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Pentax S1 vs Sony RX100

Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
31
Overall
34
Pentax Optio S1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 front
Portability
91
Imaging
50
Features
68
Overall
57

Pentax S1 vs Sony RX100 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
  • Introduced March 2011
Sony RX100
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-100mm (F1.8-4.9) lens
  • 240g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Released August 2012
  • New Model is Sony RX100 II
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Pentax S1 vs Sony RX100 Overview

On this page, we will be contrasting the Pentax S1 and Sony RX100, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Large Sensor Compact by manufacturers Pentax and Sony. There exists a big gap between the image resolutions of the S1 (14MP) and RX100 (20MP) and the S1 (1/2.3") and RX100 (1") boast different sensor measurements.

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The S1 was unveiled 18 months prior to the RX100 which makes them a generation away from one another. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Pentax S1 being a Compact camera and the Sony RX100 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before delving right into a in depth comparison, here is a concise overview of how the S1 matches up vs the RX100 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Pentax S1 over the Sony RX100

 S1 RX100 

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 over the Pentax S1

 RX100 S1 
ReleasedAugust 2012March 2011Newer by 18 months
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1229k230kSharper screen (+999k dot)

Common features in the Pentax S1 and Sony RX100

 S1 RX100 
Manual focus Dial precise focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch screen Absent Touch screen

Pentax S1 vs Sony RX100 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to travel with your camera regularly, you'll need to consider its weight and proportions. The Pentax S1 enjoys physical measurements 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 RX100 has measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") along with a weight of 240 grams (0.53 lbs).

Check the Pentax S1 and Sony RX100 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are working with during that time. The following is a front view scale comparison of the S1 vs the RX100.

Pentax S1 vs Sony RX100 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the S1 and RX100 is 93 and 91 respectively.

Pentax S1 vs Sony RX100 top view buttons comparison

Pentax S1 vs Sony RX100 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is hard to imagine the gap between sensor dimensions purely by looking at specifications. The pic underneath will help give you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the S1 and RX100.

Plainly, both of these cameras have different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The S1 with its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF more difficult and the Sony RX100 will resolve extra detail having an extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also help you crop shots a bit more aggressively. The more aged S1 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Pentax S1 vs Sony RX100 sensor size comparison

Pentax S1 vs Sony RX100 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax S1 vs Sony RX100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax S1 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony RX100 as a Portrait photography camera
35
focusing manually
good resolution (14MP)
no manual exposure
no external flash support
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
64
has manual focus
above average flash sync speed (1/2,000s)
megapixel count good (20MP)
sensor size is good (1")
offers face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
no external flash support
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Pentax S1 Street photography factors
Sony RX100 Street photography factors
56
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
79
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is good (1")
saves RAW formats
lighter than competition (240g)
great high ISO (25,600)
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Pentax S1 as a Sports photography camera
Sony RX100 as a Sports photography camera
39
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
max fps low (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
65
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (20MP)
sensor size is good (1")
offers tracking autofocus
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Pentax S1
Travel photography with Sony RX100
64
good resolution (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
quite wide (28mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
79
lighter than competition (240 grams)
megapixel count good (20MP)
flash built-in
quite wide (28mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax S1 Landscape photography details
Sony RX100 Landscape photography details
42
focusing manually
quite wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
no manual exposure
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
lack of Time Lapse recording
74
has manual focus
quite wide (28mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (1")
great high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW formats
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax S1 as a Vlogging camera
Sony RX100 as a Vlogging camera
28
quite wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external mic port
38
quite wide (28mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition (240g)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have external microphone support
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Pentax S1 vs Sony RX100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax S1 and Sony RX100
 Pentax Optio S1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100
General Information
Brand Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax Optio S1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100
Class Small Sensor Compact Large Sensor Compact
Introduced 2011-03-02 2012-08-28
Physical type Compact Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD 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
Full resolution 4288 x 3216 5472 x 3648
Max native ISO 6400 25600
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-140mm (5.0x) 28-100mm (3.6x)
Max aperture f/3.5-5.5 f/1.8-4.9
Macro focusing distance 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 2.7
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230k dots 1,229k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating WhiteMagic TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/1500 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 1.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 3.90 m -
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/2000 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video 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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 157 grams (0.35 lbs) 240 grams (0.53 lbs)
Physical dimensions 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 66
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.6
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.4
DXO Low light rating not tested 390
Other
Battery life 260 pictures 330 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID D-LI92 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse feature With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Cost at launch $174 $448