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Pentax KP vs Pentax RS1500

Portability
61
Imaging
67
Features
76
Overall
70
Pentax KP front
 
Pentax Optio RS1500 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
30
Overall
34

Pentax KP vs Pentax RS1500 Key Specs

Pentax KP
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 819200
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 703g - 132 x 101 x 76mm
  • Introduced January 2017
Pentax RS1500
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-110mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
  • Launched March 2011
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Pentax KP vs Pentax RS1500 Overview

Its time to take a deeper look at the Pentax KP versus Pentax RS1500, one being a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both are sold by Pentax. There is a crucial difference between the image resolutions of the KP (24MP) and RS1500 (14MP) and the KP (APS-C) and RS1500 (1/2.3") enjoy totally different sensor sizing.

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The KP was released 5 years later than the RS1500 and that is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Pentax KP being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax RS1500 being a Compact camera.

Before delving in to a detailed comparison, below is a short summary of how the KP matches up vs the RS1500 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Pentax KP over the Pentax RS1500

 KP RS1500 
LaunchedJanuary 2017March 2011More recent by 72 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kClearer display (+691k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax RS1500 over the Pentax KP

 RS1500 KP 

Common features in the Pentax KP and Pentax RS1500

 KP RS1500 
Manual focus Very accurate focusing
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither comes with Touch friendly display

Pentax KP vs Pentax RS1500 Physical Comparison

If you are going to lug around your camera often, you need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Pentax KP comes with physical measurements of 132mm x 101mm x 76mm (5.2" x 4.0" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 703 grams (1.55 lbs) while the Pentax RS1500 has dimensions of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") and a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).

Analyze the Pentax KP versus Pentax RS1500 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you select at the time. Underneath is the front view overall size comparison of the KP against the RS1500.

Pentax KP vs Pentax RS1500 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the KP and RS1500 is 61 and 93 respectively.

Pentax KP vs Pentax RS1500 top view buttons comparison

Pentax KP vs Pentax RS1500 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very difficult to envision the gap between sensor measurements just by looking at a spec sheet. The graphic below may give you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the KP and RS1500.

As you can see, both of the cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The KP due to its larger sensor will make achieving shallower DOF less difficult and the Pentax KP will resolve greater detail as a result of its extra 10 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop images somewhat more aggressively. The more modern KP will have an advantage in sensor technology.

Pentax KP vs Pentax RS1500 sensor size comparison

Pentax KP vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax KP vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Pentax KP
Portrait photography with Pentax RS1500
80
focusing manually
MP count good (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detection focusing
exports RAW files
35
focusing manually
MP count good (14MP)
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Pentax KP Street photography info
Pentax RS1500 Street photography info
76
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
weather proof
good ISO range (819,200)
54
weather proofing
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Pentax KP Sports photography highlights
Pentax RS1500 Sports photography highlights
72
great max shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
quiet mode (1/24,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (24MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
offers tracking autofocus
weather proof
low battery power (390 shots)
lack of phase detect AF
37
MP count good (14 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
weather proofing
max frames per second very slow (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Pentax KP
Travel photography with Pentax RS1500
61
weather proof
MP count good (24 megapixels)
built-in flash
low battery power (390 per charge)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
67
weather proofing
MP count good (14MP)
built-in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax KP Landscape photography info
Pentax RS1500 Landscape photography info
77
focusing manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
good ISO range (819,200)
exports RAW files
weather proof
low battery power (390 CIPA)
40
focusing manually
fairly wide (28mm)
MP count good (14MP)
weather proofing
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
small screen (2.7")
manual exposure not available
does not have image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax KP Vlogging info
Pentax RS1500 Vlogging info
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes external microphone jack
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
25
fairly wide (28mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external mic port
Photography Glossary

Pentax KP vs Pentax RS1500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax KP and Pentax RS1500
 Pentax KPPentax Optio RS1500
General Information
Brand Name Pentax Pentax
Model Pentax KP Pentax Optio RS1500
Category Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2017-01-26 2011-03-16
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Chip PRIME IV -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.6mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 366.6mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 6016 x 4000 4288 x 3216
Maximum native ISO 819200 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 27 9
Cross focus points 25 -
Lens
Lens mount Pentax KAF2 fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-110mm (3.9x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Amount of lenses 151 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 921 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology - TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.63x -
Features
Min shutter speed 30 seconds 4 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/6000 seconds 1/1500 seconds
Max quiet shutter speed 1/24000 seconds -
Continuous shutter speed 7.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 6.00 m (at ISO 100) 3.90 m
Flash settings Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, flash on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync, manual, wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60i, 30p) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
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 703g (1.55 lbs) 157g (0.35 lbs)
Dimensions 132 x 101 x 76mm (5.2" x 4.0" x 3.0") 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 390 shots 260 shots
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model D-LI109 D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Price at release $747 $150