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Pentax K-5 vs Pentax S1

Portability
60
Imaging
56
Features
82
Overall
66
Pentax K-5 front
 
Pentax Optio S1 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
31
Overall
34

Pentax K-5 vs Pentax S1 Key Specs

Pentax K-5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800 (Bump to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 740g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Released December 2010
  • Replaced the Pentax K-7
  • Successor is Pentax K-5 IIs
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-5 vs Pentax S1 Overview

Following is a complete analysis of the Pentax K-5 vs Pentax S1, one is a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are built by Pentax. The image resolution of the K-5 (16MP) and the S1 (14MP) is very comparable but the K-5 (APS-C) and S1 (1/2.3") posses different sensor sizing.

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The K-5 was manufactured 2 months before the S1 so they are of a similar generation. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Pentax K-5 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 brief introduction of how the K-5 matches up vs the S1 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 over the Pentax S1

 K-5 S1 
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kCrisper display (+691k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax S1 over the Pentax K-5

 S1 K-5 

Common features in the Pentax K-5 and Pentax S1

 K-5 S1 
LaunchedDecember 2010March 2011Same generation
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither features Touch friendly display

Pentax K-5 vs Pentax S1 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to carry around your camera often, you'll need to factor in its weight and size. The Pentax K-5 enjoys outer dimensions of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") having a weight of 740 grams (1.63 lbs) while the Pentax S1 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).

Compare the Pentax K-5 vs Pentax S1 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have attached at that moment. Underneath is a front view proportions comparison of the K-5 against the S1.

Pentax K-5 vs Pentax S1 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the K-5 and S1 is 60 and 93 respectively.

Pentax K-5 vs Pentax S1 top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-5 vs Pentax S1 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's difficult to picture the contrast in sensor sizes merely by going through a spec sheet. The image here will help offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the K-5 and S1.

As you can see, the two cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The K-5 because of its larger sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field simpler and the Pentax K-5 will provide extra detail due to its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop images a bit more aggressively.

Pentax K-5 vs Pentax S1 sensor size comparison

Pentax K-5 vs Pentax S1 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-5 vs Pentax S1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Pentax K-5
Portrait photography with Pentax S1
73
manual focus
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
provides face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
35
has manual focus
good MP (14MP)
no manual control
can't use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Pentax K-5
Street photography with Pentax S1
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
environment sealing
screen is fixed
56
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K-5 Sports photography info
Pentax S1 Sports photography info
78
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
provides tracking autofocus
environment sealing
comes with phase detect AF
39
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (14 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
slow frames per second (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Pentax K-5
Travel photography with Pentax S1
65
environment sealing
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
display isn't selfie friendly
64
good MP (14MP)
flash built-in
fairly wide (28mm)
missing Time Lapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Pentax K-5
Landscape photography with Pentax S1
78
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
environment sealing
42
has manual focus
fairly wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (14 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
no manual control
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
missing Time Lapse function
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Pentax K-5 Vlogging information
Pentax S1 Vlogging information
33
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have external microphone port
display isn't selfie friendly
28
fairly wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing mic support
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Pentax K-5 vs Pentax S1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-5 and Pentax S1
 Pentax K-5Pentax Optio S1
General Information
Company Pentax Pentax
Model Pentax K-5 Pentax Optio S1
Class Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Released 2010-12-18 2011-03-02
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Prime II -
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 aliasing 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 51200 -
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 11 9
Cross focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mount Pentax KAF2 fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Available lenses 151 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 2.7 inches
Display resolution 921 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology TFT LCD monitor TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.61x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 secs 4 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/1500 secs
Continuous shooting rate 7.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 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
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 740g (1.63 lb) 157g (0.35 lb)
Physical 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 All around score 82 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 23.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 14.1 not tested
DXO Low light score 1162 not tested
Other
Battery life 980 images 260 images
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model D-LI90 D-LI92
Self timer Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Pricing at launch $800 $174