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Pentax K-500 vs Pentax K-S1

Portability
64
Imaging
58
Features
70
Overall
62
Pentax K-500 front
 
Pentax K-S1 front
Portability
69
Imaging
63
Features
70
Overall
65

Pentax K-500 vs Pentax K-S1 Key Specs

Pentax K-500
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 646g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Announced November 2013
Pentax K-S1
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 558g - 121 x 93 x 70mm
  • Introduced August 2014
  • Newer Model is Pentax K-S2
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Pentax K-500 vs Pentax K-S1 Overview

Lets look much closer at the Pentax K-500 vs Pentax K-S1, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Advanced DSLR and both are offered by Pentax. The resolution of the K-500 (16MP) and the K-S1 (20MP) is very similar and both cameras boast the same sensor dimensions (APS-C).

Photography Glossary

The K-500 was brought out 9 months before the K-S1 and they are both of a similar age. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera and the Pentax K-S1 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going right into a more detailed comparison, here is a quick summation of how the K-500 scores vs the K-S1 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-500 over the Pentax K-S1

 K-500 K-S1 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-S1 over the Pentax K-500

 K-S1 K-500 
IntroducedAugust 2014November 2013Fresher by 9 months

Common features in the Pentax K-500 and Pentax K-S1

 K-500 K-S1 
Manually focus More precise focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display sizing
Display resolution921k921kExact same display resolution
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch display Neither offers Touch display

Pentax K-500 vs Pentax K-S1 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to carry your camera often, you should think about its weight and size. The Pentax K-500 offers outer measurements of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs) and the Pentax K-S1 has specifications of 121mm x 93mm x 70mm (4.8" x 3.7" x 2.8") with a weight of 558 grams (1.23 lbs).

Take a look at the Pentax K-500 vs Pentax K-S1 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have at that time. The following is a front view dimension comparison of the K-500 against the K-S1.

Pentax K-500 vs Pentax K-S1 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the K-500 and K-S1 is 64 and 69 respectively.

Pentax K-500 vs Pentax K-S1 top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-500 vs Pentax K-S1 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's tough to picture the gap between sensor sizing purely by reading specifications. The photograph below should give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the K-500 and K-S1.

Plainly, both cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but different resolution. You can expect to see the Pentax K-S1 to offer you extra detail having its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images more aggressively. The older K-500 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Pentax K-500 vs Pentax K-S1 sensor size comparison

Pentax K-500 vs Pentax K-S1 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-500 vs Pentax K-S1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-500 Portrait photography details
Pentax K-S1 Portrait photography details
74
has manual focus
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
features face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
77
manual focus
decent megapixels (20MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with face detect focus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Pentax K-500 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-S1 as a Street photography camera
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
good high ISO (51,600)
no articulating screen
73
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
lighter than others (558g)
very good ISO range (51,200)
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K-500 Sports photography information
Pentax K-S1 Sports photography information
72
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
features tracking focus
great battery life (710 per charge)
has phase detect AF
painfully slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
69
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (20MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with tracking focus
supports phase detect auto focus
low frames per second (5.4 fps)
low battery power (410 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Pentax K-500 Travel photography info
Pentax K-S1 Travel photography info
67
great battery life (710 CIPA)
good MP (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
does not contain selfie friendly display
60
lighter than others (558g)
decent megapixels (20MP)
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse function
low battery power (410 per charge)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Pentax K-500
Landscape photography with Pentax K-S1
79
has manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
good high ISO (51,600)
delivers RAW formats
great battery life (710 shots)
73
manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (20MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
does not have low pass filter
very good ISO range (51,200)
exports RAW files
low battery power (410 shots)
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Pentax K-500
Vlogging with Pentax K-S1
30
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not contain selfie friendly display
missing microphone jack
33
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others (558g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have mic port
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Pentax K-500 vs Pentax K-S1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-500 and Pentax K-S1
 Pentax K-500Pentax K-S1
General Information
Brand Pentax Pentax
Model Pentax K-500 Pentax K-S1
Type Entry-Level DSLR Advanced DSLR
Announced 2013-11-27 2014-08-27
Body design Compact SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip PRIME M Prime MII
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 23.7 x 15.7mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 372.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Maximum resolution 4928 x 3264 5472 x 3648
Maximum native ISO 51600 51200
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 11 11
Cross focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Pentax KAF2 Pentax KAF2
Total lenses 151 151
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 921k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.61x 0.64x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/6000 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 6.0fps 5.4fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless Auto, auto + redeye, on, on + redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync, manual
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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) 1920 x 1080 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional Optional
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 646 grams (1.42 lbs) 558 grams (1.23 lbs)
Physical dimensions 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") 121 x 93 x 70mm (4.8" x 3.7" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 79 78
DXO Color Depth score 23.7 23.5
DXO Dynamic range score 13.1 13.0
DXO Low light score 1087 1061
Other
Battery life 710 pictures 410 pictures
Style of battery AA Battery Pack
Battery model 4 x AA D-LI109
Self timer Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Launch cost $600 $339