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Pentax K-S1 vs Pentax RS1500

Portability
69
Imaging
63
Features
70
Overall
65
Pentax K-S1 front
 
Pentax Optio RS1500 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
30
Overall
34

Pentax K-S1 vs Pentax RS1500 Key Specs

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
  • Released August 2014
  • Renewed by Pentax K-S2
Pentax RS1500
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-110mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
  • Announced March 2011
Photography Glossary

Pentax K-S1 vs Pentax RS1500 Overview

The following is a thorough overview of the Pentax K-S1 versus Pentax RS1500, one is a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and they are both created by Pentax. There is a huge difference between the resolutions of the K-S1 (20MP) and RS1500 (14MP) and the K-S1 (APS-C) and RS1500 (1/2.3") provide totally different sensor sizing.

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The K-S1 was launched 3 years after the RS1500 which is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Pentax K-S1 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax RS1500 being a Compact camera.

Before getting right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the K-S1 scores versus the RS1500 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-S1 over the Pentax RS1500

 K-S1 RS1500 
AnnouncedAugust 2014March 2011Newer by 42 months
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kClearer screen (+691k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax RS1500 over the Pentax K-S1

 RS1500 K-S1 

Common features in the Pentax K-S1 and Pentax RS1500

 K-S1 RS1500 
Manually focus Very exact focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Absent Touch friendly screen

Pentax K-S1 vs Pentax RS1500 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to travel with your camera regularly, you will want to consider its weight and proportions. The Pentax K-S1 has got external measurements of 121mm x 93mm x 70mm (4.8" x 3.7" x 2.8") and a weight of 558 grams (1.23 lbs) and the Pentax RS1500 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).

See the Pentax K-S1 versus Pentax RS1500 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have attached at the time. Following is a front view dimension comparison of the K-S1 against the RS1500.

Pentax K-S1 vs Pentax RS1500 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the K-S1 and RS1500 is 69 and 93 respectively.

Pentax K-S1 vs Pentax RS1500 top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-S1 vs Pentax RS1500 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is difficult to envision the contrast between sensor dimensions only by checking specs. The image here might give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the K-S1 and RS1500.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The K-S1 featuring a bigger sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field easier and the Pentax K-S1 will give greater detail utilizing its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop pictures more aggressively. The younger K-S1 is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.

Pentax K-S1 vs Pentax RS1500 sensor size comparison

Pentax K-S1 vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-S1 vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-S1 Portrait photography details
Pentax RS1500 Portrait photography details
77
you can focus manually
MP count good (20MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
35
has manual focus
megapixel count good (14MP)
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Pentax K-S1 Street photography advice
Pentax RS1500 Street photography advice
73
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
lighter than competition in class (558 grams)
above average ISO range (51,200)
screen does not articulate
54
environment proofing
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K-S1 Sports photography details
Pentax RS1500 Sports photography details
69
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with tracking autofocus
sensor has phase detect autofocus
slow continuous shooting (5.4 frames per second)
low battery pack (410 shots)
37
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
environment proofing
max fps low (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Pentax K-S1 Travel photography details
Pentax RS1500 Travel photography details
60
lighter than competition in class (558g)
MP count good (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
low battery pack (410 CIPA)
does not offer selfie friendly display
67
environment proofing
megapixel count good (14MP)
built-in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-S1 Landscape photography info
Pentax RS1500 Landscape photography info
73
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (20MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
no anti aliasing filter
above average ISO range (51,200)
supports RAW files
low battery pack (410 CIPA)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
40
has manual focus
relatively wide (28mm)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
environment proofing
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
small screen (2.7 inches)
manual exposure not available
does not have image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Pentax K-S1
Vlogging with Pentax RS1500
33
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (558 grams)
does not offer selfie friendly display
doesn't have external mic socket
25
relatively wide (28mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external mic socket
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Pentax K-S1 vs Pentax RS1500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-S1 and Pentax RS1500
 Pentax K-S1Pentax Optio RS1500
General Information
Brand Pentax Pentax
Model Pentax K-S1 Pentax Optio RS1500
Category Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Released 2014-08-27 2011-03-16
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Prime MII -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.6mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 366.6mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 5472 x 3648 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 51200 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount Pentax KAF2 fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-110mm (3.9x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Number of lenses 151 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3" 2.7"
Display resolution 921 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology - TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.64x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 seconds 4 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/6000 seconds 1/1500 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 5.4 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 10.00 m (at ISO 100) 3.90 m
Flash modes Auto, auto + redeye, on, on + redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync, manual Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 558g (1.23 pounds) 157g (0.35 pounds)
Physical dimensions 121 x 93 x 70mm (4.8" x 3.7" x 2.8") 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 78 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 23.5 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 13.0 not tested
DXO Low light score 1061 not tested
Other
Battery life 410 images 260 images
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model D-LI109 D-LI92
Self timer Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Retail cost $339 $150