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Pentax K-7 vs Pentax Q-S1

Portability
60
Imaging
54
Features
69
Overall
60
Pentax K-7 front
 
Pentax Q-S1 front
Portability
92
Imaging
38
Features
54
Overall
44

Pentax K-7 vs Pentax Q-S1 Key Specs

Pentax K-7
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 2000 (Bump to 6400)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 750g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Announced October 2009
  • Successor is Pentax K-5
Pentax Q-S1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax Q Mount
  • 203g - 105 x 58 x 34mm
  • Introduced August 2014
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Pentax K-7 vs Pentax Q-S1 Overview

On this page, we are matching up the Pentax K-7 vs Pentax Q-S1, one being a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both are manufactured by Pentax. There is a significant difference between the image resolutions of the K-7 (15MP) and Q-S1 (12MP) and the K-7 (APS-C) and Q-S1 (1/1.7") posses totally different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The K-7 was brought out 5 years earlier than the Q-S1 and that is quite a sizable gap as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Pentax K-7 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax Q-S1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going into a step-by-step comparison, here is a short summary of how the K-7 grades against the Q-S1 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-7 over the Pentax Q-S1

 K-7 Q-S1 
Display resolution921k460kClearer display (+461k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax Q-S1 over the Pentax K-7

 Q-S1 K-7 
IntroducedAugust 2014October 2009More recent by 58 months

Common features in the Pentax K-7 and Pentax Q-S1

 K-7 Q-S1 
Focus manually More exact focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither has Touch friendly display

Pentax K-7 vs Pentax Q-S1 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to lug around your camera, you need to think about its weight and measurements. The Pentax K-7 has physical dimensions of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") with a weight of 750 grams (1.65 lbs) whilst the Pentax Q-S1 has proportions of 105mm x 58mm x 34mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") with a weight of 203 grams (0.45 lbs).

See the Pentax K-7 vs Pentax Q-S1 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Here is a front view dimension comparison of the K-7 against the Q-S1.

Pentax K-7 vs Pentax Q-S1 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the K-7 and Q-S1 is 60 and 92 respectively.

Pentax K-7 vs Pentax Q-S1 top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-7 vs Pentax Q-S1 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is hard to see the gap between sensor measurements purely by reading through specs. The photograph underneath will help offer you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the K-7 and Q-S1.

As you can plainly see, each of these cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The K-7 because of its larger sensor will make getting shallower depth of field less difficult and the Pentax K-7 will give you extra detail having its extra 3MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop photos more aggressively. The older K-7 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Pentax K-7 vs Pentax Q-S1 sensor size comparison

Pentax K-7 vs Pentax Q-S1 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-7 vs Pentax Q-S1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-7 Portrait photography highlights
Pentax Q-S1 Portrait photography highlights
72
manual focus
good MP (15 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
46
manual focus
includes face detect focus
saves RAW files
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Pentax K-7 Street photography highlights
Pentax Q-S1 Street photography highlights
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
environment sealing
no moving screen
69
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
saves RAW files
lighter than competitors in class (203g)
fixed screen
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Pentax K-7
Sports photography with Pentax Q-S1
69
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (15 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
environment sealing
supports phase detect autofocus
continuous shooting slow (5.0 frames per second)
37
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes tracking focus
max frames per second very slow (5.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
terrible battery (250 CIPA)
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax K-7 Travel photography info
Pentax Q-S1 Travel photography info
64
environment sealing
good MP (15 megapixels)
built-in flash
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
60
lighter than competitors in class (203 grams)
flash built-in
terrible battery (250 per charge)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-7 Landscape photography details
Pentax Q-S1 Landscape photography details
77
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (15 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
environment sealing
55
manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax Q mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
saves RAW files
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
terrible battery (250 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax K-7 Vlogging details
Pentax Q-S1 Vlogging details
25
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect autofocus
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of microphone socket
35
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competitors in class (203 grams)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
doesn't have microphone socket
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Pentax K-7 vs Pentax Q-S1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-7 and Pentax Q-S1
 Pentax K-7Pentax Q-S1
General Information
Brand Pentax Pentax
Model Pentax K-7 Pentax Q-S1
Type Advanced DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2009-10-02 2014-08-04
Physical type Mid-size SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Prime II Q Engine
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1/1.7"
Sensor measurements 23.4 x 15.6mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor surface area 365.0mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 15MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4672 x 3104 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 2000 12800
Maximum boosted ISO 6400 -
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens mount Pentax KAF2 Pentax Q
Available lenses 151 8
Focal length multiplier 1.5 4.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Screen resolution 921 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech TFT color LCD with AR coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.61x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 5.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 13.00 m 4.90 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless Auto, redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync
External flash
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 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 1536 x 1024 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30,25, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30, 25, 24p), 640 x 480 (30, 25, 24p)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 750g (1.65 lbs) 203g (0.45 lbs)
Physical dimensions 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") 105 x 58 x 34mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 61 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.6 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.6 not tested
DXO Low light score 536 not tested
Other
Battery life 980 photos 250 photos
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model D-LI90 D-LI68
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/MMC SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $599 $250