Pentax S1 vs Sony A300

The following is a detailed overview of the Pentax S1 versus Sony A300, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Pentax and Sony. There is a large difference among the sensor resolutions of the S1 (14MP) and A300 (10MP) and the S1 (1/2.3") and A300 (APS-C) possess different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The S1 was introduced 3 years after the A300 which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Pentax S1 being a Compact camera and the Sony A300 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going through a complete comparison, below is a concise introduction of how the S1 matches up against the A300 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Pentax Optio S1 & Sony Alpha DSLR-A300. The whole galleries are available at Pentax S1 Gallery & Sony A300 Gallery.

For anybody who is aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you need to consider its weight and volume. The Pentax S1 has exterior dimensions 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 A300 has sizing of 131mm x 99mm x 75mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") and a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).

Analyze the Pentax S1 versus Sony A300 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are utilising during that time. Following is the front view sizing comparison of the S1 and the A300.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the S1 and A300 is 93 and 64 respectively.

Oftentimes, it's hard to imagine the contrast in sensor dimensions simply by seeing a spec sheet. The picture below should give you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the S1 and A300.

Clearly, the 2 cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The S1 with its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field harder and the Pentax S1 will produce extra detail using its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop photos somewhat more aggressively. The younger S1 provides an edge in sensor tech.