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Pentax K-x vs Pentax Q-S1

Portability
69
Imaging
52
Features
47
Overall
50
Pentax K-x front
 
Pentax Q-S1 front
Portability
92
Imaging
38
Features
54
Overall
44

Pentax K-x vs Pentax Q-S1 Key Specs

Pentax K-x
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Expand to 12800)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 580g - 123 x 92 x 68mm
  • Revealed December 2009
Pentax Q-S1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax Q Mount
  • 203g - 105 x 58 x 34mm
  • Introduced August 2014
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Pentax K-x vs Pentax Q-S1 Overview

Let's look a bit more in depth at the Pentax K-x vs Pentax Q-S1, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both are offered by Pentax. The image resolution of the K-x (12MP) and the Q-S1 (12MP) is pretty close but the K-x (APS-C) and Q-S1 (1/1.7") enjoy totally different sensor measurements.

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The K-x was introduced 5 years before the Q-S1 and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Pentax K-x being a Compact SLR camera and the Pentax Q-S1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving straight into a complete comparison, below is a quick view of how the K-x matches up against the Q-S1 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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

 K-x Q-S1 

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

 Q-S1 K-x 
IntroducedAugust 2014December 2009More recent by 56 months
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

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

 K-x Q-S1 
Manual focus Very exact focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

Pentax K-x vs Pentax Q-S1 Physical Comparison

If you are going to lug around your camera frequently, you're going to have to consider its weight and volume. The Pentax K-x has outer measurements of 123mm x 92mm x 68mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.7") accompanied by a weight of 580 grams (1.28 lbs) and the Pentax Q-S1 has sizing of 105mm x 58mm x 34mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") with a weight of 203 grams (0.45 lbs).

Take a look at the Pentax K-x vs Pentax Q-S1 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are using at the time. Below is the front view over all size comparison of the K-x vs the Q-S1.

Pentax K-x vs Pentax Q-S1 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the K-x and Q-S1 is 69 and 92 respectively.

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

Pentax K-x vs Pentax Q-S1 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its difficult to envision the contrast in sensor measurements only by viewing specs. The photograph below may provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the K-x and Q-S1.

All in all, each of the cameras enjoy the same exact MP albeit not the same sensor measurements. The K-x provides the bigger sensor which will make achieving shallower DOF less difficult. The older K-x will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

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

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

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

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-x Portrait photography highlights
Pentax Q-S1 Portrait photography highlights
63
focusing manually
decent sensor size (APS-C)
features face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
low resolution sensor (12MP)
46
focusing manually
features face detection focus
saves RAW formats
low MP (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Pentax K-x Street photography highlights
Pentax Q-S1 Street photography highlights
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
no moving screen
69
image stabilization (Sensor based)
saves RAW formats
lighter than competition in class (203 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor size is small (1/1.7")
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Pentax K-x
Sports photography with Pentax Q-S1
61
great max shutter speed (1/6,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
good battery (1,900 CIPA)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
max frames per second very slow (5.0 frames per second)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
37
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/1.7")
bad battery (250 per charge)
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax K-x Travel photography information
Pentax Q-S1 Travel photography information
54
good battery (1,900 shots)
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse mode
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
60
lighter than competition in class (203g)
built-in flash
bad battery (250 shots)
low MP (12 megapixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-x Landscape photography advice
Pentax Q-S1 Landscape photography advice
61
focusing manually
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
good battery (1,900 per charge)
small screen (2.7 inches)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
lack of Time Lapse mode
55
focusing manually
swap lenses (Pentax Q mount)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
saves RAW formats
low MP (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/1.7")
bad battery (250 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Pentax K-x
Vlogging with Pentax Q-S1
27
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect autofocus
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of mic jack
35
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (203g)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
no external microphone port
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Pentax K-x vs Pentax Q-S1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-x and Pentax Q-S1
 Pentax K-xPentax Q-S1
General Information
Company Pentax Pentax
Model type Pentax K-x Pentax Q-S1
Class Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2009-12-23 2014-08-04
Body design Compact SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip Prime Q Engine
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1/1.7"
Sensor measurements 23.6 x 15.8mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor area 372.9mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4288 x 2848 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Maximum boosted ISO 12800 -
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens support Pentax KAF2 Pentax Q
Amount of lenses 151 8
Crop factor 1.5 4.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.7 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech TFT LCD monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 96% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.57x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/6000s 1/8000s
Continuous shooting speed 5.0 frames/s 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 16.00 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
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/180s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (24 fps), 640 x 416 (24 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 data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 580 grams (1.28 pounds) 203 grams (0.45 pounds)
Dimensions 123 x 92 x 68mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.7") 105 x 58 x 34mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 72 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.5 not tested
DXO Low light rating 811 not tested
Other
Battery life 1900 pictures 250 pictures
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID 4 x AA D-LI68
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Storage slots One One
Launch pricing $600 $250