Pentax K-50 vs Pentax Q-S1

On this page, we will be looking at the Pentax K-50 and Pentax Q-S1, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and they are both manufactured by Pentax. There exists a noticeable gap between the image resolutions of the K-50 (16MP) and Q-S1 (12MP) and the K-50 (APS-C) and Q-S1 (1/1.7") offer different sensor sizing.

Photography Glossary

The K-50 was unveiled 8 months before the Q-S1 and they are of a similar age. The two cameras have different body design with the Pentax K-50 being a Compact SLR camera and the Pentax Q-S1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a simple view of how the K-50 matches up vs the Q-S1 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Here is a preview of the gallery images for Pentax K-50 & Pentax Q-S1. The full galleries are available at Pentax K-50 Gallery & Pentax Q-S1 Gallery.

For anybody who is going to travel with your camera frequently, you'll need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Pentax K-50 comes with exterior dimensions of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") having a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs) while the Pentax Q-S1 has dimensions of 105mm x 58mm x 34mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") and a weight of 203 grams (0.45 lbs).

Look at the Pentax K-50 and Pentax Q-S1 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are using at the time. Below is a front view measurements comparison of the K-50 vs the Q-S1.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the K-50 and Q-S1 is 63 and 92 respectively.

More often than not, it is hard to imagine the gap between sensor dimensions just by reviewing specs. The picture underneath may offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the K-50 and Q-S1.

As you can plainly see, the 2 cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The K-50 using its bigger sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF easier and the Pentax K-50 will deliver greater detail having an extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop pictures more aggressively. The more aged K-50 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.