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Pentax Q vs Samsung NX500

Portability
93
Imaging
36
Features
47
Overall
40
Pentax Q front
 
Samsung NX500 front
Portability
87
Imaging
68
Features
80
Overall
72

Pentax Q vs Samsung NX500 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
  • Launched June 2011
  • Later Model is Pentax Q10
Samsung NX500
(Full Review)
  • 28MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Push to 51200)
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Samsung NX Mount
  • 287g - 120 x 64 x 43mm
  • Announced February 2015
  • Superseded the Samsung NX300
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Pentax Q vs Samsung NX500 Overview

Lets look more in depth at the Pentax Q versus Samsung NX500, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by companies Pentax and Samsung. There exists a considerable gap among the sensor resolutions of the Q (12MP) and NX500 (28MP) and the Q (1/2.3") and NX500 (APS-C) offer totally different sensor sizes.

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The Q was manufactured 4 years earlier than the NX500 which is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras feature the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before going right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a simple overview of how the Q matches up versus the NX500 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Pentax Q over the Samsung NX500

 Q NX500 

Reasons to pick Samsung NX500 over the Pentax Q

 NX500 Q 
AnnouncedFebruary 2015June 2011Newer by 44 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1036k460kClearer display (+576k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Pentax Q and Samsung NX500

 Q NX500 
Focus manually More exact focusing
Display size3"3"Same display dimensions
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Pentax Q vs Samsung NX500 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to travel with your camera often, you will want to consider its weight and volume. The Pentax Q enjoys physical measurements of 98mm x 57mm x 31mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.2") accompanied by a weight of 180 grams (0.40 lbs) while the Samsung NX500 has sizing of 120mm x 64mm x 43mm (4.7" x 2.5" x 1.7") having a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs).

Check out the Pentax Q versus Samsung NX500 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are employing at that time. Below is a front view dimensions comparison of the Q compared to the NX500.

Pentax Q vs Samsung NX500 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the Q and NX500 is 93 and 87 respectively.

Pentax Q vs Samsung NX500 top view buttons comparison

Pentax Q vs Samsung NX500 Sensor Comparison

Normally, its difficult to visualise the difference in sensor dimensions purely by checking out a spec sheet. The pic underneath may offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the Q and NX500.

As you can see, each of the cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The Q because of its smaller sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field tougher and the Samsung NX500 will show extra detail due to its extra 16 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop photos way more aggressively. The more aged Q will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Pentax Q vs Samsung NX500 sensor size comparison

Pentax Q vs Samsung NX500 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax Q vs Samsung NX500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Pentax Q
Portrait photography with Samsung NX500
45
you can focus manually
high flash sync speed (1/2,000s)
saves RAW files
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
80
focusing manually
MP count fantastic (28 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
features face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Pentax Q as a Street photography camera
Samsung NX500 as a Street photography camera
69
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
saves RAW files
lighter than competition in class (180 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
81
screen tilts up and down
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
offers touch to focus
very good ISO range (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Pentax Q
Sports photography with Samsung NX500
32
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
has tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
terrible battery (230 shots)
does not have phase detect autofocus
75
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000s)
MP count fantastic (28 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
features tracking autofocus
sensor has phase detect autofocus
lack of image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Pentax Q Travel photography info
Samsung NX500 Travel photography info
57
lighter than competition in class (180 grams)
flash built-in
doesn't have Timelapse recording
terrible battery (230 shots)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
78
supports bluetooth
offers touch to focus
MP count fantastic (28MP)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax Q Landscape photography info
Samsung NX500 Landscape photography info
51
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Pentax Q mount)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
saves RAW files
low resolution sensor (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
terrible battery (230 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
80
focusing manually
swap lenses (Samsung NX mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
MP count fantastic (28 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
doesnt have anti aliasing filter
very good ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax Q as a Vlogging camera
Samsung NX500 as a Vlogging camera
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (180 grams)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
doesn't have microphone socket
34
screen is touchscreen
features face detection autofocus
video resolution high (4096 x 2160 pixels)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
does not have external microphone port
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Pentax Q vs Samsung NX500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax Q and Samsung NX500
 Pentax QSamsung NX500
General Information
Brand Name Pentax Samsung
Model type Pentax Q Samsung NX500
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2011-06-23 2015-02-06
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by - DRIMe 5
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 28MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 6480 x 4320
Highest native ISO 6400 25600
Highest enhanced ISO - 51200
Min native ISO 125 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 25 209
Lens
Lens mount type Pentax Q Samsung NX
Number of lenses 8 32
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dot 1,036 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 2.0fps 9.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 5.60 m no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Trailing-curtain sync Smart flash, auto, auto w/redeye reduction, fill flash, fill w/redeye reduction, 1st-curtain, 2nd-curtain, off
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/2000 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) 3840 x 2160 (30p), 4096 x 2160 (24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720, 640 x 480
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 4096x2160
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 H.265
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 180 gr (0.40 lb) 287 gr (0.63 lb)
Physical dimensions 98 x 57 x 31mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.2") 120 x 64 x 43mm (4.7" x 2.5" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 47 87
DXO Color Depth rating 20.2 24.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.1 13.9
DXO Low light rating 189 1379
Other
Battery life 230 shots 370 shots
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID D-LI68 BP1130
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 - 30 secs)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Price at release $695 $800