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Pentax Q vs Samsung NX mini

Portability
93
Imaging
35
Features
47
Overall
39
Pentax Q front
 
Samsung NX mini front
Portability
93
Imaging
52
Features
68
Overall
58

Pentax Q vs Samsung NX mini Key Specs

Pentax Q
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax Q Mount
  • 180g - 98 x 57 x 31mm
  • Revealed June 2011
  • Later Model is Pentax Q10
Samsung NX mini
(Full Review)
  • 20.5MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 160 - 12800 (Increase to 25600)
  • 1/16000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Samsung NX-M Mount
  • 196g - 110 x 62 x 23mm
  • Released March 2014
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Pentax Q vs Samsung NX mini Overview

Lets look more closely at the Pentax Q vs Samsung NX mini, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by companies Pentax and Samsung. There is a sizeable difference between the sensor resolutions of the Q (12MP) and NX mini (20.5MP) and the Q (1/2.3") and NX mini (1") boast totally different sensor dimensions.

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The Q was launched 3 years prior to the NX mini and that is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras feature the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before getting into a comprehensive comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the Q matches up vs the NX mini in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Pentax Q over the Samsung NX mini

 Q NX mini 

Reasons to pick Samsung NX mini over the Pentax Q

 NX mini Q 
ReleasedMarch 2014June 2011Fresher by 33 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution461k460kClearer screen (+1k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Pentax Q and Samsung NX mini

 Q NX mini 
Manual focus Very accurate focusing
Screen size3"3"Same screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Pentax Q vs Samsung NX mini Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry your camera, you should think about its weight and volume. The Pentax Q features physical measurements of 98mm x 57mm x 31mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.2") having a weight of 180 grams (0.40 lbs) whilst the Samsung NX mini has sizing of 110mm x 62mm x 23mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 0.9") having a weight of 196 grams (0.43 lbs).

Check the Pentax Q vs Samsung NX mini in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have chosen during that time. Following is a front view sizing comparison of the Q compared to the NX mini.

Pentax Q vs Samsung NX mini size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the Q and NX mini is 93 and 93 respectively.

Pentax Q vs Samsung NX mini top view buttons comparison

Pentax Q vs Samsung NX mini Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's tough to see the difference between sensor sizing merely by looking at a spec sheet. The photograph underneath will help offer you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the Q and NX mini.

Clearly, the two cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The Q featuring a tinier sensor will make getting shallow DOF trickier and the Samsung NX mini will give you more detail utilizing its extra 8.5 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop pictures way more aggressively. The older Q is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Pentax Q vs Samsung NX mini sensor size comparison

Pentax Q vs Samsung NX mini Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax Q vs Samsung NX mini Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax Q as a Portrait photography camera
Samsung NX mini as a Portrait photography camera
45
focusing manually
above average flash sync speed (1/2,000s)
exports RAW files
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
71
you can focus manually
sensor resolution is decent (20.5MP)
decent sensor size (1")
provides face detection focus
supports RAW formats
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Pentax Q Street photography details
Samsung NX mini Street photography details
69
image stabilization (Sensor based)
exports RAW files
lighter than competition (180g)
screen is fixed
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
81
screen tilts up and down
decent sensor size (1")
supports RAW formats
offers touch to focus
lighter than competition in class (196 grams)
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Pentax Q Sports photography details
Samsung NX mini Sports photography details
31
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with tracking focus
max frames per second low (2.0 fps)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
not so great battery power (230 shots)
lacks phase detect auto focus
54
high shutter speed (1/16,000 seconds)
sensor resolution is decent (20.5 megapixels)
decent sensor size (1")
better than average battery pack (650 shots)
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
no image stabilization
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax Q Travel photography features
Samsung NX mini Travel photography features
57
lighter than competition (180g)
has built in flash
doesn't have Timelapse function
not so great battery power (230 CIPA)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
76
better than average battery pack (650 shots)
lighter than competition in class (196g)
offers touch to focus
sensor resolution is decent (20.5 megapixels)
built-in flash
no Timelapse recording
does not have a selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax Q Landscape photography info
Samsung NX mini Landscape photography info
51
focusing manually
change lenses (Pentax Q mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
exports RAW files
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
not so great battery power (230 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse function
68
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Samsung NX-M mount)
screen size is decent (3")
sensor resolution is decent (20.5 megapixels)
decent sensor size (1")
supports RAW formats
better than average battery pack (650 per charge)
no image stabilization
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax Q as a Vlogging camera
Samsung NX mini as a Vlogging camera
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition (180g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have microphone socket
38
touch screen
provides face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes external microphone socket
lighter than competition in class (196 grams)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
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Pentax Q vs Samsung NX mini Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax Q and Samsung NX mini
 Pentax QSamsung NX mini
General Information
Company Pentax Samsung
Model type Pentax Q Samsung NX mini
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2011-06-23 2014-03-19
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS BSI-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 12 megapixels 20.5 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 5472 x 3648
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Max enhanced ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 125 160
RAW photos
Min enhanced ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 25 21
Lens
Lens support Pentax Q Samsung NX-M
Amount of lenses 8 2
Focal length multiplier 5.8 2.7
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 460k dots 461k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech TFT Color LCD TFT-LCD (180 degree tilt)
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/16000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 2.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 5.60 m -
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Trailing-curtain sync Smart Flash, auto, auto + redeye reduction, fill-in, fill-in + redeye reduction, 1st curtain, 2nd curtain
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/2000 seconds 1/200 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720p (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080, 1280 x 720, 640 x 480, 320 x 240 (all 30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
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 180 gr (0.40 lb) 196 gr (0.43 lb)
Physical dimensions 98 x 57 x 31mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.2") 110 x 62 x 23mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 47 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 20.2 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.1 not tested
DXO Low light rating 189 not tested
Other
Battery life 230 pictures 650 pictures
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID D-LI68 B740
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2-30 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC microSD/microSDHC/microSDXC
Card slots One One
Launch cost $695 $530