Pentax S1 vs Sony RX1
93 Imaging
37 Features
31 Overall
34


79 Imaging
69 Features
57 Overall
64
Pentax S1 vs Sony RX1 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 2.7" Fixed Screen
- ISO 80 - 6400
- Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
- 1280 x 720 video
- 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
- 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
- Released March 2011
(Full Review)
- 24MP - Full frame Sensor
- 3" Fixed Screen
- ISO 100 - 25600
- 1920 x 1080 video
- 35mm (F2.0-22.0) lens
- 482g - 113 x 65 x 70mm
- Launched February 2013

Pentax S1 vs Sony RX1 Overview
In this write-up, we will be reviewing the Pentax S1 vs Sony RX1, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Large Sensor Compact by rivals Pentax and Sony. There exists a noticeable gap between the sensor resolutions of the S1 (14MP) and RX1 (24MP) and the S1 (1/2.3") and RX1 (Full frame) enjoy different sensor sizes.

The S1 was revealed 24 months earlier than the RX1 which makes the cameras a generation away from one another. Both cameras offer different body type with the Pentax S1 being a Compact camera and the Sony RX1 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.
Before getting straight into a complete comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the S1 matches up against the RX1 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Pentax S1 vs Sony RX1 Gallery
Here is a preview of the gallery photos for Pentax Optio S1 & Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1. The full galleries are available at Pentax S1 Gallery & Sony RX1 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Pentax S1 over the Sony RX1
S1 | RX1 |
---|
Reasons to pick Sony RX1 over the Pentax S1
RX1 | S1 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Launched | February 2013 | ![]() | March 2011 | More modern by 24 months |
Screen sizing | 3" | ![]() | 2.7" | Bigger screen (+0.3") |
Screen resolution | 1229k | ![]() | 230k | Sharper screen (+999k dot) |
Common features in the Pentax S1 and Sony RX1
S1 | RX1 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Focus manually | ![]() | Dial exact focus | ||
Screen type | Fixed | ![]() | Fixed | Fixed screen |
Selfie screen | ![]() | No selfie screen | ||
Touch friendly screen | ![]() | Neither has Touch friendly screen |
Pentax S1 vs Sony RX1 Physical Comparison
When you are going to carry around your camera, you'll need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Pentax S1 has physical 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) while the Sony RX1 has dimensions of 113mm x 65mm x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 482 grams (1.06 lbs).
Examine the Pentax S1 vs Sony RX1 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are employing during that time. Here is the front view physical size comparison of the S1 vs the RX1.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the S1 and RX1 is 93 and 79 respectively.

Pentax S1 vs Sony RX1 Sensor Comparison
More often than not, it is difficult to visualize the difference between sensor sizes purely by reading through a spec sheet. The image below might give you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the S1 and RX1.
As you can see, the 2 cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The S1 having a tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field trickier and the Sony RX1 will give greater detail because of its extra 10 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop photographs far more aggressively. The more aged S1 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Pentax S1 vs Sony RX1 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Pentax S1 vs Sony RX1 Specifications
Pentax Optio S1 | Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Brand | Pentax | Sony |
Model | Pentax Optio S1 | Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1 |
Category | Small Sensor Compact | Large Sensor Compact |
Released | 2011-03-02 | 2013-02-19 |
Physical type | Compact | Large Sensor Compact |
Sensor Information | ||
Sensor type | CCD | CMOS |
Sensor size | 1/2.3" | Full frame |
Sensor measurements | 6.17 x 4.55mm | 35.8 x 23.8mm |
Sensor surface area | 28.1mm² | 852.0mm² |
Sensor resolution | 14 megapixels | 24 megapixels |
Anti aliasing filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 | 3:2 and 16:9 |
Maximum resolution | 4288 x 3216 | 6000 x 4000 |
Maximum native ISO | 6400 | 25600 |
Lowest native ISO | 80 | 100 |
RAW pictures | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
Touch to focus | ||
AF continuous | ||
Single AF | ||
Tracking AF | ||
AF selectice | ||
AF center weighted | ||
Multi area AF | ||
Live view AF | ||
Face detection focusing | ||
Contract detection focusing | ||
Phase detection focusing | ||
Number of focus points | 9 | 25 |
Lens | ||
Lens mount | fixed lens | fixed lens |
Lens focal range | 28-140mm (5.0x) | 35mm (1x) |
Highest aperture | f/3.5-5.5 | f/2.0-22.0 |
Macro focus distance | 1cm | - |
Crop factor | 5.8 | 1 |
Screen | ||
Screen type | Fixed Type | Fixed Type |
Screen diagonal | 2.7" | 3" |
Resolution of screen | 230 thousand dots | 1,229 thousand dots |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch display | ||
Screen tech | TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating | Xtra FineTFT LCD |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder type | None | Electronic and Optical (optional) |
Features | ||
Lowest shutter speed | 4 secs | 30 secs |
Highest shutter speed | 1/1500 secs | 1/4000 secs |
Continuous shooting rate | 1.0 frames/s | 5.0 frames/s |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manual mode | ||
Exposure compensation | - | Yes |
Custom WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Integrated flash | ||
Flash range | 3.90 m | 6.00 m |
Flash options | Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft | Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync |
External flash | ||
AEB | ||
WB bracketing | ||
Highest flash synchronize | - | 1/4000 secs |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment exposure | ||
Average exposure | ||
Spot exposure | ||
Partial exposure | ||
AF area exposure | ||
Center weighted exposure | ||
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 (60, 50, 25, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30, 25 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps) |
Maximum video resolution | 1280x720 | 1920x1080 |
Video file format | Motion JPEG | MPEG-4, AVCHD |
Microphone support | ||
Headphone support | ||
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 | 157g (0.35 pounds) | 482g (1.06 pounds) |
Dimensions | 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") | 113 x 65 x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO All around score | not tested | 93 |
DXO Color Depth score | not tested | 25.1 |
DXO Dynamic range score | not tested | 14.3 |
DXO Low light score | not tested | 2534 |
Other | ||
Battery life | 260 shots | 270 shots |
Style of battery | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery model | D-LI92 | NP-BX1 |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec) | Yes (2 or 10 sec) |
Time lapse feature | ||
Storage type | SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal | SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo |
Card slots | One | One |
Price at launch | $174 | $2,798 |