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Pentax MX-1 vs Pentax Q-S1

Portability
84
Imaging
37
Features
60
Overall
46
Pentax MX-1 front
 
Pentax Q-S1 front
Portability
92
Imaging
38
Features
54
Overall
44

Pentax MX-1 vs Pentax Q-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 Q-S1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax Q Mount
  • 203g - 105 x 58 x 34mm
  • Introduced August 2014
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Pentax MX-1 vs Pentax Q-S1 Overview

Here is a in depth review of the Pentax MX-1 and Pentax Q-S1, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and they are both offered by Pentax. The resolution of the MX-1 (12MP) and the Q-S1 (12MP) is pretty comparable and they come with the exact same sensor dimensions (1/1.7").

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The MX-1 was brought out 13 months earlier than the Q-S1 which makes the cameras a generation apart from each other. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Pentax MX-1 being a Compact camera and the Pentax Q-S1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a quick summary of how the MX-1 matches up against the Q-S1 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Pentax MX-1 over the Pentax Q-S1

 MX-1 Q-S1 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution920k460kCrisper screen (+460k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax Q-S1 over the Pentax MX-1

 Q-S1 MX-1 
IntroducedAugust 2014July 2013Fresher by 13 months

Common features in the Pentax MX-1 and Pentax Q-S1

 MX-1 Q-S1 
Manual focus Dial exact focusing
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen sizing
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch screen No Touch screen

Pentax MX-1 vs Pentax Q-S1 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to carry your camera often, you will need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Pentax MX-1 provides external measurements of 122mm x 61mm x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") accompanied by a weight of 391 grams (0.86 lbs) while the Pentax Q-S1 has proportions of 105mm x 58mm x 34mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") along with a weight of 203 grams (0.45 lbs).

Compare the Pentax MX-1 and Pentax Q-S1 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are utilising during that time. Below is the front view scale comparison of the MX-1 and the Q-S1.

Pentax MX-1 vs Pentax Q-S1 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the MX-1 and Q-S1 is 84 and 92 respectively.

Pentax MX-1 vs Pentax Q-S1 top view buttons comparison

Pentax MX-1 vs Pentax Q-S1 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's difficult to visualise the contrast in sensor sizing only by seeing specifications. The graphic below may provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the MX-1 and Q-S1.

Plainly, both of these cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements and the exact same MP so you can expect comparable quality of images however you need to take the age of the cameras into account. The older MX-1 will be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Pentax MX-1 vs Pentax Q-S1 sensor size comparison

Pentax MX-1 vs Pentax Q-S1 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax MX-1 vs Pentax Q-S1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax MX-1 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax Q-S1 as a Portrait photography camera
42
focusing manually
comes with face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
external flash not possible
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
46
has manual focus
includes face detection focusing
exports RAW files
low MP (12MP)
very small sensor (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Pentax MX-1 Street photography features
Pentax Q-S1 Street photography features
65
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW formats
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
more heavy than competition in class (391g)
69
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
exports RAW files
lighter than competition (203g)
screen is fixed
very small sensor (1/1.7")
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Sports Comparison

Pentax MX-1 Sports photography info
Pentax Q-S1 Sports photography info
43
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with tracking autofocus
good battery life (290 per charge)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
has no phase detect auto focus
37
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes tracking autofocus
slow frames per second (5.0 frames/s)
low MP (12MP)
very small sensor (1/1.7")
bad battery power (250 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Pentax MX-1 Travel photography info
Pentax Q-S1 Travel photography info
61
good battery life (290 shots)
flash built-in
pretty wide (28mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
more heavy than competition in class (391g)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly screen
60
lighter than competition (203 grams)
flash built-in
bad battery power (250 per charge)
low MP (12 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Pentax MX-1
Landscape photography with Pentax Q-S1
55
focusing manually
pretty wide (28mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW formats
good battery life (290 per charge)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
doesn't have Timelapse mode
55
has manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax Q mount)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
exports RAW files
low MP (12MP)
very small sensor (1/1.7")
bad battery power (250 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax MX-1 Vlogging info
Pentax Q-S1 Vlogging info
33
pretty wide (28mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not have selfie friendly screen
doesn't have external microphone jack
more heavy than competition in class (391 grams)
35
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition (203 grams)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
doesn't have external microphone support
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Pentax MX-1 vs Pentax Q-S1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax MX-1 and Pentax Q-S1
 Pentax MX-1Pentax Q-S1
General Information
Make Pentax Pentax
Model Pentax MX-1 Pentax Q-S1
Type Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2013-07-01 2014-08-04
Physical type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip - Q Engine
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/1.7" 1/1.7"
Sensor measurements 7.44 x 5.58mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor area 41.5mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 12800 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 25 -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax Q
Lens focal range 28-112mm (4.0x) -
Max aperture f/1.8-2.5 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 8
Focal length multiplier 4.8 4.8
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 920 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech TFT LCD with AR coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 1.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 12.00 m 4.90 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Speed sync, Trailing Curtain sync Auto, redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure 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 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30,25, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30, 25, 24p), 640 x 480 (30, 25, 24p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone 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 gr (0.86 lb) 203 gr (0.45 lb)
Dimensions 122 x 61 x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") 105 x 58 x 34mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3")
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 pictures 250 pictures
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model D-Li-106 D-LI68
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Card slots Single Single
Retail price $400 $250