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Pentax K-70 vs Pentax MX-1

Portability
62
Imaging
67
Features
81
Overall
72
Pentax K-70 front
 
Pentax MX-1 front
Portability
84
Imaging
37
Features
60
Overall
46

Pentax K-70 vs Pentax MX-1 Key Specs

Pentax K-70
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 102400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 688g - 126 x 93 x 74mm
  • Introduced June 2016
  • Replacement is Pentax KF
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-70 vs Pentax MX-1 Overview

In this article, we will be reviewing the Pentax K-70 vs Pentax MX-1, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are designed by Pentax. There exists a sizeable gap among the image resolutions of the K-70 (24MP) and MX-1 (12MP) and the K-70 (APS-C) and MX-1 (1/1.7") feature totally different sensor sizes.

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The K-70 was introduced 2 years later than the MX-1 and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Pentax K-70 being a Compact SLR camera and the Pentax MX-1 being a Compact camera.

Before delving through a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple view of how the K-70 matches up vs the MX-1 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-70 over the Pentax MX-1

 K-70 MX-1 
LaunchedJune 2016July 2013More recent by 36 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Screen resolution921k920kSharper screen (+1k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Pentax MX-1 over the Pentax K-70

 MX-1 K-70 

Common features in the Pentax K-70 and Pentax MX-1

 K-70 MX-1 
Manually focus More accurate focus
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen dimensions
Touch screen Neither has Touch screen

Pentax K-70 vs Pentax MX-1 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to lug around your camera regularly, you need to factor its weight and proportions. The Pentax K-70 has exterior dimensions of 126mm x 93mm x 74mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 2.9") and a weight of 688 grams (1.52 lbs) and the Pentax MX-1 has measurements of 122mm x 61mm x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") with a weight of 391 grams (0.86 lbs).

Analyze the Pentax K-70 vs Pentax MX-1 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are working with at the time. The following is the front view sizing comparison of the K-70 compared to the MX-1.

Pentax K-70 vs Pentax MX-1 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the K-70 and MX-1 is 62 and 84 respectively.

Pentax K-70 vs Pentax MX-1 top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-70 vs Pentax MX-1 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its hard to visualise the difference in sensor measurements purely by researching technical specs. The visual here should provide you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the K-70 and MX-1.

As you can tell, both cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The K-70 having a bigger sensor will make getting shallow DOF less difficult and the Pentax K-70 will result in more detail using its extra 12MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop shots far more aggressively. The more modern K-70 is going to have an edge with regard to sensor innovation.

Pentax K-70 vs Pentax MX-1 sensor size comparison

Pentax K-70 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-70 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-70 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax MX-1 as a Portrait photography camera
80
focusing manually
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detect focus
delivers RAW files
42
has manual focus
comes with face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
no external flash support
sensor resolution low (12MP)
small sensor (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Pentax K-70 as a Street photography camera
Pentax MX-1 as a Street photography camera
71
screen articulates
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
environment proofing
above average ISO range (102,400)
more heavy than competition (688 grams)
65
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW formats
small sensor (1/1.7")
heavier than average (391 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K-70 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax MX-1 as a Sports photography camera
72
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (24MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports tracking focus
environment proofing
comes with phase detect auto focus
slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
terrible battery life (410 shots)
43
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with tracking autofocus
great battery power (290 shots)
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/1.7")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Pentax K-70 Travel photography info
Pentax MX-1 Travel photography info
64
environment proofing
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
terrible battery life (410 shots)
more heavy than competition (688 grams)
61
great battery power (290 per charge)
built-in flash
decently wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
no Time Lapse function
heavier than average (391 grams)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-70 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax MX-1 as a Landscape photography camera
78
focusing manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
doesnt have anti-alias filter
above average ISO range (102,400)
delivers RAW files
environment proofing
terrible battery life (410 shots)
55
has manual focus
decently wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW formats
great battery power (290 shots)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
small sensor (1/1.7")
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax K-70 Vlogging details
Pentax MX-1 Vlogging details
71
display is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have microphone socket
more heavy than competition (688g)
33
decently wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detection focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display is not selfie friendly
no external mic support
heavier than average (391g)
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Pentax K-70 vs Pentax MX-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-70 and Pentax MX-1
 Pentax K-70Pentax MX-1
General Information
Make Pentax Pentax
Model type Pentax K-70 Pentax MX-1
Category Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2016-06-08 2013-07-01
Physical type Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Chip PRIME MII -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1/1.7"
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.6mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor area 366.6mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 6000 x 4000 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 102400 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 11 25
Cross type focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mount type Pentax KAF2 fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Max aperture - f/1.8-2.5
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Amount of lenses 151 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 4.8
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Tilting
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 921 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology - TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.63x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/6000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 6.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, flash on, flash + redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync, manual Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Speed sync, Trailing Curtain sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 688 gr (1.52 pounds) 391 gr (0.86 pounds)
Dimensions 126 x 93 x 74mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 2.9") 122 x 61 x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 49
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 20.4
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.3
DXO Low light rating not tested 208
Other
Battery life 410 images 290 images
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-Li-106
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, continuous) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I compatible) SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Retail pricing $649 $400