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Pentax K-S1 vs Pentax S1

Portability
69
Imaging
63
Features
70
Overall
65
Pentax K-S1 front
 
Pentax Optio S1 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
31
Overall
34

Pentax K-S1 vs Pentax S1 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 Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 558g - 121 x 93 x 70mm
  • Announced August 2014
  • Refreshed by Pentax K-S2
Pentax S1
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
  • Launched March 2011
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Pentax K-S1 vs Pentax S1 Overview

Let's look closer at the Pentax K-S1 vs Pentax S1, one being a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are offered by Pentax. There exists a big gap among the resolutions of the K-S1 (20MP) and S1 (14MP) and the K-S1 (APS-C) and S1 (1/2.3") use totally different sensor measurements.

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The K-S1 was unveiled 3 years later than the S1 and that is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Pentax K-S1 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax S1 being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight into a full comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the K-S1 scores versus the S1 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-S1 over the Pentax S1

 K-S1 S1 
LaunchedAugust 2014March 2011Fresher by 43 months
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kClearer screen (+691k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax S1 over the Pentax K-S1

 S1 K-S1 

Common features in the Pentax K-S1 and Pentax S1

 K-S1 S1 
Focus manually More precise focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch screen Lacking Touch screen

Pentax K-S1 vs Pentax S1 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to carry your camera, you need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Pentax K-S1 has got outer measurements of 121mm x 93mm x 70mm (4.8" x 3.7" x 2.8") with a weight of 558 grams (1.23 lbs) whilst the Pentax S1 has dimensions of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") having a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).

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

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Underneath is the front view sizing comparison of the K-S1 versus the S1.

Pentax K-S1 vs Pentax S1 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the K-S1 and S1 is 69 and 93 respectively.

Pentax K-S1 vs Pentax S1 top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-S1 vs Pentax S1 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's tough to see the contrast in sensor sizing just by going through technical specs. The graphic below should give you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the K-S1 and S1.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The K-S1 using its bigger sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field easier and the Pentax K-S1 will provide more detail having an extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop photographs far more aggressively. The more modern K-S1 is going to have an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Pentax K-S1 vs Pentax S1 sensor size comparison

Pentax K-S1 vs Pentax S1 Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-S1 Portrait photography info
Pentax S1 Portrait photography info
77
focusing manually
good resolution (20MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
35
you can focus manually
MP count good (14 megapixels)
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Pentax K-S1 as a Street photography camera
Pentax S1 as a Street photography camera
73
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
lighter than competitors in class (558 grams)
great high ISO (51,200)
no articulating screen
56
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K-S1 Sports photography details
Pentax S1 Sports photography details
69
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports tracking autofocus
sensor has phase detect autofocus
max frames per second low (5.4 fps)
bad battery pack (410 per charge)
39
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (14MP)
includes tracking autofocus
slow frames per second (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Pentax K-S1 Travel photography details
Pentax S1 Travel photography details
60
lighter than competitors in class (558g)
good resolution (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
does not have Timelapse mode
bad battery pack (410 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
64
MP count good (14MP)
built-in flash
decently wide (28mm)
lack of Timelapse function
does not offer selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-S1 Landscape photography factors
Pentax S1 Landscape photography factors
73
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
doesnt have anti-alias filter
great high ISO (51,200)
supports RAW formats
bad battery pack (410 per charge)
does not have Timelapse mode
42
you can focus manually
decently wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (14MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
small screen (2.7 inches)
manual mode not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Pentax K-S1
Vlogging with Pentax S1
33
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competitors in class (558g)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have external microphone support
28
decently wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
does not offer selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external microphone socket
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Pentax K-S1 vs Pentax S1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-S1 and Pentax S1
 Pentax K-S1Pentax Optio S1
General Information
Make Pentax Pentax
Model Pentax K-S1 Pentax Optio S1
Class Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2014-08-27 2011-03-02
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Prime MII -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 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 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 5472 x 3648 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 51200 6400
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Pentax KAF2 fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus range - 1cm
Amount of lenses 151 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 921k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech - TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.64x -
Features
Min shutter speed 30 secs 4 secs
Max shutter speed 1/6000 secs 1/1500 secs
Continuous shutter rate 5.4 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
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 options 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 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 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
Microphone 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 lb) 157g (0.35 lb)
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 Overall 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 pictures 260 pictures
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 shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Cost at release $339 $174