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Pentax S1 vs Sony RX1

Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
31
Overall
34
Pentax Optio S1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1 front
Portability
79
Imaging
70
Features
57
Overall
64

Pentax S1 vs Sony RX1 Key Specs

Pentax S1
(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
Sony RX1
(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
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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.

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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.

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Reasons to pick Pentax S1 over the Sony RX1

 S1 RX1 

Reasons to pick Sony RX1 over the Pentax S1

 RX1 S1 
LaunchedFebruary 2013March 2011More modern by 24 months
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1229k230kSharper screen (+999k dot)

Common features in the Pentax S1 and Sony RX1

 S1 RX1 
Focus manually Dial exact focus
Screen typeFixed 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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Pentax S1 vs Sony RX1 size comparison

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

Pentax S1 vs Sony RX1 top view buttons comparison

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 sensor size comparison

Pentax S1 vs Sony RX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax S1 vs Sony RX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Pentax S1
Portrait photography with Sony RX1
35
manual focus
decent MP (14MP)
no manual mode
external flash not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
82
manual focus
above average flash sync speed (1/4,000 seconds)
decent megapixels (24 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
offers face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Pentax S1
Street photography with Sony RX1
56
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
screen is fixed
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
66
sensor size is great (Full frame)
exports RAW files
great ISO range (25,600)
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than competition in class (482g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Pentax S1
Sports photography with Sony RX1
39
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (14MP)
provides tracking autofocus
low fps (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
53
decent megapixels (24 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
offers tracking focus
can't change focal length (35mm)
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
terrible battery power (270 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Pentax S1
Travel photography with Sony RX1
64
decent MP (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
62
decent megapixels (24MP)
has built in flash
great max aperture (f2.0)
does not have Timelapse mode
terrible battery power (270 shots)
more heavy than competition in class (482g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Pentax S1 Landscape photography details
Sony RX1 Landscape photography details
42
manual focus
pretty wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (14MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
no manual mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
lack of Timelapse mode
65
manual focus
great max aperture (f2.0)
screen size is good (3")
decent megapixels (24 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
great ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
can't change focal length (35mm)
lack of image stabilization
terrible battery power (270 per charge)
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax S1 Vlogging info
Sony RX1 Vlogging info
28
pretty wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external microphone support
34
great max aperture (f2.0)
offers face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with microphone support
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than competition in class (482g)
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Pentax S1 vs Sony RX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax S1 and Sony RX1
 Pentax Optio S1Sony 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