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Pentax KP vs Pentax S1

Portability
61
Imaging
67
Features
76
Overall
70
Pentax KP front
 
Pentax Optio S1 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
31
Overall
34

Pentax KP vs Pentax S1 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
  • Launched January 2017
Pentax S1
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
  • Revealed March 2011
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Pentax KP vs Pentax S1 Overview

Here, we will be evaluating the Pentax KP and Pentax S1, former is a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and they are both produced by Pentax. There is a sizable difference among the sensor resolutions of the KP (24MP) and S1 (14MP) and the KP (APS-C) and S1 (1/2.3") boast different sensor sizes.

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The KP was launched 5 years after the S1 which is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Pentax KP being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax S1 being a Compact camera.

Before getting right into a in depth comparison, here is a short highlight of how the KP scores vs the S1 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Pentax KP over the Pentax S1

 KP S1 
RevealedJanuary 2017March 2011Newer by 72 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kSharper screen (+691k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax S1 over the Pentax KP

 S1 KP 

Common features in the Pentax KP and Pentax S1

 KP S1 
Manual focus Dial precise focusing
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch screen Neither comes with Touch screen

Pentax KP vs Pentax S1 Physical Comparison

If you are going to travel with your camera frequently, you're going to have to consider its weight and proportions. The Pentax KP comes with physical measurements of 132mm x 101mm x 76mm (5.2" x 4.0" x 3.0") and a weight of 703 grams (1.55 lbs) whilst the Pentax S1 has measurements of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") along with a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).

Check out the Pentax KP and Pentax S1 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are working with at the time. Below is a front view proportions comparison of the KP versus the S1.

Pentax KP vs Pentax S1 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the KP and S1 is 61 and 93 respectively.

Pentax KP vs Pentax S1 top view buttons comparison

Pentax KP vs Pentax S1 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it can be difficult to imagine the gap in sensor dimensions simply by researching technical specs. The picture below should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the KP and S1.

As you have seen, the two cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The KP because of its bigger sensor is going to make getting bokeh less difficult and the Pentax KP will result in greater detail utilizing its extra 10MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The newer KP provides an edge in sensor innovation.

Pentax KP vs Pentax S1 sensor size comparison

Pentax KP vs Pentax S1 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax KP vs Pentax S1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Pentax KP
Portrait photography with Pentax S1
80
focusing manually
good megapixels (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
35
you can focus manually
MP count good (14MP)
lack of manual exposure
external flash not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Pentax KP Street photography info
Pentax S1 Street photography info
76
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
weather sealing
above average ISO range (819,200)
56
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
screen is fixed
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Pentax KP Sports photography info
Pentax S1 Sports photography info
72
high shutter speed (1/6,000s)
quiet shutter (1/24,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
offers tracking autofocus
weather sealing
low battery pack (390 per charge)
does not have phase detect autofocus
39
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (14MP)
includes tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Pentax KP Travel photography details
Pentax S1 Travel photography details
61
weather sealing
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
flash built-in
low battery pack (390 shots)
display isn't selfie friendly
64
MP count good (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
quite wide (28mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax KP Landscape photography info
Pentax S1 Landscape photography info
77
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
above average ISO range (819,200)
supports RAW files
weather sealing
low battery pack (390 CIPA)
42
you can focus manually
quite wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (14MP)
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
lack of manual exposure
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Pentax KP
Vlogging with Pentax S1
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detection autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have external microphone socket
display isn't selfie friendly
28
quite wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external microphone jack
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Pentax KP vs Pentax S1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax KP and Pentax S1
 Pentax KPPentax Optio S1
General Information
Brand Pentax Pentax
Model Pentax KP Pentax Optio S1
Category Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2017-01-26 2011-03-02
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Chip PRIME IV -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.6mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 366.6mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 6016 x 4000 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 819200 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
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 - 28-140mm (5.0x)
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 size 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of display 921 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech - TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.63x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 seconds 4 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/6000 seconds 1/1500 seconds
Maximum quiet shutter speed 1/24000 seconds -
Continuous shooting speed 7.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 6.00 m (at ISO 100) 3.90 m
Flash options Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, flash on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync, manual, wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
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)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 703 grams (1.55 pounds) 157 grams (0.35 pounds)
Physical 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 All around 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
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model D-LI109 D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Price at launch $747 $174