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Pentax RS1500 vs Sony QX30

Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
30
Overall
34
Pentax Optio RS1500 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30 front
Portability
91
Imaging
45
Features
37
Overall
41

Pentax RS1500 vs Sony QX30 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 QX30
(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
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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").

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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.

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Reasons to pick Pentax RS1500 over the Sony QX30

 RS1500 QX30 
Manual focus More exact focusing
Display dimension2.7""Larger display (+2.7")
Display resolution230k0kClearer display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony QX30 over the Pentax RS1500

 QX30 RS1500 
AnnouncedSeptember 2014March 2011Fresher by 42 months
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Pentax RS1500 and Sony QX30

 RS1500 QX30 
Display typeFixed 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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Pentax RS1500 vs Sony QX30 size comparison

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

Pentax RS1500 vs Sony QX30 top view buttons comparison

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 sensor size comparison

Pentax RS1500 vs Sony QX30 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax RS1500 vs Sony QX30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax RS1500 Portrait photography details
Sony QX30 Portrait photography details
35
you can focus manually
good resolution (14 megapixels)
no manual control
cannot use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
38
resolution is good (20MP)
includes face detection focus
manual focus not available
no manual control
can't use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Pentax RS1500 as a Street photography camera
Sony QX30 as a Street photography camera
54
weather sealing
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
62
image stabilization (Optical)
supports focus by touch
no moving screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Pentax RS1500
Sports photography with Sony QX30
37
good resolution (14 megapixels)
has tracking focus
weather sealing
slow fps (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
47
incredible zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
terrible battery life (200 shots)
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax RS1500 as a Travel photography camera
Sony QX30 as a Travel photography camera
67
weather sealing
good resolution (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
does not contain selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
65
supports focus by touch
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
quite wide (24mm)
long reach (720mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
terrible battery life (200 shots)
does not feature selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax RS1500 Landscape photography information
Sony QX30 Landscape photography information
40
you can focus manually
relatively wide (28mm)
good resolution (14MP)
weather sealing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
tiny screen (2.7")
no manual control
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
lack of Timelapse mode
39
quite wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (20MP)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
tiny screen (")
no manual control
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
terrible battery life (200 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax RS1500 Vlogging details
Sony QX30 Vlogging details
25
relatively wide (28mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not contain selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of microphone jack
35
quite wide (24mm)
touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
does not feature selfie friendly display
lack of external microphone jack
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Pentax RS1500 vs Sony QX30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax RS1500 and Sony QX30
 Pentax Optio RS1500Sony 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