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Pentax MX-1 vs Pentax RS1500

Portability
84
Imaging
37
Features
60
Overall
46
Pentax MX-1 front
 
Pentax Optio RS1500 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
30
Overall
34

Pentax MX-1 vs Pentax RS1500 Key Specs

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
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 MX-1 vs Pentax RS1500 Overview

Below, we are contrasting the Pentax MX-1 versus Pentax RS1500, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras and both of them are built by Pentax. The image resolution of the MX-1 (12MP) and the RS1500 (14MP) is fairly similar but the MX-1 (1/1.7") and RS1500 (1/2.3") possess totally different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The MX-1 was unveiled 2 years after the RS1500 which is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving through a complete comparison, below is a concise overview of how the MX-1 matches up versus the RS1500 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Pentax MX-1 over the Pentax RS1500

 MX-1 RS1500 
LaunchedJuly 2013March 2011Newer by 28 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution920k230kCrisper display (+690k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax RS1500 over the Pentax MX-1

 RS1500 MX-1 

Common features in the Pentax MX-1 and Pentax RS1500

 MX-1 RS1500 
Manually focus Dial accurate focus
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly display No Touch friendly display

Pentax MX-1 vs Pentax RS1500 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to travel with your camera often, you will want to factor its weight and measurements. The Pentax MX-1 has outer dimensions of 122mm x 61mm x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") having a weight of 391 grams (0.86 lbs) and the Pentax RS1500 has proportions of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).

Analyze the Pentax MX-1 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 vary dependant on the lens you are employing at that time. Following is the front view physical size comparison of the MX-1 and the RS1500.

Pentax MX-1 vs Pentax RS1500 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the MX-1 and RS1500 is 84 and 93 respectively.

Pentax MX-1 vs Pentax RS1500 top view buttons comparison

Pentax MX-1 vs Pentax RS1500 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is difficult to visualise the difference between sensor dimensions purely by reading a spec sheet. The image below may give you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the MX-1 and RS1500.

As you can see, both cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The MX-1 using its larger sensor will make getting shallow DOF easier and the Pentax RS1500 will offer greater detail having an extra 2MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop photos much more aggressively. The newer MX-1 is going to have an edge with regard to sensor tech.

Pentax MX-1 vs Pentax RS1500 sensor size comparison

Pentax MX-1 vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax MX-1 vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax MX-1 Portrait photography advice
Pentax RS1500 Portrait photography advice
42
you can focus manually
comes with face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
can't use external flash
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
35
focusing manually
decent MP (14 megapixels)
manual exposure not possible
cannot use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Pentax MX-1 Street photography details
Pentax RS1500 Street photography details
65
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW formats
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
more heavy than average in class (391 grams)
54
environment proofing
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Pentax MX-1 Sports photography details
Pentax RS1500 Sports photography details
43
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with tracking autofocus
good battery life (290 per charge)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
low MP (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
does not have phase detect AF
37
decent MP (14 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
environment proofing
low frames per second (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax MX-1 Travel photography information
Pentax RS1500 Travel photography information
61
good battery life (290 shots)
has built in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
more heavy than average in class (391 grams)
low MP (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
67
environment proofing
decent MP (14MP)
flash built-in
pretty wide (28mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Pentax MX-1
Landscape photography with Pentax RS1500
55
you can focus manually
fairly wide (28mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW formats
good battery life (290 CIPA)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
doesn't have Timelapse mode
40
focusing manually
pretty wide (28mm)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
environment proofing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
manual exposure not possible
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax MX-1 Vlogging details
Pentax RS1500 Vlogging details
33
fairly wide (28mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detection focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display is not selfie friendly
doesn't have external microphone jack
more heavy than average in class (391 grams)
25
pretty wide (28mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external microphone port
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Pentax MX-1 vs Pentax RS1500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax MX-1 and Pentax RS1500
 Pentax MX-1Pentax Optio RS1500
General Information
Make Pentax Pentax
Model type Pentax MX-1 Pentax Optio RS1500
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2013-07-01 2011-03-16
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/1.7" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 7.44 x 5.58mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 41.5mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 4288 x 3216
Max native ISO 12800 6400
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 25 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-112mm (4.0x) 28-110mm (3.9x)
Largest aperture f/1.8-2.5 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing distance 1cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 4.8 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 2.7 inch
Screen resolution 920 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech TFT LCD with AR coating TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30s 4s
Highest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/1500s
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 12.00 m 3.90 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Speed sync, Trailing Curtain sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 391g (0.86 pounds) 157g (0.35 pounds)
Dimensions 122 x 61 x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 49 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 20.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.3 not tested
DXO Low light rating 208 not tested
Other
Battery life 290 images 260 images
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID D-Li-106 D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Launch price $400 $150