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Pentax K-S1 vs Sony NEX-5N

Portability
69
Imaging
62
Features
70
Overall
65
Pentax K-S1 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5N front
Portability
89
Imaging
56
Features
69
Overall
61

Pentax K-S1 vs Sony NEX-5N 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
  • Launched August 2014
  • New Model is Pentax K-S2
Sony NEX-5N
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 269g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
  • Revealed October 2011
  • Superseded the Sony NEX-5
  • Replacement is Sony NEX-5R
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Pentax K-S1 vs Sony NEX-5N Overview

Its time to look a bit more closely at the Pentax K-S1 versus Sony NEX-5N, one is a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Pentax and Sony. There is a crucial difference between the sensor resolutions of the K-S1 (20MP) and NEX-5N (16MP) but they use the same exact sensor sizes (APS-C).

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The K-S1 was launched 2 years after the NEX-5N which is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Pentax K-S1 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony NEX-5N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the K-S1 scores against the NEX-5N when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary

        

Reasons to pick Pentax K-S1 over the Sony NEX-5N

 K-S1 NEX-5N 
RevealedAugust 2014October 2011More modern by 36 months
Screen resolution921k920kClearer screen (+1k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5N over the Pentax K-S1

 NEX-5N K-S1 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Pentax K-S1 and Sony NEX-5N

 K-S1 NEX-5N 
Manual focus Dial precise focusing
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen dimensions
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Pentax K-S1 vs Sony NEX-5N Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to carry around your camera, you will need to consider its weight and proportions. The Pentax K-S1 has physical measurements of 121mm x 93mm x 70mm (4.8" x 3.7" x 2.8") with a weight of 558 grams (1.23 lbs) and the Sony NEX-5N has measurements of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") along with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Examine the Pentax K-S1 versus Sony NEX-5N in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have attached at the time. Here is the front view dimensions comparison of the K-S1 compared to the NEX-5N.

Pentax K-S1 vs Sony NEX-5N size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the K-S1 and NEX-5N is 69 and 89 respectively.

Pentax K-S1 vs Sony NEX-5N top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-S1 vs Sony NEX-5N Sensor Comparison

Generally, its tough to visualise the difference between sensor sizes simply by reading specs. The image below will help give you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the K-S1 and NEX-5N.

All in all, both of the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same resolution. You should count on the Pentax K-S1 to offer extra detail utilizing its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also let you crop photographs far more aggressively. The more modern K-S1 is going to have an edge in sensor tech.

Pentax K-S1 vs Sony NEX-5N sensor size comparison

Pentax K-S1 vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-S1 vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-S1 Portrait photography information
Sony NEX-5N Portrait photography information
77
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
features face detection focus
exports RAW formats
73
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Pentax K-S1 Street photography factors
Sony NEX-5N Street photography factors
72
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
lighter than competitors (558 grams)
great high ISO (51,200)
screen does not articulate
80
has a tilting screen
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
offers touch focus
very good high ISO (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K-S1 Sports photography details
Sony NEX-5N Sports photography details
68
high shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
features tracking autofocus
sensor has phase detect auto focus
max frames per second low (5.4 frames/s)
low battery power (410 shots)
58
megapixel count good (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
better than average battery life (460 shots)
does not have image stabilization
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Pentax K-S1
Travel photography with Sony NEX-5N
60
lighter than competitors (558g)
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
built-in flash
does not have Timelapse mode
low battery power (410 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
70
better than average battery life (460 per charge)
offers touch focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
does not have Time Lapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Pentax K-S1
Landscape photography with Sony NEX-5N
72
focusing manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
doesnt have low pass filter
great high ISO (51,200)
exports RAW formats
low battery power (410 CIPA)
does not have Timelapse mode
71
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
megapixel count good (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
very good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
better than average battery life (460 CIPA)
does not have image stabilization
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax K-S1 Vlogging factors
Sony NEX-5N Vlogging factors
33
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competitors (558g)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have external microphone support
33
touch screen
supports face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
does not have external mic port
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Pentax K-S1 vs Sony NEX-5N Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-S1 and Sony NEX-5N
 Pentax K-S1Sony Alpha NEX-5N
General Information
Brand Name Pentax Sony
Model Pentax K-S1 Sony Alpha NEX-5N
Category Advanced DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2014-08-27 2011-10-03
Body design Mid-size SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip Prime MII Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.6mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 366.6mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 5472 x 3648 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 51200 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 11 25
Lens
Lens mount Pentax KAF2 Sony E
Amount of lenses 151 121
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3" 3"
Display resolution 921 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology - Tilt Up 80°, Down 45° TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.64x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/6000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 5.4 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 10.00 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m
Flash options Auto, auto + redeye, on, on + redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync, manual Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format H.264 AVCHD
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
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 558g (1.23 pounds) 269g (0.59 pounds)
Dimensions 121 x 93 x 70mm (4.8" x 3.7" x 2.8") 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 78 77
DXO Color Depth score 23.5 23.6
DXO Dynamic range score 13.0 12.7
DXO Low light score 1061 1079
Other
Battery life 410 photographs 460 photographs
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model D-LI109 NPFW50
Self timer Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at release $339 $550