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Pentax RS1500 vs Sony A380

Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
30
Overall
34
Pentax Optio RS1500 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A380 front
Portability
68
Imaging
53
Features
54
Overall
53

Pentax RS1500 vs Sony A380 Key Specs

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
Sony A380
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 519g - 128 x 97 x 71mm
  • Announced August 2009
  • Superseded the Sony A350
  • Newer Model is Sony A390
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Pentax RS1500 vs Sony A380 Overview

Its time to look closer at the Pentax RS1500 and Sony A380, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Pentax and Sony. The sensor resolution of the RS1500 (14MP) and the A380 (14MP) is fairly close but the RS1500 (1/2.3") and A380 (APS-C) use totally different sensor measurements.

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The RS1500 was manufactured 19 months after the A380 making the cameras a generation away from one another. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Pentax RS1500 being a Compact camera and the Sony A380 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving through a step-by-step comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the RS1500 matches up against the A380 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Pentax RS1500 over the Sony A380

 RS1500 A380 
AnnouncedMarch 2011August 2009Newer by 19 months

Reasons to pick Sony A380 over the Pentax RS1500

 A380 RS1500 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Pentax RS1500 and Sony A380

 RS1500 A380 
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Display dimension2.7"2.7"Identical display measurements
Display resolution230k230kSame display resolution
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Pentax RS1500 vs Sony A380 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you need to consider its weight and proportions. The Pentax RS1500 has physical dimensions of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs) and the Sony A380 has measurements of 128mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 519 grams (1.14 lbs).

Contrast the Pentax RS1500 and Sony A380 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have chosen at that time. Here is the front view overall size comparison of the RS1500 vs the A380.

Pentax RS1500 vs Sony A380 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the RS1500 and A380 is 93 and 68 respectively.

Pentax RS1500 vs Sony A380 top view buttons comparison

Pentax RS1500 vs Sony A380 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's hard to envision the contrast in sensor dimensions purely by viewing specs. The picture below may provide you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the RS1500 and A380.

All in all, both of the cameras have got the exact same megapixel count but not the same sensor dimensions. The RS1500 comes with the smaller sensor which should make achieving bokeh harder. The younger RS1500 is going to have a benefit in sensor tech.

Pentax RS1500 vs Sony A380 sensor size comparison

Pentax RS1500 vs Sony A380 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax RS1500 vs Sony A380 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax RS1500 Portrait photography advice
Sony A380 Portrait photography advice
35
has manual focus
decent megapixels (14MP)
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
71
focusing manually
MP count good (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Pentax RS1500 as a Street photography camera
Sony A380 as a Street photography camera
54
weather proof
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
76
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Pentax RS1500 Sports photography highlights
Sony A380 Sports photography highlights
37
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
weather proof
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
no image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
59
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect autofocus
slow fps (3.0 frames/s)
not so great battery pack (500 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Pentax RS1500
Travel photography with Sony A380
67
weather proof
decent megapixels (14MP)
has built in flash
rather wide (28mm)
no Time Lapse function
does not feature selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
53
MP count good (14MP)
built-in flash
doesn't have Timelapse mode
not so great battery pack (500 shots)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax RS1500 Landscape photography highlights
Sony A380 Landscape photography highlights
40
has manual focus
rather wide (28mm)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
weather proof
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
no manual exposure
no image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
no Time Lapse function
61
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
small screen (2.7 inches)
not so great battery pack (500 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Pentax RS1500 Vlogging features
Sony A380 Vlogging features
25
rather wide (28mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external mic jack
9
can't record video
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Pentax RS1500 vs Sony A380 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax RS1500 and Sony A380
 Pentax Optio RS1500Sony Alpha DSLR-A380
General Information
Brand Pentax Sony
Model Pentax Optio RS1500 Sony Alpha DSLR-A380
Type Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2011-03-16 2009-08-24
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4288 x 3216 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 28-110mm (3.9x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.5-5.5 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Total lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 2.7" 2.7"
Resolution of display 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.49x
Features
Min shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/1500 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 1.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 3.90 m 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) -
Max video resolution 1280x720 None
Video data format Motion JPEG -
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 157 grams (0.35 lb) 519 grams (1.14 lb)
Dimensions 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") 128 x 97 x 71mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 67
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.6
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.8
DXO Low light score not tested 614
Other
Battery life 260 pictures 500 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model D-LI92 NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Storage slots One One
Retail cost $150 $899