Pentax E90 vs Pentax Q-S1

Here, we are looking at the Pentax E90 and Pentax Q-S1, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both of them are manufactured by Pentax. The sensor resolution of the E90 (10MP) and the Q-S1 (12MP) is fairly similar but the E90 (1/2.3") and Q-S1 (1/1.7") posses totally different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The E90 was launched 5 years earlier than the Q-S1 and that is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Pentax E90 being a Compact camera and the Pentax Q-S1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going right into a detailed comparison, here is a short view of how the E90 grades versus the Q-S1 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Here is a sample of the gallery pictures for Pentax Optio E90 and Pentax Q-S1. The complete galleries are viewable at Pentax E90 Gallery and Pentax Q-S1 Gallery.

In case you're aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you're going to have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Pentax E90 enjoys external measurements of 102mm x 59mm x 25mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.0") with a weight of 145 grams (0.32 lbs) whilst the Pentax Q-S1 has dimensions of 105mm x 58mm x 34mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") along with a weight of 203 grams (0.45 lbs).

Contrast the Pentax E90 and Pentax Q-S1 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are working with during that time. Below is a front view measurement comparison of the E90 against the Q-S1.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the E90 and Q-S1 is 94 and 92 respectively.

Often, it is very difficult to envision the gap between sensor measurements only by reading specifications. The visual here should offer you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the E90 and Q-S1.

To sum up, both cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E90 due to its tinier sensor will make achieving shallow DOF more challenging and the Pentax Q-S1 will offer greater detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop images way more aggressively. The older E90 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.