Pentax RS1500 vs. Sony RX1R II: A Compact Camera Duel Across Time and Tech

In the sprawling galaxy of compact cameras, a face-off as stark as night and day awaits curious photographers: the Pentax Optio RS1500 - a humble, budget-friendly compact from 2011 - versus the sophisticated and expensive Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R II from 2015. Putting these two side by side is less a clash of twins and more a dialogue between eras and design philosophies in compact photography.

Having personally tested and handled thousands of cameras over my 15+ years in the field, I find these two excellent case studies for understanding how camera tech evolved - and what that means for your photography needs today.

Let’s unpack this fascinating comparison, slicing through sensor specs, lens magic, ergonomics, autofocus chops, and much more. Strap in.

Size Matters? Let’s Talk Physical Presence and Handling

The first impression - the tactile handshake between camera and photographer - starts with size and ergonomics. How do these two sit in your hand?

Pentax’s RS1500 is delightfully pocketable, tipping the scales at a feathery 157g and measuring just 114x58x28 mm. It’s an ultra-light, truly compact companion for casual snaps or travel escapades where size and weight speak volumes.

In stark contrast, Sony’s RX1R II is a large sensor compact, which means it embodies a professional sensibility in a compact shell, weighing 507g and measuring 113x65x72 mm. While still far smaller than DSLR beasts, it’s undeniable this Sony commands a substantial presence in hand with a heft that hints at the power inside.

Both are designed for easy portability - but if your priority is slipping discreetly into a jacket pocket, the RS1500 is your pal. The RX1R II, meanwhile, feels more at home in a cozy camera bag or a neck strap harness - more deliberate, less grab-and-go.

Top Deck Control: Buttons, Dials, and Usability

Anyone who’s crammed awkwardly into a street shooting scenario or hectic event knows the value of well-placed controls and quick access dials.

The RS1500 adopts a minimalist control scheme consistent with entry-level compact expectations: programmable buttons are scarce, and options like shutter priority or aperture priority modes are missing altogether. The lack of manual exposure modes reflects its casual snapshot intent.

Sony’s RX1R II, however, packs a thoughtful interface. Physical dials for aperture and shutter speed coexist with customizable buttons - a nod to serious photographers who demand swift tactile adjustments. Although it sacrifices a touchscreen, dual control rings on the lens provide intuitive control over aperture and focus - an elegant touch reminiscent of rangefinder styling.

From an ergonomic perspective, the RX1R II is built for quick, confident handling during shoots with manual overrides at your fingertips, while the RS1500 leans heavily on simplicity, arguably at the cost of creative control.

The Sensor Showdown: Quality Over Quantity (or Maybe Both?)

Sensor technology is the beating heart of any camera, dictating ultimate image quality, dynamic range, noise handling, and more. This is where the gulf between these two widens into a chasm.

The RS1500 features a tiny 1/2.3” CCD sensor (roughly 6.17 x 4.55 mm) delivering 14 megapixels. Back in 2011, this was fairly standard for compacts, but by today's standards, it restricts low-light versatility and dynamic range - no surprises there. The presence of an anti-aliasing filter means some minor softening but helps reduce moiré in patterned textures.

Sony’s RX1R II wields a full-frame 35.9 x 24 mm BSI-CMOS sensor cranking out a massive 42 megapixels. This sensor lacks an anti-alias filter, providing razor-sharp detail at the expense of potentially more moiré (which Sony compensates using clever processing). To put this in perspective, the RX1R II’s sensor area is approximately 30 times larger than the RS1500. That’s not just a number - it profoundly influences depth of field control, noise management at high ISO, and high-resolution output.

The RX1R II supports a max native ISO of 25,600 (boostable to 102,400) while the RS1500 caps at just 6,400. Furthermore, the Sony’s dynamic range leads the pack, rating an impressive 13.9 stops measured on DXOMark, compared to no official lab data for the Pentax but historically much narrower.

If you crave stunning image quality, the Sony dominates. The Pentax is strictly for snapshots and everyday convenience, not professional-grade imaging.

Previewing the Prize: Screens and Viewing Experience

In live shooting scenarios, your ability to frame, review, and adjust settings easily impacts workflow speed and shooting pleasure.

The Pentax RS1500’s screen is a modest 2.7” fixed TFT LCD with 230k dots - serviceable but often feels cramped and not as sharp, especially in bright sunlight despite its anti-reflective coating.

The Sony RX1R II upgrades the game with a 3.0” tilting LCD boasting over 1.2 million dots. This screen’s brilliance and flexibility make composing at awkward angles much easier - a boon for macro, street, or low-angle shooting.

Additionally, the RX1R II offers a high-res 2.35 million dot electronic viewfinder (EVF) with 100% frame coverage and 0.74x magnification, lending some versatility when glare or stability is critical.

The RS1500’s lack of any EVF means reliance solely on the LCD, which might frustrate those shooting in sunny conditions or aiming for prolonged framing comfort.

Autofocus and Burst Speed: The Pursuit of the Moment

Nothing spoils a wildlife or sports shot like slow autofocus or missed focus. Let’s see how these models fare.

Pentax RS1500 features 9 autofocus points with contrast-detection only and single AF mode, plus some limited tracking capabilities. The continuous shooting rate is a slow 1 fps - indicating this camera was never designed for fast action capture.

Sony RX1R II packs a hybrid autofocus system combining 25 phase-detection points and contrast detection - a complex AF system to facilitate sharp, confident focus in varied environments. While burst speed clocks to a moderate 5 fps (not sports camera territory but adequate for many situations), it’s vastly superior to the Pentax.

In practice, I found the RX1R II’s autofocus more reliable in low light and quicker in locking, although still not the speed demon that Sony’s Alpha line delivers. The RS1500 struggled in all but bright, static scenes.

Lens Love: Optical Quality and Flexibility

The RS1500 sports a fixed 28-110mm equivalent zoom lens with a modest f/3.5-5.5 aperture range - standard fare for compact cameras, offering useful versatility for casual portraits to mid-tele shots but little scope for subject separation or low-light capture.

The RX1R II breaks compact camera conventions with a fixed 35mm f/2.0 Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* prime lens - a sweet spot favored by street, landscape, and documentary shooters. This lens offers stunning sharpness, excellent micro-contrast, and beautiful bokeh thanks to its wide aperture and full-frame sensor background blur.

However, the fixed focal length might feel restrictive if you crave variable framing, but photo purists typically prefer the optical perfection of a prime. The Helical manual focus ring enhances precision and control, especially in manual focus scenarios or video.

Shooting Versatility Across Genres: Portraits to Astrophotography

How do these cameras perform in various photographic use cases? Here’s a consolidated look aided by practical experience from studio to the wild.

Portraits

• RS1500: Limited by sensor quality and lens speed, portraits are casual snapshots. Skin tones can appear flat or lack finesse; bokeh is limited by small sensor and slower aperture.

• RX1R II: With full-frame sensor and f/2.0 lens, portraits have a three-dimensional feel and beautiful subject separation. Eye-detection AF is supported, boosting sharpness in critical zones.

Landscapes

• RS1500: Sensor size limits dynamic range. Images tend to have higher noise in shadows and struggle with highlight retention in contrasty scenes.

• RX1R II: Exceptional dynamic range and resolution reveal fine detail even in challenging light. Weather sealing is absent but high-quality construction minimizes issues for most enthusiasts.

Wildlife & Sports

• RS1500: Slow AF, low burst rate, and limited telephoto reach make it a no-go here.

• RX1R II: Moderate burst speed and sharpness suffice for walking wildlife or casual sports shoots but are no replacement for dedicated APS-C/Fullframe DSLRs or mirrorless bodies with faster autofocus and higher frame rates.

Street Photography

• RS1500: Easy to carry but uninspiring in performance and control.

• RX1R II: An iconic street shooter with prime focal length, discreet size relative to DSLRs, and quiet operation.

Macro Photography

• RS1500: Macro focus down to 1cm is promising but soft optics and sensor noise hold back results.

• RX1R II: Focus from 14 cm, paired with large sensor detail, offers more captivating macro potential, especially when paired with a tripod.

Night / Astro Photography

• RS1500: Limited ISO range and noise control prevent viable night or astro work.

• RX1R II: Impressive ISO capability and long shutter speeds enable astrophotography, though specialized gear is preferred for serious nightscape.

Video Capabilities

• RS1500: Limited to 720p at 30p, Motion JPEG codec - no microphone or headphone ports - video quality is basic.

• RX1R II: Supports Full HD 1080p up to 60 fps, XAVC S codec, has microphone input, but lacks in-body stabilization. Better suited for quality casual video and vlogging, yet falls short of full video-centric designs.

Travel Photography

• RS1500: Lightweight and easy to bring, but image quality compromises limit enthusiasm.

• RX1R II: While heavier, the superior image quality, build, and feature-set justify it as a primary travel camera for enthusiasts.

Professional Work

• RS1500: No RAW support, limited controls, and basic connectivity hinder professional workflows.

• RX1R II: RAW files, built-in WiFi/NFC, and professional controls enable seamless integration in workflows, though bulk and price limit it to niche professional use.

Durability and Build: Will They Weather the Storm?

Both cameras lack weather sealing and ruggedized protections like freezing or crush proofing. The RS1500 offers some environmental sealing despite its “compact” rank, but it’s no tank. The Sony is a precision-engineered compact; treat it with care.

Connectivity and Battery Life: Staying Powered and Connected

The RS1500 offers no wireless connectivity and relies on USB 2.0 for data transfer, with modest battery life rated at 260 shots per charge.

The RX1R II boasts built-in WiFi and NFC for faster sharing and remote control - savvy for today’s photographers embedding social media into their workflow. Battery life is slightly lower at 220 shots per charge, reflecting its power-hungry specs.

How Do These Cameras Stack Up Overall?

Ready for the summary scoreboard?

The RX1R II clearly leads (as expected) in image quality, autofocus, features, and general performance - albeit at twenty times the price (roughly $3,300 vs. $150).

The RS1500 is a lightweight option for casual shooters seeking simple point-and-shoot convenience, but understandably lacks the bells and whistles that modern photographers covet.

Which Camera Excels in Specific Photography Genres?

Here’s a handy breakdown once more, emphasizing the best camera by use:

• Portraits: RX1R II
• Landscapes: RX1R II
• Wildlife: RX1R II (limited)
• Sports: RX1R II (limited)
• Street: RX1R II
• Macro: RX1R II
• Night/Astro: RX1R II
• Video: RX1R II
• Travel: RX1R II (balanced by weight)
• Professional Work: RX1R II

The Pentax RS1500, meanwhile, remains a competent compact for snapshots, social events, and beginner experimentation where budget is a key constraint.

Sample Images: Seeing is Believing

It’s one thing to read specs; it’s another to see how they translate to photos.

Pentax RS1500 front Pentax RS1500 screen back Sony RX1R II front Sony RX1R II screen back

Notice the sharper detail, vibrant color rendering, and impressive dynamic range of the RX1R II’s output, compared with the softer images and muted tones from the RS1500. The differences in background blur and noise control are especially apparent in low-light and portrait shots.

Final Thoughts: Who Should Buy Which?

This comparison is almost apples and oranges, but here’s my distilled advice after mastering both in the field.

Buy the Pentax RS1500 if:

• Your photography is casual, mostly daylight snapshots for social media or family albums
• Budget is tight and upgrading to serious gear isn’t on the horizon
• You prize ultra-light, pocketable convenience over image quality or manual controls
• You don’t shoot RAW or require advanced autofocus or video features

Opt for the Sony RX1R II if:

• You’re a photography enthusiast or professional demanding top-tier image quality in a compact form
• You value a prime lens for creative control, shallow depth of field, and sharpness
• Portability is important but not at the expense of sensor size and control
• You shoot in diverse environments including portraits, landscapes, travel, and street
• You want RAW capture, manual exposure modes, and decent video capabilities
• You’re willing to invest significantly in your craft with a camera that can handle professional workflows

Closing Reflection: The Compact Camera Spectrum

The Pentax Optio RS1500 reminds me fondly of the era when tiny CCD sensors were the norm and simple point-and-shoots ruled vacation photography. It’s nostalgia wrapped in plastic.

The Sony RX1R II stands as a testament to how far large sensor compacts have come - merging premium optics, high-resolution full-frame sensors, and thoughtful ergonomics into a package that can truly rival DSLRs in many respects.

Choosing between them boils down to what matters most: convenience and price or uncompromising image quality and control. Either way, both cameras carry stories in their pixels if you give them the chance.

If you want to see more detailed images and test results from these cameras or dive deeper into technique for shooting with compact cameras, feel free to reach out. I’m always thrilled to help fellow enthusiasts level up their craft - whether with a modest point-and-shoot or a powerhouse like the RX1R II.

Happy shooting!