features in the Pentax K-5 and Pentax RS1500

 K-5 RS1500 
RevealedDecember 2010March 2011Similar generation
Manual focus Very accurate focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

Pentax K-5 vs Pentax RS1500 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to carry your camera, you need to consider its weight and measurements. The Pentax K-5 features outside measurements of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") having a weight of 740 grams (1.63 lbs) whilst the Pentax RS1500 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).

Analyze the Pentax K-5 vs Pentax RS1500 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you choose at the time. Below is the front view measurement comparison of the K-5 and the RS1500.

Pentax K-5 vs Pentax RS1500 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the K-5 and RS1500 is 60 and 93 respectively.

Pentax K-5 vs Pentax RS1500 top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-5 vs Pentax RS1500 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be tough to picture the difference between sensor sizing simply by reading a spec sheet. The photograph here should give you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the K-5 and RS1500.

As you can see, the two cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The K-5 having a bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF simpler and the Pentax K-5 will offer you more detail having an extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop shots a little more aggressively.

Pentax K-5 vs Pentax RS1500 sensor size comparison

Pentax K-5 vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-5 vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Pentax K-5
Portrait photography with Pentax RS1500
73
you can focus manually
MP count good (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
35
you can focus manually
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
manual exposure not possible
no external flash support
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Pentax K-5 Street photography advice
Pentax RS1500 Street photography advice
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
screen is fixed
54
environment proof
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K-5 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax RS1500 as a Sports photography camera
78
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has tracking autofocus
weather sealing
supports phase detect autofocus
37
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
environment proof
low frames per second (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax K-5 Travel photography factors
Pentax RS1500 Travel photography factors
65
weather sealing
MP count good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
does not have selfie friendly display
67
environment proof
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
rather wide (28mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
does not feature selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-5 Landscape photography details
Pentax RS1500 Landscape photography details
78
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
40
you can focus manually
rather wide (28mm)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
environment proof
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
manual exposure not possible
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Pentax K-5
Vlogging with Pentax RS1500
33
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with external microphone jack
does not have selfie friendly display
25
rather wide (28mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external microphone jack
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Pentax K-5 vs Pentax RS1500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-5 and Pentax RS1500
 Pentax K-5Pentax Optio RS1500
General Information
Brand Name Pentax Pentax
Model type Pentax K-5 Pentax Optio RS1500
Class Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2010-12-18 2011-03-16
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Prime II -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 23.7 x 15.7mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 372.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4928 x 3264 4288 x 3216
Maximum native ISO 12800 6400
Maximum enhanced ISO 51200 -
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 11 9
Cross type focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mount type Pentax KAF2 fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-110mm (3.9x)
Maximum 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 diagonal 3 inches 2.7 inches
Screen resolution 921 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech TFT LCD monitor TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.61x -
Features
Min shutter speed 30s 4s
Max shutter speed 1/8000s 1/1500s
Continuous shutter speed 7.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 3.90 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/180s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (25 fps), 1280 x 720 (25, 30 fps), 640 x 424 (25, 30 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 data format Motion JPEG 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 740 gr (1.63 lb) 157 gr (0.35 lb)
Dimensions 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 82 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 23.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 14.1 not tested
DXO Low light rating 1162 not tested
Other
Battery life 980 shots 260 shots
Form 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 shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Launch price $800 $150