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Pentax K-500 vs Pentax MX-1

Portability
64
Imaging
58
Features
70
Overall
62
Pentax K-500 front
 
Pentax MX-1 front
Portability
84
Imaging
37
Features
60
Overall
46

Pentax K-500 vs Pentax MX-1 Key Specs

Pentax K-500
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 646g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Launched November 2013
Pentax MX-1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 391g - 122 x 61 x 51mm
  • Launched July 2013
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Pentax K-500 vs Pentax MX-1 Overview

The following is a comprehensive assessment of the Pentax K-500 vs Pentax MX-1, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and both are offered by Pentax. There exists a huge gap between the sensor resolutions of the K-500 (16MP) and MX-1 (12MP) and the K-500 (APS-C) and MX-1 (1/1.7") boast different sensor size.

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The K-500 was launched 5 months after the MX-1 and they are of a similar generation. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera and the Pentax MX-1 being a Compact camera.

Before diving right into a detailed comparison, here is a quick summary of how the K-500 scores versus the MX-1 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-500 over the Pentax MX-1

 K-500 MX-1 
Screen resolution921k920kClearer screen (+1k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax MX-1 over the Pentax K-500

 MX-1 K-500 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Pentax K-500 and Pentax MX-1

 K-500 MX-1 
LaunchedNovember 2013July 2013Similar generation
Manually focus Very exact focusing
Screen size3"3"Same screen size
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Absent Touch friendly screen

Pentax K-500 vs Pentax MX-1 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to travel with your camera frequently, you are going to need to think about its weight and volume. The Pentax K-500 has got external dimensions of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") along with a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs) and the Pentax MX-1 has sizing of 122mm x 61mm x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") with a weight of 391 grams (0.86 lbs).

Check the Pentax K-500 vs Pentax MX-1 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 have chosen at that moment. Following is a front view size comparison of the K-500 against the MX-1.

Pentax K-500 vs Pentax MX-1 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the K-500 and MX-1 is 64 and 84 respectively.

Pentax K-500 vs Pentax MX-1 top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-500 vs Pentax MX-1 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's tough to visualize the contrast between sensor dimensions just by reviewing a spec sheet. The pic here may offer you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the K-500 and MX-1.

As you can see, both of those cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The K-500 featuring a bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field easier and the Pentax K-500 will offer extra detail utilizing its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop photographs way more aggressively.

Pentax K-500 vs Pentax MX-1 sensor size comparison

Pentax K-500 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-500 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-500 Portrait photography features
Pentax MX-1 Portrait photography features
74
has manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
offers face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
42
has manual focus
provides face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
can't use external flash
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Pentax K-500 Street photography factors
Pentax MX-1 Street photography factors
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
very good high ISO (51,600)
screen is fixed
65
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW files
sensor size is tiny (1/1.7")
more heavy than competitors (391 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K-500 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax MX-1 as a Sports photography camera
72
high shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
offers tracking focus
great battery life (710 shots)
comes with phase detect AF
max fps low (6.0 frames/s)
43
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides tracking focus
better than average battery power (290 shots)
max fps very slow (1.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/1.7")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax K-500 Travel photography highlights
Pentax MX-1 Travel photography highlights
67
great battery life (710 CIPA)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
screen is not selfie friendly
61
better than average battery power (290 shots)
flash built-in
really wide (28mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
no Timelapse mode
more heavy than competitors (391 grams)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-500 Landscape photography info
Pentax MX-1 Landscape photography info
79
has manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
very good high ISO (51,600)
delivers RAW formats
great battery life (710 CIPA)
55
has manual focus
really wide (28mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
screen is a decent size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW files
better than average battery power (290 CIPA)
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/1.7")
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax K-500 Vlogging details
Pentax MX-1 Vlogging details
30
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
missing mic port
33
really wide (28mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
no microphone jack
more heavy than competitors (391g)
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Pentax K-500 vs Pentax MX-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-500 and Pentax MX-1
 Pentax K-500Pentax MX-1
General Information
Brand Name Pentax Pentax
Model Pentax K-500 Pentax MX-1
Category Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2013-11-27 2013-07-01
Body design Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip PRIME M -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1/1.7"
Sensor measurements 23.7 x 15.7mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor area 372.1mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4928 x 3264 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 51600 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 11 25
Cross focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mount Pentax KAF2 fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture - f/1.8-2.5
Macro focus range - 1cm
Total lenses 151 -
Crop factor 1.5 4.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 921k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.61x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/6000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 6.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Speed sync, Trailing Curtain sync
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
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 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 646 gr (1.42 lb) 391 gr (0.86 lb)
Physical dimensions 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") 122 x 61 x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 79 49
DXO Color Depth score 23.7 20.4
DXO Dynamic range score 13.1 11.3
DXO Low light score 1087 208
Other
Battery life 710 photos 290 photos
Battery format AA Battery Pack
Battery model 4 x AA D-Li-106
Self timer Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at launch $600 $400