Pentax RS1500 vs Sony QX30
93 Imaging
37 Features
30 Overall
34


91 Imaging
45 Features
37 Overall
41
Pentax RS1500 vs Sony QX30 Key Specs
(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
(Full Review)
- 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- " Fixed Display
- ISO 80 - 3200
- Optical Image Stabilization
- 1920 x 1080 video
- 24-720mm (F3.5-6.3) lens
- 193g - 68 x 65 x 58mm
- Announced September 2014

Pentax RS1500 vs Sony QX30 Overview
Below, we are contrasting the Pentax RS1500 versus Sony QX30, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Lens-style by competitors Pentax and Sony. There exists a considerable gap between the sensor resolutions of the RS1500 (14MP) and QX30 (20MP) but they feature the exact same sensor size (1/2.3").

The RS1500 was brought out 4 years prior to the QX30 and that is quite a large difference as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Pentax RS1500 being a Compact camera and the Sony QX30 being a Lens-style camera.
Before going through a comprehensive comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the RS1500 scores vs the QX30 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Pentax RS1500 vs Sony QX30 Gallery
This is a sample of the gallery pictures for Pentax Optio RS1500 & Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30. The entire galleries are viewable at Pentax RS1500 Gallery & Sony QX30 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Pentax RS1500 over the Sony QX30
RS1500 | QX30 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manual focus | ![]() | More exact focusing | ||
Display dimension | 2.7" | ![]() | " | Larger display (+2.7") |
Display resolution | 230k | ![]() | 0k | Clearer display (+230k dot) |
Reasons to pick Sony QX30 over the Pentax RS1500
QX30 | RS1500 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Announced | September 2014 | ![]() | March 2011 | Fresher by 42 months |
Touch friendly display | ![]() | Easily navigate |
Common features in the Pentax RS1500 and Sony QX30
RS1500 | QX30 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Display type | Fixed | ![]() | Fixed | Fixed display |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Neither offers selfie screen |
Pentax RS1500 vs Sony QX30 Physical Comparison
For anybody who is planning to carry your camera often, you need to consider its weight and proportions. The Pentax RS1500 offers outside measurements of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") and a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs) whilst the Sony QX30 has measurements of 68mm x 65mm x 58mm (2.7" x 2.6" x 2.3") with a weight of 193 grams (0.43 lbs).
Compare the Pentax RS1500 versus Sony QX30 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you select during that time. Here is the front view measurements comparison of the RS1500 against the QX30.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the RS1500 and QX30 is 93 and 91 respectively.

Pentax RS1500 vs Sony QX30 Sensor Comparison
More often than not, it's hard to see the difference between sensor sizing merely by going over a spec sheet. The graphic here should give you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the RS1500 and QX30.
As you can see, both the cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but not the same resolution. You can anticipate the Sony QX30 to offer you more detail having its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop photos somewhat more aggressively. The older RS1500 is going to be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Pentax RS1500 vs Sony QX30 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Pentax RS1500 vs Sony QX30 Specifications
Pentax Optio RS1500 | Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Make | Pentax | Sony |
Model type | Pentax Optio RS1500 | Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30 |
Type | Small Sensor Compact | Lens-style |
Launched | 2011-03-16 | 2014-09-03 |
Body design | Compact | Lens-style |
Sensor Information | ||
Powered by | - | Bionz X |
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 | 20 megapixel |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 |
Highest Possible resolution | 4288 x 3216 | 5184 x 3888 |
Maximum native ISO | 6400 | 3200 |
Lowest native ISO | 80 | 80 |
RAW images | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Manual focusing | ||
Touch focus | ||
Autofocus continuous | ||
Autofocus single | ||
Autofocus tracking | ||
Selective autofocus | ||
Center weighted autofocus | ||
Multi area autofocus | ||
Autofocus live view | ||
Face detect focus | ||
Contract detect focus | ||
Phase detect focus | ||
Total focus points | 9 | - |
Lens | ||
Lens mount type | fixed lens | fixed lens |
Lens zoom range | 28-110mm (3.9x) | 24-720mm (30.0x) |
Maximum aperture | f/3.5-5.5 | f/3.5-6.3 |
Macro focusing range | 1cm | - |
Crop factor | 5.8 | 5.8 |
Screen | ||
Display type | Fixed Type | Fixed Type |
Display size | 2.7 inches | - |
Resolution of display | 230k dot | 0k dot |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch function | ||
Display tech | TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating | - |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder | None | None |
Features | ||
Minimum shutter speed | 4 seconds | 4 seconds |
Fastest shutter speed | 1/1500 seconds | 1/1600 seconds |
Continuous shutter speed | 1.0 frames per sec | 10.0 frames per sec |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manually set exposure | ||
Custom white balance | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Built-in flash | ||
Flash distance | 3.90 m | no built-in flash |
Flash options | Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft | None |
External flash | ||
AEB | ||
White balance 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 (60p, 30p) |
Maximum video resolution | 1280x720 | 1920x1080 |
Video format | Motion JPEG | MPEG-4 |
Microphone input | ||
Headphone input | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | None | Built-In |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
GPS | None | None |
Physical | ||
Environment seal | ||
Water proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | 157 gr (0.35 lb) | 193 gr (0.43 lb) |
Dimensions | 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") | 68 x 65 x 58mm (2.7" x 2.6" x 2.3") |
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 shots | 200 shots |
Battery format | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery ID | D-LI92 | NP-BN, |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec) | Yes (2, 10 secs) |
Time lapse shooting | ||
Storage media | SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal | microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC, Memory Stick Micro |
Storage slots | 1 | 1 |
Price at release | $150 | $348 |