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Pentax Q-S1 vs Sony NEX-F3

Portability
92
Imaging
38
Features
54
Overall
44
Pentax Q-S1 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-F3 front
Portability
86
Imaging
57
Features
60
Overall
58

Pentax Q-S1 vs Sony NEX-F3 Key Specs

Pentax Q-S1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax Q Mount
  • 203g - 105 x 58 x 34mm
  • Released August 2014
Sony NEX-F3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 314g - 117 x 67 x 42mm
  • Launched August 2012
  • Succeeded the Sony NEX-C3
  • Replacement is Sony NEX-3N
Photography Glossary

Pentax Q-S1 vs Sony NEX-F3 Overview

Its time to take a deeper look at the Pentax Q-S1 versus Sony NEX-F3, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by competitors Pentax and Sony. There exists a sizeable gap between the sensor resolutions of the Q-S1 (12MP) and NEX-F3 (16MP) and the Q-S1 (1/1.7") and NEX-F3 (APS-C) come with totally different sensor size.

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The Q-S1 was released 24 months later than the NEX-F3 making the cameras a generation apart from one another. Each of these cameras come with the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before getting in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the Q-S1 grades against the NEX-F3 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Pentax Q-S1 over the Sony NEX-F3

 Q-S1 NEX-F3 
LaunchedAugust 2014August 2012Fresher by 24 months

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-F3 over the Pentax Q-S1

 NEX-F3 Q-S1 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution920k460kClearer display (+460k dot)

Common features in the Pentax Q-S1 and Sony NEX-F3

 Q-S1 NEX-F3 
Focus manually Dial precise focusing
Display dimension3"3"Identical display size
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Pentax Q-S1 vs Sony NEX-F3 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry your camera often, you need to think about its weight and measurements. The Pentax Q-S1 comes with exterior dimensions of 105mm x 58mm x 34mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 203 grams (0.45 lbs) while the Sony NEX-F3 has proportions of 117mm x 67mm x 42mm (4.6" x 2.6" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 314 grams (0.69 lbs).

Analyze the Pentax Q-S1 versus Sony NEX-F3 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are employing at the time. Below is the front view over all size comparison of the Q-S1 compared to the NEX-F3.

Pentax Q-S1 vs Sony NEX-F3 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the Q-S1 and NEX-F3 is 92 and 86 respectively.

Pentax Q-S1 vs Sony NEX-F3 top view buttons comparison

Pentax Q-S1 vs Sony NEX-F3 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be difficult to envision the gap between sensor sizing only by reading through a spec sheet. The photograph underneath should offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the Q-S1 and NEX-F3.

Clearly, both of these cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The Q-S1 because of its tinier sensor will make getting shallower DOF more difficult and the Sony NEX-F3 will give you more detail as a result of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images somewhat more aggressively. The more modern Q-S1 is going to have a benefit in sensor technology.

Pentax Q-S1 vs Sony NEX-F3 sensor size comparison

Pentax Q-S1 vs Sony NEX-F3 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax Q-S1 vs Sony NEX-F3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax Q-S1 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony NEX-F3 as a Portrait photography camera
46
focusing manually
provides face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
74
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Pentax Q-S1
Street photography with Sony NEX-F3
69
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
delivers RAW formats
lighter than competition (203g)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
76
has a tilting screen
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Pentax Q-S1 as a Sports photography camera
Sony NEX-F3 as a Sports photography camera
37
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
low battery life (250 CIPA)
lacks phase detect autofocus
53
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
good battery life (470 shots)
continuous shooting slow (6.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax Q-S1 Travel photography info
Sony NEX-F3 Travel photography info
60
lighter than competition (203g)
flash built-in
low battery life (250 shots)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
69
good battery life (470 per charge)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
built-in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse function
does not posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax Q-S1 Landscape photography factors
Sony NEX-F3 Landscape photography factors
55
focusing manually
change lenses (Pentax Q mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
delivers RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
low battery life (250 CIPA)
70
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
good battery life (470 shots)
no image stabilization
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax Q-S1 Vlogging highlights
Sony NEX-F3 Vlogging highlights
35
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition (203g)
screen is not selfie friendly
doesn't have external mic socket
27
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
doesn't have external mic socket
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Pentax Q-S1 vs Sony NEX-F3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax Q-S1 and Sony NEX-F3
 Pentax Q-S1Sony Alpha NEX-F3
General Information
Company Pentax Sony
Model Pentax Q-S1 Sony Alpha NEX-F3
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2014-08-04 2012-08-16
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip Q Engine Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/1.7" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 7.44 x 5.58mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 41.5mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 12800 16000
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount Pentax Q Sony E
Amount of lenses 8 121
Crop factor 4.8 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology - TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic (optional)
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 5.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.90 m (at ISO 100) -
Flash modes Auto, redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30,25, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30, 25, 24p), 640 x 480 (30, 25, 24p) 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
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 203 gr (0.45 lb) 314 gr (0.69 lb)
Dimensions 105 x 58 x 34mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") 117 x 67 x 42mm (4.6" x 2.6" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 73
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.7
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.3
DXO Low light score not tested 1114
Other
Battery life 250 pictures 470 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model D-LI68 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at release $250 $470