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Pentax MX-1 vs Pentax S1

Portability
84
Imaging
37
Features
60
Overall
46
Pentax MX-1 front
 
Pentax Optio S1 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
31
Overall
34

Pentax MX-1 vs Pentax S1 Key Specs

Pentax MX-1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • 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
  • Announced July 2013
Pentax S1
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
  • Released March 2011
Photography Glossary

Pentax MX-1 vs Pentax S1 Overview

Lets look a little more in depth at the Pentax MX-1 versus Pentax S1, both Small Sensor Compact cameras and both are produced by Pentax. The image resolution of the MX-1 (12MP) and the S1 (14MP) is fairly close but the MX-1 (1/1.7") and S1 (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor dimensions.

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The MX-1 was released 2 years after the S1 which is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before delving straight to a detailed comparison, here is a short highlight of how the MX-1 scores against the S1 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Pentax MX-1 over the Pentax S1

 MX-1 S1 
ReleasedJuly 2013March 2011Newer by 29 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution920k230kSharper display (+690k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax S1 over the Pentax MX-1

 S1 MX-1 

Common features in the Pentax MX-1 and Pentax S1

 MX-1 S1 
Focus manually More exact focusing
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch display Neither has Touch display

Pentax MX-1 vs Pentax S1 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to travel with your camera often, you are going to need to factor its weight and measurements. The Pentax MX-1 has physical dimensions of 122mm x 61mm x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") along with a weight of 391 grams (0.86 lbs) whilst the Pentax S1 has proportions of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") and a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).

Examine the Pentax MX-1 versus Pentax S1 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you select at that moment. Underneath is a front view dimensions comparison of the MX-1 against the S1.

Pentax MX-1 vs Pentax S1 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the MX-1 and S1 is 84 and 93 respectively.

Pentax MX-1 vs Pentax S1 top view buttons comparison

Pentax MX-1 vs Pentax S1 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's tough to visualise the difference in sensor dimensions just by viewing technical specs. The picture below may provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the MX-1 and S1.

As you can tell, the two cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The MX-1 due to its larger sensor will make getting bokeh less difficult and the Pentax S1 will provide you with greater detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop photos way more aggressively. The more modern MX-1 is going to have a benefit in sensor tech.

Pentax MX-1 vs Pentax S1 sensor size comparison

Pentax MX-1 vs Pentax S1 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax MX-1 vs Pentax S1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax MX-1 Portrait photography features
Pentax S1 Portrait photography features
42
has manual focus
offers face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
can't use external flash
low megapixels (12MP)
very small sensor (1/1.7")
35
has manual focus
good MP (14 megapixels)
no manual control
cannot use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Pentax MX-1 Street photography highlights
Pentax S1 Street photography highlights
65
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW files
very small sensor (1/1.7")
more heavy than average in class (391g)
56
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no articulating screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Pentax MX-1 Sports photography details
Pentax S1 Sports photography details
43
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers tracking focus
better than average battery life (290 shots)
low fps (1.0 frames per second)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/1.7")
lack of phase detect AF
39
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (14 megapixels)
has tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax MX-1 Travel photography factors
Pentax S1 Travel photography factors
61
better than average battery life (290 CIPA)
flash built-in
pretty wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
more heavy than average in class (391 grams)
low megapixels (12MP)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
64
good MP (14MP)
built-in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax MX-1 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax S1 as a Landscape photography camera
55
has manual focus
pretty wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW files
better than average battery life (290 per charge)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/1.7")
doesn't have Timelapse mode
42
has manual focus
relatively wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (14MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
no manual control
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax MX-1 Vlogging highlights
Pentax S1 Vlogging highlights
33
pretty wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detect focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
doesn't have microphone socket
more heavy than average in class (391 grams)
28
relatively wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have mic support
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Pentax MX-1 vs Pentax S1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax MX-1 and Pentax S1
 Pentax MX-1Pentax Optio S1
General Information
Brand Name Pentax Pentax
Model Pentax MX-1 Pentax Optio S1
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2013-07-01 2011-03-02
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/1.7" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 7.44 x 5.58mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 41.5mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 4288 x 3216
Maximum native ISO 12800 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 25 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-112mm (4.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture f/1.8-2.5 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus distance 1cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 4.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 2.7 inches
Display resolution 920 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology 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 rate 1.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 12.00 m 3.90 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Speed sync, Trailing Curtain sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
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)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 391 grams (0.86 lb) 157 grams (0.35 lb)
Physical 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 score 49 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 20.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 11.3 not tested
DXO Low light score 208 not tested
Other
Battery life 290 shots 260 shots
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model D-Li-106 D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Cost at launch $400 $174