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Pentax KP vs Pentax MX-1

Portability
61
Imaging
68
Features
76
Overall
71
Pentax KP front
 
Pentax MX-1 front
Portability
84
Imaging
37
Features
60
Overall
46

Pentax KP vs Pentax MX-1 Key Specs

Pentax KP
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 819200
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 703g - 132 x 101 x 76mm
  • Announced January 2017
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
  • Launched July 2013
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Pentax KP vs Pentax MX-1 Overview

Lets examine more in depth at the Pentax KP versus Pentax MX-1, one being a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and they are both produced by Pentax. There is a significant difference among the image resolutions of the KP (24MP) and MX-1 (12MP) and the KP (APS-C) and MX-1 (1/1.7") feature different sensor sizes.

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The KP was brought out 3 years later than the MX-1 and that is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Pentax KP being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax MX-1 being a Compact camera.

Before getting through a step-by-step comparison, below is a concise summation of how the KP matches up versus the MX-1 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Pentax KP over the Pentax MX-1

 KP MX-1 
LaunchedJanuary 2017July 2013Fresher by 44 months
Screen resolution921k920kClearer screen (+1k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax MX-1 over the Pentax KP

 MX-1 KP 

Common features in the Pentax KP and Pentax MX-1

 KP MX-1 
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen dimensions
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither offers Touch friendly screen

Pentax KP vs Pentax MX-1 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to carry your camera frequently, you should take into account its weight and measurements. The Pentax KP offers physical dimensions of 132mm x 101mm x 76mm (5.2" x 4.0" x 3.0") and a weight of 703 grams (1.55 lbs) and the Pentax MX-1 has proportions of 122mm x 61mm x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") accompanied by a weight of 391 grams (0.86 lbs).

Look at the Pentax KP versus Pentax MX-1 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Here is the front view dimension comparison of the KP versus the MX-1.

Pentax KP vs Pentax MX-1 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the KP and MX-1 is 61 and 84 respectively.

Pentax KP vs Pentax MX-1 top view buttons comparison

Pentax KP vs Pentax MX-1 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's difficult to imagine the gap in sensor sizing purely by looking through a spec sheet. The visual below should provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the KP and MX-1.

Clearly, the two cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The KP because of its bigger sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF simpler and the Pentax KP will render more detail having its extra 12MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop pictures far more aggressively. The more modern KP should have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

Pentax KP vs Pentax MX-1 sensor size comparison

Pentax KP vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Pentax KP Portrait photography advice
Pentax MX-1 Portrait photography advice
80
has manual focus
good MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
includes face detection focus
exports RAW formats
42
focusing manually
comes with face detect focus
supports RAW files
cannot use external flash
low MP (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Pentax KP
Street photography with Pentax MX-1
76
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
weather proof
great high ISO (819,200)
65
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW files
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
more heavy than competitors in class (391g)
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Sports Comparison

Pentax KP Sports photography information
Pentax MX-1 Sports photography information
72
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000 seconds)
quiet mode (1/24,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
includes tracking autofocus
weather proof
bad battery power (390 per charge)
lacks phase detect auto focus
43
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with tracking focus
better than average battery pack (290 shots)
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Pentax KP
Travel photography with Pentax MX-1
62
weather proof
good MP (24 megapixels)
built-in flash
bad battery power (390 shots)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
61
better than average battery pack (290 per charge)
built-in flash
rather wide (28mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
no Timelapse mode
more heavy than competitors in class (391 grams)
low MP (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax KP Landscape photography features
Pentax MX-1 Landscape photography features
78
has manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (24MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
great high ISO (819,200)
exports RAW formats
weather proof
bad battery power (390 per charge)
55
focusing manually
rather wide (28mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW files
better than average battery pack (290 CIPA)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Pentax KP
Vlogging with Pentax MX-1
35
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
includes face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes external mic support
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
33
rather wide (28mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detect focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no microphone jack
more heavy than competitors in class (391g)
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Pentax KP vs Pentax MX-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax KP and Pentax MX-1
 Pentax KPPentax MX-1
General Information
Brand Name Pentax Pentax
Model Pentax KP Pentax MX-1
Class Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2017-01-26 2013-07-01
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip PRIME IV -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1/1.7"
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.6mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor surface area 366.6mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 6016 x 4000 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 819200 12800
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 27 25
Cross focus points 25 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Pentax KAF2 fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture - f/1.8-2.5
Macro focus range - 1cm
Total lenses 151 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 4.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Tilting
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 921k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech - TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.63x -
Features
Min shutter speed 30s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/6000s 1/8000s
Max silent shutter speed 1/24000s -
Continuous shutter speed 7.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 6.00 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, flash on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync, manual, wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Speed sync, Trailing Curtain sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60i, 30p) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 703 grams (1.55 lb) 391 grams (0.86 lb)
Dimensions 132 x 101 x 76mm (5.2" x 4.0" x 3.0") 122 x 61 x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 49
DXO Color Depth score not tested 20.4
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.3
DXO Low light score not tested 208
Other
Battery life 390 photographs 290 photographs
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model D-LI109 D-Li-106
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Launch cost $747 $400