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Pentax S1 vs Pentax W90

Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
31
Overall
34
Pentax Optio S1 front
 
Pentax Optio W90 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
21
Overall
29

Pentax S1 vs Pentax W90 Key Specs

Pentax S1
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
  • Launched March 2011
Pentax W90
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 164g - 108 x 59 x 25mm
  • Introduced February 2010
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Pentax S1 vs Pentax W90 Overview

Following is a in-depth overview of the Pentax S1 versus Pentax W90, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Waterproof and both of them are designed by Pentax. The sensor resolution of the S1 (14MP) and the W90 (12MP) is pretty well matched and both cameras provide the identical sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The S1 was introduced 13 months after the W90 which makes them a generation away from each other. Both of these cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before getting straight to a detailed comparison, here is a brief summation of how the S1 matches up vs the W90 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Pentax S1 over the Pentax W90

 S1 W90 
IntroducedMarch 2011February 2010More modern by 13 months

Reasons to pick Pentax W90 over the Pentax S1

 W90 S1 

Common features in the Pentax S1 and Pentax W90

 S1 W90 
Manual focus More accurate focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size2.7"2.7"Same screen measurements
Screen resolution230k230kEqual screen resolution
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither comes with Touch friendly screen

Pentax S1 vs Pentax W90 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to carry around your camera, you have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Pentax S1 comes with external dimensions of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") having a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs) whilst the Pentax W90 has dimensions of 108mm x 59mm x 25mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.0") and a weight of 164 grams (0.36 lbs).

Take a look at the Pentax S1 versus Pentax W90 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are working with at that moment. Following is a front view dimension comparison of the S1 versus the W90.

Pentax S1 vs Pentax W90 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the S1 and W90 is 93 and 94 respectively.

Pentax S1 vs Pentax W90 top view buttons comparison

Pentax S1 vs Pentax W90 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be difficult to visualise the contrast between sensor sizes merely by looking at specs. The picture below might provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the S1 and W90.

As you can plainly see, the two cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit not the same megapixels. You should expect the Pentax S1 to resolve greater detail using its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop photographs way more aggressively. The more recent S1 is going to have an edge with regard to sensor technology.

Pentax S1 vs Pentax W90 sensor size comparison

Pentax S1 vs Pentax W90 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax S1 vs Pentax W90 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax S1 Portrait photography details
Pentax W90 Portrait photography details
35
manual focus
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
manual exposure not available
no external flash support
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
27
manual focus
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
resolution not great (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Pentax S1 Street photography features
Pentax W90 Street photography features
56
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
screen is fixed
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
54
weather proof
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Pentax S1
Sports photography with Pentax W90
39
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
24
weather proof
max frames per second very slow (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax S1 Travel photography info
Pentax W90 Travel photography info
64
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
has built in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
no Timelapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
64
weather proof
flash built-in
relatively wide (28mm)
resolution not great (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax S1 Landscape photography info
Pentax W90 Landscape photography info
42
manual focus
pretty wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is small (2.7")
manual exposure not available
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
no Timelapse function
37
manual focus
relatively wide (28mm)
weather proof
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
small screen (2.7 inch)
no manual mode
does not have image stabilization
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax S1 Vlogging info
Pentax W90 Vlogging info
28
pretty wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
no microphone jack
25
relatively wide (28mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of mic socket
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Pentax S1 vs Pentax W90 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax S1 and Pentax W90
 Pentax Optio S1Pentax Optio W90
General Information
Brand Pentax Pentax
Model Pentax Optio S1 Pentax Optio W90
Class Small Sensor Compact Waterproof
Launched 2011-03-02 2010-02-24
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - Prime
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4288 x 3216 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-140mm (5.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.5-5.5 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus range 1cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 seconds 4 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/1500 seconds 1/1500 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 3.90 m 3.90 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AE bracketing
WB 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) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 157 grams (0.35 lbs) 164 grams (0.36 lbs)
Physical dimensions 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") 108 x 59 x 25mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 260 shots -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model D-LI92 D-LI68
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots One One
Price at launch $174 $120