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Pentax RS1500

 
Pentax Optio RS1500 front
 
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-110mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
  • Introduced March 2011
  • Read full specs
  • Alternatives
  • Size Comparison
  • FAQ
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
30
Overall
34

Pentax RS1500 summary

Pentax RS1500 is Pentax's Small Sensor Compact digital camera first announced on March of 2011. The camera comes with a 14MP, CCD 1/2.3" size sensor with a max resolution of 4288 x 3216.

The RS1500 is scored #109 out of 261 in Small Sensor Compact cameras & over all #961 out of 1465 for digital cameras in our collection. You should check out our Advanced camera search to get camera results based on your custom criteria.

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Here is a chart of specific factors used in the rating system.

Pentax RS1500 history

The Pentax RS1500 is part of a family of cameras. You can view the complete list underneath.

ModelVisualizeLensResolutionSensor SizeReleased
Pentax-Optio-RZ18 front thumbnailPentax RZ18
RS1500 vs RZ18
25-450mm
F3.5-5.9
16MP1/2.3"2011
Pentax-Optio-RZ10 front thumbnailPentax RZ10
RS1500 vs RZ10
28-280mm
F3.2-5.9
14MP1/2.3"2011
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Pentax-Optio-RS1500 front thumbnailPentax RS150028-110mm
F3.5-5.5
14MP1/2.3"2011

Pentax RS1500 Pros and Cons

Here is a list of upsides and downsides of the Pentax RS1500 based on factors which are usually considered essential in a digital camera.

built in zoom lens (28-110mm 3.9 x zoom)
does have HDMI support
flash built-in
good minimum ISO (80)
has manual focus
includes tracking autofocus
pretty wide (28mm)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
weather sealing
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
cannot use external flash
does not have external mic jack
does not have headphone jack
does not have image stabilization
does not have Time Lapse function
lack of phase detect autofocus
lack of RAW format
max fps low (1.0 fps)
no aperture priority
no manual exposure
no shutter priority mode
screen does not articulate
screen has low resolution (230 thousand dot)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
sluggish at long end (f5.5)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
tiny screen (2.7")
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
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Pentax RS1500 Sensor features

The size of the sensor on the Pentax RS1500 is 6.17mm x 4.55mm (1/2.3"). The 28 mm² sensor can capture 4288 x 3216 pixels with aspect ratios of 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9.

Photography Glossary

The CCD sensor has 14 megapixels and gives a standard ISO range of 80 to 6400. Sadly, RAW files are not supported so the user has less room to maneuver in post.

The graphic underneath shows the RS1500's sensor size in comparison to other popular sizes. The RS1500 sensor has a crop factor of 5.8 and is showcased in green.

Pentax Optio RS1500 sensor size Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

To get a sense of specific aspect ratios, you can refer to the graphic below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Pentax RS1500 dimensions

Pentax RS1500 weighs 0.35 pounds (157 grams / 5.54 ounces) & has outside proportions of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1"). The weight of typical Small Sensor Compact camera is 174 grams and the Pentax RS1500 is very much the same as compared with its rivals.

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Here is a picture of the Pentax RS1500 besides a softdrink to help you to get a sense of its size.

Pentax Optio RS1500 dimensions scale

The top view underneath will provide the button design on the RS1500.

Pentax Optio RS1500 topview buttons dials

Pentax RS1500 Lens features

The RS1500 has got an inbuilt lens with a focal range of 28-110mm giving it a 3.9 x zoom which isn't really huge however it will definitely be useful in a few cases.

At it's widest 28mm, it features an aperture of f3.5 and that's somewhat sluggish and not good for low light events and you may find it difficult to get a shallow depth of field. You could also need to boost your ISO resulting in noisy shots. With the long end, 110mm comes with f5.5 which is fairly slow and you would have to set slower shutter speeds.

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Pentax RS1500 Connectivity

The RS1500 has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes
  • HDMI Yes

Digital cameras that include NFC and Bluetooth compatibility can easily be controlled wirelessly via smartphones. You can send images and at times alter settings with no need to connect straight with the camera.

A few apps also provide a Liveview and hit the shutter if you are not near the camera. If the camera provides a HDMI port, it could be connected to an external display. A good number of cameras enable you to recharge the battery pack with the USB port.

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Pentax RS1500 Video features

The max video quality on the Pentax RS1500 is 1280 x 720 and you can save in Motion JPEG file format. 720p is awful for today's standards. You should really shoot for a minimum 1080p quality for video recording. The body does not have a microphone and headphone port so you get zero control over the audio. It is perhaps a better idea to purchase a different model in case you want better audio for your videos.

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Pentax RS1500 Weather Sealing

Pentax RS1500 has weather proofing making it a good option for use during rough conditions. This can be especially useful whenever you are not sure about the conditions you might encounter during outdoor photography.

Pentax RS1500 Screen and Viewfinder

The Pentax RS1500 comes with a 2.7 inch fixed display screen with a resolution of 230 thousand dots.

Please note that the display has no touch support.

Pentax Optio RS1500 screen and viewfinder President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

The ViewFinder details for Pentax RS1500 are the following:

  • ViewFinder None

Viewfinders can be rather beneficial during sunny outdoor conditions which will make the camera screen washed out and difficult to see.

Pentax RS1500 Shutter features

Pentax RS1500 can shoot continuously at 1.0 fps. The maximum shutter speed is 1/1500 sec.

Photography Glossary

Pentax RS1500 Flash and Hot shoe features

Pentax RS1500 features just inbuilt flash with missing external flash support.

Pentax RS1500 Autofocusing features

Pentax RS1500 features only Contrast Detect Auto Focus & is missing Phase Detect Auto Focus. Phase Detection focusing is more snappier & accurate than Contrast Detect focusing.

The AF system comes with 9 focus points to select from. It also has Tracking Auto Focus for things that move. Pentax RS1500 has manual focus when needed during low light conditions or you need more precise control on focus.

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Pentax RS1500 Battery life

The battery pack (D-LI92) for the Pentax RS1500 is made to last for 260 shutters according to the CIPA measurements making it on par with it's competition. The usual Small Sensor Compact camera battery life is 241. Fujifilm X30 has the maximum (470) battery life within this range of cameras.

Listed below is a collection of Small Sensor Compact cameras having the best battery life:

Pentax RS1500 for varying categories of photography

The following diagram presents a summary of the Pentax RS1500 for varying categories of photography. To see more, go to the specific paragraph underneath.

Pentax RS1500 as a Portrait photography camera

The Pentax RS1500 receives a points tally of 35 which is dreadful, meaning that it is simply not suitable for portrait photography. Shooting portraits leans heavily to sensor specs, support for RAW photos in addition to the ability to work with off-camera flash.

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you can focus manually
good megapixels (14MP)
no manual control
cannot use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format

Pentax RS1500 Street photography info

Having a modest rating of 54, the Pentax RS1500 is reasonably appropriate for street photography. A good street photography camera has a good balance of picture quality plus portability.

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environment proofing
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format

Sports photography with Pentax RS1500

A dreadful sports photography rating of 37 suggests the Pentax RS1500 is simply not suitable for taking pictures of sports. A camera needs to have great focusing plus continuous shooting for sports photography.

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good MP (14MP)
supports tracking autofocus
environment sealing
low fps (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
no image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus

Pentax RS1500 as a Travel photography camera

Weight is really critical in picking a travel camera. All things considered, the Pentax RS1500 gets a very good 67 for a travelling camera which makes it a good choice to buy for your holidays.

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weather sealing
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
missing Timelapse mode
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)

Pentax RS1500 as a Landscape photography camera

For anybody planning to buy a camera for landscape photographs, the most significant aspect will be image quality. The Pentax RS1500 and it's dreadful rating of 40 for a landscape camera is simply not suitable compared to its competition.

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you can focus manually
fairly wide (28mm)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
weather sealing
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
manual mode not available
no image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse mode

Pentax RS1500 Vlogging advice

A camera for vlogging really should come with a moving display, mic port and ideally image stabilization. Taking all things into account, the Pentax RS1500 is simply not suitable for vlogging as it comes to a dreadful rating of 25.

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pretty wide (28mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external microphone jack

Pentax RS1500 Alternatives

If you want alternatives to the RS1500, here is a selection of the top ranked cameras that fall under the category of Small Sensor Compact.

The graph listed below offers you a summary of the RS1500 versus it's highest scoring rivals suggested previously.

Here are a few more cameras you may view as alternative options. To see a extensive comparison, just click on the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Brand
Pentax
Model
Pentax Optio RS1500
Category
Small Sensor Compact
Introduced
2011-03-16
Body design
Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type
CCD
Sensor size
1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions
6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area
28.1mm²
Sensor resolution
14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio
4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution
4288 x 3216
RAW images
Maximum native ISO
6400
Minimum native ISO
80
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points
9
Lens
Lens mounting type
fixed lens
Lens focal range
28-110mm (3.9x)
Largest aperture
f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus distance
1cm
Crop factor
5.8
Screen
Screen type
Fixed Type
Screen sizing
2.7"
Resolution of screen
230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology
TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder
None
DXO scores
DXO Overall score
not tested
DXO Color Depth score
not tested
DXO Dynamic range score
not tested
DXO Low light score
not tested
Features
Min shutter speed
4s
Max shutter speed
1/1500s
Continuous shutter speed
1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range
3.90 m
Flash options
Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions
1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Maximum video resolution
1280x720
Video file format
Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless
None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight
157 gr (0.35 pounds)
Physical dimensions
114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1")
Other
Battery life
260 images
Battery format
Battery Pack
Battery model
D-LI92
Self timer
Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage
SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots
1
Cost at release
$150