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Pentax K20D vs Pentax MX-1

Portability
59
Imaging
53
Features
52
Overall
52
Pentax K20D front
 
Pentax MX-1 front
Portability
84
Imaging
37
Features
60
Overall
46

Pentax K20D vs Pentax MX-1 Key Specs

Pentax K20D
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Increase to 6400)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 800g - 142 x 101 x 70mm
  • Revealed June 2008
  • Superseded the Pentax K10D
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
  • Introduced July 2013
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Pentax K20D vs Pentax MX-1 Overview

Here, we will be evaluating the Pentax K20D versus Pentax MX-1, one being a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are produced by Pentax. There exists a sizeable gap among the resolutions of the K20D (15MP) and MX-1 (12MP) and the K20D (APS-C) and MX-1 (1/1.7") boast totally different sensor sizes.

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The K20D was unveiled 6 years prior to the MX-1 and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Pentax K20D being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax MX-1 being a Compact camera.

Before diving right into a more detailed comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the K20D matches up against the MX-1 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K20D over the Pentax MX-1

 K20D MX-1 

Reasons to pick Pentax MX-1 over the Pentax K20D

 MX-1 K20D 
IntroducedJuly 2013June 2008More recent by 61 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution920k230kCrisper screen (+690k dot)

Common features in the Pentax K20D and Pentax MX-1

 K20D MX-1 
Manual focus More precise focus
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch screen Neither provides Touch screen

Pentax K20D vs Pentax MX-1 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you'll need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Pentax K20D provides outside measurements of 142mm x 101mm x 70mm (5.6" x 4.0" x 2.8") and a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs) while the Pentax MX-1 has dimensions of 122mm x 61mm x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") with a weight of 391 grams (0.86 lbs).

Examine the Pentax K20D versus Pentax MX-1 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are using during that time. The following is a front view dimension comparison of the K20D vs the MX-1.

Pentax K20D vs Pentax MX-1 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the K20D and MX-1 is 59 and 84 respectively.

Pentax K20D vs Pentax MX-1 top view buttons comparison

Pentax K20D vs Pentax MX-1 Sensor Comparison

Normally, its hard to envision the gap in sensor measurements only by looking through specifications. The photograph underneath might offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the K20D and MX-1.

To sum up, the two cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The K20D having a bigger sensor will make getting shallow DOF easier and the Pentax K20D will render extra detail having an extra 3 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop photographs way more aggressively. The older K20D will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Pentax K20D vs Pentax MX-1 sensor size comparison

Pentax K20D vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K20D vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K20D as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax MX-1 as a Portrait photography camera
71
focusing manually
decent MP (15 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
42
has manual focus
offers face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
can't use external flash
sensor resolution low (12MP)
small sensor (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Pentax K20D Street photography factors
Pentax MX-1 Street photography factors
65
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
environment proof
screen is fixed
65
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW formats
small sensor (1/1.7")
heavier than others in class (391g)
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K20D as a Sports photography camera
Pentax MX-1 as a Sports photography camera
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (15 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
environment proof
sensor has phase detect auto focus
max frames per second very slow (3.0 frames/s)
43
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers tracking autofocus
great battery power (290 per charge)
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/1.7")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Pentax K20D
Travel photography with Pentax MX-1
64
environment proof
decent MP (15MP)
flash built-in
screen isn't selfie friendly
61
great battery power (290 shots)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
heavier than others in class (391 grams)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K20D as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax MX-1 as a Landscape photography camera
70
focusing manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (15 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
environment proof
small screen (2.7 inches)
55
has manual focus
reasonably wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
screen is a decent size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW formats
great battery power (290 shots)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
small sensor (1/1.7")
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax K20D Vlogging features
Pentax MX-1 Vlogging features
9
can't shoot video
33
reasonably wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen is not selfie friendly
doesn't have external mic socket
heavier than others in class (391g)
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Pentax K20D vs Pentax MX-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K20D and Pentax MX-1
 Pentax K20DPentax MX-1
General Information
Company Pentax Pentax
Model type Pentax K20D Pentax MX-1
Type Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2008-06-25 2013-07-01
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1/1.7"
Sensor dimensions 23.4 x 15.6mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor surface area 365.0mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 15 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4672 x 3104 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 3200 12800
Maximum boosted ISO 6400 -
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 11 25
Lens
Lens support Pentax KAF2 fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture - f/1.8-2.5
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Amount of lenses 151 -
Crop factor 1.5 4.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 2.7" 3"
Resolution of screen 230k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology - TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.64x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, Red-Eye, Slow, Red-Eye Slow, Rear curtain, wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Speed sync, Trailing Curtain sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 800 gr (1.76 pounds) 391 gr (0.86 pounds)
Physical dimensions 142 x 101 x 70mm (5.6" x 4.0" x 2.8") 122 x 61 x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 65 49
DXO Color Depth rating 22.9 20.4
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.1 11.3
DXO Low light rating 639 208
Other
Battery life - 290 photographs
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID D-LI50 D-Li-106
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/MMC/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $700 $400