Pentax RS1500 vs Sony WX30
93 Imaging
37 Features
30 Overall
34


96 Imaging
38 Features
41 Overall
39
Pentax RS1500 vs Sony WX30 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
- Introduced March 2011
(Full Review)
- 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 3" Fixed Screen
- ISO 100 - 3200
- Optical Image Stabilization
- 1920 x 1080 video
- 25-125mm (F2.6-6.3) lens
- 117g - 92 x 52 x 19mm
- Released July 2011

Pentax RS1500 vs Sony WX30 Overview
Below, we will be contrasting the Pentax RS1500 and Sony WX30, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by competitors Pentax and Sony. The sensor resolution of the RS1500 (14MP) and the WX30 (16MP) is relatively well matched and they feature the exact same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

The RS1500 was manufactured 4 months before the WX30 and they are both of a similar generation. The two cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).
Before delving in to a more detailed comparison, below is a simple view of how the RS1500 matches up against the WX30 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Pentax RS1500 vs Sony WX30 Gallery
This is a preview of the gallery photos for Pentax Optio RS1500 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX30. The entire galleries are provided at Pentax RS1500 Gallery and Sony WX30 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Pentax RS1500 over the Sony WX30
RS1500 | WX30 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manually focus | ![]() | More accurate focusing |
Reasons to pick Sony WX30 over the Pentax RS1500
WX30 | RS1500 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Screen dimension | 3" | ![]() | 2.7" | Bigger screen (+0.3") |
Screen resolution | 922k | ![]() | 230k | Sharper screen (+692k dot) |
Touch friendly screen | ![]() | Quickly navigate |
Common features in the Pentax RS1500 and Sony WX30
RS1500 | WX30 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Released | March 2011 | ![]() | July 2011 | Similar generation |
Screen type | Fixed | ![]() | Fixed | Fixed screen |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Missing selfie screen |
Pentax RS1500 vs Sony WX30 Physical Comparison
For those who are planning to lug around your camera regularly, you'll need to think about its weight and size. The Pentax RS1500 has got exterior measurements of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") having a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs) while the Sony WX30 has specifications of 92mm x 52mm x 19mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.7") along with a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs).
Analyze the Pentax RS1500 and Sony WX30 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have during that time. Below is the front view overall size comparison of the RS1500 and the WX30.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the RS1500 and WX30 is 93 and 96 respectively.

Pentax RS1500 vs Sony WX30 Sensor Comparison
More often than not, it's difficult to imagine the gap between sensor measurements merely by checking a spec sheet. The graphic below might provide you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the RS1500 and WX30.
As you can see, both of the cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit different resolution. You should count on the Sony WX30 to resolve more detail due to its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop shots somewhat more aggressively.

Pentax RS1500 vs Sony WX30 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Pentax RS1500 vs Sony WX30 Specifications
Pentax Optio RS1500 | Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX30 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Manufacturer | Pentax | Sony |
Model type | Pentax Optio RS1500 | Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX30 |
Type | Small Sensor Compact | Small Sensor Compact |
Introduced | 2011-03-16 | 2011-07-25 |
Body design | Compact | Compact |
Sensor Information | ||
Processor Chip | - | 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 | 14MP | 16MP |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | 4:3 and 16:9 |
Full resolution | 4288 x 3216 | 4608 x 3456 |
Max native ISO | 6400 | 3200 |
Min native ISO | 80 | 100 |
RAW support | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
Touch to focus | ||
Continuous AF | ||
Single AF | ||
Tracking AF | ||
AF selectice | ||
Center weighted AF | ||
AF multi area | ||
Live view AF | ||
Face detect focusing | ||
Contract detect focusing | ||
Phase detect focusing | ||
Total focus points | 9 | 9 |
Lens | ||
Lens mount type | fixed lens | fixed lens |
Lens zoom range | 28-110mm (3.9x) | 25-125mm (5.0x) |
Max aperture | f/3.5-5.5 | f/2.6-6.3 |
Macro focusing distance | 1cm | 5cm |
Crop factor | 5.8 | 5.8 |
Screen | ||
Range of display | Fixed Type | Fixed Type |
Display size | 2.7" | 3" |
Display resolution | 230k dot | 922k dot |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch display | ||
Display tech | TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating | XtraFine TFT LCD display |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder type | None | None |
Features | ||
Lowest shutter speed | 4 secs | 30 secs |
Highest shutter speed | 1/1500 secs | 1/1600 secs |
Continuous shooting speed | 1.0 frames/s | 10.0 frames/s |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Expose Manually | ||
Custom WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Integrated flash | ||
Flash distance | 3.90 m | 3.70 m |
Flash modes | Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft | Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync |
External flash | ||
AE bracketing | ||
White balance bracketing | ||
Exposure | ||
Multisegment exposure | ||
Average exposure | ||
Spot exposure | ||
Partial exposure | ||
AF area exposure | ||
Center weighted exposure | ||
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 (60fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30fps) |
Max video resolution | 1280x720 | 1920x1080 |
Video file format | Motion JPEG | MPEG-4, AVCHD |
Microphone jack | ||
Headphone jack | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | None | None |
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 lbs) | 117 gr (0.26 lbs) |
Dimensions | 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") | 92 x 52 x 19mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.7") |
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 photographs | 250 photographs |
Battery form | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery ID | D-LI92 | NP-BN1 |
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/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo |
Storage slots | 1 | 1 |
Retail pricing | $150 | $259 |