Pentax MX-1
- 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
- 3" Tilting Screen
- ISO 100 - 12800
- Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
- 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
- 1920 x 1080 video
- 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
- 391g - 122 x 61 x 51mm
- Released July 2013
- Read full specs
- Alternatives
- Size Comparison
- FAQ
84 Imaging
37 Features
60 Overall
46
Pentax MX-1 summary
Pentax MX-1 is Pentax's Small Sensor Compact digital camera initially launched on July of 2013. The camera comes with a 12MP, CMOS 1/1.7" size sensor with a full resolution of 4000 x 3000.
The MX-1 comes in at #8 out of 261 in Small Sensor Compact cameras & overall #492 out of 1465 for digital cameras in our list. Please use our Smart camera search to find camera listings based on your personalized requirements.
Here is a diagram of specific factors used in the rating system.
Pentax MX-1 Gallery
You can view the MX-1 from various angles in the gallery here.
Pentax MX-1 Pros and Cons
Here is a list of pros and cons of the Pentax MX-1 based on factors which are often regarded as useful in a digital camera.
Pentax MX-1 Sensor specs
The sensor spec on the Pentax MX-1 is 7.44mm x 5.58mm (1/1.7"). The 42 mm² sensor can capture 4000 x 3000 pixels with aspect ratios of 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9. The camera comes with Image Stabilization (Sensor-shift). Optical stabilization is preferable than digital stabilization since the latter might produce cropping.
Photography GlossaryThe CMOS sensor has 12MP and gives a standard ISO range of 100 to 12800. RAW format is supported so you have more room to maneuver in post.
The graphic underneath shows the MX-1's sensor size compared to other popular sizes. The MX-1 sensor has a crop factor of 4.8 and is highlighted in green.
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhoneTo get a sense of various aspect ratios, you can refer to the graphic below.
Pentax MX-1 dimensions
Pentax MX-1 has a weight of 0.86 pounds (391 grams or 13.79 ounces) & the size of the camera is 122mm x 61mm x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0"). The weight of average Small Sensor Compact camera is 174 grams and the Pentax MX-1 is weightier compared to various competitors.
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a LandslideHere is a picture of the Pentax MX-1 beside a soft drink to help you to get a feel for its size.
The top view just below will illustrate the button design on the MX-1.
Pentax MX-1 Lens details
The MX-1 has an inbuilt lens giving a focal range of 28-112mm giving it a 4.0 x zoom which is definitely not outstanding however it will be invaluable in some situations.
At it's widest 28mm, it comes with an aperture of f1.8 and that is perfect for low light events and getting a shallow depth of field. It would also enable you to set a lower ISO to get better shots. On the long end, 112mm comes with f2.5 making it fairly good and will allow you to have higher shutter speeds.
Pentax MX-1 Connectivity
The MX-1 has the following connectivity:
- USB Yes
- Wireless Yes
- HDMI Yes
Digital cameras that contain NFC and / or Bluetooth support can easily be controlled wirelessly with smartphones. You are able to transfer images and in some cases adjust camera settings without the hassle of connecting physically with the camera.
Several apps also provide a Liveview and release the shutter when you are not close to the camera. If the camera provides a HDMI port, it could be hooked up to an external screen. A lot of cameras enable you to charge the battery pack with the USB port.
Pentax MX-1 Video details
The highest possible video quality on the Pentax MX-1 is 1920 x 1080 and you can save in MPEG-4 and H.264 file format. 1080p quality gives a great balance between video quality and file size but 1080p won't give you any room to crop. The body does not offer a microphone and / or headphone socket so you have zero control over the audio. It is probably best to buy an alternative model if you need decent audio for your videos.
Pentax MX-1 Weather Sealing
There is no environment proofing for the Pentax MX-1 so you have to be careful in wet and dusty conditions.
Pentax MX-1 Screen and Viewfinder
The Pentax MX-1 comes with a 3" tilting display screen with a resolution of 920k dots.
Unfortunately the display screen isn't a touch screen.
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modesThe ViewFinder specifications for Pentax MX-1 are below:
- ViewFinder None
Viewfinders can be rather beneficial during sunny outdoor conditions which can make the camera screen washed out and hard to see.
Pentax MX-1 Shutter details
Pentax MX-1 continuous shooting rate is 1.0 frames per second. The maximum shutter speed is 1/8000 seconds.
Pentax MX-1 Flash and Hot shoe details
Pentax MX-1 comes with just in-built flash with missing external flash support.
Pentax MX-1 Autofocusing details
Pentax MX-1 comes with only Contrast Detect AF & is missing Phase Detect AF. Phase Detection autofocusing is a lot quicker and precise compared to Contrast Detect autofocusing. The camera comes with Face detection which can be helpful for taking portraits of people.
The Sensor comes with 25 focus points to pick from. It also features Tracking AF for objects that move. Pentax MX-1 has got manual focus if needed during low light conditions or you need more precise focus control.
Pentax MX-1 Battery life
The battery life (D-Li-106) for the Pentax MX-1 is fashioned to last for 290 clicks as per the CIPA requirements making it higher than the usual ın comparison with its class. The average Small Sensor Compact camera battery life is 241. Fujifilm X30 offers the best (470) battery life within this kind of cameras.
Listed below is a collection of Small Sensor Compact cameras having the highest battery life:
Pentax MX-1 for varying styles of photography
The following diagram presents a rundown of the Pentax MX-1 for varying styles of photography. To find out more, scroll to the specific paragraph underneath.
Pentax MX-1 Portrait photography factors
The Pentax MX-1 has a score of 42 which is horrible, meaning that it is simply not good for portrait photography. Taking portrait images favors heavily to sensor dimensions, RAW support together with the flexibility to utilize external lighting.
Pentax MX-1 as a Street photography camera
With a above average points tally of 65, the Pentax MX-1 is a very decent fit for street photography. A very good street photography camera features a fine balance of picture quality and portability.
Pentax MX-1 as a Sports photography camera
A horrible sports photography points tally of 43 means the Pentax MX-1 is simply not good for photographing sports. A camera should have fantastic autofocus plus continuous shooting for sports photography.
Pentax MX-1 Travel photography factors
Size is super important in getting a travel camera. On the whole, the Pentax MX-1 gets a above average 61 for a travel camera which makes it a very decent fit to take on your vacations.
Pentax MX-1 Landscape photography details
For anybody looking to choose a digital camera for landscape photos, the biggest factor is going to be image quality. The Pentax MX-1 at it's decent grade of 55 for a landscape camera is relatively suited among it's competitors.
Pentax MX-1 Vlogging info
A camera for vlogging should really posses a moving display screen, mic input and if possible image stabilization. Taking all things in to account, the Pentax MX-1 is simply not good for vlogging as it delivers a horrible rating of 33.
Pentax MX-1 Alternatives
If you are searching for alternatives to the MX-1, below is a list of the highest placed cameras that fall within the category of Small Sensor Compact.
The graph listed below gives you a bird's eye view of the MX-1 compared to it's highest ranked competitors mentioned above.
Following are additional cameras you may check out as alternative options. To read through a comprehensive comparison, click the "compare" link.