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Pentax K-500 vs Pentax S1

Portability
64
Imaging
58
Features
70
Overall
62
Pentax K-500 front
 
Pentax Optio S1 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
31
Overall
34

Pentax K-500 vs Pentax S1 Key Specs

Pentax K-500
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 646g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Introduced November 2013
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
  • Introduced March 2011
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Pentax K-500 vs Pentax S1 Overview

Let's take a deeper look at the Pentax K-500 vs Pentax S1, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Compact and they are both manufactured by Pentax. The image resolution of the K-500 (16MP) and the S1 (14MP) is very comparable but the K-500 (APS-C) and S1 (1/2.3") offer totally different sensor measurements.

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The K-500 was manufactured 2 years after the S1 which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera and the Pentax S1 being a Compact camera.

Before going right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the K-500 scores against the S1 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-500 over the Pentax S1

 K-500 S1 
IntroducedNovember 2013March 2011More modern by 34 months
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kClearer display (+691k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax S1 over the Pentax K-500

 S1 K-500 

Common features in the Pentax K-500 and Pentax S1

 K-500 S1 
Manually focus Dial exact focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch display Neither includes Touch display

Pentax K-500 vs Pentax S1 Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry around your camera, you will want to consider its weight and proportions. The Pentax K-500 features physical measurements of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") and a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs) and the Pentax S1 has measurements of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") and a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).

Check the Pentax K-500 vs Pentax S1 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have attached at that time. Below is a front view size comparison of the K-500 vs the S1.

Pentax K-500 vs Pentax S1 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the K-500 and S1 is 64 and 93 respectively.

Pentax K-500 vs Pentax S1 top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-500 vs Pentax S1 Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be hard to envision the difference in sensor sizes simply by seeing specifications. The pic here will provide you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the K-500 and S1.

Plainly, both of the cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The K-500 featuring a larger sensor will make getting shallow depth of field less difficult and the Pentax K-500 will provide more detail due to its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop photos a bit more aggressively. The more recent K-500 is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Pentax K-500 vs Pentax S1 sensor size comparison

Pentax K-500 vs Pentax S1 Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-500 Portrait photography highlights
Pentax S1 Portrait photography highlights
74
focusing manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
35
manual focus
good MP (14 megapixels)
no manual control
external flash not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Pentax K-500 Street photography info
Pentax S1 Street photography info
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
above average high ISO (51,600)
screen is fixed
56
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no moving screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Pentax K-500 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax S1 as a Sports photography camera
72
high shutter speed (1/6,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with tracking autofocus
better than average battery pack (710 per charge)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
max frames per second low (6.0 fps)
39
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (14MP)
has tracking autofocus
low fps (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Pentax K-500 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax S1 as a Travel photography camera
67
better than average battery pack (710 CIPA)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
does not have a selfie friendly display
64
good MP (14MP)
built-in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
does not feature selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Pentax K-500
Landscape photography with Pentax S1
79
focusing manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
above average high ISO (51,600)
supports RAW formats
better than average battery pack (710 shots)
42
manual focus
relatively wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (14MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is small (2.7")
no manual control
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax K-500 Vlogging factors
Pentax S1 Vlogging factors
30
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not have a selfie friendly display
doesn't have external mic socket
28
relatively wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not feature selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external mic port
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Pentax K-500 vs Pentax S1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-500 and Pentax S1
 Pentax K-500Pentax Optio S1
General Information
Make Pentax Pentax
Model Pentax K-500 Pentax Optio S1
Category Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2013-11-27 2011-03-02
Body design Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Chip PRIME M -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 23.7 x 15.7mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 372.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 4928 x 3264 4288 x 3216
Max native ISO 51600 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
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 range - 1cm
Amount of lenses 151 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 921 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.61x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 seconds 4 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/6000 seconds 1/1500 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 6.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 3.90 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest 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) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 646g (1.42 pounds) 157g (0.35 pounds)
Physical dimensions 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 79 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 23.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 13.1 not tested
DXO Low light score 1087 not tested
Other
Battery life 710 images 260 images
Style of battery AA Battery Pack
Battery model 4 x AA 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 1 1
Price at release $600 $174