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Pentax RS1500 vs Sony HX30V

Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
30
Overall
34
Pentax Optio RS1500 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Pentax RS1500 vs Sony HX30V 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 HX30V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.2-5.8) lens
  • 254g - 107 x 62 x 35mm
  • Launched February 2012
  • Replaced the Sony HX20V
  • Newer Model is Sony HX50V
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Pentax RS1500 vs Sony HX30V Overview

Here, we are comparing the Pentax RS1500 vs Sony HX30V, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Pentax and Sony. There is a sizable difference between the image resolutions of the RS1500 (14MP) and HX30V (18MP) but both cameras offer the identical sensor size (1/2.3").

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The RS1500 was revealed 11 months earlier than the HX30V so they are of a similar age. Both the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before getting into a step-by-step comparison, here is a short summation of how the RS1500 matches up versus the HX30V in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Pentax RS1500 over the Sony HX30V

 RS1500 HX30V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX30V over the Pentax RS1500

 HX30V RS1500 
LaunchedFebruary 2012March 2011More modern by 11 months
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution922k230kCrisper display (+692k dot)

Common features in the Pentax RS1500 and Sony HX30V

 RS1500 HX30V 
Manual focus Dial exact focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly display Absent Touch friendly display

Pentax RS1500 vs Sony HX30V Physical Comparison

If you are planning to carry around your camera regularly, you are going to need to take into account its weight and volume. The Pentax RS1500 features exterior measurements of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") along with a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs) while the Sony HX30V has sizing of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") and a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Check the Pentax RS1500 vs Sony HX30V in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are working with at that time. Underneath is a front view over all size comparison of the RS1500 against the HX30V.

Pentax RS1500 vs Sony HX30V size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the RS1500 and HX30V is 93 and 90 respectively.

Pentax RS1500 vs Sony HX30V top view buttons comparison

Pentax RS1500 vs Sony HX30V Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's tough to picture the gap between sensor sizes just by reading through specs. The image underneath might provide you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the RS1500 and HX30V.

All in all, both of the cameras feature the identical sensor size but different resolution. You can anticipate the Sony HX30V to resolve more detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop photos way more aggressively. The more aged RS1500 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Pentax RS1500 vs Sony HX30V sensor size comparison

Pentax RS1500 vs Sony HX30V Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax RS1500 vs Sony HX30V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax RS1500 Portrait photography advice
Sony HX30V Portrait photography advice
35
you can focus manually
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
no manual mode
external flash not possible
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
45
focusing manually
MP count good (18 megapixels)
offers face detection autofocus
cannot use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Pentax RS1500
Street photography with Sony HX30V
54
environment proofing
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (254g)
fixed screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Pentax RS1500 Sports photography info
Sony HX30V Sports photography info
37
good megapixels (14MP)
offers tracking focus
environment proofing
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
49
incredible zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (18MP)
offers tracking autofocus
no shutter priority
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax RS1500 Travel photography features
Sony HX30V Travel photography features
67
environment proofing
good megapixels (14MP)
has built in flash
quite wide (28mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
69
lighter than others in class (254 grams)
MP count good (18 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (25mm)
long reach (500mm)
missing Timelapse function
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Pentax RS1500
Landscape photography with Sony HX30V
40
you can focus manually
quite wide (28mm)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
environment proofing
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
tiny screen (2.7")
no manual mode
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
lack of Timelapse recording
50
focusing manually
quite wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (18MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax RS1500 Vlogging advice
Sony HX30V Vlogging advice
25
quite wide (28mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of microphone port
34
quite wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than others in class (254g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
missing external microphone socket
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Pentax RS1500 vs Sony HX30V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax RS1500 and Sony HX30V
 Pentax Optio RS1500Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
General Information
Brand Name Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax Optio RS1500 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2011-03-16 2012-02-28
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - BIONZ
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 18 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4288 x 3216 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-110mm (3.9x) 25-500mm (20.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.5-5.5 f/3.2-5.8
Macro focusing distance 1cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/1500s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting rate 1.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 3.90 m 7.10 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
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) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 157 gr (0.35 lbs) 254 gr (0.56 lbs)
Physical dimensions 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 shots 320 shots
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID D-LI92 NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Retail cost $150 $420