Pentax S1 vs Sony A57

The following is a extensive assessment of the Pentax S1 and Sony A57, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Pentax and Sony. The sensor resolution of the S1 (14MP) and the A57 (16MP) is pretty similar but the S1 (1/2.3") and A57 (APS-C) offer different sensor sizes.

Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

The S1 was introduced 18 months prior to the A57 which makes them a generation away from each other. Both cameras feature different body design with the Pentax S1 being a Compact camera and the Sony A57 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving straight to a full comparison, here is a brief introduction of how the S1 grades versus the A57 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

This is a preview of the gallery images for Pentax Optio S1 & Sony SLT-A57. The whole galleries are provided at Pentax S1 Gallery & Sony A57 Gallery.

If you are going to travel with your camera often, you'll have to factor in its weight and size. The Pentax S1 comes with external dimensions of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs) whilst the Sony A57 has specifications of 132mm x 98mm x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2") along with a weight of 618 grams (1.36 lbs).

Contrast the Pentax S1 and Sony A57 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are employing during that time. Underneath is a front view proportions comparison of the S1 vs the A57.

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the S1 and A57 is 93 and 64 respectively.

Often, it can be difficult to picture the contrast between sensor dimensions simply by reviewing specifications. The image here should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the S1 and A57.

Plainly, both of those cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The S1 having a tinier sensor is going to make achieving bokeh more challenging and the Sony A57 will deliver more detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop pictures way more aggressively. The more aged S1 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.