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Pentax S1 vs Sony QX100

Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
31
Overall
34
Pentax Optio S1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX100 front
Portability
92
Imaging
50
Features
44
Overall
47

Pentax S1 vs Sony QX100 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
Sony QX100
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • " Fixed Display
  • ISO 160 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-100mm (F1.8-4.9) lens
  • 179g - 63 x 63 x 56mm
  • Introduced September 2013
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Pentax S1 vs Sony QX100 Overview

Here is a comprehensive assessment of the Pentax S1 and Sony QX100, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Lens-style by manufacturers Pentax and Sony. There exists a crucial gap between the sensor resolutions of the S1 (14MP) and QX100 (20MP) and the S1 (1/2.3") and QX100 (1") use different sensor size.

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The S1 was released 3 years earlier than the QX100 and that is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Pentax S1 being a Compact camera and the Sony QX100 being a Lens-style camera.

Before we go straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the S1 matches up vs the QX100 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Pentax S1 over the Sony QX100

 S1 QX100 
Display sizing2.7""Larger display (+2.7")
Display resolution230k0kClearer display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony QX100 over the Pentax S1

 QX100 S1 
IntroducedSeptember 2013March 2011Fresher by 30 months
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Pentax S1 and Sony QX100

 S1 QX100 
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Pentax S1 vs Sony QX100 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to carry your camera, you are going to need to factor in its weight and volume. The Pentax S1 features external dimensions of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") along with a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs) whilst the Sony QX100 has sizing of 63mm x 63mm x 56mm (2.5" x 2.5" x 2.2") and a weight of 179 grams (0.39 lbs).

Examine the Pentax S1 and Sony QX100 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are working with at the time. The following is the front view size comparison of the S1 against the QX100.

Pentax S1 vs Sony QX100 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the S1 and QX100 is 93 and 92 respectively.

Pentax S1 vs Sony QX100 top view buttons comparison

Pentax S1 vs Sony QX100 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its hard to visualize the contrast between sensor sizing merely by going over technical specs. The visual below should offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the S1 and QX100.

As you have seen, both cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The S1 due to its tinier sensor is going to make getting bokeh tougher and the Sony QX100 will offer extra detail as a result of its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop pics far more aggressively. The older S1 is going to be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Pentax S1 vs Sony QX100 sensor size comparison

Pentax S1 vs Sony QX100 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax S1 vs Sony QX100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax S1 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony QX100 as a Portrait photography camera
35
has manual focus
decent MP (14 megapixels)
no manual exposure
no external flash support
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
52
focusing manually
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (1")
comes with face detect focus
no manual exposure
no external flash support
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Pentax S1
Street photography with Sony QX100
56
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
screen is fixed
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
71
built in image stabilization (Optical)
nice sensor size (1")
offers focus via touch
screen is fixed
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Pentax S1
Sports photography with Sony QX100
39
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (14MP)
provides tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
55
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (1")
not so great battery pack (200 shots)
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax S1 Travel photography features
Sony QX100 Travel photography features
64
decent MP (14MP)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
does not have a selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
69
offers focus via touch
good megapixels (20MP)
fairly wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
lack of Timelapse function
not so great battery pack (200 shots)
does not offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax S1 Landscape photography information
Sony QX100 Landscape photography information
42
has manual focus
reasonably wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
no manual exposure
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
lack of Timelapse recording
54
focusing manually
fairly wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (20MP)
nice sensor size (1")
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
small screen (")
no manual exposure
no RAW support
not so great battery pack (200 per charge)
lack of Timelapse function
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Pentax S1 as a Vlogging camera
Sony QX100 as a Vlogging camera
28
reasonably wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of microphone socket
38
fairly wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
built-in touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not offer selfie friendly display
lack of microphone socket
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Pentax S1 vs Sony QX100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax S1 and Sony QX100
 Pentax Optio S1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX100
General Information
Manufacturer Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax Optio S1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX100
Category Small Sensor Compact Lens-style
Launched 2011-03-02 2013-09-05
Physical type Compact Lens-style
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4288 x 3216 5472 x 3648
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 80 160
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 9 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-140mm (5.0x) 28-100mm (3.6x)
Maximum aperture f/3.5-5.5 f/1.8-4.9
Macro focusing distance 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 2.7
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7" -
Display resolution 230k dots 0k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating Depends on connected smartphone
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4 secs 4 secs
Max shutter speed 1/1500 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.90 m no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft None
Hot shoe
Auto exposure 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) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 157 gr (0.35 pounds) 179 gr (0.39 pounds)
Dimensions 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") 63 x 63 x 56mm (2.5" x 2.5" x 2.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 photos 200 photos
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID D-LI92 NP-BN,
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2, 10 secs)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC, Memory Stick Micro
Card slots One One
Price at release $174 $268