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Pentax RS1500 vs Pentax Q-S1

Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
30
Overall
34
Pentax Optio RS1500 front
 
Pentax Q-S1 front
Portability
92
Imaging
38
Features
54
Overall
44

Pentax RS1500 vs Pentax Q-S1 Key Specs

Pentax RS1500
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-110mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
  • Released March 2011
Pentax Q-S1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax Q Mount
  • 203g - 105 x 58 x 34mm
  • Revealed August 2014
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Pentax RS1500 vs Pentax Q-S1 Overview

Following is a extensive assessment of the Pentax RS1500 versus Pentax Q-S1, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both of them are manufactured by Pentax. The sensor resolution of the RS1500 (14MP) and the Q-S1 (12MP) is very close but the RS1500 (1/2.3") and Q-S1 (1/1.7") boast different sensor dimensions.

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The RS1500 was manufactured 4 years prior to the Q-S1 which is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Pentax RS1500 being a Compact camera and the Pentax Q-S1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a short summation of how the RS1500 matches up vs the Q-S1 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Pentax RS1500 over the Pentax Q-S1

 RS1500 Q-S1 

Reasons to pick Pentax Q-S1 over the Pentax RS1500

 Q-S1 RS1500 
RevealedAugust 2014March 2011More modern by 41 months
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Pentax RS1500 and Pentax Q-S1

 RS1500 Q-S1 
Manually focus Very precise focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly display No Touch friendly display

Pentax RS1500 vs Pentax Q-S1 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to carry around your camera, you are going to need to factor in its weight and size. The Pentax RS1500 provides external dimensions of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") having a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs) and the Pentax Q-S1 has specifications of 105mm x 58mm x 34mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") having a weight of 203 grams (0.45 lbs).

Check the Pentax RS1500 versus Pentax Q-S1 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you select during that time. Below is a front view proportions comparison of the RS1500 vs the Q-S1.

Pentax RS1500 vs Pentax Q-S1 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the RS1500 and Q-S1 is 93 and 92 respectively.

Pentax RS1500 vs Pentax Q-S1 top view buttons comparison

Pentax RS1500 vs Pentax Q-S1 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very tough to visualize the gap in sensor sizes merely by viewing specs. The picture here will give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the RS1500 and Q-S1.

As you can plainly see, both of the cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The RS1500 because of its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF harder and the Pentax RS1500 will result in more detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop images way more aggressively. The more aged RS1500 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Pentax RS1500 vs Pentax Q-S1 sensor size comparison

Pentax RS1500 vs Pentax Q-S1 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax RS1500 vs Pentax Q-S1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax RS1500 Portrait photography features
Pentax Q-S1 Portrait photography features
35
you can focus manually
good resolution (14 megapixels)
manual exposure not possible
cannot use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
46
focusing manually
comes with face detection focus
supports RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Pentax RS1500 Street photography factors
Pentax Q-S1 Street photography factors
54
environment sealing
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
69
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports RAW formats
lighter than competitors in class (203g)
fixed screen
very small sensor (1/1.7")
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Sports Comparison

Pentax RS1500 Sports photography factors
Pentax Q-S1 Sports photography factors
37
good resolution (14 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
environment sealing
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
37
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
very small sensor (1/1.7")
terrible battery pack (250 per charge)
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax RS1500 Travel photography information
Pentax Q-S1 Travel photography information
67
environment sealing
good resolution (14MP)
built-in flash
quite wide (28mm)
no Time Lapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
60
lighter than competitors in class (203 grams)
has built in flash
terrible battery pack (250 shots)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax RS1500 Landscape photography info
Pentax Q-S1 Landscape photography info
40
you can focus manually
quite wide (28mm)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
environment sealing
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
small screen (2.7 inch)
manual exposure not possible
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
no Time Lapse recording
55
focusing manually
change lenses (Pentax Q mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12MP)
very small sensor (1/1.7")
terrible battery pack (250 per charge)
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Pentax RS1500 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax Q-S1 as a Vlogging camera
25
quite wide (28mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external mic port
35
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competitors in class (203 grams)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
lack of external microphone socket
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Pentax RS1500 vs Pentax Q-S1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax RS1500 and Pentax Q-S1
 Pentax Optio RS1500Pentax Q-S1
General Information
Make Pentax Pentax
Model type Pentax Optio RS1500 Pentax Q-S1
Class Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2011-03-16 2014-08-04
Physical type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by - Q Engine
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/1.7"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4288 x 3216 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Pentax Q
Lens zoom range 28-110mm (3.9x) -
Max aperture f/3.5-5.5 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Number of lenses - 8
Focal length multiplier 5.8 4.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/1500s 1/8000s
Continuous shutter rate 1.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.90 m 4.90 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30,25, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30, 25, 24p), 640 x 480 (30, 25, 24p)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 157 grams (0.35 lbs) 203 grams (0.45 lbs)
Physical dimensions 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") 105 x 58 x 34mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 260 pictures 250 pictures
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID D-LI92 D-LI68
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Card slots Single Single
Cost at release $150 $250