Pentax S1 vs Sony A850

Its time to look much closer at the Pentax S1 vs Sony A850, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Pentax and Sony. There is a crucial difference among the sensor resolutions of the S1 (14MP) and A850 (25MP) and the S1 (1/2.3") and A850 (Full frame) boast different sensor sizing.

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The S1 was announced 11 months after the A850 which means that they are of a similar generation. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Pentax S1 being a Compact camera and the Sony A850 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go right into a detailed comparison, here is a brief summary of how the S1 scores against the A850 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Below is a preview of the gallery photos for Pentax Optio S1 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A850. The whole galleries are viewable at Pentax S1 Gallery and Sony A850 Gallery.

For those who are intending to travel with your camera regularly, you will have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Pentax S1 offers exterior dimensions of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs) whilst the Sony A850 has measurements of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") with a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs).

Compare the Pentax S1 vs Sony A850 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you select at that time. Here is a front view sizing comparison of the S1 versus the A850.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the S1 and A850 is 93 and 54 respectively.

Often, it is tough to picture the gap in sensor dimensions only by looking through technical specs. The image underneath will offer you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the S1 and A850.

As you have seen, both the cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The S1 having a smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field harder and the Sony A850 will result in greater detail with its extra 11MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop pictures way more aggressively. The newer S1 provides an advantage with regard to sensor tech.