Pentax S1 vs Sony HX400V

The following is a thorough overview of the Pentax S1 and Sony HX400V, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Pentax and Sony. There is a big difference among the sensor resolutions of the S1 (14MP) and HX400V (20MP) but both cameras boast the same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The S1 was introduced 3 years prior to the HX400V which is a fairly big gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Pentax S1 being a Compact camera and the Sony HX400V being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before delving into a full comparison, here is a short summation of how the S1 matches up against the HX400V in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

This is a sample of the gallery pictures for Pentax Optio S1 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V. The whole galleries are available at Pentax S1 Gallery and Sony HX400V Gallery.

For anybody who is going to travel with your camera often, you will need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Pentax S1 has external dimensions of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") and a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs) and the Sony HX400V has dimensions of 130mm x 93mm x 103mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 4.1") with a weight of 660 grams (1.46 lbs).

Examine the Pentax S1 and Sony HX400V in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are working with during that time. Following is a front view size comparison of the S1 vs the HX400V.

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the S1 and HX400V is 93 and 62 respectively.

Generally, it is very tough to visualise the difference in sensor dimensions just by seeing specs. The pic below should provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the S1 and HX400V.

As you can plainly see, each of these cameras have the same sensor dimensions but not the same megapixels. You should anticipate the Sony HX400V to provide more detail using its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also help you crop images a bit more aggressively. The more aged S1 will be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.